Words of Wisdom for the New Year

Now is the time to meditate on the year past, memories had, friends and family we loved and also missed, the work we did, and time we spent. Now is the time to plan, think of the future, and start again.

Whether you put down a smoke, pick up a dumbbell, or continue as you were, may your year be pleasant and spirited. Happy New Year, may it be a good one, and just as Tennyson said, here’s to ringing out the false and ringing in the true!

In the spirit of 2013, here are ten more quotes, some words of wisdom in light of the New Year, from a handful of beloved writers.

“One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things.”
– John Burroughs
Literary naturalist, essayist, initiator of the nature fakers controversy

“Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account. “
– Oscar Wilde
Irish playwright, poet, and possessor of very long name: Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.”
– T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding”
Innovator of twentieth-century poetry, Missouri-born and London-bound, 1948 winner of Nobel Prize for Literature

“I made no resolutions for the New Year. The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for me.”
– Anaïs Nin
French-Cuban author, master of journal writing, even longer name than Oscar: Angela Anaïs Juana Antolina Rosa Edelmira Nin y Culmell

“New Year’s Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.”
– Mark Twain
Father of American literature, riverboat pilot, inventor, all around cool guy

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”
– Edith Lovejoy Pierce
English poet and peace activist

“Resolution #8: Stop Googling myself.” (see the other 7 here) -Terry Pratchett
English author of fantasy novels, best known for his comic series Discworld, has an asteroid named in his honor: 127005 Pratchett.

“Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it. Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”
– Neil Gaiman
English author, notable works include The Sandman series and Coraline, has a dog named Cabal

“A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world!”
– Charles Dickens
English writer and social critic, had 200 film and television adaptions created from his writing

“Resolve to make at least one person happy every day, and then in ten years you may have made three thousand, six hundred and fifty persons happy, or brightened a small town by your contribution to the fund of general enjoyment.” -Sydney Smith
English writer, Anglican cleric, wrote a poem about salad dressing