In William Shakespeare’s immortal play “Romeo and Juliet,” Friar Laurence gives this advice to the young Romeo, who has decided to marry Juliet despite their families' deep blood feud. The words stand as a warning against Romeo’s recklessness, which ultimately proves fatal for the star-crossed lovers. And it remains good advice for us all: Moving too quickly, without thinking our choices through, can result in careless mistakes at best and avoidable catastrophes at worst. Often, slow and steady really is the best way forward.

Cormac McCarthy is widely regarded as one of the greatest living American writers. His 12 novels — many of which have been made into movies — include “All the Pretty Horses,” “The Crossing,” his magnum opus “Blood Meridian,” and “The Road,” which won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. The author is known for his sparse style and what he calls “simple declarative sentences.” Thematically, his work is highly complex, ranging from borderline nihilism to deep examinations of human morals. In his novel “No Country for Old Men,” in which this quote appears, McCarthy tackles the conflicting ideas of fate, luck, and choice. 

The starring character of English writer and philosopher G.K. Chesterton’s first book of short stories, 1911's “The Innocence of Father Brown,” is a priest-turned-detective who combines scientific observation with spirituality. At this moment, Father Brown is explaining to another priest how things can change based on perspective. This quote speaks to the value of humility: Looking down on the world from a lofty height makes things appear small, but when we are down in the valley looking up, we have a much better grasp of what we’re seeing.

Spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle has had a profound impact on the lives of millions of people around the world. His bestselling books “The Power of Now” and “A New Earth” have sold millions of copies and been translated into dozens of languages. Tolle's work focuses on mindfulness, kindness, and living in the present moment. His teachings have inspired countless people to consider their truth and find peace within themselves.

Fred Rogers, the beloved host of the children's television series “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” often focused on helping kids understand their emotions, to know that “feelings are mentionable and manageable.” But Mister Rogers also acknowledged that it can take a lifetime to understand and love ourselves for the complicated, wonderful human beings that we are. This quote reminds us that no matter what stage of life we find ourselves in, self-reflection and kindness are always noble endeavors.