Men are strong so long as they represent a strong idea they become powerless when they oppose it.
—Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) Austrian Psychiatrist, Psychoanalytic
All the strength and force of man comes from his faith in things unseen. He who believes is strong; he who doubts is weak. Strong convictions precede great actions. The man strongly possessed of an idea is the master of all who are uncertain and wavering. Clear, deep, living convictions rule the world.
—James Freeman Clarke (1810–88) American Unitarian Clergyman, Abolitionist, Author
Strength, wanting judgment and policy to rule, overturneth itself.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
A man, as a general rule, owes very little to what he is born with — a man is what he makes of himself.
—Alexander Graham Bell (1847–1922) Scottish-born American Inventor, Engineer, Academic
Don’t show off every day, or you’ll stop surprising people. There must always be some novelty left over. The person who displays a little more of it each day keep up expectations, and no one ever discovers the limits of his talents.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
We deceive ourselves when we fancy that only weakness needs support. Strength needs it far more.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
Most of us seldom take the trouble to think. It is a troublesome and fatiguing process and often leads to uncomfortable conclusions. But crises and deadlocks when they occur have at least this advantage, that they force us to think.
—Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) Indian Head of State
Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
Anyone who proposes to do good must not expect people to roll stones out of his way, but must accept his lot calmly if they even roll a few more on it. A strength which becomes clearer and stronger through experiences of such obstacles is the only strength that can conquer them. Resistance is only a waste of strength.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
I believe that the true road to preeminent success in any line is to make yourself master of that line.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well. There is nothing more potent than thought. Deed follows word and word follows thought. The word is the result of a mighty thought, and where the thought is mighty and pure the result is always mighty and pure.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
It is never too late to be what you might have been.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Success as I see it, is a result, not a goal.
—Gustave Flaubert (1821–80) French Novelist, Playwright, Short Story Writer
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
I think what weakens people most is fear of wasting their strength.
—Etty Hillesum (1914–43) Jewish Diarist
Concentration is the secret of strength in politics, in war, in trade, in short, in all management of human affairs.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
If A equals success, then the formula is A equals X plus Y and Z, with X being work, Y play, and Z keeping your mouth shut.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
When we are strong, we are always much greater than the things that happen to us.
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
The people rate strength before everything.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
The greatest secret of success in life is for a person to be ready when their opportunity comes.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
The weakest link in a chain is the strongest because it can break it.
—Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (1909–1966) Polish Aphorist, Poet
What does not kill me makes me stronger.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.
—Truman Capote (1924–84) American Novelist
Tenderness is the rest of passion.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
History knows no resting places and no plateaus.
—Henry Kissinger (b.1923) American Diplomat, Academician
The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer
The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want.
—Ben Stein (b.1944) American Lawyer, Writer, Economist, Humorist
Go at it boldly, and you’ll find unexpected forces closing round you and coming to your aid.
—Basil King (1859–1928) Canadian Clergyman