Elevated levels of confidence are omnipresent among history’s greatest overachievers. Benjamin Franklin, one of the most famous men in the world even before he signed the Declaration of Independence once lamented about humility, “I cannot boast of much success in acquiring the reality of this virtue”.
—John Eliot (b.1971) American Psychologist, Academic
So much to do, so little done, such things to be.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
the spring, the summer,
The chilling autumn, angry winter, change
Their wonted liveries; and the mazed world
By their increase, now knows not which is which.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Be more dedicated to making solid achievements than in running after swift but synthetic happiness.
—A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (1931–2015) Indian Head of State, Scientist
Do not be desirous of having things done quickly. Do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
We tend to view confidence as a product of accomplishment rather than part of the process that leads there. But supremely confident people were confident long before they achieved anything.
—John Eliot (b.1971) American Psychologist, Academic
Men achieve a certain greatness unawares, when working to another aim.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The best job goes to the person who can get it done without passing the buck or coming back with excuses.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
It’s your aptitude, not just your attitude that determines your ultimate altitude.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Picture yourself in your minds eye as having already achieved this goal. See yourself doing the things you’ll be doing when you’ve reached your goal.
—Earl Nightingale (1921–89) American Motivational Speaker, Author
All great achievements require time.
—David J. Schwartz (1927–87) American Self-help Author
Death comes to all, but great achievements build a monument which shall endure until the sun grows cold.
—George Fabricius (1516–71) German Protestant Poet
A constant struggle, a ceaseless battle to bring success from inhospitable surroundings, is the price of all great achievements.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
When your desires are strong enough you will appear to possess superhuman powers to achieve.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn, the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities.
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
I want to put a ding in the universe.
—Steve Jobs (1955–2011) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Like squirrels, the best in every business do what they have learned to do without questioning their abilities – they flat out trust their skills, which is why we call this high-performance state of mind the “Trusting Mindset”.
—John Eliot (b.1971) American Psychologist, Academic
The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation.
—Charles F. Kettering (1876–1958) American Inventor, Entrepreneur, Businessperson
The only way around is through.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
If life were measured by accomplishments, most of us would die in infancy.
—A. P. Gouthey
Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress.
—Nicholas Murray Butler (1862–1947) American Philosopher, Diplomat, Educator
A non-doer is very often a critic-that is, someone who sits back and watches doers, and then waxes philosophically about how the doers are doing. It’s easy to be a critic, but being a doer requires effort, risk, and change.
—Wayne Dyer (1940–2015) American Self-Help Author
A man may fulfill the object of his existence by asking a question he cannot answer, and attempting a task he cannot achieve.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
Where there is a will there is a way, is an old and true Saying. He who resolves upon doing a thing, by that very resolution often scales the barriers to it, and secures its achievement. To think we are able, is almost to be so – to determine upon attainment is frequently attainment itself.
—Samuel Smiles (1812–1904) British Author, Reformer
It is time for us all to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever—the one who recognizes the challenge and does something about it.
—Vince Lombardi, Jr. (b.1942) American Lawyer, Politician, Motivational Speaker
Take a look at those two open hands of yours. They are tools with which to serve, make friends, and reach out for the best in life. Open hands open the way to achievement. Put them to work today.
—Wilferd Arlan Peterson (1900–95) American Author
What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
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