It is neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility and occupation, which give happiness.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Ability is a poor man’s wealth.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Sportsperson
Success leaves clues.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
Because a fellow has failed once or twice or a dozen times, you don’t want to set him down as a failure till he’s dead or loses his courage—and that’s the same thing.
—George Horace Lorimer (1867–1937) American Editor, Publisher, Philanthropist
A man can do only what he can do. But if he does that each day he can sleep at night and do it again the next day.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love and loyalty.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Success doesn’t come to you—you go to it.
—Marva Collins (b.1936) American Educator
Don’t let what you can’t do stand in the way of what you can.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Sportsperson
Had I succeeded well, I had been reckoned among the wise; our minds are so disposed to judge from the event.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Man never rises to great truths without enthusiasm.
—Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–47) French Moralist, Essayist, Writer
Success is peace of mind, a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming, and not just in a physical way: seek ye first the kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be yours as well.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Sportsperson
I was made to work. If you are equally industrious, you will be equally successful.
—Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) German Composer, Musician
Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people—your family, friends, and coworkers, and even strangers you meet along the way.
—Barbara Bush (1925–2018) American First Lady
Take Time
Take time to work … it is the price of success.
Take time to think … it is the source of power.
Take time to play, … it is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to read, … it is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to be friendly, … it is the road to happiness.
Take time to dream, … it is hitching your wagon to a star.
Take time to love & be loved, … it is the privilege of the Gods.
Take time to look around … it is too short a day to be selfish.
Take time to laugh … it is the music of the soul.
—English Prayer
We must have courage to bet on our ideas, to take the calculated risk, and to act. Everyday living requires courage if life is to be effective and bring happiness.
—Maxwell Maltz (1899–1975) American Surgeon, Motivational Writer
For me, writing is the only thing that passes the three tests of metier: (1) when I’m doing it, I don’t feel that I should be doing something else instead; (2) it produces a sense of accomplishment and, once in a while, pride; and (3) it’s frightening.
—Gloria Steinem (b.1934) American Feminist, Journalist, Social Activist, Political Activist
Most of us serve our ideals by fits and starts. The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly. That is dedication.
—Cecil B. DeMille (1881–1959) American Film Producer, Director
Nature magically suits a man to his fortunes, by making them the fruit of his character.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell em, “Certainly I can!”—and get busy and find out how to do it.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
The only certain means of success is to render more and better service than is expected of you, no matter what your task may be.
—Og Mandino (1923–96) American Self-Help Author
Try to discover
The road to success
And you’ll seek but never find,
But blaze your own path
And the road to success
Will trail right behind.
—Robert Brault
The price of success is much lower than the price of failure.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Big shots are little shots who kept shooting.
—Christopher Morley (1890–1957) American Novelist, Essayist
You do not succeed because you do not know what you want, or you don’t want it intensely enough.
—Frank Hall Crane (1873–1948) American Stage and Film Actor, Director
Most successful men have not achieved their distinction by having some new talent or opportunity presented to them. They have developed the opportunity that was at hand.
—Bruce Fairchild Barton (1886–1967) American Author, Advertising Executive, Politician
We spend our time searching for security and hate it when we get it.
—John Steinbeck (1902–68) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Journalist
Different people have different duties assigned to them by Nature; Nature has given one the power or the desire to do this, the other that. Each bird must sing with his own throat.
—Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) Norwegian Playwright
To be successful, you have to have your heart in your business, and your business in your heart.
—Thomas J. Watson, Sr. (1874–1956) American Business Executive
Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
It takes vision and courage to create; it takes faith and courage to prove.
—Owen D. Young (1874–1962) American Businessperson, Lawyer, Diplomat
Experience shows that success is due less to ability than to zeal. The winner is he who gives himself to his work, body and soul.
—Charles Buxton (1823–71) British Politician, Writer
No one lives long enough to learn everything they need to learn starting from scratch. To be successful, we absolutely, positively have to find people who have already paid the price to learn the things that we need to learn to achieve our goals.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
Great deeds are usually wrought at great risks.
—Herodotus (c.485–425 BCE) Ancient Greek Historian
Success is more a function of consistent common sense than it is of genius.
—An Wang (1920–90) Chinese-born American Engineer, Inventor, Entrepreneur
Once our minds are ‘tattooed’ with negative thinking, our chances for long-term success diminish.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Christian Professional Speaker, Author, Clergyman
The secret of success is to make your vocation your vacation.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
You don’t ‘pay the price’ for success-you enjoy the benefits of success.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Opportunities? They are all around us… There is power lying latent everywhere waiting for the observant eye to discover it.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
You have reached the pinnacle of success as soon as you become un interested in money, compliments, or publicity.
—Thomas Wolfe (1900–38) American Novelist
Do not let yourselves be discouraged or embittered by the smallness of the success you are likely to achieve in trying to make life better. You certainly would not be able, in a single generation, to create an earthly paradise. Who could expect that? But, if you make life ever so little better, you will have done splendidly, and your lives will have been worthwhile.
—Arnold J. Toynbee (1889–1975) British Historian
Any kind of lasting success is rooted in honesty.
—Russell Simmons (b.1957) American Music Promoter
If you achieve success, you will get applause, and if you get applause, you will hear it. My advice to you concerning applause is this; enjoy it but never quite believe it.
—Robert Montgomery (1904–81) American Film, Television Actor, Director, Producer
Need and struggle are what excite and inspire us; our hour of triumph is what brings the void.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
Abasement, degradation is simply the manner of life of the man who has refused to be what it is his duty to be.
—Jose Ortega y. Gasset (1883–1955) Spanish Critic, Journalist, Philosopher
If one asks for success and prepares for failure, he will get the situation he has prepared for.
—Florence Scovel Shinn (1871–1940) American Illustrator, Spiritual Writer
This world belongs to the energetic.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Success, remember is the reward of toil.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Success serves men as a pedestal; it makes them look larger, if reflection does not measure them.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
Success is like a liberation, or the first phase of a love affair.
—Jeanne Moreau (1928–2017) French Stage, Screen Actor, Singer