Blessed is he who has learned to admire but not envy, to follow but not imitate, to praise but not flatter, and to lead but not manipulate. - William Arthur Ward

About William Arthur Ward

William Arthur Ward (1921–1994) was an American motivational writer who composed more than 4,000 epigrams. His short inspirational sayings were published in Reader's Digest and ran on the front page of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram through his column "Pertinent Proverbs," and were gathered into some thirteen books, among them Thoughts of a Christian Optimist, Fountains of Faith, Reward Yourself!, and Think It Over. A graduate of McMurry College (1948), he spent much of his career as an assistant to the president of Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth and was active in Methodist church and civic life. His aphorisms remain widely reproduced on inspirational posters, greeting cards, and wall plaques.