Horace Jackson Brown Jr. (March 14, 1940 – November 30, 2021) was an American author who was best known for his inspirational book, Life’s Little Instruction Book, which was a New York Times Best Seller (1991–1994). Its sequel Life’s Little Instruction Book: Volume 2 also made it to the same best-seller list in 1993.
H. Jackson Brown Jr. Quotes
1. “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
2. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
3. “Never give up on what you really want to do”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
4. “Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
5. “Don’t waste time waiting for inspiration. Begin, and inspiration will find you.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
6. “Don’t forget, a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
7. “Let perseverance be your engine and hope your fuel.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
8. “Be happy with what you have while working for what you want.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
9. “Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
10. “Strive for excellence, not perfection.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
11. “Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
12. “Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
13. “Be willing to lose a battle in order to win the war.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
14. “Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
15. “When you can’t change the direction of the wind – adjust your sails.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
16. “Don’t burn bridges. You’ll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
17. “Life doesn’t require that we be the best, only that we try our best.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
18. “Remember that the more you know, the less you fear.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
19. “Love is when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
20. “If you’re doing your best, you won’t have any time to worry about failure.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
21. “Celebrate even small victories.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
22. “Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something, and has lost something.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
23. “Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
24. “Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
25. “Never make fun of someone who speaks broken English. It means they know another language.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
26. “Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
27. “Don’t work for recognition, but do work worthy of recognition.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
28. “Never underestimate your power to change yourself…”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
29. “Remember that children, marriages, and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
30. “In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins, not through strength but by perseverance.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
31. “Love your work, then you will find pleasure in mastering it.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
32. “Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
33. “Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
34. “You must take action now that will move you towards your goals. Develop a sense of urgency in your life.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
35. “Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
36. “Improve your performance by improving your attitude.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
37. “Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
38. “Do you always want to be right or do you want to be happy?”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
39. “Every person that you meet knows something you don’t; learn from them.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
40. “Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it’s going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
41. “Develop a sense of urgency in your life.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
42. “I’ve learned that every great achievement was once considered impossible.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
43. “Life is slippery. Here, take my hand.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
44. “Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
45. “Remember that what’s right isn’t always popular, and what’s popular isn’t always right.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
46. “Give people a second chance, but not a third.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
47. “Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
48. “Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you: love, prayer, and forgiveness.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
49. “Your mind can only hold one thought at a time. Make it a positive and constructive one.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
50. “Earn your success based on service to others, not at the expense of others.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
51. “Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
52. “Be tough-minded but tenderhearted.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
53. “When declaring your rights, don’t forget your responsibilities.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
54. “Be kinder than necessary.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
55. “You either make dust or eat dust.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
56. “Seek opportunity, not security. A boat in the harbor is safe, but in time its bottom will rot out.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
57. “Choose your life’s mate carefully. From this one decision will come 90 percent of all your happiness or misery.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
58. “Give children toys that are powered by their imagination, not by batteries.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
59. “It doesn’t take talent to hustle.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
60. “Empower your dreams with deadlines.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
61. “Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
62. “Judge your success by the degree that you’re enjoying peace, health, and love.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
63. “It’s not your job to get people to like you, it’s your job to like people.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
64. “Good manners sometimes means simply putting up with other people’s bad manners.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
65. “Happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
66. “Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
67. “Don’t let weeds grow around your dreams.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
68. “Get your priorities straight. No one ever said on his death bed, ‘Gee, if I’d only spent more time at the office.’”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
69. “Everyone wears an invisible sign that reads “Notice me. Make me feel important.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
70. “Live and learn and pass it on.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
71. “May your dreams defy the laws of gravity.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
72. “Take care of your reputation. It’s your most valuable asset.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
73. “Remember that winners do what losers don’t want to do.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
74. “Protect your enthusiasm from the negativity of others.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
75. “Remember that the most valuable antiques are dear old friends.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
76. “Remember that how you say something is as important as what you say.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
77. “Don’t expect others to listen to your advice and ignore your example.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
78. “I never expect to lose. Even when I’m the underdog, I still prepare a victory speech.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
79. “Volunteer. Sometimes the jobs no one wants to conceal big opportunities.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
80. “Believe in miracles but don’t depend on them.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
81. “Be the first to say, “Hello”.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
82. “I’ve learned that education, experience, and memories are three things that no one can take away from you.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
83. “Never laugh at anyone’s dreams.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
84. “Remember that almost everything looks better after a good night’s sleep.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
85. “Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
86. “Remember that the biggest gap in the world is between ‘I should’ and ‘I did.’”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
87. “Apply this simple rule to your conversations: If you wouldn’t write it down and sign it, don’t say it.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
88. “Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
89. “Life doesn’t come with an instruction book; that’s why we have fathers.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
90. “Show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
91. “Find a job you like and you add five days to every week.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
92. “Don’t delay acting on a good idea. Chances are someone else has just thought of it, too. Success comes to the one who acts first.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
93. “People who accomplish big things did small things well.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
94. “Nothing important was ever achieved without someone taking a chance.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
95. “Become the kind of person who brightens a room just by entering it.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
96. “Read carefully anything that requires your signature. Remember the big print giveth and the small print taketh away.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
97. “May our adversities make us strong. May our victories make us wise. May our actions make us proud.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
98. “Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
99. “People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
100. “You cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up them.”
— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
