Do not look for approval except for the consciousness of doing your best. - Andrew Carnegie

People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents.

It is all very well for you, gentlemen, who work one day in the week and are masters of your time the other six during which you can view the beauties of Nature all very well for you- but I think it shameful that you should endeavor to shut out from the toiling masses of that is calculated to entertain and instruct them during the only day which you well know they have at their disposal.

If we truly care for others we need not be anxious about their feelings for us. Like draws to like.