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
Since it is not granted to us to live long, let us transmit to posterity some memorial that we have at least lived.
—Pliny the Younger (c.61–c.112 CE) Roman Senator, Writer
Thought, not money, is the real business capital, and if you know absolutely that what you are doing is right, then you are bound to accomplishment it in due season.
—Harvey Samuel Firestone (1868–1938) American Industrialist
Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal.
—E. Joseph Cossman
Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.
—Robert F. Kennedy (1925–68) American Politician, Civil Rights Activist
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
We, the unwilling,
led by the unknowing,
are doing the impossible
for the ungrateful.
We have done so much,
for so long,
with so little,
we are now qualified
to do anything
with nothing.
—Anonymous
All great achievements require time.
—David J. Schwartz (1927–87) American Self-help Author
The mathematics of high achievement—
Begin with a dream.
DIVIDE the problems and conquer them one by one.
MULTIPLY the exciting possibilities in your mind.
SUBTRACT all the negative thoughts to get started.
ADD enthusiasm and determination.
And the RESULT will be the attainment of your goal.
—Anonymous
If you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it; every arrow that flies feels the attraction of earth.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
There are some things one can only achieve by a deliberate leap in the opposite direction.
—Franz Kafka (1883–1924) Austrian Novelist, Short Story Writer
Any great achievement is preceded by many difficulties and many lessons; great achievements are not possible without them.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
There are no great things, only small things with great love. Happy are those.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
Nothing builds self-esteem and self-confidence like accomplishment.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
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 Actress, Philanthropist
All men are prepared to accomplish the incredible if their ideals are threatened.
—Hermann Hesse (1877–1962) German-born Swiss Novelist, Poet
I don’t like the sound of all the lists he’s making—it’s like taking too many notes at school; you feel you’ve achieved something when you haven’t.
—Dodie Smith (1896–1990) British Novelist, Playwright, Writer
The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.
—Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910) American Christian Science Religious Leader, Humanitarian, Writer
Our business in life is not to get ahead of others but to get ahead of ourselves – to break our own records, to outstrip our yesterdays by our today, to do our work with more force than ever before.
—Stewart B. Johnson
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
A man with a half volition goes backwards and forwards, and makes no way on the smoothest road; a man with a whole volition advances on the roughest, and will reach his purpose, if there be even a little worthiness in it. The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder – a waif, a nothing, a no man. Have a purpose in life and having it, throw such strength of mind and muscle into your work as God has given you.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Sportsperson
Achievement brings its own anticlimax.
—Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American Poet
To achieve you need thought. You have to know what you are doing and that’s real power.
—Ayn Rand (1905–82) Russian-born American Novelist, Philosopher
Four steps to achievement: plan purposefully, prepare prayerfully, proceed positively, pursue persistently.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Sportsperson
Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.
—Michael Jordan (b.1963) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
While they were saying among themselves it cannot be done, it was done.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
Keep on beginning and failing. Each time you fail, start all over gain, and you will grow stronger until have accomplished a purpose – not the one you began with perhaps, but one you’ll be glad to remember.
—Anne Sullivan Macy (1866–1936) American Educator
To achieve great things we must live as though we were never going to die.
—Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–47) French Moralist, Essayist, Writer