I don’t care if I fall as long as someone else picks up my gun and keeps on shooting.
—Che Guevara (1928–67) Argentine-Cuban Revolutionary
The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.
—Vince Lombardi, Jr. (1913–70) American Football Player, Coach
Maybe who we are isn’t so much about what we do, but rather what we’re capable of when we least expect it.
—Jodi Picoult (b.1966) American Novelist
I’ll have a full recovery – that’s the utmost physically my body has the ability to heal. Then I will push about 20 percent further, through sheer mental tenacity. If you’re not prepared for that, go elsewhere.
—Anonymous
Do not fight against Providence; nor bring more heavy weather to the storm. Face what is already there.
—Menander (c.343–c.291 BCE) Greek Comic Dramatist, Poet
So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height; for the people had a mind to work.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
To him who is determined it remains only to act.
—Italian Proverb
Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.
—Michael Jordan (b.1963) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
No man can fight his way to the top and stay at the top without exercising the fullest measure of grit, courage, determination, resolution. Every man who gets anywhere does so because he has first firmly resolved to progress in the world and then has enough stick-to-it-tiveness to transform his resolution into reality. Without resolution, no man can win any worthwhile place among his fellow men.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
There is nothing impossible to him who will try.
—Lucan (Marcus Annaeus Lucanus) (39–65 CE) Roman Statesman, Latin Poet
Times of general calamity and collusion have ever been productive of the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace, and the lightest thunderbolt is elicited from the darkest storm.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Determination and perseverance move the world; thinking that others will do it for you is a sure way to fail.
—Marva Collins (b.1936) American Educator
A resolute determination is the truest wisdom.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
A man’s limitations are not the things he wants to do and can’t; they are the things he ought to do but doesn’t. The difficult we will do eventually, the impossible will just take a little more time.
—Unknown
Your decision to be, have and do something out of ordinary entails facing difficulties that are out of the ordinary as well. Sometimes your greatest asset is simply your ability to stay with it longer than anyone else.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
Every man is an impossibility until he is born.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.
—Robert H. Goddard (1882–1945) American Inventor, Physicist, Academic
In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins—not through strength but by perseverance.
—H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (b.1940) American Self-Help Author
I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
The thing that contributes to anyone’s reaching the goal he wants is simple wanting that goal badly enough.
—Charles Erwin Wilson (1886–1972) American Businessperson
The Wright brothers flew right through the smoke screen of impossibility.
—Charles F. Kettering (1876–1958) American Inventor, Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Confronting and overcoming challenges is an exhilarating experience. It does something to feed the soul and the mind. It makes you more than you were before. It strengthens the mental muscles and enables you to become better prepared for the next challenge.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
Where the determination is, the way can be found.
—George Samuel Clason (1874–1957) American Businessperson, Author
The natural effort of every individual to better his own condition is so powerful that it is alone, and without any assistance, capable not only of carrying on the society to wealth and prosperity, but of surmounting 100 impertinent obstructions with which the folly of human laws too often encumbers its operations.
—George Goodman (b.1930) American Economist, Author
I learned about the strength you can get from a close family life. I learned to keep going, even in bad times. I learned not to despair, even when my world was falling apart. I learned that there are no free lunches. And I learned the value of hard work.
—Lee Iacocca (1924–2019) American Businessperson
We are determined that before the sun sets on this terrible struggle, our flag will be recognized throughout the world as a symbol of freedom on the one hand and of overwhelming force on the other.
—George Marshall (1880–1959) American Military Leader
The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
It is not a lucky word, this same “impossible” no good comes of those who have it so often in their mouth.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Be determined to handle any challenge in a way that will make you grow.
—Les Brown
Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.
—Og Mandino (1923–96) American Self-Help Author
The mathematics of high achievement—
Begin with a dream.
DIVIDE the problems and conquer them one by one.
MULTIPLY the exciting possibilities in your mind.
SUBTRACT all the negative thoughts to get started.
ADD enthusiasm and determination.
And the RESULT will be the attainment of your goal.
—Anonymous
Be fearless and pure; never waver in your determination or your dedication to the spiritual life. Give freely. Be self-controlled, sincere, truthful, loving, and full of the desire to serve…Learn to be detached and to take joy in renunciation. Do not get angry or harm any living creature, but be compassionate and gentle; show good will to all. Cultivate vigor, patience, will, purity; avoid malice and pride. Then, you will achieve your destiny.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
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
Once while St. Francis of Assisi was hoeing his garden, he was asked, “What would you do it you were suddenly to learn that you were to die at sunset today?” He replied, “I would finish hoeing my garden.”
—Unknown
Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle, and a victory.
—Unknown
Practice easing your way along. Don’t get het up or in a dither. Do your best; take it as it comes. You can handle anything if you think you can. Just keep your cool and your sense of humor.
—Smiley Blanton
Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are foosteps on the moon.
—Anonymous
Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal – a commitment to excellence – that will enable you to attain the success you seek.
—Mario Andretti (b.1940) Italian-born American Sportsperson
What this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it.
—Alexander Graham Bell (1847–1922) Scottish-born American Inventor, Engineer, Academic
When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.
—Jacob Riis (1849–1914) Danish-born American Social Reformer, Journalist, Photographer
Every failure, obstacle or hardship is an opportunity in disguise. Success in many cases is failure turned inside out. The greatest pollution problem we face today is negativity. Eliminate the negative attitude and believe you can do anything. Replace ‘if I can, I hope, maybe’ with ‘I can, I will, I must.’
—Mary Kay Ash (1918–2001) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
The question isn’t “who is going to let me”; it’s “who is going to stop me”.
—Ayn Rand (1905–82) Russian-born American Novelist, Philosopher
I always feel pressure. If you don’t feel nervous, that means you don’t care about how you play. I care about how I perform. I’ve always said the day I’m not nervous playing is the day I quit.
—Tiger Woods (b.1975) American Sportsperson
Determination gives you the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before you.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
Something which we think is impossible now is not impossible in another decade.
—Constance Baker Motley (1921–2005) American Lawyer, Jurist
You can do anything you think you can. This knowledge is literally the gift of the gods, for through it you can solve every human problem. It should make of you an incurable optimist. It is the open door.
—Robert Collier (1885–1950) American Self-Help Author
The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
I didn’t know it was impossible when I did it
—Unknown