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Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Thich Nhat Hanh, a renowned Vietnamese Buddhist monk, teacher, and writer, has traveled widely to spread his teachings on mindfulness and nonviolence. His persistent peaceful campaigns calling for an end to the Vietnam War in the 1960s brought him worldwide recognition, as well as nearly 40 years of exile from his home country. Here, he advises us to let go of our attachments in order to find happiness. He writes that to cling to anything — “anger, anxiety, or possessions” — can encumber our experience of freedom. Thich Nhat Hanh has said “letting go is a practice,” and an art that can be cultivated daily. By recognizing and releasing our desires, fears, hurt, and resentment, we can live our lives more freely and joyfully.

I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship.

Louisa May Alcott

In Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 book “Little Women,” we follow the lives of four sisters — Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy — as they grow up together and face all of life's trials and joys. Alcott based the book on her own childhood in Concord, Massachusetts. In this line, the character of Amy, the youngest sister, is expressing that every obstacle helps us grow and learn, making us stronger and braver the older we get.

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.

Nelson Mandela

South African leader Nelson Mandela spent half a century fighting against the oppressive system of apartheid that segregated Black and white South Africans — a fight that led to his arrest in 1962 and a 27-year imprisonment. After his release from prison in 1990, Mandela spent the next four years participating in peace talks and negotiations to bring apartheid to an end, and in 1994 was elected as the first Black president of a revolutionized nation. Mandela never faltered in his belief in a more equal and just future, and that belief propelled him to act despite the risk. With this quote, from his 1994 memoir “Long Walk to Freedom,” he points out that courage and fear aren’t opposites; rather, true courage is taking action even when you’re scared. “The brave man,” he wrote, “is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

Whatever you are, try to be a good one.

William Makepeace Thackeray

When essayist Laurence Hutton was a boy, he met British novelist William Makepeace Thackery (author of "Vanity Fair" and other books) and had an encounter that profoundly impacted his life. Thackeray asked Hutton what he wanted to be when he grew up, and Hutton replied, "A farmer." Thackeray’s apparent response was this piece of wisdom. Hutton tried his best to fulfill that advice, and we should, too. It doesn’t matter what you do in life; what matters is striving for excellence in any task, big or small, because the effort itself can be the greatest reward.

Every gift from a friend is a wish for your happiness.

Richard Bach

Author Richard Bach wrote several bestselling books in the 1970s, many of which were semi-autobiographical and pulled from his own career as an aviator and Navy pilot. While most of his stories center on the experience of flying, with this quote Bach speaks to us about friendship and love, and the power of giving. He notes that a gift from a friend is more than the object being gifted: The thought behind it is an expression of love, because it’s a genuine wish for you to be happy.

Nothing succeeds like success. Get a little success, and then just get a little more.

Maya Angelou

In 2008, a journalist with “The Atlantic” interviewed renowned poet Maya Angelou about race, feminism, and how to break down the barriers many people face in life. Prejudices “have been built over centuries,” Angelou said, and we can’t break through them immediately. Angelou encouraged readers not to be discouraged or disheartened if the hard work doesn’t pay off right away, because with persistence, eventually we’ll see some success — and a little bit of success can be the best motivator to keep trying. “We mustn't run out of steam," she said, "but keep plugging away."

Seek first the virtues of the mind; and other things either will come, or will not be wanted.

Francis Bacon

The English philosopher Francis Bacon wrote this line in his 1605 book, “The Proficience and Advancement of Learning.” With it, he suggests that in order to be happy, it’s important to do first what we believe is honorable and right. Bacon warned that, paradoxically, chasing success can sometimes be the least effective way to reach joy. "Fortune,” he wrote, “hath somewhat of the nature of a woman, that if she be too much wooed, she is the farther off." But if we live with virtue, he suggests, then good fortune will come our way — or, we’ll discover that a virtuous life can itself be the root of happiness.

Genius, like humanity, rusts for want of use.

William Hazlitt

English essayist William Hazlitt is best known for his humanist writings, which stress free will and self-actualization. In 1826, he published “On Application to Study,” an essay discussing how staying engaged keeps us moving forward. With this line, Hazlitt suggests that the drive for knowledge keeps our minds sharp — that genius is a muscle that can be exercised. He wrote that “by continuing our efforts, as by moving forwards in a road, we extend our views, and discover continually new tracts of country.” In other words, we will always learn something new when we’re out looking for it with an open mind.
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It is only after the deepest darkness that the greatest joy can come.

Malcolm X

Minister and activist Malcolm X spent his life advocating for civil rights, helping to pave the way toward racial equality. In the final chapter of his 1964 autobiography, Malcolm X reflects on his past and his accomplishments. He recalls how greatly he suffered in life, but offers a message of hope, writing, "It is only after slavery and prison that the sweetest appreciation of freedom can come." His words remind us that pleasure can't be experienced without pain to compare it to, and the challenges we face bring a greater appreciation of the joy in life.

The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity, and with clarity comes conviction and true originality.

Conan O'Brien

In his 2011 commencement speech at Dartmouth College, comedian Conan O’Brien drew from his own experiences with disappointment to deliver this poignant quote. After O’Brien lost his job as host of “The Tonight Show,” he was able to turn that setback into success, becoming the host of his own long-running talk show. This quote reminds us that the very moments that look like failure can be opportunities in disguise — opportunities to learn, to grow, and to gain wisdom and clarity that can lead us to achieve even greater things.