We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aid, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Of course all life is a process of breaking down, but the blows that do the dramatic side of the work – the big sudden blows that come, or seem to come, from outside – the ones you remember and blame things on and, in moments of weakness, tell your friends about, don’t show their effect all at once. There is another sort of blow that comes from within – that you don’t feel until it’s too late to do anything about it, until you realize with finality that in some regard you will never be as good a man again. The first sort of breakage seems to happen quick – the second kind happens almost without your knowing it but is realized suddenly indeed. Before I go on with this short history, let me make a general observation – the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise.
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) American Novelist
If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Our work is the presentation of our capabilities.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
You are educated when you have the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or self-confidence.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
It’s pretty hard to be efficient without being obnoxious.
—Kin Hubbard (1868–1930) American Cartoonist, Humorist
I think that, as life is action and passion, it is required of a man that he should share the passion and action of his time at peril of being judged not to have lived.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American Jurist, Author
The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.
—Hans Hofmann (1880–1966) German-American Painter
Genius is an infinite capacity for taking life by the scruff of the neck.
—Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) American Actor, TV Personality
If you doubt you can accomplish something, then you can’t accomplish it. You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.
—Rosalynn Carter (1927–2023) American First Lady, Mental Health Advocate
Ability is commonly found to consist mainly in a high degree of solemnity.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Those people who develop the ability to continuously acquire new and better forms of knowledge that they can apply to their work and to their lives will be the movers and shakers in our society for the indefinite future.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
The question Who ought to be boss? is like as Who ought to be the tenor in the quartet? Obviously, the man who can sing tenor.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Basketball Coach, Educator
If I accept you as you are, I will make you worse; however, if I treat you as though you are what you are capable of becoming, I help you become that.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
The only good luck many great men ever had was being born with the ability and determination to overcome bad luck.
—Channing Pollock (1880–1946) American Playwright, Critic
A man must not deny his manifest abilities, for that is to evade his obligations.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
I can feel guilty about the past, apprehensive about the future, but only in the present can I act. The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.
—Abraham Maslow (1908–70) American Psychologist, Academic, Humanist
What you do off the job is determining factor in how far you will go on the job.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Man performs and engenders so much more than he can or should have to bear. That’s how he finds that he can bear anything.
—William Faulkner (1897–1962) American Novelist
Man cannot live by incompetence alone.
—Laurence J. Peter (1919–90) Canadian-Born American Author
But is it in destroying and pulling down that skill is displayed? The shallowest understanding, the rudest hand, is more than equal to the task.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
We shall draw from the heart of suffering itself the means of inspiration and survival.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.
—Douglas Hugh Everett (1916–2002) British Physical Chemist, Academic
I will not be concerned at other men’s not knowing me; I will be concerned at my own want of ability.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Ability is useless unless it’s used.
—Robert Half
Painting is easy when you don’t know how, but very difficult when you do.
—Edgar Degas (1834–1917) French Painter, Sculptor
God does not ask about our ability, but our availability.
—Unknown
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