It’s not the having, it’s the getting.
—Elizabeth Taylor (1932–2011) British-born American Actress
The truth of the matter is that there’s nothing you can’t accomplish if: (1) You clearly decide what it is that you’re absolutely committed to achieving, (2) You’re willing to take massive action, (3) You notice what’s working or not, and (4) You continue to change your approach until you achieve what you want, using whatever life gives you along the way.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
An achievement is bondage.It obliges one to a higher achievement.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
Thinking is a habit, and like any other habit, it can be changed; it just takes effort and repetition.
—John Eliot (b.1971) American Psychologist, Academic
Dedicate yourself to the good you deserve and desire for yourself. Give yourself peace of mind. You deserve to be happy. You deserve delight.
—Mark Victor Hansen (b.1948) American Public Speaker, Motivational Speaker, Writer
For a man to achieve all that is demanded of him he must regard himself as greater than he is.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Where you see valid achievements or virtue being attacked, it’s by someone viewing them as a mirror of their own inadequacy instead of an inspiring beacon for excellence.
—Vanna Bonta (1958–2014) Italian-American Novelist, Poet, Actress
A difficult time can be more readily endured if we retain the conviction that our existence holds a purpose – a cause to pursue, a person to love, a goal to achieve.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Christian Professional Speaker, Author, Clergyman
We always take credit for the good and attribute the bad to fortune.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
Never measure the height of a mountain, until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was.
—Dag Hammarskjold (1905–61) Swedish Statesman, UN Diplomat
I always turn to the sports pages first, which records people’s accomplishments. The front page has nothing but man’s failures.
—Earl Warren (1891–1974) American Judge, Politician
History, though, shows us that the people who end up changing the world—the great political, scientific, social, technological, artistic, even sports revolutionaries—are always nuts, until they’re right, and then they’re geniuses.
—John Eliot (b.1971) American Psychologist, Academic
Confidence is not a guarantee of success, but a pattern of thinking that will improve your likelihood of success, a tenacious search for ways to make things work.
—John Eliot (b.1971) American Psychologist, Academic
There is no short cut to achievement. Life requires thorough preparation—veneer isn’t worth anything.
—George Washington Carver (1864–1943) American Scientist, Botanist, Educator, Inventor
Productive achievement is a consequence and an expression of health, self-esteem, not its cause
—Nathaniel Branden (1930–2014) American Psychotherapist
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.
—Morarji Desai (1896–1995) Indian Statesman, Nationalist Leader
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
Genuine confidence is a way of thinking about yourself and your abilities. Confidence is your perception of your own potential; it’s a kind of long-term thinking that powers you through the obstacles and tough times, helping you solve problems and putting you in the way of success. Your confidence is quite a separate matter from your social skills.
—John Eliot (b.1971) American Psychologist, Academic
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
We shall never achieve harmony with land, any more than we shall achieve absolute justice or liberty for people. In these higher aspirations, the important thing is not to achieve but to strive.
—Aldo Leopold (1887–1948) American Ecologist, Conservationist
If life were measured by accomplishments, most of us would die in infancy.
—A. P. Gouthey
To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan and not quite enough time.
—Leonard Bernstein (1918–90) American Composer, Conductor
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
Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits. These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
I have discovered that I cannot enhance anybody’s performance without getting them not only to live with the butterflies that come with high-pressure jobs but to embrace that kind of physical response, enjoy it, get into it. That’s the first real ticket to being a performer who thinks exceptionally.
—John Eliot (b.1971) American Psychologist, Academic
What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
Religious ideas have sprung from the same need as all the other achievements of culture: from the necessity for defending itself against the crushing supremacy of nature
—Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) Austrian Psychiatrist, Psychoanalytic
The great accomplishments of man have resulted from the transmission of ideas and enthusiasm.
—Thomas J. Watson, Sr. (1874–1956) American Business Executive
Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion.
—Charles Kuralt (1934–97) American Journalist, TV Personality
There is a woman at the beginning of all great things.
—Alphonse de Lamartine (1790–1869) French Poet, Politician, Historian
If you can speak what you will never hear, if you can write what you will never read, you have done rare things.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Bill Russell is one of the great names in basketball, an all-American… and the only athlete to ever win an NCAA Championship, an Olympic Gold Medal, and a professional championship all in the same year—1956…But Bill Russell had this one problem: He threw up before every game.
—John Eliot (b.1971) American Psychologist, Academic
All successful employers are stalking men who will do the unusual, men who think, men who attract attention by performing more than is expected of them.
—Charles M. Schwab (1862–1939) American Businessperson
The most splendid achievement of all is the constant striving to surpass yourself and to be worthy of your own approval.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
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
The only way around is through.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
The most effective way I know to begin with the end in mind is to develop a personal mission statement or philosophy or creed. It focused on what you want to be (character) and to do (contributions and achievements) and on the values or principles upon which being and doing are based.
—Stephen Covey (1932–2012) American Self-help 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
My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
The achievements which society rewards are won at the cost of diminution of personality
—Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) Swiss Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Philosopher
Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Not the maker of plans and promises, but rather the one who offers faithful service in small matters. This is the person who is most likely to achieve what is good and lasting.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Personal development is your springboard to personal excellence. Ongoing, continuous, non-stop personal development literally assures you that there is no limit to what you can accomplish.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
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
The results you achieve will be in direct proportion to the effort you apply.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved the results you want and copy what they do and you’ll achieve the same results.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
If you really want to find out what you’re capable of, you cannot put limits on yourself, and you definitely cannot be cautious.
—John Eliot (b.1971) American Psychologist, Academic
Only on paper has humanity yet achieved glory, beauty, truth, knowledge, virtue, and abiding love.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they are determined to be so.
—Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970) French General, Statesman