While they were saying among themselves it cannot be done, it was done.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
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
What old people say you cannot do, you try and find that you can. Old deeds for old people, and new deeds for new.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
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
Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal.
—E. Joseph Cossman
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
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
No one has ever achieved anything from the smallest to the greatest unless the dream was dreamed first.
—Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867–1957) American Children’s Novelist
The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.
—Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910) American Christian Science Religious Leader, Humanitarian, Writer
Kill the snake of doubt in your soul, crush the worms of fear in your heart and mountains will move out of your way.
—Kate Seredy
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
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
Spectacular achievement is always preceded by unspectacular preparation.
—Robert H. Schuller (1926–2015) American Christian Televangelist, 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
Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Sportsperson
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
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
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
In time of difficulties, we must not lose sight of our achievements.
—Mao Zedong (1893–1976) Chinese Statesman
There are no great things, only small things with great love. Happy are those.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
If you wish to achieve worthwhile things in your personal and career life, you must become a worthwhile person in your own self-development.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
Nothing builds self-esteem and self-confidence like accomplishment.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
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
Every man who accomplishes things sees first in his mind what he wishes to do. He puts away all doubt. It makes no difference how small or how large the thing you want to do may be; if you have an unlimited confidence in your ability to do it, you will do it.
—Charles Fillmore (1854–1948) American New Thought Mystic
All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
Achievement brings its own anticlimax.
—Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American Poet
Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.
—Robert F. Kennedy (1925–68) American Politician, Civil Rights Activist
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
None of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher