The good life is not one immune to sadness but one in which suffering contributes to our development.

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"Rather than struggling to become bigger fish, we might concentrate our energies on finding smaller ponds or smaller species to swim with, so our own size will trouble us less."

- Alain de Botton

Balance

"A ‘good job’ can be both practically attractive while still not good enough to devote your entire life to."

- Alain de Botton

Balance

"Feeling lost, crazy and desperate belongs to a good life as much as optimism, certainty and reason."

- Alain de Botton

Balance

"Don't despair: despair suggests you are in total control and know what is coming. You don't – surrender to events with hope."

- Alain de Botton

Hope

"If we are not regularly deeply embarrassed by who we are, the journey to self-knowledge hasn’t begun."

- Alain de Botton

Self-awareness

More Growth Quotes

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"We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are."

- Max DePree

Growth

"How marvelous is the generation with which you deal. We have never had a generation its equal in all of the history of the Church. They are better educated. They are more familiar with the scriptures. I believe they pray with a greater measure of faith, have a greater desire to do the will of the Lord, are more active in the Church, go into the world as better prepared missionaries, and live to become better parents."

- President Gordon B. Hinckley

Growth

"Allow yourself the opportunity to get uncomfortable."

- Alex Toussaint

Growth

"All growth starts at the end of your comfort zone."

- Tony Robbins

Growth

"Take chances, make mistakes. That's how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave."

- Mary Tyler Moore

Growth