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I restore myself when I'm alone. A career is born in public — talent in privacy.

Marilyn Monroe

Beloved actress Marilyn Monroe had a complex relationship with fame: Though she is an icon of midcentury Hollywood glamour, she often spoke of the pressure that came with such popularity, and she retreated from public attention despite several high-profile relationships. After getting her start in lightweight roles, she made the mid-career decision to study with the renowned acting coach Lee Strasberg, away from the limelight. Her roles after this choice — such as the acclaimed 1959 film “Some Like It Hot” — catapulted the actress to global stardom. Her words here remind us that we make some of our most meaningful progress in private, when we are free of the expectations and projections of others.

A person without imagination is like a teabag without hot water.

Alan Fletcher

Known as the godfather of British graphic design, Alan Fletcher was one of the leading pioneers of independent design after World War II. His trailblazer mentality was evident in his education, as he attended four separate art schools, each more forward-thinking than the last. He is known for his playful use of color and clever witticisms — rare elements in British graphic design at the time, which have since become modern industry staples. Fletcher’s lively sense of innovation encourages us to always think outside the box: Without imagination, we might never discover our true purpose and potential.

It is a duty to take this risk, to love and feel without defense or reserve.


William S. Burroughs

Author William S. Burroughs was a founding member of the Beat Generation, a bohemian literary and social movement that formed after World War II. Burroughs was known for the humor and stark honesty of his writing, which often tackled difficult subjects including addiction and identity. He experimented with new forms of literature, delved into recording music, and traveled extensively throughout his life. His approach to creating and living encourages us to see risk not as an enemy, but as a necessity for a life of love and fulfillment.

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

Dalai Lama

Tenzin Gyatso is the 14th Dalai Lama, serving as the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. A Nobel Peace Prize winner, he has dedicated his life's work to promoting nonviolence and compassion between individuals and nations. Since the 1980s, he has also worked extensively with modern scientists to develop evidence-based techniques for mindfulness and well-being. His words here encourage us to look for the silver lining whenever we are faced with disappointment: Letting go of our expectations may lead to an even better outcome than what we thought we wanted.

A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.

Frank Capra

When he was in his early 20s, chemical engineer Frank Capra was working odd jobs near San Francisco, such as pruning fruit trees and selling books door to door. Then he saw a 1922 newspaper ad: Workers were needed at a gymnasium to help adapt a Rudyard Kipling poem into a silent short film. With confidence, Capra — who had grown up in Los Angeles but had no cinematic ties — told the production he was from Hollywood, nabbing his first directorial gig, en route to helming several classic films. By the following decade’s end, he had won three Best Director Oscars, for "It Happened One Night" (1934), "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" (1936), and "You Can't Take It With You" (1938). And 1946 saw the release of perhaps his most enduring and beloved film, "It's a Wonderful Life." Capra urged people to follow their instincts, regardless of their past experience. Curiosities should be pursued, for every half-formed idea has the potential to become a work of art.

When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.

Malala Yousafzai

In her 2013 memoir, “I Am Malala,” the young Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai reflected on the nature of courage in the face of injustice. When she was shot by Taliban extremists and left for dead in 2012, at just 15 years old, Yousafzai was not scared away from continuing her humanitarian work. After a miraculous recovery, she became even more impassioned and outspoken about the need for women’s education in Pakistan, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. Though the Taliban meant to silence her, Yousafzai instead found her voice was louder than ever, and she has since become a role model to millions worldwide.

The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.

Carl Rogers

American psychologist Carl Rogers, one of the founding fathers of psychotherapy research, presents this “curious paradox” in his 1961 book “On Becoming a Person: A Therapist’s View of Psychotherapy.” Rogers encourages us to stop focusing our energy on trying to improve ourselves and simply learn to accept who we are, flaws and all. Ironically, it’s often that very acceptance that creates space for personal growth and change.

We must turn to each other and not on each other.

Jesse Jackson

In his powerful address to the 1984 Democratic National Convention, activist, minister, and then-presidential candidate Jesse Jackson implored his audience to set aside differences and remember our shared humanity. Jackson campaigned on the idea of a diverse “Rainbow Coalition” to advocate for all Americans, regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation. Though he lost the nomination, Jackson achieved historic success during the race, winning more than 3 million votes during the primaries, and becoming the first Black American to win a major party state primary or caucus.

What do you do when there's nowhere to turn? You drive straight ahead.

Leslie Gordon

During her 2013 TED Talk, physician Leslie Gordon recalled how she chose her course of action when faced with heartbreaking news in the summer of 1998. Gordon and her husband learned that their 22-month-old son, Sam, had been diagnosed with progeria, an extremely rare syndrome that causes rapid aging and premature death. There was very little existing research about the disease, or support groups for people affected by it, and Gordon realized she needed to blaze her own trail to advocate for her son and others like him. Gordon created the Progeria Research Foundation, where she and her team continue to reach promising milestones in the search for a cure.

The older I get, the greater power I seem to have to help the world.

Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony spent most of her later life, in the 1890s, as president of the National Woman Suffrage Association. After enduring a lifetime of sexist ridicule for her activism, post-presidency — in her late-seventies and into her eighties — she attended speaking engagements in Europe, where she was embraced as an American hero. Although Anthony did not live to see women earn the right to vote in 1920, in her later years she witnessed the public deferring to her wisdom. Age brings experience, and the shared respect for that experience — as well as the work done on your past self — has the power to make a great impact on society.