Don’t be discouraged. It’s often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock.
—Unknown
Perseverance and audacity generally win.
—Dorothee Luzy Dotinville (1747–1830) French Dancer, Actress
Life is a maze in which we take the wrong turning before we learn to walk.
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer
A jug fills drop by drop.
—Buddhist Teaching
‘Tis known by the name of perseverance in a good cause, and of obstinacy in a bad one.
—Laurence Sterne (1713–68) Irish Anglican Novelist, Clergyman
I was taught that the way of progress is neither swift nor easy.
—Marie Curie (1867–1934) Polish-born French Physicist, Chemist
This man Wellington is so stupid he does not know when he is beaten and goes on fighting.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
All’s well that ends well.
—Common Proverb
Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
We can always redeem the man who aspires and strives.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
As a means to success, determination has this advantage over talent—that it does not have to be recognized by others.
—Robert Brault
Your persistence is your measure of faith in yourself.
—Unknown
Mediocrity obtains more with application than superiority without it.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
First there are those who are the winners and know they are winners. Then there are the losers know they are losers. Then there arc those who are not winners but don’t know it. They’re the ones for me. They never quit trying. They’re the soul of our game.
—Bear Bryant (1913–83) American Sportsperson
When the world says, “Give up,” hope whispers, “Try it one more time.”
—Unknown
I’m a little wounded, but I am not slain; I will lay me down to bleed a while. Then I’ll rise and fight again.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; while others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than ever before.
—Polybius (c.200–c.118 BCE) Greek Historian
I argue not against heaven’s hand or will, nor bate a jot of heart or hope, but still bear up, and steer right onward.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Sure I am of this, that you have only to endure to conquer. You have only to persevere to save yourselves.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Fear, desire, hope, still push us on toward the future.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Never despair, but if you do, work on in despair.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
The majority of men meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
We shall live to fight again, and to strike another blow.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
As long as we are persistence in our pursuit of our deepest destiny, we will continue to grow. We cannot choose the day or time when we will fully bloom. It happens in its own time.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
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
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places.
—Unknown
Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle, and a victory.
—Unknown
Every great work, every great accomplishment, has been brought into manifestation through holding to the vision, and often just before the big achievement, comes apparent failure and discouragement.
—Florence Scovel Shinn (1871–1940) American Illustrator, Spiritual Writer
Whatever necessity lays upon thee, endure; whatever she commands, do.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
We can do whatever we wish to do provided our wish is strong enough. But the tremendous effort needed – one doesn’t always want to make it – does one? … But what else can be done? What’s the alternative? What do you want most to do? That’s what I have to keep asking myself, in the face of difficulties.
—Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923) New Zealand-born British Author
Never measure the height of a mountain, until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was.
—Dag Hammarskjold (1905–61) Swedish Statesman, UN Diplomat
There’s often no way you can look into the game of life and determine whether or not you’ll get that big break tomorrow or whether it will take another week, month, year or even longer. But it will come!
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
I can remember walking as a child. It was not customary to say you were fatigued. It was customary to complete the goal of the expedition.
—Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) American Actor, TV Personality
In the realm of ideas, everything depends on enthusiasm; in the real world, all rests on perseverance.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
How you start is important, very important, but in the end it is how you finish that counts. It is easier to be a self-starter than a self-finisher. The victor in the race is not the one who dashes off swiftest but the one who leads at the finish. In the race for success, speed is less important than stamina. The sticker outlasts the sprinter in life’s race. In America we breed many hares but not so many tortoises.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
If something is boring after 2 minutes, try it for 4. If still boring, try it for 8, 16, 32, and so on. Eventually, one discovers that it is not boring, but very interesting.
—Zen Proverb Japanese School of Mahayana Buddhism
You give 100 percent in the first half of the game, and if that isn’t enough, in the second half you give what’s left.
—Yogi Berra (1925–2015) American Sportsperson
Failure after long perseverance is much grander than never to have a striving good enough to be called a failure.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Nearly every man who develops an idea works at it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then gets discouraged. That’s not the place to become discouraged.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
Every noble work is at first impossible.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
The miracle, or the power, that elevates the few is to be found in their industry, application, and perseverance under the promptings of a brave, determined spirit.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
See first that the design is wise and just: that ascertained, pursue it resolutely; do not for one repulse forego the purpose that you resolved to effect.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Victory belongs to the most persevering.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
It’s when things get rough and you don’t quit that success comes.
—Indian Proverb
An ounce of application is worth a ton of abstraction.
—Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) African-American Educationist
It is really true what philosophy tells us, that life must be understood backwards. But with this, one forgets the second proposition, that it must be lived forwards.
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
Never let up. The more you can win by, the more doubts you put in the other players’ minds the next time out.
—Sam Snead (1912–2002) American Professional Golfer
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
The person who wins may have been counted out several times, but didn’t hear the referee.
—Indian Proverb