Everybody starts at the top, and then has the problem of staying there. Lasting accomplishment, however, is still achieved through a long, slow climb and self-discipline.
—Helen Hayes (1900–93) American Actor, Philanthropist
Well done is better than well said.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
My mother drew a distinction between achievement and success. She said that achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised by others, and that’s nice, too, but not as important or satisfying. Always aim for achievement and forget about success.
—Helen Hayes (1900–93) American Actor, Philanthropist
When you’re young, the silliest notions seem the greatest achievements
—Pearl Bailey (1918–1990) American Jazz Singer, Actress, Writer
The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play.
—Arnold J. Toynbee (1889–1975) British Historian
Nothing builds self-esteem and self-confidence like accomplishment.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Some of the world’s greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible.
—Doug Larson (1926–2017) American Columnist
Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible.
—Miguel de Unamuno (1864–1936) Spanish Educator, Philosopher, Author
It is better to be high-spirited, even though one makes more mistakes, than to be narrow-minded and all too prudent. It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love, is well done.
—Vincent van Gogh (1853–90) Dutch Painter
Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: “To rise above the little things.”
—John Burroughs (1837–1921) American Naturalist, Writer
Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.
—Vince Lombardi, Jr. (1913–70) American Football Player, Coach
You cannot believe in honor until you have achieved it. Better keep yourself clean and bright: you are the window through which you must see the world.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
Man can acquire accomplishments or he can become an animal, whichever he wants. God makes the animals, man makes himself.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
Never tell a man how to do something. Tell him what to do and let him surprise you with his ingenuity.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
Without going out-of-doors, one can know all he needs to know. Without even looking out of his window, one can grasp the nature of everything. Without going beyond his own nature, one can achieve ultimate wisdom. Therefore, the intelligent man knows all he needs to know without going away, And sees all he needs to see without looking elsewhere, And does all he needs to do wihout undue exertion
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Let us then be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate,
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit of setting goals and achieving them. Even the most tedious chore will become endurable as you parade through each day convinced that every task, no matter how menial or boring, brings you closer to fulfilling your dreams.
—Og Mandino (1923–96) American Self-Help Author
We are most nearly ourselves when we achieve the seriousness of the child at play.
—Heraclitus (535BCE–475BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
I don’t care how much power, brilliance or energy you have, if you don’t harness it and focus it on a specific target, and hold it there you’re never going to accomplish as much as your ability warrants.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Only Love conceives things worthy enough to stand greater than individual accomplishment.
—Hermann Hesse (1877–1962) German-born Swiss Novelist, Poet
We may affirm absolutely that nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.
—Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831) German Philosopher
Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don’t know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!
—Anne Frank (1929–45) Holocaust Victim
I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.
—Robert F. Kennedy (1925–68) American Politician, Civil Rights Activist
Ideas are the beginning of all achievement.
—Bruce Lee (1940–73) American Martial Artist, Actor, Philosopher
The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
Of all the inventions that have helped to unify China perhaps the airplane is the most outstanding. Its ability to annihilate distance has been in direct proportion to its achievements in assisting to annihilate suspicion and misunderstanding among provincial officials far removed from one another or from the officials at the seat of government.
—Soong Mei-ling (1898–2003) First Lady of the Republic of China
As long as we separate this ‘oneness’ into two, we won’t achieve realization.
—Bruce Lee (1940–73) American Martial Artist, Actor, Philosopher
Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
The covetous man never has money; the prodigal will have none shortly.
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637) English Dramatist, Poet, Actor
Unlikely accomplishments are borne out of single-minded purposefulness. Future superstars don’t get there by keeping part of their heart in reserve.
—John Eliot (b.1971) American Psychologist, Academic
If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.
—Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American Poet
Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.
—W. W. Ziege
An invincible determination can accomplish almost anything and in this lies the great distinction between great men and little men.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Love has power to give in a moment what toil can scarcely reach in an age.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever imagine.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has already achieved, but at what he aspires to.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
A person should set his goals as early as he can and devote all his energy and talent to getting there. With enough effort, he may achieve it. Or he may find something that is even more rewarding. But in the end, no matter what the outcome, he will know he has been alive.
—Walt Disney (1901–66) American Entrepreneur
Having once decided to achieve a certain task, achieve it at all costs of tedium and distaste. The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labor is immense.
—Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) British Novelist, Playwright, Critic
Your ability to negotiate, communicate, influence, and persuade others to do things is absolutely indispensable to everything you accomplish in life. The most effective men and women in every area are those who can quite competently organize the cooperation and assistance of other people toward the accomplishment of important goals and objectives.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.
—John Stuart Mill (1806–73) English Philosopher, Economist
Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
In the practical as in the theoretic life, the man whose acquisitions stick is the man who is always achieving and advancing, whilst his neighbors, spending most of their time in relearning what they once knew but have forgotten, simply hold their own.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
Studies indicate that the one quality all successful people have is persistence. They’re willing to spend more time accomplishing a task and to perservere in the face of many difficult odds. There’s a very positive relationship between people’s ability to accomplish any task and the time they’re willing to spend on it
—Joyce Brothers (1927–2013) American Psychologist, Advice Columnist
One of the marks of excellent people is that they never compare themselves with others. They only compare themselves with themselves and with their past accomplishments and future potential
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
We know the good, we apprehend it clearly, but we can’t bring it to achievement.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
While I am proud of a number of accomplishments, there are real costs to being unreasonable. Long hours. Too little time with family. A near incapacity for, as they say, stopping and smelling the roses.
—Eli Broad (1933–2021) American Entrepreneur, Philanthropist