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Joel Osteen [1963-0] American

Rank: 11
Clergyman, Preacher

Joel Scott Osteen is an American preacher and televangelist. He is the Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church, the largest Protestant church in the United States, in Houston, Texas.

God, Faith, Attitude, Life, Money, Positive, Dad, Good, Hope, Best, Change, Christmas, Fear, Future, Health, Amazing, Anger, Death, Dreams, Easter, Family, Happiness, Love, Marriage, Morning, Peace, Power, Success, Business, Car, Chance, Communication, Finance, Funny, Great, History, Home, Medical, Moving On, Smile, Society, Sports, Thankful, Time, Trust, Wisdom

Quote	Tags	Rank
I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you're grateful, you'll see God open up new doors.	Attitude, Faith, God, Positive, Trust	101
Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate the love of God and family and to create memories that will last forever. Jesus is God's perfect, indescribable gift. The amazing thing is that not only are we able to receive this gift, but we are able to share it with others on Christmas and every other day of the year.	Amazing, Christmas, Family, God, Love, Time	102
Every day we have plenty of opportunities to get angry, stressed or offended. But what you're doing when you indulge these negative emotions is giving something outside yourself power over your happiness. You can choose to not let little things upset you.	Anger, Happiness, Power	103
When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance.	Faith, God	104
Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you're going to live your life.	Attitude, Life, Positive	105
I don't think you should spend your life praying for things, but I do believe you should thank God for what He's given you... but I think the scripture teaches us that we can pray for our dreams, pray for the big things... he's not a small God; this God is incredible.	Dreams, God, Life, Thankful	106
You're going to go through tough times - that's life. But I say, 'Nothing happens to you, it happens for you.' See the positive in negative events.	Life, Positive	107
Don't ever criticize yourself. Don't go around all day long thinking, 'I'm unattractive, I'm slow, I'm not as smart as my brother.' God wasn't having a bad day when he made you... If you don't love yourself in the right way, you can't love your neighbour. You can't be as good as you are supposed to be.	God, Good, Love	108
Some people keep God in a Sunday morning box and say, 'Hey, I did my religious duty.' That's fine, but the scripture says to pray without ceasing. And I think that means all through the day you're talking to God. Even if it's in your thoughts.	God, Morning	109
Let go of yesterday. Let today be a new beginning and be the best that you can, and you'll get to where God wants you to be.	Best, God	110
You can change your world by changing your words... Remember, death and life are in the power of the tongue.	Change, Communication, Death, Life, Power	111
I think faith is incredibly important because you will become overwhelmed with what's happening and you will have waves of grief, but when you turn to your faith, I believe God will give you waves of grace to get through it.	Faith, God, Moving On	112
I believe that God has put gifts and talents and ability on the inside of every one of us. When you develop that and you believe in yourself and you believe that you're a person of influence and a person of purpose, I believe you can rise up out of any situation.	God	113
God can cause opportunity to find you. He has unexpected blessings where you suddenly meet the right person, or suddenly your health improves, or suddenly you're able to pay off your house. That's God shifting things in your favor.	God, Health	114
I wouldn't ever say if you're having tough times then there must be something wrong with you or your attitude. Life's a fight. It's a good fight of faith. I encourage people to stay up, stay hopeful, stay faith-filled.	Attitude, Faith, Good, Life	115
I think a big test we all face in life on a regular basis is that discouragement test. Life's not always fair, but I believe if you keep doing the right thing, God will get you to where you are.	God, Life	116
When the negative thoughts come - and they will; they come to all of us - it's not enough to just not dwell on it... You've got to replace it with a positive thought.	Positive	117
Sometimes we look back and 10 years from now we think, 'Boy, those were great old days.' Well, you know, we're living in the good old days.	Good, Great	118
See, when you drive home today, you've got a big windshield on the front of your car. And you've got a little bitty rearview mirror. And the reason the windshield is so large and the rearview mirror is so small is because what's happened in your past is not near as important as what's in your future.	Car, Future, Home	119
A good thing to remember is somebody's got it a lot worse than we do.	Good	120
It's God's will for you to live in prosperity instead of poverty. It's God's will for you to pay your bills and not be in debt.	God	121
You can be happy where you are.	Happiness	122
You can be committed to Church but not committed to Christ, but you cannot be committed to Christ and not committed to church.		123
Do all you can to make your dreams come true.	Dreams	124
Faith activates God - Fear activates the Enemy.	Faith, Fear, God	125
God wants us to prosper financially, to have plenty of money, to fulfill the destiny He has laid out for us.	Future, God, Money	126
If we say it long enough eventually we're going to reap a harvest. We're going to get exactly what we're saying.		201
If you want to reap financial blessings, you have to sow financially.	Money	202
Why don't you start believing that no matter what you have or haven't done, that your best days are still out in front of you.	Best	203
Keep a good attitude and do the right thing even when it's hard. When you do that you are passing the test. And God promises you your marked moments are on their way.	Attitude, God	204
Gays are some of the nicest, kindest, most loving people in the world.		205
I'm not for gay marriage, but I'm not for discriminating against people.	Marriage	206
I'm not the judge. You know, God didn't tell me to go around judging everybody.	God	207
Life's a fight. It's a good fight of faith.	Faith, Life	208
Any of us can be happy and have a good attitude when everything is going our way. But I believe it's the real test of your character and of your faith to say, 'Things are not going our way, but I'm still being good to people; I'm still attending church; I still have a good attitude.'	Attitude, Faith	209
God has already done everything He's going to do. The ball is now in your court. If you want success, if you want wisdom, if you want to be prosperous and healthy, you're going to have to do more than meditate and believe; you must boldly declare words of faith and victory over yourself and your family.	Faith, Family, Success, Wisdom	210
When you give up yourself, that's when you will feel the true spirit of Christmas. And that's giving that's serving others and that's when you feel fulfilled.	Christmas	211
You can live your life angry, bitter, mad at somebody or even guilty, not letting go of your own mistakes, but you won't receive the good things God has in store.		212
I always try to put a seed of hope into people's hearts. I'm not there to teach them doctrine necessarily, but to let them know that God is a good God, and has a plan for their lives. Hopefully, that will restore their faith, or draw them into faith.	Faith, Hope	213
I think God gives every one of us our own will, and unfortunately, some people choose to do evil things with it.		214
Faith is about trusting God when you have unanswered questions.	Faith	215
God made you a masterpiece - be blessed, secure, disciplined and equipped.		216
If we're going to bring out the best in people, we, too, need to sow seeds of encouragement.	Best	217
God puts people in our lives on purpose so we can help them succeed and help them become all He created them to be. Most people will not reach their full potential without somebody else believing in them.		218
Just because something didn't work out your way, or somebody disappointed you, that does not change who you are.	Change	219
I think that God gives you your own will and choices. I don't believe that we're supposed to drag ourselves through life defeated and not see God's blessings. But you have to make the right choices and follow that still, small voice within you. Because I think that's how God leads us.		220
Encouragement to others is something everyone can give. Somebody needs what you have to give. It may not be your money; it may be your time. It may be your listening ear. It may be your arms to encourage. It may be your smile to uplift. Who knows?	Money, Smile	221
I really believed that fear is contagious.	Fear	222
I'm healthy as can be - not an ache or a pain. A lot of my prayer is thanking the Lord that I am healthy. I pray for long life and good health.	Health	223
A lot of churches have not moved with the times.		224
God didn't make a mistake when He made you. You need to see yourself as God sees you.	Faith	225
God wants to bless us where we are.		226
I made a decision when my father passed away that I was going to be who God made me to be and not try to preach like my father.	Dad	301
Most people already know what they're doing wrong. When I get them to church I want to tell them that you can change.	Change	302
People respond when you tell them there is a great future in front of you, you can leave your past behind.	Easter, Future	303
We were old sinners - but when we came to Christ we are not sinners anymore.	Easter	304
I mean we all need a second chance sometimes.	Chance	305
I've always been - you know, my personality is motivating and encouraging. And so I'm just being who God made me to be.		306
God's desire is that we excel.		307
You know, there is always times where you feel discouraged and things coming against you, but I don't know if I ever wanted to throw in the towel.		308
I don't argue when people say that my message is simple, but I believe Jesus' message was simple.		309
The death of my father is probably the biggest thing that I ever faced. Daddy and I were best friends.	Death	310
I don't mind saying, you know, that I don't take a salary from the church, and God has blessed me with more money than I could imagine from my books.	Money	311
I like sports, and I enjoy playing basketball and lifting weights.	Sports	312
People in tough times - it doesn't mean they don't have a great attitude.	Attitude	313
It doesn't matter who likes you or doesn't like you, all that matters is that God likes you. He accepts you, he approves of you.		314
The main rule to me is to honor God with your life. To life a life of integrity. Not be selfish. You know, help others. But that's really the essence of the Christian faith.	Faith	315
It is a hard thing to let go of mistakes we've made and sins. God wants us to do that because He knows the guilt and the condemnation will keep us from becoming who He has created us to be.		316
This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says I can do.		317
You cannot let where you are today cause you to get stuck. I'm going to be my best right now. That's what faith is all about.	Faith	318
I purposely don't talk about money, because people are already skeptical about TV preachers. But I do say that I want you to be blessed. To me, prosperity is having health, having great children, having peace, good relationships. It's not about the money.	Health, Money, Peace	319
I think how you start the day many times determines what kind of day you're going to have.		320
It's easy to get negative because you get beat down. You go through a few disappointments and it's easy to stay in that negative frame of mind. Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is a whole cliche, but your attitude is going to determine how you're going to live your life.	Attitude, Positive	321
It's in the difficult times that we're growing and you can't just rebuke everything hard. We've got to endure it and fight the good fight of faith and pass the test.	Faith	322
I don't focus on the critics. Everyone who is making any difference in any field has critics. As long as I feel like I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing, then I don't worry about it.		323
We think when God speaks to us, there's going to be a boom out of Heaven or we're going to get some chill bumps, but I really believe God's talking to us all the time. He's talking to us right in here. I call it our heart, our conscience, but it's the Holy Spirit talking to us.		324
You have to come to your closed doors before you get to your open doors... What if you knew you had to go through 32 closed doors before you got to your open door? Well, then you'd come to closed door number eight and you'd think, 'Great, I got another one out of the way'... Keep moving forward.		325
I always want to listen to people and receive good criticism, but I just don't have to answer to them; I have to answer to God.		326
I want to challenge you today to get out of your comfort zone. You have so much incredible potential on the inside. God has put gifts and talents in you that you probably don't know anything about.		401
Bottom line: God will not allow any person to keep you from your destiny. They may be bigger, stronger, or more powerful, but God knows how to shift things around and get you to where you're supposed to be.		402
Let go of offence. Let go of fear. Let go of revenge. Don't live angry, let go now!	Fear	403
Isn't it funny how babies laugh a lot? I read a toddler, a young child laughs 300 times a day. The average adult laughs, like, four times a day. God put it in them. He put the laugh in us, but I think sometimes we let life get us down, you know, have bad breaks, and we lose our breaks.	Funny	404
If one dream dies, dream another dream. If you get knocked down, get back up and go again.		405
Indeed, it is as important to learn how to receive a blessing as it is to be willing to give one.		406
Sometimes God will deliver you from the fire, and other times God will make you fireproof.		407
A disagreement or incident involving someone who's not that important to you, like a guy who cut you off in traffic or a rude cashier, is something that should roll off your shoulders. Save the effort for resolving conflicts with the people you cherish.		408
I believe God wants you to have money to pay your bills, send your kids to college and do charity work and build orphanages. There's the teaching that we're supposed to be poor to show that we're humble. I don't buy that. I think we're supposed to be leaders. We're supposed to excel.	Money	409
Yes, the Bible should be taught in our schools because it is necessary to understand the Bible if we are to truly understand our own culture and how it came to be. The Bible has influenced every part of western culture from our art, music, and history, to our sense of fairness, charity, and business.	Business, History	410
When my dad founded our church, he used either a globe or a map of the world behind him. It was symbolic of what Christ said: to go forth and preach hope to the world. We believe in the cross, but we just continued with the globe.	Dad, Hope	411
In difficult times, we're not supposed to quit believing; we're not supposed to quit growing.		412
Every day is a gift from God. There's no guarantee of tomorrow, so that tells me to see the good in this day to make the most of it.		413
I do know this... I seem to reach a lot of previously unchurched people. So many people have told me they never went to church until they heard our message of hope that God is a good God who desires to bless those who are faithful and obedient to Him through Jesus Christ.	Hope	414
I'm going to let God be the judge of who goes to heaven and hell.		415
If you give, you will be blessed.		416
Only God can look at somebody's heart.	God	417
My message is that God is a good God.	God	418
I'm not trying to follow a set of rules and stuff. I'm just living my life.		419
Salvation and Christ's love is a gift. You don't earn it. You've got to receive that gift.		420
I've always been very happy. I've always been easy going and I've always been very encouraging; it's just my personality.		421
The older I get, the better I understand that every day is a gift.		422
When I grew up, the Devil was a reason why I had a headache or the Devil was the reason I got mad today. We always blamed the Devil. I think today when I say the Enemy, I like to make it broader. Sometimes the Enemy can be our own thoughts.		423
I just think that it's strong and it's important that we recognize what the Christmas season is about; it's about the birth of our Savior, and there's a lot of pressure today to be politically correct, but people are realizing, too, that you have to be open to express your faith what you want believe.	Christmas, Faith	424
If you don't set the tone for the day, the devil will set it for you.		425
We live in a culture that relishes tearing others down. It's ultimately more fulfilling, though, to help people reach their goals. Instead of feeling jealous, remember: If God did it for them, He can do it for you.		426
I say, don't try to fight your own battles because God will do it.		501
Well I think a lot of times we're putting things off and I'm going to do it later. I'm going to break this bad habit or I'm going to pursue this dream or I'm going to treat my spouse better.		502
Let go of yesterday.		503
I think sometimes the critics want me to beat people down, and that's not in me. I want to lift people up.		504
I'm trying to make God more relevant in our society. And I think talking in everyday terms and making sure people can understand it - I think that's important.	Society	505
You may make some mistakes - but that doesn't make you a sinner. You've got the very nature of God on the inside of you.		506
Prospering just doesn't have to do with money.	Success	507
Sometimes, I think if you get away from what you're called to do, it's more of a distraction.		508
I believe God gives you the grace to do what you need to do.		509
A lot of psychological principles and even medical principles, you see them coming around to what the Bible said hundreds of years ago: a merry heart is good like a medicine.	Medical	510
I feel like my message is to let people know that God is a good God, that He's on their side, and no matter what happens, He has a great plan for them.		511
We need to, you know, restore people. We need to show mercy. I mean, because as much mercy as you show people, that's the mercy you're going to be receiving.		512
I believe God's keeping the records, and I believe you will be rewarded even in this life. Somehow, some way, God will make it up to you. It may be He protected you from an accident you never knew. You can't give God something without God giving you more in return, whether it's peace or joy or satisfaction.	Peace	513
I don't mind saying, you know, that I don't take a salary from the church, and God has blessed me with more money than I could imagine from my books. It's been printed all over, so I don't feel like I am hiding anything.		514
God's got you in the palm of His hand. You won't leave one second before your time. If God wants you to be here, then you're going to be here.		515
When people are around us, they should leave better off than they were previously. Rather than feeling discouraged or defeated, people should feel challenged and inspired after spending any time with you and me.		516
You have enough people against you... be for yourself.		517
You are victors, not victims!		518
Whether a person is straight or gay, Republican, Democrat, good person, not a good person, they're all welcome, because to me, church is a place you're supposed to get healed and whole and loved.		519
I don't think that a same-sex marriage is the way God intended it to be.	Marriage	520
It's amazing how people will give when you don't ask. Many of them send money because they believe in the message.	Amazing	521
I'm not looking to exclude people, I'm looking to include them.		522
I don't believe we are supposed to go through life defeated and not having enough money to pay our bills or send our kids to college.		523
My parents were the same in the pulpit as they were at home. I think that's where a lot of preachers' kids get off base sometimes. Because they don't see the same things at both places.		524
My biggest hobby is hanging out with my family and kids.		525
Mormonism is a little different, but I still see them as brothers in Christ.		526
See, people are watching you. Especially your children. They're taking in every single thing you do. They are like video cameras with legs. And they are always in the record mode. They learn more from what you do than from what you say.		601
I just think that trusting God means we're going to have unanswered questions, and God is so much bigger than us, we're never going to understand them all.		602
I try to look on all the great things God's done, and not focus on the negative. It's a perspective.		603
We can be civil. We can still be friends, and be Democrats and Republicans, and have different views.		604
You'll never rise any higher than the way you see yourself.		605
I like to take every day just searching my own heart, making sure that I'm on course, and I'm doing what God wants me to do. I'm real good with not looking to the critics and looking straight ahead.		606
The ultimate connection is when you are connected to the creator of the universe.		607
So many people are looking at what's wrong, and I try to encourage them to look at what's right in their life. A lot of people have it a lot worse than you do.		608
I don't argue when people say that my message is simple, but I believe Jesus' message was simple. Jesus didn't go around condemning people.		609
God wants you to be a winner, not a whiner.		610
The question is not, 'Do you have a problem?' The question is, 'Does the problem have you?'		611
Many times, we miss out on God's best because we give up too soon. We don't realize how close we are to victory.		612
Faith is easy; I think people complicate it.	Faith	613
I like to think my dad was easygoing and kind, and I think some of those things have been passed down. I am like him in a sense of being positive and hopeful. He was compassionate, and I've got a lot of that in me as well.	Dad, Positive	614
I don't know what can be so dangerous about giving people hope.	Hope	615
I believe the scripture says that being gay is a sin.		616
I believe God, Jesus, died that we not just go to Heaven but that we excel in this life. I never think you make money your goal... God wants you to excel. Just keep Him in first place, and God will open up doors you never dreamed of.		617
Every setback means you're one step closer to seeing the dream come to pass.		618
Sometimes you need faith and victory spoken over your life. Words have created power. When you receive them into your spirit, they can ignite seeds of increase on the inside.	Faith	619
Friend, there's no greater investment in life than in being a people builder. Relationships are more important than our accomplishments.		620
In my early teens, I knew I wanted to do television production. I loved cameras, editing and producing, anything that had to do with television production. My friend had a production studio across town, and we'd go over there at night and shoot and edit. I produced my father's televised service for 17 years.		621
I've never preached one sermon on money, on just finances. I want to stay away from it.	Finance	622
I believe that God breathed life into every person and that every person is made in the image of God and you have accept them as they are, on their journey. I'm not here to preach hate or push people down.		623
I believe that when you think of the negative, and you get up discouraged - 'There's nothing good in my future' - I really believe it almost ties the hands of God. God works where there's an attitude of faith. I believe faith is all about hope.	Attitude	624
I try to live what I teach. A lot of things come against us in life, but we should try to find something to be grateful for, and see each day as a gift.		625
I don't want to just preach to the church. I feel like I have a broader message.		626
I don't go down the road of condemning.		701
I have always believed in God.		702
I think Bible principles are principles for life.		703
I try to speak in everyday language. I feel like God has gifted me to take Bible principles and make them practical.		704
I'm very careful about saying who would and wouldn't go to heaven. I don't know.		705
If Jesus were here today, he wouldn't be riding around on a donkey. He'd be taking a plane, he'd be using the media.		706
To me, we're marketing hope.		707
I deal with more practical issues of the Bible.		708
I don't like to beat people down. They need to be lifted up.		709
We need to show mercy. I mean, because as much mercy as you show people, that's the mercy you're going to be receiving.		710
I don't have all the answers.		711
On Sundays when I speak, I hopefully give somebody something that they can use the next day at work or at home.		712
Sometimes when you take strong stands, if you're not called to do it, you're dividing the audience you're trying to reach.		713
People define Christianity differently. I think a large portion of our population are Christians, they're not all growing in their faith, they're not all active, but I believe that a lot of people believe in Jesus and believe that he is their Lord and Savior.		714
I'm a reverend and a pastor. A pastor of the church. I go by usually pastor.		715
You may never get to that perfect world that you're waiting for where everything's going to be perfect and you got that much money and your house paid off.		716
My dad had a church of 90 people when I was born. It was just, over the years it continued to grow.	Dad	717
The Hindus are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet.		718
Sometimes what works 40 years ago doesn't work today.		719
There's pros and cons of a big church. Cons is I don't get to know everybody, I don't get to go to their ballgame, I don't get to marry everybody, but the pros are you get all this community, 800 ushers come in to serve, getting there at 7 in the morning on their day off and coming in on Saturday to make all those wafers.	Morning	720
I didn't try to copy my dad or fit into the pressure or the mold that everybody tried to make me fit into.	Dad	721
When I hear Mitt Romney say that he believes that Jesus is the Son of God, that He's the Christ, raised from the dead, that He's his savior - that's good enough for me.		722
I'm trying to throw a big broad net to try to get people interested in God and believe that He's for them and has a purpose.		723
To me, it's OK to have differences. But we don't have to be mad about it. You know? And I think that's where sometimes we get so passionate that we - you know, it turns into anger.	Anger	724
I'm honest enough to say I don't know everything. You know, I don't. I don't understand all of God. I don't understand, you know, some kind of why bad things happen.		725
God always wants us to be growing.		726
If you don't let people flourish in their jobs, why are they going to stay?		801
I want the services to look and sound like the Grammys. It's not showy, but we represent God, and it should be first class.		802
Sometimes we look at gay being a bigger sin than being proud or not telling the truth. I don't think God categorizes sins.		803
There's a belief that you're supposed to be poor, and suffering, and show your humility. I just don't see the Bible that way. I see that God came and Jesus died so that we might live an abundant life and be a blessing to others.		804
It's flattering to people who stop you and say that you've helped them and all. But, again, you know, you've got to stay humble because as quick as you came up, you can come down.		805
When I used to play sports, I'd be the one cheering the team on, 'Come on, we can beat these guys!' That's just in me.		806
I believe that God's dream is that we be successful in our careers, and that we be able to send our kids to college. I don't mean that everyone is going to be rich, and I preach a lot on blooming where you're planted. But I don't have the mindset that money is a bad thing.		807
You were not created to just get by with an average, unrewarding, or unfulfilling life. God created you to leave your mark on this generation.		808
My belief as a Christian is when we receive Christ as salvation, that that gives us a guarantee for Heaven.		809
Everybody is going to have their critics. It's easy to get discouraged in life.		810
It seems like when I was growing up there was more compromise, wanting to work with each other, and I think all of them - all of the lawmakers - have hearts to do what's right, and they all are passionate about it.		811
If you are against yourself, you will never reach your highest potential. And when you criticize yourself, you're criticizing God.		812
Don't grow accustomed to living with less, doing less, and being less to the point that you eventually sit back and accept it.		813
You're not better than anybody else, but you're not less than anybody else. You're a child of the Most High God.		814
The truth is, somebody is always talking about you, so you have to let it go... if it's not a part of your God-given destiny.		815
My friends and I had fun together, but I was more reserved, not at all the life of the party. I would just be the quiet one in the room.		816
I'm not a big believer in trying to jam stuff down somebody's throat: 'You're going to do it my way.' I'd rather show by example and live my life and have people say, 'You know what, I want to live like Joel has. He's got peace and joy, and he seems content.'		817
There's plenty about God that I don't understand and can't explain. But I come back to my core belief that God is good, that He's for us.		818
I think, for years, people have been pushed down by religion, and I don't say that disrespectfully, but they've been shown a God that you can't measure up to.		819
The greatest difficulty always comes right before the birth of a dream.		820
We live in a day that nobody's lived in before: where you can touch more people. The message I'll speak tonight and the message that I speak at home, people in India will hear. It's just an amazing day.		821
People are skeptical of many televangelists, and I'm sensitive to that.		822
I think God's justice is making wrongs right.		823
I think the word rich is all relative.		824
I write all my sermons.		825
I'm trying to make God more relevant in our society.		826
A lot of people have it a lot worse than you do.		901
A lot of preachers' kids are some of the most rebellious kids in the world. I never was like that.		902
For a while... to be an evangelical meant you were a white Republican, and you were against this and against that. I don't want to be put into that mold, because then people judge you before they even listen... I don't want to divide the very people I am trying to reach.		903
I don't know what can be so dangerous about giving people hope. Causing people to have better relationships. I'm not leading them to some false God or something like that.		904
I want get across to not just the church world. I want to get outside those walls to everyday people.		905

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