Quotes from John Templeton

I thought, I'm only going to be on this planet once, and only for a short time. What can I do with my life that will lead to permanent benefits?

Thanksgiving being thankful or grateful results in more to be thankful for.

High ethics and religious principles form the basis for success and happiness in every area of life.

The time of maximum pessimism is the best time to buy.

Three of my children are medical doctors, they know at least a hundred times as much about your body as my grandfather knew, but they don't know much more about soul than he did.

I'm really convinced that our descendants a century or two from now will look back at us with the same pity that we have toward the people in the field of science two centuries ago.

Bull markets are born on pessimism, grow on skepticism, mature on optimism and die of euphoria.

The four most dangerous words in investing are: "this time it's different."

It's self-centered to think that human beings, as limited as we are, can describe divinity.

While there are many problems, if one focuses on the bigger picture there are numerous reasons to be thankful for living in a time of remarkable progress and wonderful possibilities for the future.

Basic reality seems to be that the more you try to be like God by radiating unlimited love, the more you become flooded by waves of love from others and from God.

As we learn to share and give and care, love increases. A person who knows how to love does not seem to feel lonely or alone. In this sense, the power of love can become a true weapon against harm.

I believe all religions are becoming obsolete, clinging to ancient concepts.

I'm really convinced that our descendants a century or two from now will look back at us with the same pity that we have toward the people in the field of science two centuries ago.

Anybody who had come up with a new concept would have been under suspicion for being out of step with the tradition or out of step with the teachings of the church.

A doctor today would never prescribe the treatments my grandfather used in the Confederate Army, but a minister says pretty much the same thing today that a minister would have said back then.

The person who really wants to do something finds a way; the other finds an excuse.

The correct description is that we try every day to become more humble when we talk about divinity, we try to realize how little we know and how open minded we should be.

Three of my children are medical doctors; they know at least a hundred times as much about your body as my grandfather knew, but they don't know much more about soul than he did.

Humility about how little I know has encouraged me to listen more carefully and more wisely.

Work at being a humble person.

Be very careful. Giving because we think we will get something back will not work. You must be 100 percent willing to give and never experience any return, or it will not work.

The best investment with the least risk and the greatest dividend is giving.

If a business is not ethical, it will fail, perhaps not right away but eventually.