Quotes of Optimism

I have been lately thinking about how to be optimist about everything in life. After all that is something which gives you motivation to go that extra mile when you are feeling helpless. I have always liked to be optimistic in the worst of the situations. Not that I am always proud of the fact that there are times when I stop worrying completely about a difficult situation, but it does help most of the times. I was interested in knowing what great thinkers said about optimism and found the following invaluable quotes:

1. “Having a positive mental attitude is asking how something can be done rather than saying it can't be done.”
- Bo Bennett

2. “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
- Winston Churchill

3. “Perhaps our eyes need to be washed by our tears once in a while, so that we can see Life with a clearer view again.”
- Alex Tan

4. “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
- Maria Robinson

5. “I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”
- Jimmy Dean

6. I have become my own version of an optimist. If I can't make it through one door, I'll go through another door - or I'll make a door. Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present.
- Rabindranath Tagore

7. If you can imagine it you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.
- William Arthur Ward

8. We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

9. No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit.
- Helen Keller

10. The minute you start talking about what you're going to do if you lose, you have lost.
- George Shultz

Kabir Das

Kabir Das: What can I say? I have been listening to these CDs called Kabir Amritvani and I am amazed at what a saint like him could write 600 years back. Each and every doha and couplet is so insightful and inspiring. I read his couplets many many years back when I was a kid and didn't realize the power of it then. Now when I can relate to lot of things and understand much better than I did then, I must say these are the real life teachings and a must to hear/read.

These are the ones I still can remember from school time:

१. बडा हुआ तो क्या हुआ, जैसे पेड खजूर
पंथी को छाया नहीं, फल लागे अती दूर

Translation
In vain is the eminence, just like a date tree
No shade for travelers, fruit is hard to reach

२. कबीरा गर्व ना कीजिये, उंचा देख आवास
काल परों बहिन लेटना, ऊपर जम्सी घास

Translation

Says Kabir
Don't be so proud and vain
Looking at your high mansion
Death makes one lie on bare land
And grass will grow thereon

३. पोथी पढ़ पढ़ कर जग मुआ, पंडित भयो ना कोए
ढाई आखर प्रेम के, जो पढे सो पंडित होए

Translation
Reading books everyone died, none became any wise
One who reads the word of Love, only becomes wise

४. ऐसी वाणी बोलिए, मन का आपा खोए
अपना तन शीतल करे, औरन को सुख होए

Translation
Speak such words, sans ego's ploy
Body remains composed, giving the listener joy

५. दुःख में सिमरन सब करे, सुख में करे ना कोए
जो सुख में सिमरन करे, तौ दुःख कहे को होए

Translation
In anguish everyone prays to Him, in joy does none
To One who prays in happiness, how sorrow can come

६. कबीर यह घर प्रेम का, खला का घर नहीं
सीस उतारे हाथ कर, सो पासे घर महीन

Translation
Kabir, this is the abode of love
Not the house of an aunt
Only that one can enter here
Who has relinquished all pride

७. जब में था तब हरी नाहीं‚ जब हरी है में नहीं

सब अँधियारा मीट गया‚ जब दीपक देख्या महीन

Translation
When "I" was then Hari was not, Now Hari "is" and "I" am not
All the darkness (illusions) mitigated, When I saw the light (illumination) within.

८. साईं इतना दीजीए, जा में कुटुंब समाये

मैं भी भूखा ना रहूँ, साधू ना भूखा जाये

Translation
Give so much O God, suffice to envelop my clan
I should not suffer cravings, nor the visitor goes unfed

Reference: http://www.boloji.com/kabir/dohas/index.htm