Top 120 David O. McKay Quotes (2024 Update)

1. “The greatest battles of life are fought out daily in the silent chambers of the soul.”

— David O. McKay

2. “Let us realize that: the privilege to work is a gift, the power to work is a blessing, the love of work is success!”

— David O. McKay

3. “Women were created from the rib of man to be beside him, not from his head to top him, nor from his feet to be trampled by him, but from under his arm to be protected by him, near to his heart to be loved by him.”

— David O. McKay

4. “Find a purpose in life so big it will challenge every capacity to be at your best.”

— David O. McKay

5. “True happiness comes only by making others happy.”

— David O. McKay

6. “No other success can compensate for failure in the home. The poorest shack in which love prevails over a united family is of greater value to God and future humanity that any other riches. In such a home God can work miracles and will work miracles.”

— David O. McKay

7. “Do your duty that is best; leave unto the Lord the rest.”

— David O. McKay

8. “Your thoughts are the architects of your destiny.”

— David O. McKay

9. “True education does not consist merely in the acquiring of a few facts of science, history, literature, or art, but in the development of character.”

— David O. McKay

10. “There should be no yelling in the home unless there is a fire.”

— David O. McKay

11. “All good things require effort. That which is worth having will cost part of your physical being, your intellectual power and your soul power. Let us ever keep in mind that life is largely what we make it.”

— David O. McKay

12. “The first condition of happiness is a clear conscience.”

— David O. McKay

13. “Trust is greater than love.”

— David O. McKay

14. “Seek to share joy with others, or to make somebody else happy, and you will find your own soul radiant with the joy you wished for another.”

— David O. McKay

15. “The most powerful thing in the world is an idea.”

— David O. McKay

16. “Character is the aim of true education; and science, history, and literature are but means used to accomplish this desired end.”

— David O. McKay

17. “The Gospel of Jesus Christ can make bad men good and good men better, can alter human nature, and can change human lives.”

— David O. McKay

18. “Freedom of choice is more to be treasured than any possession earth can give.”

— David O. McKay

19. “What-e’re thou art, Act well thy part.”

— David O. McKay

20. “True Christianity is love in action. There is no better way to manifest love for God than to show an unselfish love for your fellow men. This is the spirit of missionary work.”

— David O. McKay

21. “The greatest comfort in this life is having a close relationship with God.”

— David O. McKay

22. “A girl who sacrifices self-respect for social popularity debases true womanhood. A spotless character, founded upon the ability to say “no” in the presence of those who mock and jeer, wins the respect and love of men and women whose opinion is most worthwhile...”

— David O. McKay

23. “As long as the day lasts, let’s give it all we got.”

— David O. McKay

24. “True Christianity is love in action.”

— David O. McKay

25. “Next to being one in worshipping God there is nothing in this world upon which the Church should be more united that in upholding and defending the Constitution of the United States.”

— David O. McKay

26. “Next to the bestowal of life itself, the right to direct that life is God’s greatest gift to man.”

— David O. McKay

27. “The basis of all sin is selfishness.”

— David O. McKay

28. “To be carnally minded is to be spiritually dead.”

— David O. McKay

29. “There is no development of character without resistance, there is no growth of spirituality without overcoming.”

— David O. McKay

30. “Man’s greatest happiness comes from losing himself for the good of others.”

— David O. McKay

31. “The greatest work we will ever do will be within the walls of our home.”

— David O. McKay

32. “No greater responsibility can rest upon a man, than to be a teacher of God’s children.”

— David O. McKay

33. “The true purpose of life is the perfection of humanity through individual effort, under the guidance of God’s inspiration.”

— David O. McKay

34. “Friendship is a sacred possession. As air, water and sunshine to flowers, trees and verdure, so smiles, sympathy and love of friends to the daily life of man. To live, laugh, love one’s friends, and be loved by them is to bask in the sunshine of life.”

— David O. McKay

35. “It is written that he who governs well, leads the blind; But that he who teaches, gives them eyes.”

— David O. McKay

36. “Every noble impulse, every unselfish expression of love, every surrender of self to something higher than self, every loyalty to an ideal, every fine courage of the soul – by doing good for good’s sake – that is spirituality. –.”

— David O. McKay

37. “Being a parent is the greatest trust that has been given to human beings.”

— David O. McKay

38. “The kind of life you live, your disposition, your very nature, will be determined by your thoughts, of which your acts are but the outward expression. Thought is the seed of action.”

— David O. McKay

39. “Man’s earthly existence is but a test as to whether he will concentrate his efforts, his mind, his soul upon things which contribute to the comfort and gratification of his physical instincts and passions, or whether he will make as his life’s end and purpose the acquisition of spiritual qualities.”

— David O. McKay

40. “Happiness and peace will come to earth only as the light of love and human compassion enter the souls of men.”

— David O. McKay

41. “This is the number one responsibility of the Latter-day Saints – to get in the struggle to preserve freedom. Everywhere that Communism succeeds, missionary work, temple work, everything the Church does, dies. Your number one responsibility is to preserve freedom.”

— David O. McKay

42. “To be ignorant of one’s own ignorance is to be in an unprogressive, uninspired state of existence.”

— David O. McKay

43. “The greatest spiritual blessing comes from helping another.”

— David O. McKay

44. “There is no success which can compensate for the failure of the family.”

— David O. McKay

45. “Music is truly the universal language, and when it is excellently expressed how deeply it moves our souls.”

— David O. McKay

46. “It is possible to make home a bit of heaven; indeed, I picture heaven to be a continuation of the ideal home.”

— David O. McKay

47. “Among life’s sweetest blessings is fellowship with men and women whose ideals and aspirations are high and noble. Next to a sense of kinship with God comes the helpfulness, encouragement, and inspiration of friends.”

— David O. McKay

48. “The seeds of a happy marriage are sown in youth. Happiness does not begin at the altar; it begins during the period of youth and courtship.”

— David O. McKay

49. “As individuals, we must think nobler thoughts. We must not encourage vile thoughts or low aspirations. We shall radiate them if we do. If we think noble thoughts, if we encourage and cherish noble aspirations, there will be that radiation when we meet people, especially when we associate with them.”

— David O. McKay

50. “Happiness consists not of having, but of being. It is a warm glow of the heart at peace with itself.”

— David O. McKay