Quotes by Merle Shain

“Loving can cost a lot but not loving always costs more, and those who fear to love often find that want of love is an emptiness that robs the joy from life.”

“Friends are like windows through which you see out into the world and back into yourself... If you dont have friends you see much less than you otherwise might.”

“You can employ men and hire hands to work for you, but you must win their hearts to have them work with you.”

“But who would rush at a benighted man, and give him two black eyes for being blind?”

“The act is unjustifiable that either begs for a blessing, or, having succeeded gives no thanksgiving.”

“Most women would rather have someone whisper their name at optimum moments than rocket with contractions to the moon”

“Friendship is the gift that goes on giving and is a gift to both the person given to and to the giver as well. But to really make it work it isnt enough to give to another person, you have also to let them give to you.”

“If I were to marry again tomorrow, I wouldtnt give up one friend. Id take them all with me as a sort of dowry and tell my new husband that he was getting a rich wife.”

Power breeds resentment and withers the slow-growing plant that is trust, and people who use it to capture others not only fail to make friends but often end up captives themselves. And perhaps what is sadder still is that when you control other people you take away all that there might be in a real encounter with them and replace it with your fears. And while you might get gratitude for a while, or guilt and tears, you wont get what they had to offer if youd let them give you what was really in their hearts.

I overheard a young man once saying to his wife, I cant control you. Thats the problem and its been the problem ever since day one! And then I heard her answer him and heard her terrible voice. No! she said. The problem isnt that you cant control me, the problem is that youre trying to. Why dont you stop worrying about controlling me and start worrying about controlling yourself?

The act is unjustifiable that either begs for a blessing, or, having succeeded gives no thanksgiving.

You can employ men and hire hands to work for you, but you must win their hearts to have them work with you.