First ask yourself: What is the worst that can happen? Then prepare to accept it. Then proceed to improve on the worst.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.
—Chinese Proverb
It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.
—E. B. White (1985–99) American Essayist, Humorist
PLANNING VS REACTING: How organized are you? Could your life be called a ballet or is it a hockey game (or a pin-ball machine)? However, even in a hockey game, good hockey player learn to skate to where the puck WILL BE.
—Indian Proverb
If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do, and how to do it.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Plan more than you can do, then do it. Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it. Hitch your wagon to a star, keep your seat, and there you are
—Unknown
Somewhere there is a map of how it can be done.
—Ben Stein (b.1944) American Lawyer, Writer, Economist, Humorist
Spectacular achievement is always preceded by unspectacular preparation.
—Robert H. Schuller (1926–2015) American Christian Televangelist, Author
The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
You can never plan the future by the past.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
Nature is the greatest teacher and I learn from her best when others are asleep. In the still dark hours before sunrise God tells me of the plans I am to fulfill.
—George Washington Carver (1864–1943) American Scientist, Botanist, Educator, Inventor
The loftier the building the deeper the foundation must be.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.
—H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (b.1940) American Self-Help Author
It is a bad plan that admits of no modification.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Every well built house started in the form of a definite purpose plus a definite plan in the nature of a set of blueprints.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
A good plan violently executed right now is far better than a perfect plan executed next week.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
Plans get you into things but you’ve got to work your way out.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
Before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you invest, investigate. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. Before you retire, save. Before you die, give.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
Few men in our history have ever obtained the Presidency by planning to obtain it.
—James A. Garfield (1831–81) American Head of State, Lawyer, Educator
I have always thought that one man of tolerable abilities may work great changes, and accomplish great affairs among mankind, if he first forms a good plan, and, cutting off all amusements or other employments that would divert his attention, make the execution of that same plan his sole study and business.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
I’m just preparing my impromptu remarks.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan.
—Tom Landry (1924–2000) American Sportsperson
There is in the act of preparing, the moment you start caring.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
When ye are prepared for a thing, the opportunity to use it presents itself.
—Edgar Cayce (1877–1945) American Faith Healer
You can’t push anyone up the ladder unless he is ready to climb himself.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
For the happiest life, days should be rigorously planned, nights left open to chance.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
The wise man bridges the gap by laying out the path by means of which he can get from where he is to where he wants to go.
—J. P. Morgan (1837–1913) American Financier, Philanthropist, Art Collector
Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.
—Alexander Graham Bell (1847–1922) Scottish-born American Inventor, Engineer, Academic
Plan well before you take the journey. Remember the carpenter’s rule: Measure twice, cut once.
—Unknown
Your problem is to bridge the gap which exists between where you are now and the goal you intend to reach.
—Earl Nightingale (1921–89) American Motivational Speaker, Author
Four steps to achievement: plan purposefully, prepare prayerfully, proceed positively, pursue persistently.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination.
—Earl Nightingale (1921–89) American Motivational Speaker, Author
For all your days prepare,
And meet them ever alike:
When you are the anvil, bear—
When you are the hammer, strike.
—Edwin Markham (1852–1940) American Poet, Educator
We need a sense of the value of time—that is, of the best way to divide one’s time into one’s various activities.
—Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) British Novelist, Playwright, Critic
One step at a time is good walking.
—Chinese Proverb
I will prepare and some day my chance will come.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Life is a long preparation for something that never happens.
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) Irish Poet, Dramatist
It’s never too late to start planning for the future.
—Unknown
Each man should frame life so that at some future hour fact and his dreaming meet.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.
—John Lennon (1940–80) British Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Activist
Can you think of anything more permanently elating than to know that you are on the right road at last?
—Vernon Howard (1918–92) American Spiritual Teacher, Philosopher
We can’t cross a bridge until we come to it; but I always like to lay down a pontoon ahead of time.
—Bernard M. Baruch (1870–1965) American Financier, Economic Consultant
But the delights of solitude don’t only consist of dreaming. Next in enjoyment, I think, comes planning.
—Anna Neagle (1904–86) English Actress
To have his path made clear for him is the aspiration of every human being in our beclouded and tempestuous existence.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
He who fails to plan, plans to fail.
—Common Proverb
Thoroughness characterizes all successful men. Genius is the art of taking infinite pains. All great achievement has been characterized by extreme care, infinite painstaking, even to the minutest detail.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
Few people have any next, they live from hand to mouth without a plan, and are always at the end of their line.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher