Top 140 Michael Josephson Quotes (2024 Update)

1. “Take pride in how far you’ve come. Have faith in how far you can go. But don’t forget to enjoy the journey.”

— Michael Josephson

2. “The key to success is effort. The bigger the goal, the greater the effort.”

— Michael Josephson

3. “Character is not only doing the right thing when no one is looking, it’s doing the right thing when everyone is looking. It’s being willing to do the right thing even when it costs more than you want to pay.”

— Michael Josephson

4. “If you want to be happy, learn to be alone without being lonely. Learn that being alone does not mean being unhappy. The world is full of plenty of interesting and enjoyable things to do and people who can enrich your life.”

— Michael Josephson

5. “You are the captain of your own ship; don’t let anyone else take the wheel.”

— Michael Josephson

6. “Honesty doesn’t always pay, but dishonesty always costs.”

— Michael Josephson

7. “The key to a better life: Complain less, appreciate more. Whine less, laugh more. Talk less, listen more. Want less, give more. Hate less, love more. Scold less, praise more. Fear less, hope more.”

— Michael Josephson

8. “Your life is your ship and you are the captain. Choose your course, take the wheel firmly and get on your way.”

— Michael Josephson

9. “Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.”

— Michael Josephson

10. “A good coach improves your game. A great coach improves your life.”

— Michael Josephson

11. “Ethics is doing more than the law requires and less than the law allows.”

— Michael Josephson

12. “Leadership is not a matter of authority, it is a matter of influence. A true leader teaches others to understand more, motivates them to be more and inspires them to become more.”

— Michael Josephson

13. “Don’t let others define you. Don’t let the past confine you. Take charge of your life with confidence and determination and there are no limits on what you can do or be.”

— Michael Josephson

14. “Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters.”

— Michael Josephson

15. “Whether we want them or not, the New Year will bring new challenges; whether we seize them or not, the New year will bring new opportunities.”

— Michael Josephson

16. “You don’t have to be sick to get better.”

— Michael Josephson

17. “What will matter in the end is not what you bought but what you built; not what you got but what you gave; not what you learned by what you taught. What will matter is not your competence but your character.”

— Michael Josephson

18. “Good character is the single most important attribute of a successful and worthy life.”

— Michael Josephson

19. “At home, be grateful. At work, be appreciative. Gratitude is a gift we give ourselves. Appreciation is a gift we give to others.”

— Michael Josephson

20. “People of character do the right thing, not because they think it will change the world but because they refuse to be changed by the world.”

— Michael Josephson

21. “A caring heart that listens is often more valued than an intelligent mind that talks.”

— Michael Josephson

22. “What you allow you encourage.”

— Michael Josephson

23. “Good intentions are simply not enough. Our character is defined and our lives are determined not by what we want, say or think, but by what we do.”

— Michael Josephson

24. “The choices you make in your life will make your life. Choose wisely.”

— Michael Josephson

25. “When someone is nasty or treats you poorly, don’t take it personally. It says nothing about you, but a lot about them.”

— Michael Josephson

26. “Everything you do sends a message about who you are and what you value.”

— Michael Josephson

27. “Hire for character, train for skills.”

— Michael Josephson

28. “Good character is more important than wealth, good looks, popularity and even education. These things do not guarantee happiness and often they become obstacles to developing good character.”

— Michael Josephson

29. “A person of character knows the difference between right and wrong and always tries to do the right thing for the right reason.”

— Michael Josephson

30. “Ethics is not about the way things are, it is about the way things ought to be.”

— Michael Josephson

31. “Success in anything important rarely comes without the Five Horsemen of Success: planning, effort, positivity, perseverance and resilience.”

— Michael Josephson

32. “Character is ethical and moral strength. People of good character have the moral awareness and strength to know the good, love the good and do the good.”

— Michael Josephson

33. “Don’t sacrifice a good life for a good time.”

— Michael Josephson

34. “Discipline yourself to start each day identifying something to be grateful about. The world opens to those who approach it with a grateful heart.”

— Michael Josephson

35. “We judge our own character by our best intentions and most noble acts, but we will be judged by our last worst act.”

— Michael Josephson

36. “What will matter is not your competence, but your character. What will matter is not how many people you knew but how many will feel a lasting loss when you are gone. What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by who and for what?”

— Michael Josephson

37. “The world has enough beautiful mountains and meadows, spectacular skies and serene lakes. It has enough lush forests, flowered fields, and sandy beaches. It has plenty of stars and the promise of a new sunrise and sunset every day. What the world needs more of is people to appreciate and enjoy it.”

— Michael Josephson

38. “Being a father is the most important role I will ever play and if I don’t do this well, no other thing I do really matters.”

— Michael Josephson

39. “Ethics is not for wimps. It’s not easy being a good person. That’s why it’s such a lofty goal and an admirable achievement.”

— Michael Josephson

40. “I am grateful for all those people who said no. It is because of them that I did it myself. Practice an attitude of gratitude. You can either be miserable dwelling on the troubles you have or grateful for the ones you don’t have. Your troubles don’t care but it makes a huge difference in your life.”

— Michael Josephson

41. “Character is made up of core moral principles called the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, caring, fairness and citizenship. Each of these virtues are independently important but together they provide the foundation for a worthy life.”

— Michael Josephson

42. “I am not and never will be perfect. I am not always as honest, respectful, responsible, fair or as kind as I should be. All I can do is what I should do: strive every day, with every decision to be the best person I can be. I don’t expect to be perfect but I know I can be better.”

— Michael Josephson

43. “Not everything that is good for you is fun and not everything that is fun is good for you.”

— Michael Josephson

44. “If we don’t invest now in building character into children we will surely invest more tomorrow in trying to repair adults.”

— Michael Josephson

45. “Personal integrity is important, not because it gets us what we want, but because it helps us be what we want.”

— Michael Josephson

46. “Don’t confuse fun with fulfillment, or pleasure with happiness.”

— Michael Josephson

47. “People who don’t believe in you are right only if you believe they are.”

— Michael Josephson

48. “Authentic gratitude is much more rare and precious than expressions of gratitude which are often empty courtesies or simply tactical ploys to encourage further gifts or kindnesses.”

— Michael Josephson

49. “No leader or organization can achieve breakout growth until it treats, “we’ve always done it this way” as an opportunity to think anew rather than as a reason to stop thinking. Keep in mind, tradition should be a guide, not a jailer.”

— Michael Josephson

50. “Ethics is not a description of what people do; it’s a prescription for what we all should do.”

— Michael Josephson