William Arthur Ward
William Arthur Ward is one of America's most quoted writers of inspirational maxims.
More than 100 articles, poems and meditations written by Ward have been published in such magazines as Reader's Digest, This Week, The Upper Room, Together, The Christian Advocate, The Adult Student, The Adult Teacher, The Christian Home, The Phi Delta Kappan, Science of Mind, The Methodist Layman, Sunshine, and Ideals.
His column Pertinent Proverbs has been featured in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and in numerous service club publications throughout the United States and abroad. He is one of the most frequently quoted writers in the pages of Quote, the international weekly digest for public speakers.
Born and raised in Louisiana, Ward entered the United States Army as a private in 1942 and rose to the rank of captain. Part of his four years of military service was spent in the Philippines.
A graduate of McMurry College, he received his master's degree at Oklahoma State University. He worked toward the doctorate at the University of Texas and at North Texas State University. In 1962 Oklahoma City University honored him with the Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his professional achievement, literary contributions and service to others.
Ward served as Assistant to the President of Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth beginning in 1955. In addition to his professional responsibilities, he was for two years the Director of Methodist Men for the Central Texas Conference, and for four years he taught the 140-member Sigler Bible Class at Polytechnic Methodist Church, where he also served as Sunday School Superintendent and Church Lay Leader.
He was a professional member of Sigma Delta Chi, American College Public Relations Association, Religious Public Relations Council and Phi Delta Kappa. In Fort Worth he was on the Board of Directors of numerous organizations including Rotary, Red Cross and Boy Scouts of America.
His biography appears in Who's Who in American Education, Who's Who in Public Relations, and Who's Who in the South and Southwest. He was a member of the International Platform Association.
“Happiness is an inside job”
“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.”
“We can throw stones, complain about them, stumble on them, climb over them, or build with them.”
“"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 ♥”
“The greatest hazard in life is to risk NOTHING.”
“Before you act, listen. Before you react, think.Before you spend, earn.Before you criticize, wait.Before you pray, forgive.Before you quit, try.”
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”
“Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and character.”
“Optimists enrich the present, enhance the future,challenge the improbable and attain the impossible”
“Wise are those who learn that the bottom line doesn't always have to be their top priority.”
“Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records. ”
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
“Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.”
“The adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The opportunity of like is to serve. The secret of life is to dare. The spice of life is to befriend. The beauty of life is to give.”
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”
“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.”
“We can learn much from wise words, little from wisecracks, and less from wise guys. ”
“The optimist lives on the peninsula of infinite possibilities; the pessimist is stranded on the island of perpetual indecision.”
“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.”
“A life lived without forgiveness is a prison.”
“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.”
“We can choose to throw stones, to stumble on them, to climb over them, or to build with them.”
“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.”
“It is wise to direct your anger towards problems -- not people; to focus your energies on answers -- not excuses.”
“God gave you a gift of 86 400 seconds today. Have you used one to say thank you ”
“Every person has the power to make others happy. Some do it simply by entering a room others by leaving the room. Some individuals leave trails of gloom; others, trails of joy. Some leave trails of hate and bitterness; others, trails of love and harmony. Some leave trails of cynicism and pessimism; others trails of faith and optimism. Some leave trails of criticism and resignation; others trails of gratitude and hope. What kind of trails do you leave?”
“A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition.”
“if you can imagine it, you can achieve it, if you can dream it, you can become it”
“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.”
“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.”
“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.”
“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.”
“When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.”