William Arthur Ward (1921–1994) was an influential American author, educator, and motivational speaker renowned for his inspirational quotes. Focusing on themes of leadership, gratitude, and positive thinking, Ward’s words continue to resonate. Some of his notable quotes emphasize optimism, gratitude expression, effective teaching, thoughtful communication, and seizing opportunities. Ward’s wisdom encourages individuals to adopt a positive attitude, appreciate life’s blessings, and take proactive steps toward personal and professional growth. His legacy endures as his timeless insights inspire people to navigate challenges with resilience, embrace gratitude, and approach life with a balanced perspective. Ward’s teachings remain relevant for those seeking motivation and guidance on the journey to success and fulfillment.
William Arthur Ward Quotes
1. “Study while others are sleeping; work while others are loafing; prepare while others are playing; and dream while others are wishing.”
— William Arthur Ward
2. “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.”
— William Arthur Ward
3. “The price of excellence is discipline. The cost of mediocrity is disappointment.”
— William Arthur Ward
4. “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”
— William Arthur Ward
5. “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”
— William Arthur Ward
6. “Before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you invest, investigate. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. Before you retire, save. Before you die, give.”
— William Arthur Ward
7. “Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them.”
— William Arthur Ward
8. “A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.”
— William Arthur Ward
9. “Teaching is more than imparting knowledge, it is inspiring change.”
— William Arthur Ward
10. “Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work.”
— William Arthur Ward
11. “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
— William Arthur Ward
12. “Happiness is an inside job.”
— William Arthur Ward
13. “The adventure of life is to learn…”
— William Arthur Ward
14. “Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and character.”
— William Arthur Ward
15. “The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he cannot learn, feel change, grow or live…”
— William Arthur Ward
16. “It is wise to direct your anger towards problems – not people; to focus your energies on answers – not excuses.”
— William Arthur Ward
17. “Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.”
— William Arthur Ward
18. “Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively. Pursue persistently.”
— William Arthur Ward
19. “Before you react, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you criticize, wait. Before you quit, try.”
— William Arthur Ward
20. “A good teacher explains, while a great teacher inspires.”
— William Arthur Ward
21. “When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.”
— William Arthur Ward
22. “Before you speak, listen.”
— William Arthur Ward
23. “Only the person who risks is truly free.”
— William Arthur Ward
24. “Blessed is he who has learned to admire but not envy, to follow but not imitate, to praise but not flatter, and to lead but not manipulate.”
— William Arthur Ward
25. “A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strenghs; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.”
— William Arthur Ward
26. “God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say ‘thank you?’”
— William Arthur Ward
27. “Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.”
— William Arthur Ward
28. “Three enemies of personal peace: regret over yesterday’s mistakes, anxiety over tomorrow’s problems, and ingratitude for today’s blessings.”
— William Arthur Ward
29. “The greatest failure is the failure to try.”
— William Arthur Ward
30. “A complaining tongue reveals an ungrateful heart.”
— William Arthur Ward
31. “Today is a most unusual day, because we have never lived it before; we will never live it again; it is the only day we have.”
— William Arthur Ward
32. “We can choose to throw stones, to stumble on them, to climb over them, or to build with them.”
— William Arthur Ward
33. “Do more than dream. Work.”
— William Arthur Ward
34. “Empathy feels these thoughts; your hurt is in my heart, your loss is in my prayers, your sorrow is in my soul, and your tears are in my eyes.”
— William Arthur Ward
35. “Today’s patience can transform yesterday’s discouragements into tomorrow’s discoveries. Today’s purposes can turn yesterday’s defeats into tomorrow’s determination.”
— William Arthur Ward
36. “We must be silent before we can listen. We must listen before we can learn. We must learn before we can prepare. We must prepare before we can serve. We must serve before we can lead.”
— William Arthur Ward
37. “Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.”
— William Arthur Ward
38. “We are most like beasts when we kill. We are most like men when we judge. We are most like God when we forgive.”
— William Arthur Ward
39. “A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life.”
— William Arthur Ward
40. “Each of us will one day be judged by our standard of life, not by our standard of living; by our measure of giving, not by our measure of wealth; by our simple goodness, not by our seeming greatness.”
— William Arthur Ward
41. “Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me and I may be forced to love you.”
— William Arthur Ward
42. “The experienced mountain climber is not intimidated by a mountain – he is inspired by it.”
— William Arthur Ward
43. “Believe while others are doubting.”
— William Arthur Ward
44. “Failure is delay, but not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead-end street.”
— William Arthur Ward
45. “The greatest hazard in life is to risk NOTHING.”
— William Arthur Ward
46. “Love is more than a noun-it is a verb; it is more than a feeling-it is caring, sharing, helping, sacrificing.”
— William Arthur Ward
47. “Three keys to more abundant living: caring about others, daring for others, sharing with others.”
— William Arthur Ward
48. “Men never plan to be failures; they simply fail to plan to be successful.”
— William Arthur Ward
49. “Encourage me, and I will not forget you.”
— William Arthur Ward
50. “Giving is more than a responsibility-it is a privilege; more than an act of obedience-it is evidence of our faith.”
— William Arthur Ward
51. “To bear defeat with dignity, to accept criticism with poise, to receive honors with humility – these are marks of maturity and graciousness.”
— William Arthur Ward
52. “Excellence without effort is as futile as progress without preparation.”
— William Arthur Ward
53. “A success is one who decided to succeed and worked. A failure is one who decided to succeed and wished.”
— William Arthur Ward
54. “Leadership is a serving relationship that has the effect of facilitating human development.”
— William Arthur Ward
55. “To make mistakes is human; to stumble is commonplace; to be able to laugh at yourself is maturity.”
— William Arthur Ward
56. “A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition.”
— William Arthur Ward
57. “Our words reveal our thoughts; our manners mirror our self-esteem; our actions reflect our character; our habits predict the future.”
— William Arthur Ward
58. “Better to master one mountain than a thousand foothills.”
— William Arthur Ward
59. “Another fresh new year is here. Another year to live! To Banish worry, doubt and fear, to love and give.”
— William Arthur Ward
60. “Nothing limits achievement like small thinking; nothing expands possibilities like unleashed imagination.”
— William Arthur Ward
61. “The more generous we are, the more joyous we become. The more cooperative we are, the more valuable we become. The more enthusiastic we are, the more productive we become. The more serving we are, the more prosperous we become.”
— William Arthur Ward
62. “A friend is one with whom you are comfortable, to whom you are loyal, through whom you are blessed, and for whom you are grateful.”
— William Arthur Ward
63. “Do you depend on others for motivation – or can you motivate yourself?”
— William Arthur Ward
64. “A life lived without forgiveness is a prison.”
— William Arthur Ward
65. “Failure is not fatal. Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. It should challenge us to new heights of accomplishments, not pull us to new depths of despair. From honest failure can come valuable experience.”
— William Arthur Ward
66. “A pinch of praise is worth a pound of scorn. A dash of encouragement is more helpful than a dipper of pessimism. A cup of kindness is better than a cupboard of criticism.”
— William Arthur Ward
67. “A second-class is a first-class mistake.”
— William Arthur Ward
68. “Skillful listening is the best remedy for loneliness, loquaciousness, and laryngitis.”
— William Arthur Ward
69. “Lose yourself in generous service and every day can be a most unusual day, a triumphant day, an abundantly rewarding day!”
— William Arthur Ward
70. “As the valley gives height to the mountain, so can sorrow give meaning to pleasure; as the well is the source of the fountain, deep adversity can be a treasure.”
— William Arthur Ward
71. “The essence of life is to care. The beauty of life is to give.”
— William Arthur Ward
72. “Whatever gets your goat gets your attention. Whatever gets your attention gets your time. Whatever gets your time gets you. Whatever gets you becomes your master. Take care, lest a little thing horn in and get your goat.”
— William Arthur Ward
73. “The optimist lives on the peninsula of infinite possibilities; the pessimist is stranded on the island of perpetual indecision.”
— William Arthur Ward
74. “In the face of unjust criticism we can become bitter or better; upset or understanding; hostile or humble; furious or forgiving.”
— William Arthur Ward
75. “I have the opportunity, once more to right some wrongs, to pray for peace, to plant some trees, and sing more joyful songs.”
— William Arthur Ward
76. “Blessed is the person who sees the need, recognizes the responsibility, and actively becomes the answer.”
— William Arthur Ward
77. “To the optimist all doors have handles and hinges; to the pessimist, all doors have locks and latches.”
— William Arthur Ward
78. “This bright new year is given me.”
— William Arthur Ward
79. “Real optimism knows the difficulties but believes they can be overcome.”
— William Arthur Ward
80. “Faith is knowing there is an ocean because you have seen a brook.”
— William Arthur Ward
81. “Friendship flourishes at the fountain of forgiveness.”
— William Arthur Ward
82. “Raised voices lower esteem. Hot tempers cool friendships. Loose tongues stretch truth. Swelled heads shrink influence. Sharp words dull respect.”
— William Arthur Ward
83. “We can learn much from wise words, little from wisecracks, and less from wise guys.”
— William Arthur Ward
84. “The greatest ideas, the most profound thoughts, and the most beautiful poetry are born from the womb of silence.”
— William Arthur Ward
85. “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings.”
— William Arthur Ward
86. “Wise are they who have learned these truths: Trouble is temporary. Time is tonic. Tribulation is a test tube.”
— William Arthur Ward
87. “Delays, disappointments and defeats cause quitters to give up in resignation; losers, to give in the frustration; winners, to come through with determination.”
— William Arthur Ward
88. “If you would be interesting, be interested, if you would be pleased, be pleasing, if you would be loved, be loveable, if you would be helped be helpful.”
— William Arthur Ward
89. “If laser beams can cut through mountains, why should we doubt the power of prayer?”
— William Arthur Ward
90. “Gratitude is the the energy of faith.”
— William Arthur Ward
91. “Optimism is a seed sown in the soil of faith; pessimism is a seed hoarded in the vault of doubt.”
— William Arthur Ward
92. “Christmas is more than a time of music, merriment and mirth; it is a season of meditation, mangers and miracles. Christmas is more than a time of carols, cards and candy; it is a season of dedication and decision.”
— William Arthur Ward
93. “The more we count the blessings we have, the less we crave the luxuries we haven’t.”
— William Arthur Ward
94. “Flying off the handle sometimes causes hammers and humans to lose their heads, as well as their effectiveness.”
— William Arthur Ward
95. “Will someone else’s life be brighter tomorrow, because of what you have done today?”
— William Arthur Ward
96. “Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.”
— William Arthur Ward
97. “Change, like sunshine, can be a friend or a foe, a blessing or a curse, a dawn or a dusk.”
— William Arthur Ward
98. “There is one thing we can do better than anyone else: we can be ourselves.”
— William Arthur Ward
99. “Real and lasting generosity requires that a person do more than make up his mind to give. He must also make up his heart.”
— William Arthur Ward
100. “Commend while others are criticizing, persist while others are quitting.”
— William Arthur Ward
101. “The winner asks, “May I help?” The loser asks, “Do you expect me to do that?””
— William Arthur Ward
102. “Forgiveness from others is charity; from God, grace; from oneself, wisdom.”
— William Arthur Ward
103. “The optimist pleasantly ponders how high his kite will fly; the pessimist woefully wonders how soon his kite will fall.”
— William Arthur Ward
104. “Fools act on imagination without knowledge. Pedants act on knowledge without imagination.”
— William Arthur Ward
105. “A friend is one who joyfully sings with you when you are on the mountaintop, and silently walks beside you through the valley.”
— William Arthur Ward
106. “Success never resides in the world of weak wishes, but in the palace of purposeful plans and prayerful persistence.”
— William Arthur Ward
107. “Man, like the bridge, was designed to carry the load of the moment, not the combined weight of a year at once.”
— William Arthur Ward
108. “Christmas is more that a time of festivities, family, and friends; it is a season of generosity, gladness, and gratitude.”
— William Arthur Ward
109. “Benedetto colui che ha imparato ad ammirare, ma non a invidiare, a seguire ma non a imitare, a lodare ma non a lusingare, a condurre ma non a manipolare.”
— William Arthur Ward
110. “To the optimist, obstacles aare challenges, roadblocks are inspirations, and problems are invitations to achievement.”
— William Arthur Ward
111. “Freedom’s enemies are waste, lethargy, indifference, immorality, and the insidious attitude of something for nothing.”
— William Arthur Ward
112. “We can be resentful of our age, or we can be grateful for having attained it.”
— William Arthur Ward
113. “The pessimist borrows trouble; the optimists lend encouragement.”
— William Arthur Ward
114. “We can be bitter about our handicaps or we can be happy about our blessings.”
— William Arthur Ward
115. “Television remote controls encourage couch potatoes to exercise their options while broadening their base.”
— William Arthur Ward
116. “What you believe is more important than what you possess. What you live is more lasting than what you profess. Whom you inspire is more significant than whom you impress.”
— William Arthur Ward
117. “Words, like tranquil waters behind a dam, can become reckless and uncontrollable torrents of destruction when released without caution and wisdom.”
— William Arthur Ward
118. “Real optimism is exposed to the worst but expects the best.”
— William Arthur Ward
119. “A religion without the Holy Ghost, though it had all the ordinances and all the doctrines of the New Testament, would certainly not be Christianity.”
— William Arthur Ward
120. “Once trust is tarnished, it is hard to restore it to its original glow.”
— William Arthur Ward
121. “Opportunity is often difficult to recognize; we usually expect it to beckon us with beepers and billboards.”
— William Arthur Ward
122. “The momentary thrill of getting rarely equals the lasting joy of giving.”
— William Arthur Ward
123. “Christmas can be the end of emptiness and waywardness; The beginning of happiness and purposefulness.”
— William Arthur Ward
124. “The more patient we are, the more understanding we become.”
— William Arthur Ward
125. “Real optimism has reason to complain but prefers to smile.”
— William Arthur Ward
126. “Too many of us hear without heeding, read without responding, confess without changing, profess without practicing, worship without witnessing, and seek without sharing.”
— William Arthur Ward
127. “Humanity either makes, or breeds, or tolerates all its afflictions.”
— William Arthur Ward
128. “America needs fewer men obsessed with erecting fences of hate, suspicion and name calling.”
— William Arthur Ward
129. “Everyone has a common, yet unique, responsibility to the future: to make the most of today.”
— William Arthur Ward
130. “Wise are those who learn that the bottom line doesn’t always have to be their top priority.”
— William Arthur Ward
131. “Every day is a good day to examine our prime-time priorities.”
— William Arthur Ward
