Jesus taught that perseverance is the essential element of prayer. Men must be in earnest when they kneel at God’s footstool. Too often we get faint-hearted and quit praying at the point where we ought to begin. We let go at the very point where we should hold on strongest. Our prayers are weak because they are not impassioned by an unfailing and resistless will.
—Edward McKendree Bounds (1835–1913) American Methodist Clergyman, Author, Lawyer
Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance.—He that shall walk, with vigor, three hours a day, will pass, in seven years, a space equal to the circumference of the globe.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character, and character, hope.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
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
Gnaw your own bone; gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it, gnaw it still.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
In the clutch of circumstance, I have not winced or cried aloud; under the bludgeoning of chance, my head is bloody but unbowed.
—William Ernest Henley (1849–1903) English Poet, Critic, Editor
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
I bend, but I do not break.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
Be strong!
It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong
How hard the battle goes, the day how long
Faint not – fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.
—Maltbie Davenport Babcock (1858–1901) American Presbyterian Minister, Writer
We may be masters of our every lot by bearing it.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
To persevere, trusting in what hopes he has, is courage in a man. The coward despairs.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
We shall live to fight again, and to strike another blow.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
Fortune is like the market, where many times, if you can stay a little, the price will fall.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
If you wish success in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother and hope your guardian genius.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
The great majority of men are bundles of beginnings.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
We can do anything we want to do if we stick to it long enough.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
It’s the steady, constant driving to the goal for which you’re striving, not the speed with which you travel, that will make your victory sure.
—Unknown
They sailed. They sailed. Then spoke the mate:
“This mad sea shows its teeth to-night
He curls his lip, he lies in wait,
With lifted teeth, as if to bite!
Brave admiral, say but one good word:
What shall we do when hope is gone?.”
The words leapt like a leaping sword:
“Sail on! sail on! and on!”
—Joaquin Miller (1837–1913) American Poet, Journalist
He that can’t endure the bad will not live to see the good.
—Yiddish Proverb
For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
There was a Texas Ranger one time who said that there’s no stopping a man who knows he’s in the right and keeps a-coming.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running.
—Unknown
It is more easy to forgive the weak who have injured us, than the powerful whom we have injured. That conduct will be continued by our fears which commenced in our resentment. He that has gone so far as to cut the claws of the lion will not feel himself quite secure until he has also drawn his teeth.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
It’s the plugging away that will win you the day
So don’t be a piker old pard!
Just draw on your grit; it’s so easy to quit.
It’s the keeping your chin up that’s hard.
—Robert W. Service (1874–1958) Scottish Poet, Author
As long as one keeps searching, the answers come.
—Joan Baez (b.1941) American Singer, Songwriter, Musician
Life is a maze in which we take the wrong turning before we learn to walk.
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer
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
Endurance is nobler than strength, and patience than beauty.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
Everyone has his superstitions. One of mine has always been when I started to go anywhere, or to do anything, never to turn back or to stop until the thing intended was accomplished.
—Ulysses S. Grant (1822–85) American Civil War General, Head of State
Slow and steady wins the race.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
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