Samuel Smiles

Who was Samuel Smiles?

Samuel Smiles, was a Scottish author and government reformer. He is most known for writing Self-Help, which "elevated [Smiles] to celebrity status: almost overnight, he became a leading pundit and much-consulted guru".

Famous Quotes:

• Where there is a will there is a way. is an old true saying. He who resolves upon doing a thing, by that very resolution often scales the barriers to it, and secures its achievement. To think we are able, is almost to be so -- to determine upon attainment is frequently attainment itself.
• It is a mistake to suppose that men succeed through success; they much oftener succeed through failures. Precept, study, advice, and example could never have taught them so well as failure has done.
• Men who are resolved to find a way for themselves will always find opportunities enough; and if they do not find them, they will make them.
• The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.
• The battle of life is, in most cases, fought uphill; and to win it without a struggle were perhaps to win it without honor. If there were no difficulties there would be no success; if there were nothing to struggle for, there would be nothing to be achieved.
• It is energy -- the central element of which is will -- that produces the miracle that is enthusiasm in all ages. Everywhere it is what is called force of character and the sustaining power of all great action.
• The duty of helping one's self in the highest sense involves the helping of one's neighbors.
• The reason why so little is done, is generally because so little is attempted.
• Life will always be to a large extent what we ourselves make it.
• We often discover what will do, by finding out what will not do; and probably he who never made a mistake never made a discovery.