David O. McKay Quotes

The aim of education is to develop resources in the child that will contribute to his well-being as long as life endures; to develop power of self-mastery that he may never be a slave to indulgence or other weaknesses, to develop [strong] manhood, beautiful womanhood that in every child and every youth may be found at least the promise of a friend, a companion, one who later may be fit for husband or wife, an exemplary father or a loving intelligent mother, one who can face life with courage, meet disaster with fortitude, and face death without fear.

Let sincere men and women the world over unite in earnest effort to supplant feelings of selfishness, hatred, animosity, greed, by the law of service to others, and thereby promote the peace and happiness of mankind.

Next to the bestowal of life itself, the right to direct that life is God;s greatest gift to man.

The privilege to work is a gift.
The power to work is a blessing.
The love of work is success.

When you are tempted to stay away from that seventies' meeting, from that elder's meeting, from that deacons' quorum and you shrink from going there, because you feel you will not be interested, say, 'I will go; the duty of a Latter-day Saint is upon me; and responsibility of membership in that quorum is upon me, and I must go and help make that meeting interesting

Every noble impulse, every unselfish expression of love; every brave suffering for the right; every surrender of self to something higher than self; every loyalty to an ideal; every unselfish devotion to principle; every helpfulness to humanity; every act of self-control; every fine courage of the soul, undefeated by pretense or policy, but by being, doing, and living of good for the very good’s sake — that is spirituality.

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

Prediction of the fall of Russian communism: "Russia enveloped with communism—a new religious freedom must come. God will overrule it, for that people must hear the truth, and truth in simplicity. Truly there is much for the church to do in the coming century."

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

Whosoever will save his life shall lose it: And whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.’ [Matthew 16:25.]…He who is ‘The Way, the Truth and the Life’ [see John 14:6] has herein set forth an immutable law. …Specifically stated, this law is, ‘We live our lives most completely when we strive to make the world better and happier.’ The law of pure nature, survival of the fittest, is self-preservation at the sacrifice of all else; but in contrast to this the law of true spiritual life is, deny self for the good of others. …

An Unsatisfied Appetite for Knowledge Means Progress and Is the State of a Normal Mind

You cannot think of any greater gift that could come to a man or woman than the freedom of choice.

Your thoughts are the architects of your destiny.

…The Lord through His grace appeared to man, gave him the Gospel or eternal plan whereby he might rise above the carnal and selfish things of life and obtain spiritual perfection. But he must rise by his own efforts and he must walk by faith.

The purpose of the gospel is to make bad men good and good men better, and to change human nature.