Walter Scott Quotes

Nothing befalls a man except what is in his nature to endure.

Nothing happens to any man which he is not formed by nature to bear. The same things happen to another, and either because he does not see that they have happened or because he would show a great spirit he is firm and remains unharmed. It is a shame then that ignorance and conceit should be stronger than wisdom.

Victory in physical battles requires strength, muscles, and skill; but the fight is never tougher and victory is never sweeter than in the battles over self.

The pressure of adversity does not affect the mind of the brave man... It is more powerful than external circumstances.

Strength of character does not consist solely in having powerful feelings, but in maintaining one’s balance in spite of them

I do not murmur, even if my heart break.

The immortal mind, superior to his fate, amid the outrage of external things, firm as the solid base of this great world, rests on his own foundation. Blow, ye winds! Ye waves! ye thunders! roll your tempests on! Shake, ye old pillars of the marble sky! Till at its orbs and all its worlds of fire be loosen'd from their seats; yet still serene, the unconquer'd mind looks down upon the wreck; and ever stronger as the storms advance, firm through the closing ruin holds is way, when nature calls him to the destin'd goal.

He who rejoices even at the stake triumphs not over pain but over the absence of pain where he had anticipated feeling it. A parable.

Can't react every time you're insulted. Free people absorb destructive things and refuse to be destroyed

Life imposes things on you that you can't control, but you still have the choice of how you're going to live through this.

He smiled despite the grief he felt at the deaths of his men; he smiled because that was what he did. That was how he proved to the Lord Ruler-and to himself-that he wasn't beaten.

So with the man who has daily inured himself to habits of concentrated attention, energetic volition, and self-denial in unnecessary things. He will stand like a tower when everything rocks around him, and when his softer fellow-mortals are winnowed like chaff in the blast.

If you're strong enough on the inside, you can handle anything that comes at you on the outside.

He's truly valiant that can wisely suffer The worst that man can breathe, and make his wrongs His outsides, to wear them like his raiment, carelessly, And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart, To bring it into danger.

He who has calmly reconciled his life to fate, and set proud death beneath his feet, can look fortune in the face, unbending both to good and bad; his countenance unconquered.

A wise man is out of the reach of fortune.

You must grow in patience when you meet with great wrongs, and they will then be powerless to vex your mind.

Man's inner strength may raise him above his outward fate.

Let the enemy rage at the gate; let him knock, pound, scream, howl; let him do his worst. We know for certain that he cannot enter our soul except by the door of our consent.

The wind cannot overturn a mountain. Temptation cannot touch the man Who is awake, strong and humble, Who masters hiself and minds the law.

You learn who you really are in a fight - what you're really made of. You have to face yourself and rise above your own fears and failings.

He that can heroically endure adversity will bear prosperity with equal greatness of soul; for the mind that cannot be dejected by the former is not likely to be transported with the later.

Discipline strengthens the mind so that it becomes impervious to the corroding influence of fear.

You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.