Successful people are the ones who think up things for the rest of the world to keep busy at.
—Don Marquis (1878–1937) American Humorist, Journalist, Author
Despite the success cult, men are most deeply moved not by the reaching of the goal but by the grandness of the effort involved in getting there—or failing to get there.
—Max Lerner (1902–92) Russian-born American Journalist
The most natural beauty in the world is honesty and moral truth; for all beauty is truth. True features make the beauty of a face; and true proportions the beauty of architecture; as true measures that of harmony and music. In poetry, which is all fable, truth still is the perfection.
—Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury (1621–83) British Statesman
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
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
The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.
—Vidal Sassoon (1928–2012) Anglo-American Hairstylist, Businessman
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
The secret of success in life is known only to those who have not succeeded.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
What’s money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do.
—Bob Dylan (b.1941) American Singer-songwriter
Women who are confident of their abilities are more likely to succeed than those who lack confidence, even though the latter may be much more competent and talented and industrious.
—Joyce Brothers (1927–2013) American Psychologist, Advice Columnist
If people did not prefer reaping to sowing, there would not be a hungry person in the land.
—Indian Proverb
To be healthy, wealthy, happy and successful in any and all areas of your life you need to be aware that you need to think healthy, wealthy, and happy and successful thoughts twenty-four hours a day and cancel all negative, destructive, fearful and unhappy thoughts. These two types of thought cannot coexist if you want to share in the abundance that surrounds us all.
—Sidney Madwed (1926–2013) American Poet, Author
We never know, believe me, when we have succeeded best.
—Miguel de Unamuno (1864–1936) Spanish Educator, Philosopher, Author
Along with success comes a reputation for wisdom.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
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 life without men praise and regard as successful is but one kind. Why should we exaggerate any one kind at the expense of the others?
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
—Common Proverb
Luxury is the wolf at the door and its fangs are the vanities and conceits germinated by success. When an artist learns this, he knows where the danger is.
—Tennessee Williams (1911–83) American Playwright
One of the principles we teach in our programs is “If you shoot for the stars, you’ll at least hit the moon”. Poor people don’t even shoot for the ceiling in their house, and then they wonder why they’re not successful.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes the furthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The “sure thing” boat never gets far from shore.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
All men seek one goal: success or happiness. The only way to achieve true success is to express yourself completely in service to society. First, have a definite, clear, practical ideal-a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends-wisdom, money, materials and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you’re willing to pay the price.
—Vince Lombardi, Jr. (1913–70) American Football Player, Coach
With the catching ends the pleasures of the chase.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
The most considerable difference I note among men is not in their readiness to fall into error, but in their readiness to acknowledge these inevitable lapses.
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95) English Biologist
Life is pretty simple: You do some stuff. Most fails. Some works. You do more of what works. If it works big, others quickly copy it. Then you do something else. The trick is the doing something else.
—Tom Peters (b.1942) American Management Consultant, Author
Success seems to be that which forms the distinction between confidence and conceit.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist