A person who is wise does nothing against their will, nothing with sighing or under coercion.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Calmness of will is a sign of grandeur. The vulgar, far from hiding their will, blab their wishes. A single spark of occasion discharges the child of passion into a thousand crackers of desire.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
If you listen to the Chatterbox, your experience of life is fear-producing, and you stop yourself from expanding. If you listen to the Higher Self, your experience of life is joyful and abundant and devoid of fear. You, like everyone else, are an expert at listening to your Chatterbox. Your task is now to become an expert at listening to your Higher Self. Then true choice will be possible.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
Nothing is easy to the unwilling.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Willingness is essential in any initiation or in making an dream come true. “I can’t” often means “I won’t.” You can change “I won’t” to “I will” with willpower.
—Marcia Wieder
The purpose of life is not to win. The purpose of life is to grow and to share. When you come to look back on all that you have done in life, you will get more satisfaction from the pleasure you have brought into other people’s lives that you will from the times that you outdid and defeated them.
—Harold Kushner (1935–2023) American Rabbi, Author
Everyone who wills can hear the inner voice. It is within everyone.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Self-will is so ardent and active, that it will break a world to pieces, to make a stool to sit on.
—Richard Cecil
God made thee perfect, not immutable! and good he made thee, but to persevere he left it in thy power; ordained thy will by nature free, not over ruled by fate inextricable, or strict necessity.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
You will not grow if you sit in a beautiful flower garden, but you will grow if you are sick, if you are in pain, if you experience losses, and if you do not put your head in the sand, but take the pain and learn to accept it, not as a curse or punishment but as a gift to you with a very, very specific purpose.
—Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (1926-2004) American Psychiatrist
Are you willing to work sixteen hours a day? Rich people are. Are you willing to work seven days a week and five up most of your weekends? Rich people are. Are you willing to sacrifice seeing your family, your friends, and give up your recreations and hobbies? Rich people are. Are you willing to risk all your time, energy and start-up capital with no guarantee of returns? Rich people are.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man’s own will.
—Thomas Aquinas (1225–74) Italian Catholic Priest, Philosopher, Theologian
To live by one man’s will becomes the cause of all misery.
—Richard Hooker (1554–1600) English Anglican Theologian, Political Theorist
In the moral world there is nothing impossible if we can bring a thorough will to do it. Man can do everything with himself, but he must not attempt to do too much with others.
—Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767–1835) German Philosopher, Linguist, Statesman
Poor and most middle-class people believe “If I have a lot of money, I could do what I want and I’d be a success”. Rich people understand, “If I become a successful person, I will be able to do what I need to do to have what I want, including a lot of money”.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
The will of man is his happiness.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
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
To make knowledge productive, we will have to learn to see both forest and tree. We will have to learn to connect.
—Peter Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-born Management Consultant
I am prepared to die, but there is no cause for which I am prepared to kill.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Will cannot be quenched against its will.
—Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) Italian Poet, Philosopher
You will be paid in direct proportion to the value you create in the marketplace.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
If we cannot do what we will, we must will what we can.
—Yiddish Proverb
To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
He who is firm in will molds the world to himself.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Man has will, but woman has her way.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
Where there is a will there is a lawsuit.
—Addison Mizner (1872–1933) American Architect, Designer
Those that are firm in their will mold the world to themselves.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
The highest obedience in the spiritual life is to be able always, and in all things, to say, “Not my will, but thine be done.”
—Tryon Edwards (1809–94) American Theologian, Author
The one who wills is the one who can.
—Common Proverb
When one is willing and eager, the Gods join in.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Playwright
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