“Before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you invest, investigate. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. Before you retire, save. Before you die, give.” ~ William A. Ward
Lance writes stories from his heart, aiming to inspire and motivate, as you align more fully with YOUR true peak. When he's not here, you can find him hanging out with his family, riding a bike, or just generally acting goofy.
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{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
Awesome quote, Thinking everything out before action is something so hard to achieve but something that rewards deeply. I should really carry round a little book of quotes to read throughout the day 🙂
Chris – Zen to Fitnesss last blog post..Are Multi-Vitamins Worth Taking?
Lance,
I could spend a whole year just working on this alone, and then I question whether I would make significant progress.
If I didn’t already have a blog I think I could probably base one entirely on this quote.
Have a great day Lance.
🙂
Dave Fowlers last blog post..Why I Want To Feel Hungry
I like this, particularly “before you pray, forgive” and “before you die, give”. If we all asked “what can I give? and “who can I forgive?” the world would be a much more peaceful place.
Another great thoguht to end my week on. Thanks Lance.
Kelly
Kelly@SHE-POWERs last blog post..Why Blogging is Like Backpacking
Very powerful! I’m going to print this out and stick it on my wall. Thanks! 🙂
That might be my favorite Sunday quote so far, Lance. Beautiful.
If everyone took William’s advice I think that we would have a lot more happy people walking around.
Karl Staib – Work Happy Nows last blog post..My Work Happiness Week in Review – Grand Plans, Aha, and ACL
blessings to you, Lance, for your giving,
CG
CG Walterss last blog post..Serialization of Sacred Vow: Djalma
especially for me the BEFORE YOU TRY TO HELP SEE IF THE PERSON SIMPLY WANTS A SHOULDER TO CRY ON AND AN EAR TO **LISTEN**
thanks lance.
MizFits last blog post..The Other Side of the Couch: Mother Warriors.
YES, YES, and YES! Always a nice Sunday read here! Hope your day is awesome!
Ms last blog post..Daily Life Challenge
listening is something I need to get better at but more importantly speaking before it’s time is somthing I REALLY need to work on, thanks for the quote!
Nice concise wisdom! I do take exception to the “Before you pray, forgive.” Sometimes we have to pray for help in learning to forgive. What do you think?
Jean Browman–Cheerful Monks last blog post..Is This Really The Best Use of My Time?
“Before you spend, earn.”
How do we make America go back to doing this?
Happy Sunday Lance. I don’t know where you find all these great quotes. I’ve never come across that one before but it’s brilliant.
Interesting quote. A quote one could easily contemplate over many pots of tea.
Bamboo Forests last blog post..7 Ways to Settle a Dispute
Vered, I so agree. England is in the same boat. No one wants to wait to own something anymore they want it NOW and they want it on CREDIT!
Tara@From Dawn Till rusks last blog post..Which superhero are you?
Hi Lance. What a nice way to top off the weekend. Thanks!
Davinas last blog post..Free Spirit My Ass!
That was a great way to say goodbye to the weekend. Thanks a lot Lance.
@Chris – Zen to Fitness — Thinking everything out, that’s what this is saying, isn’t it. Makes me think – thoughtful action…
@Dave – I think we could all spend some time working on this. There’s always room to improve, no matter how “good” we are in each of these areas. I have a long ways to go…but I’m working on it…
@Kelly – Those two were powerful for me too, Kelly. If I could do these two fully in my life, I just wonder how much more “at peace” I would be with the world. To give and to forgive – two very empowering things if we can really, truly make them part of our everyday life…
@Irene – I’m glad you liked it!
@Writer Dad – I really loved this quote as well. It says so much in a few short words.
@Karl – Yes, this world would be such a better place if everyone used this quote as their motto. If they really lived it. Do any of us really live it? Not many. I don’t. I’m working my way there, and it’s one of those things that I can only get better at. I’ll never reach a point where I’ve succeeded at achieving all of these points. And that’s ok. As long as I’m going in the right direction…
@CG Walters – Thank you!
@MizFit – Great point. Sometimes we just jump in and try to solve a “problem”. When that’s not what we should be doing. We sometimes just need to be a shoulder to lean on, or an ear to listen. And that’s an important point to remember…
@Mark – Thanks, and yes it’s a great day! Hope yours was as well!
@Bobbi – Listening…how hard it can be sometimes to really “listen” to what another is saying. To listen intently, to listen without reading something into it, to be fully in the moment. This is a gift. A gift we give to those with whom we come in contact. And sometimes this is not an easy gift to give. I struggle with this one too.
@Jean – “Before you pray, forgive” – do we sometimes need to pray first in our process of learning to forgive? I think, yes, I would agree with you. Forgiveness is not necessarily an easy thing to do. And to be able to fully and deeply forgive, we do sometimes need to pray for help in being able to understand what forgiveness means. These can be very deep conversations with our maker, as we come to terms with what forgiveness really means to us. That said, I also agree with what is said in this quote. My take on it is that to have deep, very personal prayers – prayers that are not just superficial, but are deep into what our being is – we need to be also able to truly forgive. Forgive in the sense that we have completely released that for which we are forgiving. I’m not sure how much sense this is making. I guess in the end, I see it as a two-way street. To be able to forgive, prayer can be a powerful step toward our getting to the real point of forgiveness. And then once we get beyond that, if we are able to forgive, our prayers really speak to what matters in our heart…I’m not sure I really gave you an answer Jean. I definitely see the point you bring up, and it has much validity for me.
@Vered – YES! How can we? We’ve become a society consumed by our wants, without always taking care of our needs first…
@Cath – Happy Sunday to you too, Cath! This quote was new to me too. And I thought the same thing – brilliant!
@Bamboo Forest – There is much to contemplate here, yes. In so few words, this says so much…
@Tara – Credit, used wisely, can be a very good thing. But we have went through a real time of credit abuse, and are paying the price now. Hopefully this is a good lesson to all.
@Davina – I’m glad you enjoyed it Davina!
@Katie – It is a good way to end the weekend. A thought that can have real meaning if we really let it permeate our minds.
Great quote. Listening is a learned skill and some of us impatient ones don’t always listen as good as we should. thanks for the reminder.
FitMoms last blog post..Winner #2 of the Sambazon Smoothie Contest & another recipe!
Most Excellent Quote.
meleah rebeccahs last blog post..Difficult Times Call For Drastic Measures
Now this is what I call prudence and wisdom. Thanks for sharing!
Evelyn Lims last blog post..Building The Businesses Of Our Dreams
Absolutely wonderful. There is nothing more left to say …
Although we could all write a thesis about each one of those sentences! So terse and so wise. Thank you!
Mayas last blog post..Are we taking the time to meditate?
Hi Lance – I always look forward to your Sunday quotes. From this one, my favorite parts are “Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try.”
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Strike While The Iron Is Hot
@FitMom – Yes, listening is a learned skill, and one that can be so easy to neglect. I do it too often. And it’s a good reminder for me as well.
@Meleah – Thank you!
@Evelyn – Your welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it Evelyn!
@Maya – I agree, there is so much wisdom in these few words. And as we really think about what these mean to us, we can make changes in our life that will have a very positive effect.
@Barbara – I like both of these too, but have not really thought too much about the “before you quit, try” part until reading your comment. That is so important. Sometimes we’re tempted to give up before we even try something. Starting is, many times, half the battle. If we start something, and fail, at least we have tried it. And learned from it. But without trying, we’ll never know… Thanks for bringing that up Barbara!
That is just a great philosophy for life. It should be stuck right up there on the mirror so that we would have to read it every morning.
Oh, why don’t you start a blog about this? 🙂
Mindful Mimis last blog post..Passion is the element in which we live; without it, we hardly vegetate – Lord Byron
Hi, Lance: We’re all so pulled and rushed in so many ways. This really speaks to slowing down, doesn’t it. Slow down and listen/think/etc. I like this, very much. Thank you.
Julies last blog post..Somewhere On The Circle
In todays world of instant gratification, we do not spend much time thinking about our actions. I know I am one to just jump in and act before thinking things through. It is definately something I have to work on.
Good advice
By the way Thank so much for your kind thoughts during little B’s illness it was much appreciated.He’s at school today and doing great.
Suzies last blog post..Valium Please
That is great! I love how it makes you think before you do anything. Raising our awareness is so key. Love all of the thoughts, but the last one is the clincher! I may just use this quote.
One lesson I have learned is that if I already have my life mapped out, when these opportunities present themselves I already know how I am going to act – instead of react.
Jennifers last blog post..Heroes of Healing: Ron Wilkins
That ones going straight into my quotes book.
Sagans last blog post..Book Review: The Brain Trust Program by Larry McCleary, M.D.
great one! It reminds me of an Oprah show this week with Suze Orman. She was saying we need to get honest with our money. If we don’t have the cash to buy it, don’t get it. All of us making poor decisions and spending beyond our means has contributed to the situation the country is in now.
Annettes last blog post..2 Years Ago……….
“Before you write, think” usually comes to me after I’ve pushed the publish button of my blog. Fortunately it doesn’t happen all too often. 🙂
That’s really a beautiful quote.
Pink Inks last blog post..Silly Like a Kid
This is a great healing quote…Thank you for inspiring me this week.
chriss last blog post..I Don’t Get It
Hey…great quote. After dealing with a long day of planning where to put my hard earned money with all of the bank crises, etc. I needed this. Everything in life is a two sided process. I am working on each that is mentioned. I think right now I am fighting with the try before I quit. There is not enough hours in a day. Well, sure there is. I just have to figure out how to use them better.
Thank you Lance.
Tammy Warrens last blog post..Was that a compliment? Think about it.
@Mindful Mimi – This is great, isn’t it! Start a blog about this…hmmm….now if I can just find a few extra hours in the day!!
@Julie – This is something I hadn’t thought about at all with this quote, and yet, it’s so true! It speaks volumes to slowing down, so that we can really understand and live fully. Thanks for sharing this insight Julie.
@Dave – I think how you’ve described this really speaks to actions vs. reactions. I, too, find myself in a reactionary mode sometimes, and it rarely ends up being the most positive outcome.
@Suzie – I glad he’s all better. I can only imagine how difficult this must have been as a parent going through this, watching and helpless.
@Jennifer – The end is just so powerful, isn’t it! We have so much to give, if we only will. And in giving, we receive so much in return. That you have a plan for your life is a great position to be in — you know “how” you desire to respond to any given circumstance, and act with the motives that are in alignment with who you are – and not react in negative ways. Jennifer, that speaks volumes!
@Sagan – It is such a great quote, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
@Annette – Earn before we spend, what a concept. Obviously one that not everyone adheres to – much to their own detriment, as well as the detriment of our country.
@Pink Ink – Hey, that’s happened to me before too! It’s not just in speaking is it! It is beautiful and powerful.
@Chris – Your welcome. There is much wisdom within these words.
@Tammy – I have been thinking the same thing Tammy – not enough hours. But maybe I’m looking at it incorrectly. Maybe I just need to figure out how to best use my time… Keep on “trying” Tammy – you’re worth it!
And before asking for something else, give thanks for what you already have 🙂
Marelisa, that’s a great addition to this one. Gratitude is an important thing to remember. How often do we forget this one?
Amazing quote Lance. Where do you find these gems?
Simple Sapiens last blog post..Forget Recognition, Always Do Your Best
@Simple Sapien – Thanks. I have some favorite sites bookmarked that I’ll visit, and other times I just pick a key word I’d like to work around, and do some searching. Thanks for asking!
Each one of those statements has great meaning. I hope a lot of people read that and take the time to think about each one and what it means to them. I especially liked the “Before you quit, try” one.
Jennys last blog post..Don’t Laugh At…