Man must cast out of himself everything which separates him from God. He must will to live the divine life, and he must rise above all moral temptations; he must forsake every course of action that is not in accord with his highest ideals.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
When you can do the common things of life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.
—George Washington Carver (1864–1943) American Scientist, Botanist, Educator, Inventor
Some people grin and bear it; others smile and do it.
—Unknown
All the strength and force of man comes from his faith in things unseen. He who believes is strong; he who doubts is weak. Strong convictions precede great actions. The man strongly possessed of an idea is the master of all who are uncertain and wavering. Clear, deep, living convictions rule the world.
—James Freeman Clarke (1810–88) American Unitarian Clergyman, Abolitionist, Author
When all is said and done, more is said than done.
—Lou Holtz (1893–1980) American Stage Performer
My friend, the sufi is the friend of the present moment. To say tomorrow is not our way.
—Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207–73) Persian Muslim Mystic
The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it; if it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. The millions who are in want will not stand by silently forever while the things to satisfy their needs are within easy reach.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
‘Tis God gives skill, but not without men’s hand: He could not make Antonio Stradivarius’s violins without Antonio.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
If you want a thing done, go. If not, send. The shortest answer is doing.
—English Proverb
Leave something good in every day.
—Dolly Parton (b.1946) American Musician, Actress
It is not what a lawyer tells me I may do; but what humanity, reason, and justice tell me I ought to do.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
We are all ruled in what we do by impulses; and these impulses are so organized that our actions in general serve for our self preservation and that of the race.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
The only things in which we can be said to have any property are our actions. Our thoughts may be bad, yet produce no poison; they may be good, yet produce no fruit. Our riches may be taken away by misfortune, our reputation by malice, our spirits by calamity, our health by disease, our friends by death. But our actions must follow us beyond the grave; with respect to them alone, we cannot says that we shall carry nothing with us when we die, neither that we shall go naked out of the world.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Thought is the organizing factor in man, intersected between the causal primary instincts and the resulting actions.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Do something. If it works, do more of it. If it doesn’t, do something else.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
The link between ideas and action is rarely direct. There is almost always an intermediate step in which the idea is overcome. De Tocqueville points out that it is at times when passions start to govern human affairs that ideas are most obviously translated into political action. The translation of ideas into action is usually in the hands of people least likely to follow rational motives. Hence, it is that action is often the nemesis of ideas, and sometimes of the men who formulate them. One of the marks of the truly vigorous society is the ability to dispense with passion as a midwife of action the ability to pass directly from thought to action.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
You cannot make yourself feel something you do not feel, but you can make yourself do right in spite of your feelings.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
All sentient beings are seekers after happiness. He who does not violate other persons for the sake of his happiness will attain happiness afterwards.
—Buddhist Teaching
Without respect, the subtle alchemy that binds an organization or that serves as the impetus for a business transaction would dissolve into mutual suspicion and hostility.
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (b.1934) Hungarian-American Psychologist
Action is thought tempered by illusion.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
No rules for success will work if you don’t.
—Unknown
You can’t cross a sea merely by staring into the water.
—Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) Bengali Poet, Polymath
The time for action is now. It’s never too late to do something.
—Carl Sandburg (1878–1967) American Biographer, Novelist, Socialist
Worry a little every day and in a lifetime you will lose a couple of years. If something is wrong, fix it if you can. But train yourself not to worry. Worry never fixes anything.
—Mary Welsh Hemingway (1908–1986) American Journalist, Author
Then indecision brings its own delays, And days are lost lamenting o’er lost days. Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute; What you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Act like you expect to get into the end zone.
—Joe Paterno (1926–2012) American Sportsperson
He that has done nothing has known nothing.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
All meaningful and lasting change starts first in your imagination and then works its way out. Imagination is more important than knowledge. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
I’m not a big believer in long-term planning and far-off goals. In fact, I generally set 3-month and 6-month dreamlines. The variables change too much and in-the-future distance becomes an excuse for postponing action.
—Tim Ferriss (b.1977) American Self-help Author
To be is to do, says the existentialist. “One only becomes real (human) at the point of action”.
—Leo Buscaglia (1924–98) American Motivational Speaker
I never worry about action, but only about inaction.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
The best way out of a difficulty is through it.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
The end of man is action, and not thought, though it be of the noblest.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
People sitting on top of the world, usually arrived there standing up.
—Unknown
Suit the action to the word, the word to the action, with this special observance, that you o’erstep not the modesty of nature.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.
—Unknown
Action indeed is the sole medium of expression for ethics.
—Jane Addams (1860–1935) American Social Reformer, Feminist
It’s no good agreeing with a person who can’t make up his mind.
—Unknown
Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence.
—Buddhist Teaching
Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Before you can do something you must first be something.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
He who is surety is never sure himself. Take advice, and never be security for more than you are quite willing to lose. Remember the word of the wise man: “He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it; and he that hateth suretyship is sure.”
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
The average person puts only 25% of his energy and ability into his work. The world takes off its hat to those who put in more than 50% of their capacity, and stands on its head for those few and far between souls who devote 100%.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
The world is filled with willing people; some willing to work, the rest willing to let them.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
Act quickly, think slowly.
—Greek Proverb
Glory lies in the attempt to reach one’s goal and not in reaching it.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Act, don’t react!
—Anonymous
If you wait, all that happens is that you get older.
—Larry McMurtry (b.1936) American Novelist, Screenwriter
Action is but coarsened thought; thought become concrete, obscure, and unconscious.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic