Stagnation is something worse than death: it is corruption also.
—William Gilmore Simms (1806–70) American Poet, Historian, Novelist, Editor
To do anything truly worth doing, I must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in with gusto and scramble through as well as I can.
—Og Mandino (1923–96) American Self-Help Author
Shun idleness. It is a rust that attaches itself to the most brilliant metals.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
With mere good intentions hell is Proverbially paved.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
Words gain credibility by deed.
—Terence (c.195–159 BCE) Roman Comic Dramatist
The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
—Chinese Proverb
As long as you can start, you are all right. The juice will come.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer
If you can talk brilliantly about a problem, it can create the consoling illusion that it has been mastered.
—Stanley Kubrick (1928–99) American Film Director, Writer, Film Producer, Photographer
The great end of life is not knowledge, but action.
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95) English Biologist
“Mean to” don’t pick no cotton.
—Anonymous
The first step is always the hardest.
—Common Proverb
He that is overcautious will accomplish but very little.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Above all, try something.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
Beginnings are apt to be shadowy and so it is the beginnings of the great mother life, the sea.
—Rachel Carson (1907–64) American Naturalist, Science Writer
One’s feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into action … which bring results.
—Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) English Nurse
You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.
—James Anthony Froude (1818–94) British Historian, Novelist, Biographer, Editor
Delay not to seize the hour.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Playwright
I myself must mix with action lest I wither by despair.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
Things don’t turn up in this world until somebody turns them up.
—James A. Garfield (1831–81) American Head of State, Lawyer, Educator
If we really want to live, we’d better start at once to try.
—W. H. Auden (1907–73) British-born American Poet, Dramatist
Make up your mind to act decidedly and take the consequences. No good is ever done in this world by hesitation.
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95) English Biologist
The only menace is inertia.
—Saint-John Perse (1887–1975) French Poet, Diplomat
To think is easy. To act is difficult. To act as one thinks is the most difficult of all.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Men are alike in their promises. It is only in their deeds that they differ.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
Our chief defect is that we are more given to talking about things than to doing them.
—Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) Indian Head of State
Procrastination is opportunity’s natural assassin.
—Victor Kiam (1926–2001) American Entrepreneur
If you miss the first buttonhole, you will not succeed in buttoning up your coat.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
The biggest sin is sitting on your ass.
—Florynce Kennedy (1916–2000) American Lawyer, Civil Rights Leader, Feminist, Activist
There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist