“Knowledge isn’t power until it’s applied.” – Dale Carnegie
Category: Quotes
Ben Franklin on Marriage
“Keep your eyes wide open before marriage and half-shut afterwards.” – Ben Franklin
Early To Bed
“Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise.” – Dr. Scholl of Dr. Scholl’s Foot Aids
Abraham Lincoln Quote
“Die when I may, I want it said of me by those who knew me best that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.” – Abraham Lincoln, 1865 (the year of his death)
10 Ways to Be More Like Jimmy Stewart
“Years ago my mother used to say to me, ‘In this world you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.’ For years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.” – James Stewart in Harvey
Jimmy Stewart remains one of cinema’s most enduring icons—not because he played larger-than-life superheroes, but because he brought extraordinary integrity, warmth, and resilience to the ordinary human experience.
Here are 10 ways to cultivate that classic Jimmy Stewart quality in your day-to-day life:
1. Master the Unhurried Pause
Stewart’s trademark drawl wasn’t just a regional accent; it was a conversational pacing strategy. He never rushed to fill airtime. When spoken to, take a beat, process what was said, and respond with deliberate, thoughtful intention.
2. Practice Earnest Conviction
In movies like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Stewart exemplified absolute sincerity. Cultivate strong moral principles, stand up for what you believe is right—even when you’re the quietest voice in the room—and speak from a place of genuine belief rather than cynicism.
3. Embrace Accessible Humility
Despite being an Oscar-winning superstar and a decorated military leader, Stewart always carried himself like a approachable neighbor. Avoid pretension, acknowledge your mistakes openly, and treat everyone you meet with equal respect.
4. Cultivate Everyday Quiet Courage
True courage isn’t always loud or dramatic. As George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, Stewart showed that doing the unglamorous, responsible thing for the sake of your family and community is its own form of heroism.
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5. Cultivate Active, Empathetic Listening
When Stewart shared a scene with someone, he wasn’t just waiting for his turn to speak—he was intensely present. Give people your full, undivided attention, lean in, and make them feel like their words genuinely matter.
“I think one of the main things is to be dynamic… to be able to express what you feel, and to have a feeling for other people.” — Jimmy Stewart
6. Keep Your Cool Under Pressure
Stewart served as a WWII bomber pilot, flying 20 combat missions and rising to the rank of Brigadier General in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He brought that grounded, unflappable composure to his everyday life. Practice emotional self-regulation when circumstances get tense.
7. Find Delight in the Simple Things
Whether it was playing the accordion, writing lighthearted poetry, or spending time outdoors, Stewart maintained a childlike sense of wonder and appreciated life’s simple pleasures. Don’t take yourself so seriously that you forget how to enjoy the moment.
8. Value Long-Term Loyalty
Stewart was famously devoted to his friends, his hometown roots, and his wife, Gloria, to whom he was married for 44 years until her passing. Prioritize deep, lasting commitments over fleeting novelties.
9. Use Self-Deprecating Humor
Stewart was quick to poke fun at his own lanky posture, stammering speech, or awkward habits. A gentle, self-aware sense of humor makes you relatable and disarms tension in social settings.
10. Anchor Yourself in Your Community
In It’s a Wonderful Life, the core takeaway is that a person’s worth is measured by how much they enrich the lives of those around them. Invest time in your neighborhood, support local efforts, and build strong community ties.
Einstein on Scientists
“I have little patience with scientists who take a board of wood, look for its thinnest part, and drill a great number of holes where drilling is easy.” – Albert Einstein
P. T. Barnum Quote
“Long ago I learned that to those who mean right and try to do right, there are no such things as real misfortunes. On the other hand, to such persons, all apparent evils are blessings in disguise.” – P. T. Barnum
Ben Franklin Quotes
Here are some Ben Franklin quotes. Most of these were first published in Poor Richard’s Almanac, which Franklin produced.
A little neglect may breed great mischief… for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost.
Continue reading Ben Franklin Quotes
Dalai Lama Quote
“There are only two days in a year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.” – Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama, Cool Heroes
“We need cool heroes today, we don’t need hot heroes. By cool, I mean non-violent; I mean those who can be forceful, intelligent, just, and insightful, and speak up loudly and clearly but without getting angry—without indulging in hatred.
“People are afraid that if they let go of their anger and righteousness and wrath, and look at their own feelings—and even see the good in a bad person—they’re going to lose the energy they need to do something about the problem. But actually you get more strength and energy by operating from a place of love and concern. You can be just as tough, but more effectively tough. It’s like a martial art.”
– Dalai Lama
Cats and Dogs Quote
“In order to keep a true perspective on one’s importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him.” – Dereke Bruce
This quote is quite famous, showing up in a number of quotebases, but no one seems to know who Dereke Bruce is. If you look for him via Google, Yahoo or Amazon, nothing relevant comes up, other than this quote. Yours truly, your author, might be responsible for that. As you may know, I have been publishing insightful and fun trivia for years. I believe I found this quote in a 1980’s vintage Omni Magazine, and first published it in Almanac 1989. In the past several years, it has been picked up and repeated throughout the Internet.
Smart People and Mistakes
“Smart people learn from their mistakes. But the real sharp ones learn from the mistakes of others.” – Brandon Mull, Fablehaven
Judgment
“Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment. – Rita Mae Brown, Alma Mater
Success and Failure
“We learn from failure, not from success!” – Bram Stoker, author of Dracula
Path, Courage and Mistakes
“When you find your path, you must not be afraid. You need to have sufficient courage to make mistakes. Disappointment, defeat, and despair are the tools God uses to show us the way.” – Paulo Coelho, author of Brida
Tomorrow and Mistakes
“Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” – L.M. Montgomery
Einstein on Mistakes
“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein
What Do Animals Think or Feel?
How do we know what animals think or feel? I say be kind to animals just in case it matters to them. The poet William Blake said, “How do you know but that every bird that cleaves the aerial way is not an immense world of delight closed to your senses five?”
