A name few people are familiar with, Margaret Mitchell was an American author and journalist who quite remarkably published only one book. However, that book was adapted into one of the most iconic and memorable movies of all time, Gone with The Wind. The novel won the National Book Award for Most Distinguished Book for 1936 and in 1937 was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Margaret Mitchell was born in 1900 and was a native Southerner and citizen of Georgia. Mitchell’s father, Eugene, held a position as a prominent attorney, while her mother, Mary, was a suffragist who worked tirelessly for the right of women to vote in elections.

Margaret’s two brothers both passed away, but it was the passing of Russel Mitchell, who died in babyhood, that devastated the family.

Margaret’s father, Eugene, was the direct descendant of Thomas Mitchell, a Scottish native who moved to Wilkes County, Georgia, and served valiantly in the American Revolutionary War. 

In her early teen years, Margaret lived with her grandmother in a brightly painted red house with yellow trim, located in downtown eastern Atlanta. This was a pivotal turning point in Mitchell’s life. Her Grandmother, Mrs. Stephens, was not only lewd by all accounts but somewhat of a tyrant.

After her husband’s death, she obtained authority over the will and inherited a significant amount of estate and money.

Stephens spent most of the money on her children, sending them to Boarding School in the North of the country. One of those children was Margaret’s mother. While attending school in the North, the children learned the harsh reality that Americans of Irish descent were looked down upon and not treated like other Americans. In fact, many Americans at the time saw it as an embarrassment to be the daughter of an Irishman.

In the United States, the South is said to hold a special sentient in writers’ imagination. This was especially the case for Margaret. While six years old, she and her mother went on a buggy tour through destroyed farms and estates. The images of the burnt-out plantations and the brick and stone chimneys left a long and lasting impression on Margaret.

The words her mother spoke to her during the buggy ride were poignant. Later, Margaret recalled those exact words.” Mum spoke about the world those people had lived in, such a safe world, and how it had collapsed beneath them.”

Those emotional words her mother spoke possibly inspired Margaret’s long-lasting quote,”Life is under no obligation to give us what we expect.”

Her mother went on to tell Margaret that “someday the world would collapse underneath her too, and God Almighty, when that day comes, you need a weapon to face the modern world.”

That weapon her mother talked about turned out to be Margaret’s writing.

Growing up and listening to the Civil War stories her relatives recounted became the basis for “Gone with The Wind.” One such story is; “On Sunday afternoons, when we went calling on the older generation of relatives, those who had been active in the Sixties, I sat on veterans’ bony knees and the fat slippery laps of great aunts and heard them talk.”

After leaving her position at the Atlanta Journal, Margaret injured her ankle and was forced to spend months at home. She continued to write a society column that she called “Elizabeth Bennet’s Gossip.” Margaret’s husband was becoming exhausted, carrying the numerous books back from the library each day that Margaret had requested.

As the tale goes, he suggested to her quite distinctly that instead of reading thousands of books, she should write her own, and Gone With The Wind was born.

On August 11, 1949, Margaret was hit by a car crossing a road in Atlanta on the way to watch a movie with her husband. She never regained full consciousness and died five days later at Grady Hospital, aged 48.

Margaret Mitchell was laid to rest in the Oakland Cemetery. Her husband, John, passed away in 1952, and the two lay side by side. In 1994 she was inducted into the Georgia Women of Achievement and ultimately into the Georgia Writers Hall of fame in 2000.

“Life is under no obligation to give us what we expect.”

Other Quotes By Margaret Mitchell

“Burdens are for shoulders strong enough to carry them.” Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind

“With enough courage, you can do without a reputation.”  Margaret Mitchell

“After all, tomorrow is another day!”  Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind

“Well, my dear, take heart. Some day, I will kiss you and you will like it. But not now, so I beg you not to be too impatient.” Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind

“My dear, I don’t give a damn.” Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind

“I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.” Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind

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This acclaimed inspirational quote conjures up feelings of positivity, determination, will, and the deep conviction that anything is possible if we believe in ourselves as human beings.

Unfortunately, quotes over time often go un-referenced, and quite frankly, many quotations are simply stolen or claimed by others. The above quote, “act as if it were impossible to fail,” comes directly from the pen of one of America’s preeminent trailblazing authors, Dorothea Brande.

Dorothea Brande grew up in a community in Chicago, Illinois, called Englewood, and was born on January 12th, 1892. ⁽¹⁾ She was the youngest of five siblings, and by all accounts, was the pride and joy of her father, Frederick S. Thompson, and her mother, Alice P. Thompson.

Although they lived and worked in Chicago, Brande’s parents were both originally from Maine, which also happened to be the birthplace of her three older siblings. Dorothea’s father was a successful and well-known business manager in the Chicago area; however, limited information has been documented about Brande’s mother. Although it has been reported, she had a privileged upbringing and came from an exceedingly affluent family.

Brande herself was a well-educated woman and earned her Phi Beta Kappa at the University Of Chicago; she also attended the University of Michigan for a brief time. After completing her studies, she was employed as a newspaper journalist.

She went on to work for the American Mercury Magazine under actor and writer Henry Louis Mencken and George Jean Nathan. Nathan was an actor best known for the movie Camille, a movie version of Dumas play about a fashionable woman who ends up becoming a courtesan, although, in the end, her life is encompassed by tragedy.

Dorothea was the Associate Editor for Bookman Magazine during the early 1930s and by 1934 had taken up the position as Editor-in-Chief. One of Brande’s crowning achievements was creating an educational institution for aspiring writers. The School educated writers Nationwide, and in the later years, Brande subsequently made a successful living on the lecture circuit.

Dorothea married her colleague at the Chicago newspaper Herbert Brande in 1916; Herbert achieved fame as a writer and editor. The two later divorced in 1930 before Dorothea remarried another editor, albeit at a different newspaper, Seward B. Collins, in 1936. Collins was an editor for the distinguished American Review.

Dorothea Brande is best remembered for her seminal thought-provoking book “Wake Up And Live,” published in 1936. The book inspired scholars to put their progress and ambitions before all other obligations and taught them to discipline their thoughts to overcome fear.

The elusive yet straightforward method that made “Wake Up and Live” a bestseller was the famous quote “Act as if it were impossible to fail,” which held a grand fascination for those people who felt powerless, women in particular. ⁽²⁾ The book was brave yet, at the same time, displayed signs of arrogance and contempt.

A vital distinction to make is that the book was written around the Great Depression when fear of failure was so deeply ingrained in the American culture.

In a time where people were searching for hope, Dorothea’s book promised just that. The book rekindled hope and belief and promised to give power back to the people rather than the big corporations.

Dorothea Brand also authored “Becoming A Writer,” published 1934, in 1936 she wrote “Most Beautiful Lady,” then “Letters To Phillipa” in 1937 and in 1938 published ” My Invincible Aunt.”

On December 17th, 1948, Dorothea Brande passed peacefully in Boston at the Massachusetts General Hospital. She left behind her husband Seward, her son Justin and Gilbert Collins, an adopted son.

Dorothea Brande was a pioneer and provided people with hope in a time of despair. Her message relied on the myth that an immoral world provided equal footing on which heroes and underdogs battle unconstrained by gender, color, power, wealth, and knowledge.

“Act as if it were impossible to fail.”

Other quotes by Dorothea Brande

1. There are seeds of self-destruction in all of us that will bear only unhappiness if allowed to grow.”

2. “So long as new ideas are created, sales will continue to reach new heights.”

3.  “Man’s mind is not a container to be filled but rather to be kindled.”

4. “The Wright Brothers flew through the smokescreen of impossibility.”

5. “By going over your day in imagination before you begin it, you can begin acting successfully at any moment.”

6. “Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier.”

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Widely considered the most significant English writer after William Shakespeare, John Milton proved that the pen can truly be mightier than the sword.

Born in London, England, in 1608 Milton is best known for Paradise Lost, one of the greatest poems ever written in the English language.

Originally published across a series of 10 books in 1667, it tells the biblical story of the fall from grace of Adam and Eve and by extension all of humanity in eloquent prose that uses the power of rhythm and sound to convey his message.

Following this epic poem, he published Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes, which confirmed Milton’s reputation as one of the greatest English poets of all time.

At the centre of his work, Milton regularly advocated for the abolition of the Church of England and the monarchy, despite the fact that he could be killed for such treason.

Regardless of the dangers, all of his works espoused a political philosophy that opposed tyranny and state-sanctioned religion, including during the English Civil Wars in 1642 and the restoration of Charles II as king in 1660.

In his work on theology, he valued liberty of conscience, religious toleration toward dissidents and the importance of scripture as a guide in matters of faith.

Upholding these attributes at a time when such thoughts, let alone words, were considered treasonous, helped cement Milton’s reputation and attention from those in power, in 1649 Milton became a civil servant and for a time the voice of the English Commonwealth thanks to his role in handling its international correspondence and his defence of the government against attacks from abroad.

While his public life was widely successful, privately he struggled. A few months after he married Mary Powell in 1642, she deserted him and returned to her family’s residence in Oxfordshire. While the reason for their separation was unknown, speculation suggested that Powell’s family may have been Royalists, creating a divide between her family and Milton’s anti-royalist sentiments. Others have suggested she left him because she was only 17 years old while he was 34 years of age when they got married.

Despite nearly a three-year absence, Mary unexpectedly returned one day and they soon managed to overcome their differences having four children, three daughters and a son, who died at the age of one. Mary also died while giving birth to their fifth child.

During the estrangement with his wife, Milton began to explore the foundations of marriage in several proses, including The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce. Despite his own personal experience, Milton put together a cogent, radical argument for divorce, an argument informed by the concepts of personal liberty and individual freedom, the latter being instrumental in maintaining or ending a marriage.

For Milton, marriage depended on the compatibility of the partners, and to maintain a marriage that is without mutual love and sympathy would be in violation of one’s personal liberty.

Around the same time, he began exploring the idea of divorce and marriage, he also began exploring the philosophy around education and freedom of expression. In his poem Areopagitica, which opposes government licensing of publications and censorship, he argues that governments insisting on the expression of uniform beliefs are tyrannical.

Following the death of his first wife he began losing his sight and married Katherine Woodcock in 1656. Their marriage lasted only 15 months before she died within months after having their first child. Following her death, he wedded Elizabeth Minshull in 1663, who, along with the daughters from his first marriage, assisted him with his personal needs, read from books at his request, and recorded verses for his poems that he dictated.

It was during his final years with his wife and children by his side that he dictated Paradise Lost, one of the greatest poems ever written in the English language.

Despite Milton’s continued advocacy for freedom of worship and freedom from authoritarian rule, he eventually ran into trouble with those in power and was placed under arrest and threaten with execution for encouraging the murder of the king.

While he was never executed and eventually freed, Milton died in 1674 from complications of gout. He was buried inside St. Giles Cripplegate Church in London.

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The iconic stylist Patti Wilson was born and raised in New York and since early childhood has had a deep fascination with fashion and, in particular, styling. During her professional career, she has worked side by side with some of the most influential fashion photographers of our time.

Names such as Steven Klein, David LaChapelle, Terry Richardson, Peter Lindeberg, and Steven Miesel are just a few with whom she’s had the great privilege of collaborating. Along with these great photographers, she produced work for L’ Uomo Vogue, Italian Vogue, I-D, and Numero, all of which have had an extraordinary impact on the fashion world over the past decade.

Patti continues to collaborate with the most prominent artists and is acknowledged globally for her eclectic style. Her endless ability to present clientele like Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, and Valentino, with unique, diverse, and trailblazing style continues to drive the industry forward.

Starting in her early years as a fashion stylist, she had a fortunate encounter with David LaChapelle during the very first Alexander McQueen exhibition. The show had a profound and deep impact on Patti, and she later recalled that it was the first time she realized fashion could be “half-dead and half-alive.”

Before realizing her career in the fashion industry, Patti was employed as a waitress and hostess at a Jazz Club in uptown New York. There she had the opportunity to mingle with celebrities from Hollywood, Broadway, and Professional Sports. She recalls meeting legends like Muhammed Ali and Woody Allen, a frequent client at the club because of his passion for playing the horn.

The club also provided the chance to meet with a female photographer who taught Patti about styling. Until then, Patti admits to being absolutely obsessed with a girl from her school who was a model. Patti remembers the model leaving school early to do shoots for the famous teen magazine Seventeen. Patti says, ” It was so unheard of. She would wear the most beautiful coats over her uniforms; she was absolutely exquisite.”

Working closely with David LaChapelle, the most influential photographer of our times, helped Patti’s stylistic character progress to new levels she thought impossible. According to Patti, David was an amusing guy to work with, and she recalls when she went in for a shoot how he would poke fun at her and the fact she was always dressed in “drag” clothes.

Looking closely at Patti Wilson’s life and career, it’s clear to see she has always walked to the beat of her own drum. One might be inclined to think she was almost destined to become one of the most influential stylists the fashion industry has seen.

Patti’s famous quote,” following the herd is a sure way to mediocrity,” highlights and showcases the importance of embracing your individual personality and not “going along to get along.” Be your own creative self, follow your dreams, create your own unique identity, and forget what others think.

Patti is known in the industry for pushing the limits of what others thought impossible in terms of stylistic creativity and design. Working as Whitney Houston’s stylist was an experience she will never forget, and even Patti herself has said she was fired twice by Houston but somehow always ended up going back.According to Patti, Whitney was always “different with her,” and she never once questioned Patti’s stylistic impressions. 

To this day, Patti is one of the most popular and influential stylists in the industry. She has an office in New York, located on the same floor as a children’s school which she says is a blast.

“Following the herd is a sure way to mediocrity.”

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We all know that success doesn’t come easily, but what does it actually mean to achieve it? Who was Robert Collier, and more importantly, what did he know about success?

Robert Collier was a spiritual self-help author from St. Louis, Missouri. His teachings guided many towards healing through the law of attraction, Metaphysical practices, and New Thought methods.

Before he found success in writing, Mr. Collier had a life full of struggles and successes through his own efforts, which is why this quote in particular rings of truth; someone who’s actually achieved success.

In this quote, Robert Collier defines success on his terms, which he’s obviously achieved because his publishing company is still up and running after more than 90 years, with the help of his descendants. To understand a bit more about this quote learn a little bit more about the man behind the quote itself.

Who Was Robert Collier?

Robert Collier was born on April 19, 1885, to Mary and John Collier. John Collier worked as a foreign correspondent for his brother Peter, who owned Collier Magazine. This meant that he was often away, leaving Mary to care for their two sons until her death when Robert was around 12 years old.

Robert was educated in a seminary with the intent of becoming a priest but changed his mind before the final ceremony. He then headed to West Virginia, where he spent the next eight years working in the mining industry as an engineer. While he was there, he read a lot of material that would inspire him to become a writer.

Metaphysics and New Though Movement:

As a young man, Collier was ill with an un-diagnosable chronic disease, which played a big part in his skepticism of traditional medicine. In fact, he believed that most ailments were a result of foods that had been chemically treated.

Eventually, and miraculously, Robert Collier healed himself through Christian science methods after suffering for some time. After that, he started rigorously studying metaphysics and the New Thought Movement. He dove into researching the powers of the human mind, the Law of Attraction, and other metaphysical elements.

What Did Robert Collier Know About Success, Anyway?

His life-changing success in copywriting, paired with his beliefs led him to strike out on his own, writing his first publication, a volume of seven books called, “The Book of Life”.  The next year, he wrote his most famous book, “Secret of the Ages” that made one million dollars in its first six months, which was a remarkable success in 1926. Over the next 25 years, it would sell over 300,000 copies.

He founded Robert Collier Publications which is still going to this day, thanks to the Collier family. He passed in 1950, leaving behind an eternal memorial through his work that has even gone on to inspire authors like self-help guru Rhonda Byrne, who wrote the popular law of attraction book, The Secret.

What to Take Away from This Quote:

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day-in, and day-out.”

Robert Collier wrote this particular quote in one of his later books, “Riches Within Your Reach!” He attributed much of his success to the use of the law of attraction, while never forgetting the actual hard work it took him to learn and then write these works. He studied for many years and struggles many times before achieving his greatest success.

What this quote truly means is that success isn’t handed to anyone. It’s achieved by hard work and what you do every day to get to your goal. Your efforts don’t have to be big leaps and bounds to achieve success, take a realistic approach to taking the necessary steps. When you’ve achieved such success, don’t forget to remember what brought you to it in the first place.

Other Quotes By Robert Collier

• “Visualize this thing that you want, see it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blueprint, and begin to build.”
• “The first principle of success is desire – knowing what you want. Desire is the planting of your seed.”
• “In every adversity there lies the seed of an equivalent advantage. In every defeat is a lesson showing you how to win the victory next time.”
• “Constant repetition carries conviction.”
• “Your chances of success in any undertaking can always be measured by your belief in yourself.”
• “If you don’t make things happen then things will happen to you.”
• “Any thought that is passed on to the subconscious often enough and convincingly enough is finally accepted.”
• “Supply always comes on the heels of demand.”
• “See things as you would have them be instead of as they are.”

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