One of the fundamental differences between the Victim Orientation and this one [Creator] is where you put your focus of attention…For Victims, the focus is always on what they don’t want: the problems that seem constantly to multiply in their lives. They don’t want the person, condition, or circumstance they consider their Persecutor, and they don’t want the fear that leads to fight, flee or freeze reactions, either. Creators, on the other hand, place their focus on what they do want. Doing this, Creators still face and solve problems in the course of creating outcomes they want, but their focus remains fixed on their ultimate vision.
—David Emerald
Action hangs, as it were, “dissolved” in speech, in thoughts whereof speech is the shadow; and precipitates itself therefrom. The kind of speech in a man betokens the kind of action you will get from him.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
We protract the career of time by employment, we lengthen the duration of our lives by wise thoughts and useful actions. Life to him who wishes not to have lived in vain is thought and action.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (1728–1795) Swiss Philosophical Writer, Naturalist, Physician
One’s action ought to come out of an achieved stillness: not to be a mere rushing on.
—D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930) English Novelist, Playwright, Poet, Essayist, Literary Critic
Whoever wants to reach a distant goal must take small steps.
—Helmut Schmidt (1918–2015) Chancellor of West Germany
In its knowledges light, we must think and act not only for the moment but for our time. I am reminded of the great French Marshal Lyautey, who once asked his gardener to plant a tree. The gardener objected that the tree was slow-growing and would not reach maturity for a hundred years. The Marshal replied, In that case, there is no time to lose, plant it this afternoon.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
The German intellect wants the French sprightliness, the fine practical understanding of the English, and the American adventure; but it has a certain probity, which never rests in a superficial performance, but asks steadily, To what end? A German public asks for a controlling sincerity.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Words may show a man’s wit, but actions his meaning.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
A heart to resolve, a head to contrive, and a hand to execute.
—Edward Gibbon (1737–94) English Historian, Politician
You don’t have to get it right the first time.
—Barbara Sher (1935–2020) American Career Coach
Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845) American Head of State
Never forget that life can only be nobly inspired and rightly lived if you take it bravely and gallantly, as a splendid adventure in which you are setting out into an unknown country, to face many a danger, to meet many a joy, to find many a comrade, to win and lose many a battle.
—Annie Besant (1847–1933) British-born Indian Theosophist, Civil Rights Advocate, Writer, Orator
To be busy is man’s only happiness.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
To will and not to do when there is opportunity, is in reality not to will; and to love what is good and not to do it, when it is possible, is in reality not to love it.
—Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772) Swedish Mystic, Theologian, Scientist
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
The early bird gets the worm.
—Common Proverb
A somebody was once a nobody who wanted to and did.
—Anonymous
If you want a quality, act as if you already had it. Try the “as if” technique.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
Boyhood is a most complex and incomprehensible thing. Even when one has been through it, one does not understand what it was. A man can never quite understand a boy, even when he has been the boy.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Leave something good in every day.
—Dolly Parton (b.1946) American Musician, Actress
Start with what is right rather than what is acceptable.
—Peter Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-born Management Consultant
The most important actions are never comfortable.
—Tim Ferriss (b.1977) American Self-help Author
How shall we learn to know ourselves? By reflection? Never; but only through action. Strive to do thy duty; then you shall know what is in thee.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Action is thought tempered by illusion.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
He has the deed half done who has made a beginning.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It’s as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer.
—Nolan Bushnell (b.1943) American Engineer, Businessman
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan, ‘press on’ has solved, and always will solve, the problems of the human race.
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
After all is said and done, a lot more will have been said than done.
—Unknown
It is by acts and not by ideas that people live.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
You must be what it is that you’re seeking. This is a universe of attraction and energy. You can’t have a desire to attract a mate who’s confident, generous, non-judgmental, and gentle, and expect that desire to be manifested if you’re thinking and acting in nonconfident, selfish, judgmental, or arrogant ways…
—Wayne Dyer (1940–2015) American Self-Help Author