In war there is no substitute for victory.
—Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) American Military Leader
Put your heart, mind, intellect, and soul even to your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.
—Sivananda Saraswati (1887–1963) Indian Hindu Spiritual Teacher
Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality. It is the words that speak boldly of your intentions. And the actions which speak louder than the words. It is making the time when there is none. Coming through time after time after time, year after year after year. Commitment is the stuff character is made of; the power to change the face of things. It is the daily triumph of integrity over skepticism.
—Anonymous
The notion of looking on at life has always been hateful to me. What am I if I am not a participant? In order to be, I must participate.
—Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900–44) French Novelist, Aviator
I am in earnest; I will not equivocate; I will not excuse; I will not retreat a single inch; and I will be heard.
—William Lloyd Garrison (1805–79) American Journalist, Abolitionist
There’s no abiding success without commitment.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
What one has, one ought to use; and whatever he does, he should do with all his might.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
Nothing of worthy or weight can be achieved with half a mind, with a faint heart, and with a lame endeavor.
—Isaac Barrow
One advantage of marriage, it seems to me, is that when you fall out of love with him, or he falls out of love with you, it keeps you together until you maybe fall in love again.
—Judith Viorst (b.1931) American Psychoanalyst, Journalist, Writer
If your energy is as boundless as your ambition, total commitment may be a way of life you should seriously consider.
—Joyce Brothers (1927–2013) American Psychologist, Advice Columnist
If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag.
—Unknown
What sets apart high-performance teams, however, is the degree of commitment, particularly how deeply committed the members are to one another.
—Unknown
This force, which is the best thing in you, your highest self, will never respond to any ordinary half-hearted call, or any milk-and-water endeavor, It can only be reached by your supremest call, your supremest effort. It will respond only to the call that is backed up by the whole of you, not part of you; you must be all there in what you are trying to do. You must bring every particle of your energy, unanswerable resolution, your best efforts, your persistent industry to your task or the best will not come out of you. You must back up your ambition by your whole nature, by unbounded enthusiasm and a determination to win which knows no failure… Only a masterly call, a masterly will, a supreme effort, intense and persistent application, can unlock the door to your inner treasure and release your highest powers.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
The principle of neutrality … has increasingly become an obsolete conception, and, except under very special circumstances, it is an immoral and shortsighted conception.
—John Foster Dulles (1888–1959) American Republican Public Official, Lawyer
Commitment doesn’t mean that it has to last forever, but while you are there, commit yourself 100%. By doing this, the quality of your life improves 100%.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
If a task is once begun
Never leave it till it’s done.
Be the labor great or small
Do it well or not at all.
—Anonymous
Never let a day pass that you will have cause to say, I will do better tomorrow.
—Brigham Young (1801–77) American Mormon Leader
For we have thought the longer thoughts
And gone the shorter way.
And we have danced to devil’s tunes
Shivering home to pray;
I take you now and for always,
For always is always now.
—Philip Larkin (1922–85) English Poet, Librarian, Novelist
The man who sees both sides of an issue is very likely on the fence or up a tree.
—Unknown
There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.
—Unknown
You must stick to your conviction, but be ready to abandon your assumptions.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
When women hold off from marrying men, we call it independence. When men hold off from marrying women, we call it fear of commitment.
—Warren Farrell (b.1943) American Educator, Activist
There’s always a way—if you’re committed.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart.
—Vincent van Gogh (1853–90) Dutch Painter
A winner makes commitment. A loser makes promises.
—Unknown
Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
There is a point at which everything becomes simple and there is no longer any question of choice, because all you have staked will be lost if you look back. Life’s point of no return.
—Dag Hammarskjold (1905–61) Swedish Statesman, UN Diplomat
Whether you are really right or not doesn’t matter, it’s the belief that counts.
—Robertson Davies (1913–95) Canadian Novelist, Playwright, Essayist
Objectives are not fate; they are direction. They are not commands; they are commitments. They do not determine the future; they are means to mobilize the resources and energies of the business for the making of the future.
—Peter Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-born Management Consultant
It is by losing himself in the objective, in inquiry, creation, and craft, that a man becomes something.
—Paul Goodman (1911–72) American Novelist, Essayist
Losers make promises they often break. Winners make commitments they always keep.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
The loftiest edifices need the deepest foundations.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Individual commitment to a group effort—that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.
—Vince Lombardi, Jr. (1913–70) American Football Player, Coach
Most of us serve our ideals by fits and starts. The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly. That is dedication.
—Cecil B. DeMille (1881–1959) American Film Producer, Director
Some men dream of worthy accomplishments, while others stay awake and do them.
—Unknown
If you start to take Vienna – take Vienna.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Either do not attempt at all, or go through with it.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
He who walks in the middle of the road gets hit from both sides.
—George P. Shultz (b.1920) American Economist, Political leader, Businessperson, Academic
There are some people whom you have in life who have the capacity for real, passionate commitment to something, and sometimes you may be passionately committed to the same thing.
—Warren Beatty (b.1937) American Film Actor, Director, Producer
What a man believes, he will die for. What a man merely thinks, he will change his mind about.
—Unknown
The difference between ‘involvement’ and ‘commitment’ is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was ‘involved’ – the pig was ‘committed’.
—Unknown
Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides.
—Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) British Head of State
The difference between ‘involvement’ and ‘commitment’ is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was ‘involved’ – the pig was ‘committed’.
—Anonymous
What a man wants to do he generally can do, if he wants to badly enough.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
It’s no accident many accuse me of conducting public affairs with my heart instead of my head. Well, what if I do?. Those who don’t know how to weep with their whole heart don’t know how to laugh either.
—Golda Meir (1898–1978) Israeli Head of State
The relationship between commitment and doubt is by no means an antagonistic one. Commitment is healthiest when it’s not without doubt but in spite of doubt.
—Rollo May (1909–94) American Philosopher
The greatest trouble with most of us is that our demands upon ourselves are so feeble, the call upon the great within of us so weak and intermittent that it makes no impression upon the creative energies; it lacks the force that transmutes desires into realities.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
The height of your accomplishments will equal the depth of your convictions.
—William F. Scolavino