The will is commendable though the ability may be wanting.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
Man has will, but woman has her way.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
The world is full of willing people, some willing to work, the rest willing to let them.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
Will springs from the two elements of moral sense and self-interest.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
The one who wills is the one who can.
—Common Proverb
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
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
Those that are firm in their will mold the world to themselves.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
He who is firm in will molds the world to himself.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you represents determinism; the way you play it is free will.
—Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) Indian Head of State
Willpower is the key to success. Successful people strive no matter what they feel by applying their will to overcome apathy, doubt or fear.
—Dan Millman (b.1946) American Children’s Books Writer, Sportsperson
Will cannot be quenched against its will.
—Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) Italian Poet, Philosopher
Willpower is the spearhead of self-discipline.
—Steve Pavlina (b.1971) American Motivational Speaker
To deny the freedom of the will is to make morality impossible.
—James Anthony Froude (1818–94) British Historian, Novelist, Biographer, Editor
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Self-will is so ardent and active, that it will break a world to pieces, to make a stool to sit on.
—Richard Cecil
When the will is ready the feet are light.
—Common Proverb
A person who is wise does nothing against their will, nothing with sighing or under coercion.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
—English Proverb
Our future and our fate lie in our wills more than in our hands, for our hands are but the instruments of our wills.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
All things must; man is the only creature that wills.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Will and intellect are one and the same.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) Dutch Philosopher, Theologian
Will it, and set to work briskly.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
When a man’s willing and eager the god’s join in.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Playwright
People do not lack strength; they lack will.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man’s own will.
—Thomas Aquinas (1225–74) Italian Catholic Priest, Philosopher, Theologian
In oratory the will must predominate.
—David Hare (b.1947) English Dramatist, Director, Film-Maker
If we cannot do what we will, we must will what we can.
—Yiddish Proverb
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
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
Nothing is easy to the unwilling.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Willpower is a concentration of force. You gather up all your energy and make a massive thrust forward.
—Steve Pavlina (b.1971) American Motivational Speaker
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
No action will be considered blameless, unless the will was so, for by the will the act was dictated.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
The will is deaf and hears no heedful friends.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Nothing is so common as unsuccessful men with talent. They lack only determination.
—Chuck Swindoll (b.1934) American Evangelical Christian Pastor, Author
Great souls have wills; feeble ones have only wishes.
—Chinese Proverb
Will minus intellect constitutes vulgarity.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
Will localizes us; thought universalizes us.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.
—Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) American Military Leader
Willpower is your ability to set a course of action and say, “Engage!”
—Steve Pavlina (b.1971) American Motivational Speaker
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
When one is willing and eager, the Gods join in.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Playwright
Who wills the end, wills the means.
—Common Proverb
Don’t let your will roar when your power only whispers.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Our bodies are our gardens—our wills are our gardeners.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
I have brought myself by long meditation to the conviction that a human being with a settled purpose must accomplish it, and that nothing can resist a will which will stake even existence upon its fulfillment.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
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