I overheard a young man once saying to his wife, "I can't control you. That's the problem, and it's been the problem ever since day one!" And then I heard her answer him and heard her terrible voice. "No!" she said. "The problem isn't that you can't control me, the problem is that you're trying to. Why don't you stop worrying about controlling me and start worrying about controlling yourself?

— Merle Shain

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 won't get what they had to offer if you'd let them give you what was really in their hearts.

— Merle Shain

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

— Merle Shain

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

— Merle Shain