All beginnings are hard, said the thief, and began by stealing an anvil.
—Dutch Proverb
What the American public wants in the theater is a tragedy with a happy ending.
—William Dean Howells (1837–1920) American Novelist, Critic.
The beginning of health is sleep.
—Irish Proverb
There is a woman at the beginning of all great things.
—Alphonse de Lamartine (1790–1869) French Poet, Politician, Historian
There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Courage has genius, power, and magic in it. Only engage, and then the mind grows heated. Begin it and the work is completed.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Everything must have a beginning.
—French Proverb
Learning is the beginning of wealth. Learning is the beginning of health. Learning is the beginning of spirituality. Searching and learning is where the miracle process all begins.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names.
—Chinese Proverb
Every beginning is a consequence. Every beginning ends something.
—Paul Valery (1871–1945) French Critic, Poet
The great majority of men are bundles of beginnings.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
What the carburetor, sparkplug and self-starter are to an automobile, initiative, private enterprise and executive ability are to industry as a whole, including the wage earner, wage payer, wage spender and wage saver, i.e., the investor. If the sparkplug and self-starter get out of commission, the car will come to a standstill.
—William J. H. Boetcker (1873–1962) American Presbyterian Minister
It is easier to resist at the beginning than at the end.
—Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Polymath, Painter, Sculptor, Inventor, Architect
He has not done who is beginning.
—French Proverb
In every phenomenon the beginning remains always the most notable moment.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Bad beginnings lead to bad results.
—Latin Proverb
In my beginning is my end.
—T. S. Eliot (1888–1965) American-born British Poet, Dramatist, Literary Critic
For love is ever the beginning of Knowledge, as fire is of light.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
One may understand the cosmos, but never the ego; the self is more distant than any star.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
The quickest way of ending a war is to lose it.
—George Orwell (1903–50) English Novelist, Journalist
Knowledge of sin is the beginning of salvation.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
The truth is at the beginning of anything and its end are alike touching.
—Yoshida Kenko (1283–1352) Japanese Poet, Essayist
Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be the beginning.
—Ivy Baker Priest (1905–75) American Politician
Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.
—Greek Proverb
We may be very busy, we may be very efficient, but we will also be truly effective only when we begin with the end in mind.
—Stephen Covey (1932–2012) American Self-help Author
The first blow is half the battle.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
The beginning is half of the whole.
—Latin Proverb
A bad ending follows a bad beginning.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Great things often come from small beginnings.
—Finnish Proverb
Every meeting is the beginning of a good-bye.
—Japanese Proverb
More powerful than the will to win is the courage to begin.
—Unknown
The last thing one knows-is what to put first.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
It’s not over until it’s over.
—Yogi Berra (1925–2015) American Sportsperson
From small beginning come great things.
—Dutch Proverb
The beginning is the half of every action.
—Common Proverb
Things are always at their best in their beginning.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
A good beginning makes a good ending.
—English Proverb
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness concerning all acts of initiative and creation. There is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans; that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen events, meetings and material assistance which no one could have dreamed would have come their way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets: “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now!”
—William Hutchinson Murray (1913–96) Scottish Mountaineer
Even a ball of wool has a beginning.
—Yiddish Proverb
If a relationship is to evolve, it must go through a series of endings.
—Christopher Morley (1890–1957) American Novelist, Essayist
The beginnings of all things are small.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Whatever you do or dream you can do – begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Such a beginning, such an end.
—German Proverb
Who would make money must begin by spending it.
—Italian Proverb
Since the beginning of time, people have been trying to change the world so that they can be happy. This hasn’t ever worked, because it approaches the problem backward. What The Work gives us is a way to change the projector—mind—rather than the projected. It’s like when there’s a piece of lint on a projector’s lens. We think there’s a flaw on the screen, and we try to change this person and that person, whomever the flaw appears on next. But it’s futile to try to change the projected images. Once we realize where the lint is, we can clear the lens itself. This is the end of suffering, and the beginning of a little joy in paradise.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
A bad beginning may make a good ending.
—German Proverb
Every beginning is a consequence. Every beginning ends something.
—Unknown
The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
—Chinese Proverb
Laughter is not at all a bad beginning for a friendship, and it is far the best ending for one.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright