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KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM: SUBLIME THOUGHTS TO ELEVATE YOUR LIFE

Knowledge and Wisdom: Sublime Thoughts to Elevate Your Life is a pocket-sized collection of over 300 quotations arranged alphabetically by subject, compiled by Nges Elmer. It draws from a wide range of historical and contemporary figures like philosophers, writers, leaders, and anonymous voices alike. The book presents bite-sized pieces of wisdom meant to inspire reflection, action, and growth in everyday life. Topics range from ambition and change to prayer and resilience, with each quote centered around themes such as education, love, forgiveness, success, and character. Designed to be carried easily, it’s positioned as both a spiritual and practical companion for personal development and social living.

Reading this book felt like walking through a garden of timeless truths. Some quotes struck me deeply, like William Wordsworth’s musing on the value of small acts of kindness or Emerson’s call to greet each day afresh. I appreciated that Elmer included reflections from diverse cultures and centuries, making the book feel universal in its intent. It’s not a narrative journey but a mosaic of ideas. I sometimes longed for more context or commentary to link them together, but maybe that’s the point: let the reader draw their own connections.

Stylistically, the book leans heavily on structure over storytelling, but it does what it sets out to do. Elmer’s choices are thoughtful, occasionally surprising, and clearly personal. I liked how he mixed sacred and secular wisdom without pushing an agenda. There’s a gentle, humble spirit throughout the compilation that makes it feel like advice from a wise friend rather than a lofty lecture. While not every quote felt equally strong or relevant, I found myself pausing to reflect more often than I expected.

Sublime Thoughts is a book I’d recommend for readers who like to sit with an idea and turn it over in their mind. It’s perfect for morning meditation, journaling prompts, or just flipping through when life feels noisy. Teachers, preachers, and writers looking for inspiration will likely find this a handy resource.

Pages: 114 | ASIN : B09JWRVMLK

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Collecting Quotes

Kathleen Welton Editor Interview

The Little Book of Quotes by Women is a delightful, compact collection of 365 quotes from influential women who have graced U.S. postage stamps. Where did the idea for this book come from and how did it develop over time?

When I was in fifth grade, I was late for class and the teacher made me write “To thine own self be true” on the blackboard 100 times in front of the entire class. Needless to say, it was embarrassing. It taught me a lesson to never be late again as well as led me down a path of collecting quotes. I published my collection of favorite quotes in The Little Book of Gratitude Quotes in 2011.

The quote “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty” by Maya Angelou was my favorite, it reminds me that growing is not easy. Do you have a favorite quote from this book and why?

Quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt have always been my favorites, including “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” This quote has inspired me for many years and especially inspired me to have a dream of being a writer, hold onto the hope of that dream, and to hopefully make a difference in the lives of others with books.

Did you find anything in your research of this book that surprised you?

I started working on the first edition of this book more than a decade ago and published it in 2014. About a year ago with the debut of the stamp of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I noticed two things. First off, I realized that the stamps were much more ornate and life-like. Second, I realized that there were many new stamps of women I admired from Betty Ford, Lena Horne, Toni Morrison, and Sally Ride to the women who appeared on the Underground Railroad series including Harriet Tubman and Harriet Jacobs. That is when I decided to update the book and include biographical information about all the women who have appeared on U.S. Postage Stamps over the past 130 years.

What is the next book that you are working on and when can your fans expect it to be out?

In 2025, I am looking forward to the publication of my next picture books which all feature animals as storytellers: Be WHOO You Are, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Sea Star, and Whoo! Hoo!Hoo! The Carousel at the Zoo. I am currently working on a series of middle grade ocean mystery books tentatively titled Shell Shocked about two friends who tend to sea turtles and wild horses on an island.

Author Links: GoodReads | Website | AKABOOKS | Amazon

The Little Book of Quotes by Women is an inspiring collection of 365 quotes from women who have appeared on U.S. postage stamps from 1893-2024. They are activists, actors, athletes, artists, astronauts, attorneys, authors, choreographers, comedians, dancers, designers, engineers, first ladies, journalists, judges, mothers, musicians, nurses, painters, physicians, pilots, poets, publishers, scientists, senators, singers, wives, writers, and more.

Their words of wisdom have been thematically arranged in twelve sections including “Beauty,” “Courage,” “Happiness,” “Freedom,” “Possibility,” “Service,” and “Strength.” The Little Book of Quotes by Women features quotes from more than 130 women including Emily Dickinson, Pearl S. Buck, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Lena Horne, Helen Keller, Margaret Mead, Eleanor Roosevelt, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Harriet Tubman, Mother Teresa, and more.

The women featured in this book all share one thing in common—they have indeed left their stamp on history. Their unforgettable quotes have stood the test of time.