In her popular 2013 book "Lean In," which shines a light on the importance of women in leadership positions, Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg presents the ideal attributes of a good leader. For Sandberg, there is nothing more valuable to an organization — be it a school, family, or Fortune 500 company — than when the people in positions of power can humble themselves enough to listen, learn, and digest new information.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edith Wharton’s ninth novel, “The Custom of the Country,” was published in 1913, the same year her 28-year marriage ended in divorce. At a time when divorce was still considered quite scandalous, Wharton explored the suffocating social mores of high society through the book’s protagonist Undine Spragg. Undine is an ambitious young woman from the Midwest who longs for a life of wealth and glamour, no matter the cost. This quote, while spoken in a flirtatious manner to the man who becomes Undine’s lover, reflects Wharton’s shrewd observations about women’s roles in society. Unlike her protagonist, Wharton was born into an affluent family, never had children, and never remarried following her divorce. Seen in that light, Undine’s life choices become a cautionary tale, and this quote echoes Wharton’s perhaps hard-won belief that making a break can sometimes be the best way to mend one’s sense of self-identity.

The theme of alienation from society takes center stage in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s classic 1866 novel “Crime and Punishment.” This is embodied by the novel’s protagonist, Raskolnikov, whose very name is derived from the Russian “raskolnik”, meaning “schismatic” or “divided.” He is a proud and disdainful man who looks down upon his fellow humans. In contrast, Dostoevsky created the character of Razumikhin, a humanist with a strong sense of morality. He doesn’t become gloomy or resigned at the thought of failure — instead, he celebrates it. “Through error you come to the truth!” he proclaims in the monologue that contains this quote. “I am a man because I err! You never reach any truth without making fourteen mistakes and very likely a hundred and fourteen.” These wise words from Razumikhin, whose own name comes from the Russian word “razum” (meaning “reason” or “intelligence”), remind us that although we will certainly fail many times throughout our lives, our failures belong to us and are vital for forging our identities.

Richard Paul Evans is a prolific writer, having published dozens of books, including nonfiction works on money management and his bestselling fictional “Christmas Box” series. These words come from the series’ last installment, “The Letter,” in which a father grieves for his young daughter and finds a letter from his own estranged mother. Evans’ story focuses on the choices we make, and all the feelings, both good and bad, that ripple after them. His words here remind us that the experiences of our lives, from the difficult to the joyful, define us as much as we define them. In the end, our actions and the way we treated others will be our legacy.