No man can tell what the future may bring forth, and small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.
—Demosthenes (384–322 BCE) Greek Statesman, Orator
Beginnings are apt to be shadowy and so it is the beginnings of the great mother life, the sea.
—Rachel Carson (1907–64) American Naturalist, Science Writer
The mystery of the beginning of all things is insoluble by us; and I for one must be content to remain an agnostic.
—Charles Darwin (1809–82) English Naturalist
Nourish beginnings, let us nourish beginnings.
Not all things are blest, but the
seeds of all things are blest.
The blessing is in the seed.
—Muriel Rukeyser (1913–80) American Poet, Writer
Every beginning is a consequence. Every beginning ends something.
—Paul Valery (1871–1945) French Critic, Poet
A hard beginning maketh a good ending.
—John Heywood
In the beginning you must subject yourself to the influence of nature. You must be able to walk firmly on the ground before you start walking of a tightrope.
—Henri Matisse (1869–1954) French Painter, Sculptor, Lithographer
Wise men are instructed in reason men of less understanding by experience; The most unknowing learn by necessity. Wise men do in the beginning what fools in the end.
—Unknown
There are no classes in life for beginners; right away you are always asked to deal with what is most difficult.
—Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926) Austrian Poet
The end of a thing,
is never the end,
something is always being born like
a year of a baby.
—Lucille Clifton (1936–2010) American Poet, Children’s Book-Writer
It was on that road and at that hour that I first became aware of my own self, experienced an inexpressible state of grace, and felt one with the first breath of air that stirred, the first bird, and the sun so newly born that it still looked not quite round.
—Colette (1873–1954) French Novelist, Performer
When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies. And now when every new baby is born its first laugh becomes a fairy. So there ought to be one fairy for every boy or girl.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
So many fail because they don’t get started—they don’t go. They don’t overcome inertia. They don’t begin.
—W. Clement Stone (1902–2002) American Self-help Guru, Entrepreneur
We have it in our power to begin the world over again.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Inventor
The end is in the beginning and lies far ahead.
—Ralph Ellison (1914–1994) American Novelist
Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.
—Meister Eckhart (c.1260–1327) German Christian Mystic
When there is a start to be made, don’t step over! Start where you are.
—Edgar Cayce (1877–1945) American Faith Healer
Fear not that thy life shall come to an end, but rather fear that it shall never have a beginning.
—John Henry Newman (1801–90) British Theologian, Poet
What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
In every phenomenon the beginning remains always the most notable moment.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult undertaking which, more than anything else, will determine its successful outcome.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
—Walt Disney (1901–66) American Entrepreneur
Every beginning is a consequence. Every beginning ends something.
—Unknown
Begin somewhere; you cannot build a reputation on what you intend to do.
—Liz Smith (1923–2017) American Journalist, Columnist
There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer
In my beginning is my end.
—T. S. Eliot (1888–1965) American-British Poet, Dramatist, Literary Critic
When the ancients said a work well begun was half done, they meant to impress the importance of always endeavoring to make a good beginning.
—Polybius (c.200–c.118 BCE) Greek Historian
All glory comes from daring to begin.
—Eugene F. Ware
More powerful than the will to win is the courage to begin.
—Unknown
One may understand the cosmos, but never the ego; the self is more distant than any star.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
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