Forbes contributors' opinions are entirely their own. I write on accumulating wealth and reaching financial independence. Great quotations distill complex ideas into a few words. They are noteworthy in their ability to inspire, motivate, and encourage. Here are 20 of our favorites. “If you live within your means, don't worry about your debt; if you live beyond your means, don't worry about your debt.”- Henry David Thoreau “Life is full of uncertainties, but having something to hope for makes all the difference.” - Amy Tan “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” - Mark Twain “We spend our lives trying to avoid pain...and then we have children so we can feel the pain we are trying to escape.” - James Hillman “Death and taxes are the only two things that will always happen to us.�” - John Lennon “You can never have enough time. But you can use up all your available time.” - Charles Lindbergh “I've found that it's best to leave people alone when they're having a good cry.