A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.
—German Proverb
What you have to do and the way you have to do it is incredibly simple. Whether you are willing to do it, that’s another matter.
—Peter Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-born Management Consultant
Your own mind is a sacred enclosure into which nothing harmful can enter except by your permission.
—Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) British Novelist, Playwright, Critic
Man has will, but woman has her way.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
The will of man is his happiness.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Will minus intellect constitutes vulgarity.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
Don’t let your will roar when your power only whispers.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
All things must; man is the only creature that wills.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
He who is firm in will molds the world to himself.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
When one is willing and eager, the Gods join in.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Playwright
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
The one who wills is the one who can.
—Common Proverb
He has not learned the first lesson of life who does not every day surmount a fear.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Great souls have wills; feeble ones have only wishes.
—Chinese Proverb
Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
When a man’s willing and eager the god’s join in.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Playwright
Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today’s world do not have.
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
Will it, and set to work briskly.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Who wills the end, wills the means.
—Common Proverb
Nothing can withstand the power of the human will if it is willing to stake its very existence to the extent of its purpose.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man’s own will.
—Thomas Aquinas (1225–74) Italian Catholic Priest, Philosopher, Theologian
Will localizes us; thought universalizes us.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
The will is deaf and hears no heedful friends.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
To live by one man’s will becomes the cause of all misery.
—Richard Hooker (1554–1600) English Anglican Theologian, Political Theorist
A man can do all things if he but wills them.
—Leon Battista Alberti (1404–72) Italian Architect, Humanist, Painter, Art Critic
A person who is wise does nothing against their will, nothing with sighing or under coercion.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer