Matshona Dhliwayo Quotes

When they judge you, yawn. When they misunderstand you, smile. When they underestimate you, laugh. When they condemn you, ignore. When they envy you, rejoice. When they oppose you, prevail.

You know someone is truly special when the most beautiful thing they have on is a kind soul.

The 7 Secrets of Happiness 1. Think positively. 2. Do work you love. 3. Avoid anger. 4. Give generously. 5. Be grateful. 6. Overcome negativity. 7. Develop thick skin.

Your worth is not what you have, but who you are.

It is impossible for light not to get noticed, especially in the dark.

If you have no one, you are poor; if you have an acquaintance, you are fortunate; if you have a friend, you are privileged; if you have a lover, you are rich; if you have a soulmate, you are wealthy.

Trees we plant today are forests we enjoy tomorrow.

A rose does not answer its enemies with words, but with beauty.

Beautiful souls are shaped by ugly experiences.

Mothers are our world. Sisters are our sky. Daughters are our stars. Women are our universe.

If you wear a mask for too long, there will come a time when you can not remove it without removing your face.

A star does not compete with other stars around it; it just shines.

A flower earns its honor in the dirt.

Help from a stranger is better than sympathy from a relative.

Roses do not bloom hurriedly; for beauty, like any masterpiece, takes time to blossom.

If roses tried to be sunflowers, they would lose their beauty; and if sunflowers tried to be roses, they would lose their strength.

A strong mind is greater than a strong fist.

Don't let the noise of mediocre people drown out the symphonies of your genius.

Today's tears water tomorrow's gardens.

A flower does not use words to announce its arrival to the world; it just blooms.

Love neighbors. Love strangers. Love friends. Love enemies. Love all; hate none. Love in your childhood, in your youth, in your adulthood, and in your old age. Love as long as you live.

If you know who you are, no one can convince you to be who you are not.

Thunder roars but does not strike. Lightning strikes but does not roar. Choose to be lightning.

The world owes you nothing because the universe has already given you everything.

Knowledge is silver, but true wisdom is gold.

A bird with beautiful feathers is the target of many hunters.

Children move stones with their feet. Men move rocks with their hands. Women move mountains with their hearts.

I miss your voice because it is a symphony; your scent because it is a treasure; your smile because it is a jewel; your hug because it is a masterpiece; and your kiss because it is a miracle.

Dream like a child. Reason like an elder. Play like a youth. Work like an adult.

Anger has great strength, but no brains. Greed has many hands, but no heart. Fear has many titles, but no honor. Hatred has many forms, but no soul. Desire has great strength, but no brains. Agony has many hands, but no heart. Shame has many titles, but no honor. Ego has many forms, but no soul. Envy has great strength, but no brains. Malice has many hands, but no heart. Lust has many titles, but no honor. Evil has many forms, but no soul.

The ignorant learn from none, the simple learn from some, the intelligent learn from many, but enlightened learn from all. The arrogant learn from none, the gracious learn from some, the patient learn from many, but the humble learn from all. The disinterested learn from none, the curious learn from some, the keen learn from many, but the disciplined learn from all.

Busy hands achieve more than idle tongues.

If you kick a lion when it is down, God help you when it gets up.

Love on its worst day conquers hate on its best day.

Your mind shines brightest when you enlighten others; your heart, when you encourage others; your soul, when you elevate others; and your life, when you empower others.

Knowledge is wealth, wisdom is treasure, understanding is riches, and ignorance is poverty.

If the past could be changed, it would not exist. If the future could be stopped, it would not survive. If the present could be avoided, it would not prevail. Time is everyone’s acquaintance, life is everyone’s friend, death is everyone’s enemy, and existence is everyone’s soulmate.

Don't let others define you or they might pick the worst word in the dictionary.

Cowards shrink from challenges, weaklings flee from them, but warriors wink at them.

A slave is one who sells his soul to save his life. A master is one who gives his life to save his soul.

A seed neither fears light nor darkness, but uses both to grow.

When two souls are one, they hear each other, even in silence.

You are no richer than what you carry in your mind, no stronger than what you hold in your heart, and no purer than what you harbor in your soul.

I am injustice,” said tyranny. “I am lawlessness,” said corruption. “I am inequality,” said bigotry. “I am intolerance,” said racism. “I am destruction,” said immorality. “I am independence,” said freedom. “I am fairness,” said justice. “I am humanity,” said compassion. “I am tolerance,” said understanding. “I am restoration,” said goodness.

The distance between two souls is love.

The more you love roses the more you must bear with thorns.

Stars do not pull each other down to be more visible; they shine brighter.

When people try to bury you, remind yourself you are a seed.

The prettiest flowers earn their honor in the ugliest dirt.

Your highest thoughts sometimes arise in your lowest moments.

Light has nowhere to hide in the dark.

When all seems to be against you, remember, a ship sometimes has to sail against the current, not with it.

You are not one in a million, you are one in 7.7 billion.

Insight perceives, intelligence understands, intellect comprehends, wisdom knows.

Don’t waste days, for they become weeks. Don’t waste weeks, for they become months. Don’t waste months, for they become years; and don’t waste years, for they become a lifetime.

Never dim your light because others are too afraid to come out of the dark.

Overcoming what frightens you the most strengthens you the most.

Don’t be afraid of being alone; remember, when the sun rises, it rises with nobody at its side.

No distance can truly separate you from yourself.

A lifelong learner is a lifelong winner.

Truth does not die because you buried it.

If stars needed the sky's permission to shine, the universe would be a very dark place.

The heart is a classroom. The soul is a teacher. The mind is a student. Life is the exam.

Ignorance reveals our humanity, love announces our divinity.

The world has one body, the universe has one soul.

Truth is an honest saint, ignorance is a helpless scholar, vice is an uncaring sinner, and love is a kind sage. Knowledge is the path, understanding is the way, wisdom is the highway, and enlightenment is the destination.

Eagles ignore weather reports because they can fly above any storm.

Truth is the world's best friend; fear is the world's worst enemy.

It is in the roots, not the branches, that a tree’s greatest strength lies.

Truth is awake, even when its eyes are shut.

If a lion turned every time small dogs barked at it, it would be the laughing stock of the jungle.

Be a star in someone's dark sky.

Be like seeds; do not see dirt thrown at you as your enemy, but as ground to grow.

You may be in the same boat as others, but you have the power to sail in a different direction.

Darkness will always be a servant of light.

Seeing what is wrong in the world makes you intelligent, seeing what is wrong in yourself makes you wise.

If roses were not special weeds would not envy them.

Failure is disguised success.

Dance to the beat of your own drum; whether the world likes your rhythmic movements or not.

To achieve extraordinary dreams you sometimes have to go through extraordinary nightmares.

Marriage is a full-time job; wooing is your application, courtship your interview, engagement your job offer, and honeymoon, your orientation.

The sky’s dangers offer the eagle more opportunities than the nest’s comfort.

No matter how many times you cut down a resilient tree, it will keep growing.

If you need money to be rich, you will always be poor.

The narrow path to wisdom is better than the wide road to ignorance.

When life hands you dirt plant seeds.

Don't try to be different, and don't try to be like everyone else: just be yourself.

It is only during a storm that a tree knows how strong it is.

Those who pull you down are inferior to those who lift you up.

Marry for money, and you will live lavishly. Marry for virtue, and you will live honorably. Marry for fame, and you will live prominently. Marry for love, and you will live happily.

For me to heal, I need you to heal. For me to trust, I need you to trust. For me to be strong, I need you to be strong. For me to gain, I need you to gain. For me to win, I need you to win. For me to rise, I need you to rise.

Dear ignorance, I’m disowning you. Dear knowledge, I’m wooing you. Dear understanding, I’m seeking you. Dear wisdom, I’m wedding you. Dear fear, I’m divorcing you. Dear courage, I’m courting you. Dear hope, I’m pursuing you. Dear love, I’m marrying you. Dear past, I survived you. Dear present, I’m ready for you. Dear future, I’m longing for you. Dear destiny, I’m coming for you.

When I see memories, I see the past. When I see thoughts, I see the present. When I see intentions, I see the future. When I see regret, I see the past. When I see hope, I see the present. When I see expectation, I see the future. When I see habits, I see the past. When I see actions, I see the present. When I see character, I see the future. When I see karma, I see the past. When I see chance, I see the present. When I see destiny, I see the future. When I see knowledge, I see the past. When I see understanding, I see the present. When I see wisdom, I see the future. When I see elders, I see the past. When I see adults, I see the present. When I see children, I see the future.

I was taught by family at ten. I was taught by books at twenty. I was taught by enemies at thirty. I was taught by nature at forty. I was taught by life at fifty. At ten, I was foolish. At twenty, I was naïve. At thirty, I was alert. At forty, I was experienced. At fifty, I was wise.

The Happiness Manifesto Pledge not to complain needlessly. Vow not to anger unecessarily. Promise not to crititize unreasonably. Commit to thinking positively. Aspire to speak intelligently. Strive to live enlightenedly. Your happiness is in serenity. Your contentedness is in charity. Your righteousness is in integrity. Your nobility is in humility. Your innocence is in sincerity. Your blessedness is in humanity.

When you meet young people, inspire them. When you meet old people, honor them. When you meet wise people, study them. When you meet foolish people, avoid them. When you meet humble people, treasure them. When you meet arrogant people, ignore them. When you meet gracious people, emulate them. When you meet crude people, disregard them. When you meet brave people, support them. When you meet cowardly people, encourage them. When you meet strong people, follow them. When you meet weak people, toughen them. When you meet kind people, esteem them. When you meet cruel people, oppose them. When you meet virtuous people, reward them. When you meet evil people, evade them.

I am fortitude,” said faith. “I am contentment,” said peace. “I am delight,” said joy. “I am goodness,” said virtue. “I am God,” said love. “I am truth,” said knowledge. “I am sight,” said understanding. “I am perception,” said intelligence. “I am prudence,” said wisdom. “I am awareness,” said enlightenment. “I am success,” said excellence. “I am mastery,” said discipline. “I am persistence,” said focus. “I am influence,” said action. “I am character,” said destiny.

If they hate your race, pardon them. If they hate your religion, enlighten them. If they hate your gender, admonish them. If they hate your class, avoid them. If they hate your politics, debate them. If they hate your culture, question them. If they hate your tribe, confront them. If they hate your ancestry, defy them. If they hate your age, outshine them. If they hate your appearance, disregard them. If they love you for your knowledge, teach them. If they love you for your wisdom, counsel them. If they love you for your understanding, instruct them. If they love you for your intuition, guide them. If they love you for your excellence, inspire them. If they love you for your humility, honor them. If they love you for your compassion, welcome them. If they love you for your honesty, value them. If they love you for your kindness, treasure them. If they love you for your virtue, cherish them.

When I was young, I wanted power. Now that I'm old, I want peace. When I was young, I wanted titles. Now that I'm old, I want contentment. When I was young, I wanted money. Now that I'm old, I want happiness. When I was young, I wanted excitement. Now that I'm old, I want calm. When I was young, I wanted praise. Now that I'm old, I want respect. When I was young, I wanted houses. Now that I'm old, I want fulfillment. When I was young, I wanted cars. Now that I'm old, I want satisfaction. When I was young, I wanted possessions. Now that I'm old, I want experiences. When I was young, I wanted medals. Now that I'm old, I want mastery. When I was young, I wanted lackeys. Now that I'm old, I want companions. When I was young, I wanted amusement. Now that I'm old, I want rest. When I was young, I wanted beauty. Now that I'm old, I want substance. When I was young, I wanted fame. Now that I'm old, I want legacy. When I was young, I wanted command. Now that I'm old, I want freedom. When I was young, I wanted authority. Now that I'm old, I want influence. When I was young, I wanted reputation. Now that I'm old, I want character. When I was young, I wanted treasure. Now that I'm old, I want truth. When I was young, I wanted confidence. Now that I'm old, I want conviction. When I was young, I wanted lovers. Now that I'm old, I want friends. When I was young, I wanted excess. Now that I'm old, I want joy. When I was young, I wanted degrees. Now that I'm old, I want wisdom. When I was young, I wanted university. Now that I'm old, I want nature. When I was young, I wanted prominence. Now that I'm old, I want humanity. When I was young, I wanted accomplishment. Now that I'm old, I want laughter. When I was young, I wanted greatness. Now that I'm old, I want health. When I was young, I wanted resources. Now that I'm old, I want strategies. When I was young, I wanted contacts. Now that I'm old, I want competence. When I was young, I wanted followers. Now that I'm old, I want students. When I was young, I wanted crowds. Now that I'm old, I want intimacy. When I was young, I wanted empires. Now that I'm old, I want dignity. When I was young, I wanted honor. Now that I'm old, I want integrity. When I was young, I wanted popularity. Now that I'm old, I want loyalty. When I was young, I wanted lovers. Now that I'm old, I want children. When I was young, I wanted strength. Now that I'm old, I want youth. When I was young, I wanted life. Now that I'm old, I want Heaven.

It is easier to teach saints than to learn from sinners. It is easier to teach young students than to guide old fools. It is easier to chastise saints than to caution sinners. It is easier to shine in the dark than to glow in the light. It is easier to multiply enemies than to accumulate friends. It is easier to embrace your angel than to face your demons. It is easier to fight an army of opinions than a single truth. It is easier to rise with enemies than to fall with friends. It is easier to fall into sin than to rise into virtue. It is easier to rise from defeat than to rise from ignorance. It is easier to survive a blow from a friend than a kiss from an enemy. It is easier to conquer a thousand devils than a single angel. It is easier to rise from love than to soar from hate. It is easier to move mountains by faith than hills by your hands. It is easier for stars to shine than for truth to glow. It is easier to resist pain than to defy pleasure. It is easier to appease the strong than to wrestle the mighty. It is easier to tame the mind than to bridle the soul. It is easier to fight an army than to grapple with your conscience. It is easier to embrace the future than to understand the past. It is easier for the sun to shine than for the moon to glow. It is easier for small seeds to rise than for big trees to grow. It is easier to heal a wounded heart than a broken soul. It is easier to rule the mind than to conquer the soul. It is easier to conquer your enemies than to master your fears.