Alright so we all know Nicholas Sparks, right? The writer of The Notebook, The Last Song, etc. I mean, you might know these novels, but if you don’t, I will refresh your memory. That movie with Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams or that movie with Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus, yes, those were written by the same man. Not only are his stories heartbreakingly wonderful, but he really does have some of the best quotes that are words to live by. So being a quote-lover myself, I am going to share with you some of my favorites from the master himself.

“But love, I’ve come to understand, is more than three words mumbled before bedtime. Love is sustained by action, a pattern of devotion in the things we do for each other every day.” Nicholas Sparks, The Wedding

I mean, if that doesn’t hit you to your core, I don’t know what will. Seriously, how beautiful is this quote? It’s like saying everything you want to say about love through a quote and honestly, it’s perfect. Actions will always speak louder than words.

“You're going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it's always their actions you should judge them by. It's actions, not words, that matter.” Nicholas Sparks, The Rescue

So this is probably one of my favorite books that Nicholas Sparks wrote and this quote is one of the many reasons why. I’m a huge believer that actions will always speak louder than words because it honestly shows their true intentions. A person’s actions will always show their true emotions.

“When you're struggling with something, look at all the people around you and realize that every single person you see is struggling with something, and to them, it's just as hard as what you're going through.” Nicholas Sparks, Dear John

CAN I GET A RETWEET ON THIS? I mean could this man seriously have any wiser words? Everyone has their own personal struggle and even if you don’t see it, that doesn’t mean it’s not there. Remember that the next time you see someone walking down the street. Make friends! Or at least smile at them; I promise you it’ll make their day.

“People come, people go – they’ll drift in and out of your life, almost like characters in a favorite book. When you finally close the cover, the characters have told their story and you start up again with another book, complete with new characters and adventures. Then you find yourself focusing on the new ones, not the ones from the past.” Nicholas Sparks, The Rescue

To all the toxic people in your life: GO AWAY. You don’t need them and here’s why. People come in and out of your life. The people who are meant to stay in your life forever will stay. The people who are meant to leave, you need to hold the door open or them. Their part of your story is over and honestly, maybe it was about time they leave.

“We sit silently and watch the world around us. This has taken a lifetime to learn. It seems only the old are able to sit next to one another and not say anything and still feel content. The young, brash and impatient, must always break the silence. It is a waste, for silence is pure. Silence is holy. It draws people together because only those who are comfortable with each other can sit without speaking. This is the great paradox.” Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

Silence is golden. I always love having “me time” or time where I can just think about what happened during the day. Some people love spending every waking moment with other people but I just have to have some alone time. The best part is being with people who understand when silence is needed. That is the meaning of a true friend.

“And I learned what is obvious to a child. That life is simply a collection of little lives, each lived one day at a time. That each day should be spent finding beauty in flowers and poetry and talking to animals. That a day spent with dreaming and sunsets and refreshing breezes cannot be bettered. But most of all, I learned that life is about sitting on benches next to ancient creeks with my hand on her knee and sometimes, on good days, for falling in love.” Nicholas Sparks

Alright, I threw in an extra quote because it is just so beautiful. Life needs to be lived every day to the fullest. We need to find the beauty in the smallest things; the way the sun casts a shadow on a rock or the way the wind whistles a song to you as it passes through the leaves. Life isn’t about the big picture, it’s about the smaller ones combined to create the big one. That’s what’s so beautiful about life – we never know what it will throw your way. All you need to do is embrace it and know that everything happens for a reason.