“Personal happiness lies in knowing that life is not a checklist of acquisition. Your qualifications are not your life.”

“Your qualifications, your CV, are not your life, though you will meet many people of my age and older who confuse the two. Life is difficult, and complicated, and beyond anyone's control, and the humility to know that will enable you to survive its vicissitudes.”

“Anyway, who in their right mind would ever say a person was supposed to be happy? In your life happiness is either cut to your length or isn't.”

“Of all the means to insure happiness throughout the whole life, by far the most important is the acquisition of friends.”

“A lie believed acts as truth until it is neutralized.” The false beliefs you hold about your life become the personal laws of your life, holding you prisoner until you break your agreement with them.”

“Now you look here. All your father ever dreamed of for you was to do something you loved in life. He didn't care about fancy qualifications or fancy clothes or cars, just that you were both happy and fulfilled. He was so excited about your dreams for a career.”