The Confessions of Saint Augustine.

Meditations of Marcus Aurelius

The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes

Civil Disobedience by Thoreau

The Essays of George Orwell

Those, among others, work for me.

Helen Keller, perhaps.

What about the memorable lines from Thomas Paine's1st The American Crisis? "Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." If this could help Washington and his down-in-the-dumps soldiers, it can help anyone in times that try one's soul.

Laugh at me if you want, but I like to read the writings of Abraham Lincoln.  They're full of useful advice in time of conflict.  One of the best books I know--and this isn't writings *about*, it's writings *by* -- is the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius.  I keep a copy at work and one with me when I travel.  For some reason I keep coming back to this when I have crises:  he's so fresh and cool and sane, and you know it can't have been easy being Emperor of Rome when everything was on the verge of crumbling.

Somehow the stuggles of legendary people inspire me to buck up and be bold. Take legendary Marine "Chesty" Puller when informed that the 1st Marine Division was surrounded by 8 Chinese Division duirng the Korean War. He reportedly said, "Good, that means we can shoot in any direction and the little bastards won't get away this time." How can you not be inspired by that level of balls being shown when you think you're screwed?

Very often. Relating to the struggles and triumphs of those who came before- particularly someone you can or would like to relate to- can be very beneficial.