Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Orison Swett Marden (American New Thought Writer)

Dr. Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) was an American inspirational author who wrote on success in life and how to achieve it. His writings discuss common-sense principles and virtues that make for a well-rounded, successful life. Many of his ideas are based on New Thought philosophy.

Source: Wikipedia (via CC-BY-SA license) READ: Works by Orison Swett Marden

We lift ourselves by our thought. We climb upon our vision of ourselves. If you want to enlarge your life, you must first enlarge your thought of it and of yourself. Hold the ideal of yourself as you long to be, always everywhere.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Vision, Prophecy

If we put the emphasis upon the right things, if we live the life that is worth while and then fail, we will survive all disasters, we will out-live all misfortune. We should be so well balanced and symmetrical, that nothing which could ever happen could throw us off our center, so that no matter what misfortune should overtake us, there would still be a whole magnificent man or woman left after being stripped of everything else.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Honesty

Our destiny changes with our thoughts; we shall become what we wish to become, do what we wish to do, when our habitual thoughts correspond with our desires.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Destiny, Optimism, Positive Attitudes

Just make up your mind at the very outset that your work is going to stand for quality… that you are going to stamp a superior quality upon everything that goes out of your hands, that whatever you do shall bear the hall-mark of excellence.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Excellence

It is just the little difference between the good and the best that makes the difference between the artist and the artisan. It is just the little touches after the average man would quit that makes the master’s fame.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Excellence

We cannot rise higher than our thought of ourselves.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Prophecy, Vision

He is the richest man who enriches his country most; in whom the people feel richest and proudest; who gives himself with his money; who opens the doors of opportunity widest to those about him; who is ears to the deaf; eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame. Such a man makes every acre of land in his community worth more, and makes richer every man who lives near him.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Leadership, Leaders

Power gravitates to the man who knows how.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Power

The giants of the race have been men of concentration, who have struck sledge-hammer blows in one place until they have accomplished their purpose. The successful men of today are men of one overmastering idea, one unwavering aim, men of single and intense purpose.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Goal, Concentration

There is an infinite difference between a little wrong and just right, between fairly good and the best, between mediocrity and superiority…
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Excellence

No one has a corner on success. It is his who pays the price.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Value

The greatest trouble with most of us is that our demands upon ourselves are so feeble, the call upon the great within of us so weak and intermittent that it makes no impression upon the creative energies; it lacks the force that transmutes desires into realities.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Commitment

Achievement is not always success while reputed failure often is. It is honest endeavor, persistent effort to do the best possible under any and all circumstances.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Success & Failure, Achievement, Success

There is no failure for the man who realizes his power, who never knows when he is beaten; there is no failure for the determined endeavor; the unconquerable will. There is no failure for the man who gets up every time he falls, who rebounds like a rubber ball, who persists when everyone else gives up, who pushes on when everyone else turns back.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Failure

Many a man has finally succeeded only because he has failed after repeated efforts. If he had never met defeat he would never have known any great victory.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Failure, Strength

Wisdom is knowledge which has become a part of one’s being.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Wisdom, Part of The Whole

Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Boldness, Obstacles, Fear

Be larger than your task.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Bravery, Courage

It is what we do easily and what we like to do that we do well.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Enjoyment

Deep within man dwell those slumbering powers; powers that would astonish him, that he never dreamed of possessing; forces that would revolutionize his life if aroused and put into action.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Ability, Possibilities

There is genius in persistence. It conquers all opposers. It gives confidence. It annihilates obstacles. Everybody believes in a determined man. People know that when he undertakes a thing, the battle is half won, for his rule is to accomplish whatever he sets out to do.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Perseverance, Persistence

The Universe is one great kindergarten for man. Everything that exists has brought with it its own peculiar lesson. The mountain teaches stability and grandeur; the ocean immensity and change. Forests, lakes, and rivers, clouds and winds, stars and flowers, stupendous glaciers and crystal snowflakes, – every form of animate or inanimate existence, leaves its impress upon the soul of man. Even the bee and ant have brought their little lessons of industry and economy.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: The Universe, General, Learning, Existence, Universe

Obstacles are like wild animals. They are cowards but they will bluff you if they can. If they see you are afraid of them… they are liable to spring upon you; but if you look them squarely in the eye, they will slink out of sight.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Difficulty, Challenges, Opposition, Fear, Obstacles

There can be no failure to a man who has not lost his courage, his character, his self respect, or his self-confidence. He is still a King.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Mistakes

What a great discrepancy there is between men and the results they achieve! It is due to the difference in their power of calling together all the rays of their ability, and concentrating them upon one point
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Concentration, Achievement

Opportunities? They are all around us… There is power lying latent everywhere waiting for the observant eye to discover it.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Success, Society, Opportunity

No man is beaten until his hope is annihilated, his confidence gone, As long as a man faces life hopefully, confidently, triumphantly, he is not a failure; he is not beaten until he turns his back on life.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Mistakes

We fail to see that we can control our own destiny; make ourselves do whatever is possible; make ourselves become whatever we long to be.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Being True to Yourself, Control

The greatest thing a man can do in this world is to make the most possible out of the stuff that has been given him. This is success, and there is no other.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Excellence, Attitude, Youth, Greatness & Great Things

There can be no great courage where there is no confidence or assurance, and half the battle is in the conviction that we can do what we undertake.
Orison Swett Marden
Topics: Confidence

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