I am a lover of words…not just words for words’ sake, mind you, but
well-articulated, skillfully-constructed thoughts and ideas. Some words act as agents of change in my life, but rarely are they only the words heard with my ears or read with my eyes. Instead, they echo within the chambers of my heart and alter its beat, taking residence there, and eventually resurface in conversation or action (preferably the latter).
Inspiring thoughts that imbue the spirit and heart with a sense of urgency to follow their leading transcend letters on a page or common speech–and their influence and impact can last for generations. As a "words of encouragement" girl, I believe words CAN hurt more than the bones sticks and stones break, but conversely, words can bring healing and hope and love and laughter and oh, so much more! Convincing evidence of incomparable "wordpower" is magnificently displayed in the Biblical account of creation; the Psalmist, with a gift of brevity, perfectly summarized the passage.
Hundreds (thousands?) of quotations from great thinkers, poets, philosophers, authors, and everyday people have inspired, affected, challenged, encouraged, and provoked me. Narrowing the field down for Fun Monday has proven an exercise in frustration! Here are just a few:
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
~ Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi
"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. " ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
"I’ve learned that people will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you
made them feel." ~ Maya Angelou
"I want you to be concerned about your next door neighbor. Do you know your next door neighbor?"
"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."
"Jesus said love one another. He didn’t say love the whole world." ~ Mother Theresa
"Live in the moment and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering." ~ Fanny Crosby
"It is never too late to be who you might have been." ~ George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans)
"Watch with
glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest
secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. those who don’t
believe in the magic will never find it!" ~ Roald Dahl
"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of
those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them…" ~ Paul the Apostle
"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. And my ways are
far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." ~ God
Photocredit: Linda’s Manymuses
Hi, I so enjoyed this week’s theme, well, maybe you have guessed that all along when I did my ABC last week. Wow, I’m visiting people and I have to keep so many lines to add to my collection…how timely is this for me. Need some inspiring words today…and the chuckle made it more better!
Nice theme…happy Fun Monday!
Wonderful! Our tongue is a powerful tool, we can hurt or heal, we can bless or curse. Thanks for Hosting this week! I truly enjoyed!
Great quotes Robin. I love this idea because I’ve always loved to read things that are well said…
Great quotes Robin, I especially love Ralph Waldo Emerson. I have saved a lot of his quotes over the years. Great assignment!
You found some very nice quotes too !
Mariposa, Yes, ma’am, after your ABC’s, I DID think you’d like this one! 🙂
Katie, so true…the tongue may be tiny, but it can wreak havoc!
Ellen, the only problem is deciding what to include…:/.
Joy, I agree–his wisdom and ability to communicate are enviable.
Gattina, I think a few of them found ME!
🙂
Thanks for hosting FM.
Mother T – talk about some to strive to be like
I especially appreciate the Eliot quote reminding us that it’s never too late in life to live up to our potential. that’s a very empowering message.
I loved, loved, loved this Fun Monday challenge…I just couldn’t stop, stop, stop.
Maya Angelou’s quote is one of my most favorite…everything that comes out of her mouth is profound.
Thanks for hosting this week.
There’s a song for you at my place.
I love the topic today and the quotes you selected. Interestingly, I’ve got the George Eliot quote on my list … and thought about including the Emerson and Angelou quotes as well. I can hardly wait to visit everyone else’s posts to see what’s out there and add to my quote collection.
Hugs and blessings,
Maya’s quote is one of my favorites…and reminds me of a silly line from “Blast from the Past.” From the character of Troy: “His short and simple definition of a lady or a gentleman is, someone who always tries to make sure the people around him or her are as comfortable as possible.”
beautiful quotes Robin, my favorites are the Maya Angelou and Mother Theresa ones….two of my favorite women.
I forgot to thank you for hosting….Thank You!!
You know I’m not great with words…just exclamation points!!! =) HE HE HE
I did write this once…about a year ago…it has stuck with me too!!!
A friend of mine lost a friend of theirs and we were talking…it was something so very sudden and very sad!!!
“We never know where life is going to take us….or when our life will be taken from us???”
Robin this is a great topic. I love the quotes you have chosen and I actually used the Maya Angelou.
Great topic for this week, thank you for hosting it.
You are very right though in your words above. Yes words can do lot more damage then sticks and stones they can also do a lot of good.
Great quotes!
I love all of those, I was going to try to tell you my favorite but I like several of them.
Thanx for a great topic!
Those were all so good. I kept thinking, “oooo, this is my favorite.” And then I’d read the next one and think the same thing.
Great choices and I love this assignment you picked for us.
An excellent idea for Fun Monday. Thanks for hosting.
I liked all your quotes but George Elliot is ringing a particular bell with me today.
An excellent idea for Fun Monday. Thanks for hosting.
I liked all your quotes but the George Elliot one is ringing a particular bell with me today – thanks 🙂
I’m not so sure of how to play this game, but I, too, adore words well-spoken (though usually not my own!) May I add a couple of my favorites here?
“We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan…..”
Irving Townsend
And, on a simpler note:
Bloom where you are planted. Unknown
“I wish I’d said that!”
—James Whistler
This is a great topic. Love your list! I especially like the Fanny Crosby quote. Even without a musical score she lays a song on our heart.
Wonderful Topic .It was a good one for my first time
Love Maya Angelou and her quote was right on! I like you site and plan to come back soon and wander around here. Thanks for hosting!
Jennifer
This has been a great Fun Monday. Thank you. I love your quote choices, thank you, again.
George Eliot’s quote resonates with me. As a forever-questing soul, reaching for the next level in finding myself, that one reached out and grabbed me.
Thanks for hosting – this was… inspirational!
Fantastic quotes! I like what Maya Angelou said about how people remember how you make them feel. That is so true! Inspiring.
Those are beautiful! Great words to remember. Thanks for hosting. it’s been fun reading everyone’s favorite and inspirational quotes!
Thanks for hosting this week. What an awesome topic!
You picked some wonderful quotes. I can’t choose a favorite.
Robin,
Thank you for hosting this inspirational Fun Monday. I am having a wonderful time reading and collecting quotes. I love the St. Francis quote. It is meanigful, wise, and humorous.
I copied down some of my favorite Fun Monday quotes from other participants and showed them to my students this morning. Each student picked a favorite quote. We are making posters of the quotes. The students seemed to like this activity as well as the quotes.
Great topic for this week, thank you for hosting it.
It was a good one for my first time
This was a great Fun Monday. I love your quote choices,
I think my favorite was from Ralph Waldo Emerson
But I’m not even sure because I liked all of them.
Robin,
I have so enjoyed this, my first time doing Fun Monday. I really had fun finding quotes that I like and sharing them. Thanks for helping me figure out how to post my quotes. I’m off to visit other’s blogs and quotes for today.
Thanks for hosting!! Maya has some great ones!! Happy FM…
I love the quote by Maya Angelou! That’s how I want to be remembered by my students! I want them to feel like I believe there is nothing they cannot achieve!
I have actually read the entire Swindoll quote, but I didn’t want to bog readers down with too much to read. I tend to be more inspired by short powerful phrases, so I pared it down to what I thought was the meat of the whole thing.
Looking at all the other posts, it looks like I was a wimp when it came to quotes! : )
Thanks for hosting! Mine is finally up. I love your quotes…we share one!
Thanks for hosting this week, THIS topic is one of the best EVAH!!! IMO!I will defiantly be checking out everyone this week. I LOVE quotes!
Yours are all so wonderful! The Eliot and Roald Dahl are the 2 resonating in me most at the moment…okay and Maya’s too!! Thanks for sharing!!
Great quotes! And a great theme this week! Thanks for hosting. I love the Maya Angelou quote, but then I love Maya Angelou, so that does not surprise me! 😉
She was on Good Morning America this morning, actually, and man, that is one inspirational woman!
Sorry I did not play this week, too much going on….I did try for many years to be nice to my neighbour, unfortunately they were never nice back! There is only so much a bear can bare! I now just keep to myself and feel sorry for them, they do not have many friends.
and to think I almost didn’t post… not feeling very creative.
but I have just soooo enjoyed everyone entries. What a great topic.
In my bible study we’re focusing on how potent words really are. Great post!
Thanks for stopping by and the compliment! I really enjoyed doing this post, I love quotes there all wonderful and inspiring.
Great quotes. I think my favorite is the George Eliot.
Great quotes, Robin, and a great job hosting. I apologize for not getting here sooner but life just keeps interfering with what I think I should be doing…lol.
Thanks again.