Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain…. [A]ccept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields…. – Khalil Gibran, The Prophet

Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating. – O. Henry, The Gifts of the Magi

When life takes the wind out of your sails, it is to test you at the oars. – Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com

Perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us once beautiful and brave. – Rainer Maria Rilke