An American Princess: The Many Lives of Allene Tew

by Annejet van der Zijl

Old age and illness are destroyers of individuality. Just as babies look alike, so do people at the end of their lives.

But the former cobbler’s apprentice was by now an established, widely esteemed citizen, which meant he could allow himself the luxury of having principles.

“Inherited wealth is a real handicap to happiness,” he said. “It is as certain death to ambition as cocaine is to morality.”

“If one has no steady belief and foundation to one’s life, it is all hopelessness and tears,”

Strength of character has to be worked on, hard . . . Always try many things. Try every way one can think of, when you truly need something important and if you do not see the way, get help

I like people and you MUST, also it is true that we get from people very MUCH WHAT WE GIVE THEM. Look for their good qualities and ignore their faults, that way one is happier [. . .] Take people as they are, know yourself [. . .] If we took people for their true count, we would have few friends.

“It is so tiresome that people are not kinder to each other.”

“If one has the will and persistence, one CAN do things . . . always try every possible way, and if you don’t see a way, ask for help . . . COURAGE ALL THE TIME.”

From this study, it becomes clear that . . . good luck accumulates, as does bad luck. People are in poor health and are poverty-stricken and get let down, and vice versa. It is totally unfair. And the only real predictor of good or bad luck is the ability to deal with setbacks. Those who can best cope with setbacks have the greatest chance of fortune.

“It’s not the strongest of the species that survives, neither is it the most intelligent that survives. It is the most adaptable to change.”