All human actions are equivalent… and all are on principle doomed to failure.
—Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–80) French Philosopher, Playwright, Novelist, Activist
To be everywhere is to be nowhere.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
For what is liberty but the unhampered translation of will into act?
—Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) Italian Poet, Philosopher
You always succeed in producing a result.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
A slender acquaintance with the world must convince every man that actions, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment of friends.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
Let us develop the resources of our land, call forth its powers, build up its institutions, promote all its great interests, and see whether we also, in our day and generation, may not perform something worthy to be remembered.
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer
Obviously, there is little you can learn from doing nothing.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
What we do best or most perfectly is what we have most thoroughly learned by the longest practice, and at length it falls from us without our notice, as a leaf from a tree.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Warriors do not win victories by beating their heads against walls, but by overtaking the walls. Warriors jump over walls; they don’t demolish them.
—Carlos Castaneda (1925–98) Peruvian-born American Anthropologist, Author
No man lives without jostling and being jostled; in all ways he has to elbow himself through the world, giving and receiving offense.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Never mind your happiness; do your duty.
—Will Durant (1885–1981) American Historian, Philosopher
The chief duty I long to accomplish great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
Fresh activity is the only means of overcoming adversity.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Do good by stealth and blush to find fame.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
High achievers spot rich opportunities swiftly, make big decisions quickly and move into action immediately. Follow these principles and you can make your dreams come true.
—Robert H. Schuller (1926–2015) American Christian Televangelist, Author
Sometimes if you want to see a change for the better, you have to take things into your own hands.
—Clint Eastwood (b.1930) American Film Director, Film Producer, Film Actor
The intelligent want self-control; children want candy.
—Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207–73) Persian Muslim Mystic
One doesn’t discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist
Teachers open the door but you must walk through it yourself.
—Chinese Proverb
All these primary impulses, not easily described in words, are the springs of man’s actions.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
He who has begun has half done. Dare to be wise; begin.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
Happiness and suffering experienced through the previous accumulated Kammas (action) are like the settling of the old accounts wherein one has to pay for the balance.
—Buddhist Teaching
You prove your worth with your actions, not with your mouth.
—Pat Riley (b.1945) American Basketball Player, Coach
You will be better advised to watch what we do instead of what we say.
—John Michell (1933–2009) English Esotericist, New Age Writer
An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
When confronted with two courses of action I jot down on a piece of paper all the arguments in favor of each one, then on the opposite side I write the arguments against each one. Then by weighing the arguments pro and con and cancelling them out, one against the other, I take the course indicated by what remains.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-American Philosopher, Poet, Sculptor
I learned then that practically no one in the world is entirely bad or entirely good, and that motives are often more important than actions.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
Whatever fortune brings, don’t be afraid of doing things.
—A. A. Milne (1882–1956) British Humorist, Playwright, Children’s Writer
To live for results would be to sentence myself to continuous frustration. My only sure reward is in my actions and not from them.
—Hugh Prather (b.1938) American Christian Author, Minister, Counselor
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