Toastmasters Collection of Quotations and Sayings

Colleen, a lover of the written word, has a master's degree in English literature and enjoys finding unique and poignant quotes.

Imparting Knowledge Via Adage

Introduction

The following collection of quotes and sayings are listed alphabetically according to keyword or subject. Whatever topic you might be seeking, I hope you find some fruitful words here. I will from time to time add fresh material, so please return. The images contain my choices from famous people and authors and the text are my selections from lesser known literature.

John Dickinson said,

• “Often the finest is found within the seemingly least remarkable.”

And according to John Bonner,

• “Nearly every book has quality although that might be limited to a single sentence on the last page.”

Affected by Advice and Historical Events

Nothing ever becomes real until it has affected us; even advice is lifeless until it has demonstrated itself. Paul Brewster

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Victorian times saw social deprivation alongside social development driven by the virtue of charity. Nowadays charity pays excellent wages. Charlie Briggs

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In nearly every decade of human history there has been a momentous event that contributes to humanities future. It often begins with one mind and is proliferated by others. William M. Dudley

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Generally one wants to impart good advice to our friends. The mistake one makes is when we interfere in a discourse between two friends; this tends to result in losing them. Hence, often our best advice is to give none at all. Thomas R Taylor

The Infringement of Liberty

Death is an Unreasonable Solution

A man who is legitimately disgraced by his peers is destined to a life of misery, and without the courage to end that life is also a coward. Mark L. Schmidt

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The most sought after death is the unexpected; alas we find it the most difficult to bring on. Benny Hill

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Mankind continues to pay the price of imposing political and religious doctrines upon fellow men; it is a reciprocal mission which ends and begins in defeat and death. Marika Snyder

Only Mankind Knows What Is And What Ought To Be

Rewards in Life Come From Creating Joy

While often we cannot change basic struggles in life, we can find contentment and pride in creating our own kind of joy within these parameters. Maureen Lamb

Vexed When Made to Feel Inferior

Divine Calling: Our God’s Subtle Messages

Why do people bless me when I sneeze? Historically, it is because a sneeze is the first sign of influenza, the plague or the soul briefly leaving the body and your life is in god’s hands. Blaze Carmel

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When I give a speech, it is from my heart and is a genuine plea to the congregation to follow my message, but I am not whom I preach to; I am a wallet of a man. George Gently: Hypocrites and Wealth.

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When I baptize a new-born, God is sharing a message that he intends the Earth to continue. John Maudlin

Stand By Your Spouse

Devotion and Sentiment

Pop stars are often loved and idolized by young girls as an expression of that love and adoration they hope one day to inspire. Missy Kim White

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Although we might fail to return the devotion of another, we always concur with that person’s sentiment. Johnny Winder

It's The Little Things That Are The Most Valuable

During Her Later Years Courtesy Eluded Judy Garland

Sometimes it is better not to meet your heroes and heroines in the flesh. We were both to appear on the same talk show together, and I was thrilled and excited at the prospect of meeting the one and only Judy Garland at last. We met backstage, and Judy drank glass after glass of wine.

I told her that I was a great fan of hers and admired her so much, but instead of responding graciously, she just took another glass and walked over to the window. “When in hell are they going to put us on?” she complained, impatient and irritable at having to wait for her cue. Source: Shirley Jones: a Memoir by Shirley Jones

Often The Complex Can Become a Simplistic Design

Education And The Discipline of Memory

Children when encouraged to fathom a problem themselves rather than be guided by correction are more likely to retain the knowledge. Justin Keaton

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Give a hammer to a man and he will find a nail; give the same to a young boy and everything becomes a nail. Mother Hen

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When advising students to better understand or present a concept, you will come to realize that there are those who require time and detailed explanation and then there are those who need only one word. These are the students who have acumen, and you must ensure you choose the right word. Paul W. Brewster

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You will not be remembered for what you could have done and should have, but for what you did and should not have done. Teresa S. Rilke

The Preachers Dilemma

Famous Men Learn Faith From Experience

You gain experience from your past mistakes and the ability to recognize new ones sooner. Peter G. Hancock

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I have created and published wonderful recipes, but the most difficult recipe to write is the instructions for boiling an egg. Pierre R Miguel

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Think twice before taking advice from a man who has complete faith in what he imparts. Marie Spears

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A failed man is one that tried to gain fame without first becoming a great man, and a great man can only be famous once. John Heywood

Success Can Be Hidden in The Value of Failure

Finding The Perfect Woman

I vowed to marry only the perfect woman. She would be chaste modest tolerant sympathetic and patient. Regrettably, when I found her she was searching for the perfect man. Duncan Saris

Flirtation Should Be Subtle

Love Can Make Us Both Silly And Real

Love is the sharing of distraction, the highs and the lows of everyday life, but the special ingredient is when two lovers can be unabashed and silly together. Douglas R. Mullen

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There are two ways to fall in love; again and never again. Marilyn Murray

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When a couple in love are drawn apart and neither has a broken heart then is it truly love? Pat Winner

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Always be yourself and then you will know that if someone loves you it is the real you they love. Ava Shaffer

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I sent my love-heart a valentine and filled it with words of endearment. When my love-heart severed our bond; she said “Your words were written in the sand, never spoken, and soon forgotten.”

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When I first met him, he was lacking that sweetness and generosity that I expected; then I made him laugh and he did for me, and we fell-about in love. Clarence Day

No One Wants To Part With Their Fame

Poverty Can Become a Fashionable Lifestyle

Many a man of poverty has heard the words “money does not buy you happiness.” Why is it often the well-heeled man who imparts such wisdom to the poor? Rachel Molineux

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The modern commune houses people who pretend they were once rich but now survive as Spartan and with equal ability. John James

New Ideas Are Born From Yesterdays Mistakes

Success Depends Upon Direction

The road to success is in the understanding that repeated failures indicate the need of a change in direction. Lord Sugar

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Business is like crossing water. If you step ever so carefully from stone to stone you are sure to slip, but if you run and jump from stone to stone you will still get wet, but you make it over a whole lot quicker. Ron Dorian Steiner

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Success in politics is a juggling act between promising the poor the opportunity to become rich and promising the rich that they will become richer still. Antonia Suez

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Although it is natural for us to hide our failures, we can be magnanimous and assist others by sharing these examples. Adrian Parlor

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The wonderful thing about politics is that when you gain power you will strive to correct the problems of the present society but having done so, you must create new ones in order to stay in the power race. Gideon Forage

The Bluffer Is Soon Exposed

Survival Is Maintained By Understanding Our Rulers

In order to survive without freedom and liberty, you must follow the rules of dress and etiquette; agree with the majority and ensure that you are popular. Ruth Bennett

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Animals are cleverer than we give them credit for, in that they intuit any double-dutch we speak. Marcia Baden Bower

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All is unequal under right-wing political systems and equally so under the left, but far better hidden. Marcus O’Brian

The Logic Behind Easy Decisions

Temper is a Condition of Madness

There is no upstanding man who is immune from the occasional wisp of madness, but a short temper swells the condition. Paul Burton

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Adolf Hitler is remembered for warping human passions by his profound understanding of applied psychology, as well as his sanity painted on the rock of complete madness. Dimitri Lamont

We All Mature Into Our Dark Minds

The Clock of Anxiety

Anxiety is that tick-tock fear of what might never be. It didn’t happen yesterday, but it could be anytime today, and if not surely tomorrow. Veronica Tilley

The Use Of Power can be a Mindless Exercise

The Imperfect Lady Is The Most Desirable

I courted an attractive lady whose virtues were: she never responded to flattery, always told the truth, never looked down, and wanted to enter politics. The next lady I courted was like me: unsurprisingly imperfect. Jackson R Shatner

Infatuation Is Boundless; Marriage Has Rules

Truth And Popularity Are Not Always Friends

If, when people asked me how I am I were to answer honestly, they would rarely if ever ask me again. Kate Marlin

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Listening to an arrogant, ignorant man explaining your subject who is oblivious of your knowledge and the lack of his own is to witness stupidity. Rolf Dexter

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When you read the minutes of a meeting of a board of banking executives there are never any notes of ordinary honesty such as: “I made a mistake or I don’t know.” The best you get is “an error occurred” Miss S. Tapper

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They say it takes two to tell a lie: one to voice and one to listen, but we can live a lie, and never know the truth. Malcolm Baker

Better to Die Than to Submit to Tyranny

Understanding Is The Sign Of Wisdom

They say that wisdom is imparted from the accumulation of knowledge, but in truth wisdom is not how much you know but how much you understand. Dorian Sutcliffe

Women Know How to Manage Intelligent Men

Vanity And The Mirror of Admiration

Whenever I meet someone who has achieved similar things as I have and has developed good opinions and prejudices like mine, then I admire them and want to become the reflection in their mirror. George D. Morley

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Often people prefer hearing something banal; then any comment they make in response allows them to sound clever. Ted Morgan

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Is it possible for vanity to wane? I was admiring my reflection and felt the need to buy a new mirror. Ned G. Thornton

Doubting Mankind's Rationality

Wealth Does Not Bring Happiness Or True Friendship

Joy and contentment are not emotions you become accustomed to; often they spring from inner warmth, rooted in memories. Danielle Rainer

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Born into poverty and suppression, I fought for a better life, achieving both prosperity and freedom. Yet, having experienced both ends of the spectrum; neither brought me happiness. Jules A Camus

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Jealously wears a mask when we are exposed to the new found wealth of a friend. Barry Jameson

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I left home at aged 16 and went to the big city. It was a lonely existence; even the trees weren’t friendly. Marcus Walden

Perfection Needs no Addition

Words of Rapture And Conviction

Adolf Hitler’s public speeches were crafted to capture the hearts of the German people. He is said to have mesmerized and bewitched his audiences who would erupt into hysteria and tears of jubilation. Party members would salute and chant the words “Hail Hitler” as they experienced rhetorical rapture. Richard D. Baum

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The real power of the word is attributed to politicians who can speak with conviction and empty heads. Cornelius Levine

Sharing Brings Mutual Joy

Choose an ending for this quote

Conclusion

I hope you have enjoyed reading these quotes and have found some of interest that you might use as a toastmaster or for an after dinner speech.

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The relationship of the toastmaster to the speaker should be the same as that of the fan to the fan dancer. It should call attention to the subject without making any particular effort to cover it. Adlai Stevenson

I leave you with this gem by LA Rochefoucauld: A suitable ending.

Finally, We Are Least Able To Follow Our Own Advice

© 2014 Colleen Swan

Comments

Colleen Swan (author) from County Durham on June 26, 2014:

Thank you Suzanne. Glad you enjoyed these. Hopefully a quote for every occasion.

Suzanne Day from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on June 25, 2014:

A nice collection of quotes that come in handy everywhere! Voted interesting.

Colleen Swan (author) from County Durham on June 24, 2014:

Thank you Jim, I remember Gary Gilmore, a great musician and lyricist.

Jim Bean on June 24, 2014:

My favorite quote is by Gary Gilmore. He said:

"Let's do it!"

Colleen Swan (author) from County Durham on June 24, 2014:

Hi Gilbert, Thanks for looking in. I wanted to include quotes about anything rather than a specific keyword. I think it makes it more interesting. Glad you enjoyed them.

Gilbert Arevalo from Hacienda Heights, California on June 23, 2014:

You included many clever quotes from fascinating people, Colleen. I like Conan Doyle's quote "little things are infinitely the most important." Most of us know he is the famous author of master detective, Sherlock Holmes. Solving crimes begins by finding clues. It can be as simple as a burned match or cigar ashes. He was a master at building little things into an interesting detective tale.

Colleen Swan (author) from County Durham on June 22, 2014:

Thank you DDE and MsDora for your encouraging, discerning comments.

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on June 22, 2014:

Well I think the last quote is appropriate for me, though I'd have to insert "woman." Also pertinent for me is "advice is lifeless until it has demonstrated itself" by Paul Brewster. These are all deep thoughts. Thank you.

Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on June 22, 2014:

I like these quotes so meaningful and true about life.

Colleen Swan (author) from County Durham on June 21, 2014:

Thank you Tom for identifying this pertinent quote.

Thomas Swan from New Zealand on June 21, 2014:

Great set of quotes. Once again, a Goethe quote stood out for me: "Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing; a confusion of the real with the ideal never goes unpunished."