By subscribing to Inspiring Quotes you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
In 1904, “Brown Book Magazine” held a contest in which they asked readers to define success. When Kansas woman Bessie Anderson Stanley submitted her answer, she likely never dreamed her words would someday be misattributed to famed authors such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Robert Louis Stevenson. In the poem Stanley submitted, she highlighted appreciation of nature, kindness toward others, and having “left the world better than [one] found it” as tenets of a successful life. Stanley’s words ground us in what is truly important, and they continue to resonate more than a century later.
13 of the Funniest Quotes From Great Novels
13 Hilariously Relatable Quotes From ‘Garfield’
Start Anew With These 15 Encouraging Quotes
12 Funny Quotes From the Women of ‘SNL’
17 Quotes To Help You Embrace Imperfection
12 Quotes for When You’re Feeling Overstimulated
Get To Know the Inspiring Quotes Team With Our Favorite Quotes
Break Free of Jealousy With These Quotes
Advice From Our Favorite Children’s TV Characters
8 Quotes From the Trailblazing Women of the Civil Rights Movement
Add a Dash of Laughter to Your Day With These Cooking Quotes