Birth is the beginning of death
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Sometimes when you think you are done, it is just the edge of beginning. Probably that’s why we decide we’re done. It’s getting too scary. We are touching down onto something real. It is beyond the point when you think you are done that often something strong comes out.
—Natalie Goldberg (b.1948) American Buddhist Author
Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
It was on that road and at that hour that I first became aware of my own self, experienced an inexpressible state of grace, and felt one with the first breath of air that stirred, the first bird, and the sun so newly born that it still looked not quite round.
—Colette (1873–1954) French Novelist, Performer
When there is a start to be made, don’t step over! Start where you are.
—Edgar Cayce (1877–1945) American Faith Healer
The births of all things are weak and tender and therefore we should have our eyes intent on beginnings.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies. And now when every new baby is born its first laugh becomes a fairy. So there ought to be one fairy for every boy or girl.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
No man can tell what the future may bring forth, and small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.
—Demosthenes (384–322 BCE) Greek Statesman, Orator
It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult undertaking which, more than anything else, will determine its successful outcome.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
So many fail because they don’t get started—they don’t go. They don’t overcome inertia. They don’t begin.
—W. Clement Stone (1902–2002) American Self-help Guru, Entrepreneur
Each day the world is born anew for him who takes it rightly.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
The mystery of the beginning of all things is insoluble by us; and I for one must be content to remain an agnostic
—Charles Darwin (1809–82) English Naturalist
The end is in the beginning and lies far ahead.
—Ralph Ellison (1914–1994) American Novelist
How beautiful is youth! how bright it gleams with its illusions, aspirations, dreams! Book of Beginnings, Story without End, Each maid a heroine, and each man a friend!
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Do not despise the bottom rungs in the ascent to greatness.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
You can learn new things at any time in your life if you’re willing to be a beginner. If you actually learn to like being a beginner, the whole world opens up to you.
—Barbara Sher (1935–2020) American Career Coach
Nourish beginnings, let us nourish beginnings.
Not all things are blest, but the
seeds of all things are blest.
The blessing is in the seed.
—Muriel Rukeyser (1913–80) American Poet, Writer
But the beginning of things, of a world especially, is necessarily vague, tangled, chaotic, and exceedingly disturbing.
—Kate Chopin (1850–1904) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer
In every phenomenon the beginning remains always the most notable moment.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.
—T. S. Eliot (1888–1965) American-born British Poet, Dramatist, Literary Critic
He has the deed half done who has made a beginning.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
It is easier to forgive an enemy than a friend.
—Dorothee Luzy Dotinville (1747–1830) French Dancer, Actress
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
—Walt Disney (1901–66) American Entrepreneur
We have it in our power to begin the world over again.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
Fear not that thy life shall come to an end, but rather fear that it shall never have a beginning.
—John Henry Newman (1801–90) British Theologian, Poet
The only joy in the world is to begin.
—Cesare Pavese (1908–50) Italian Novelist, Poet, Critic, Translator
It’s never too late—never too late to start over, never too late to be happy.
—Jane Fonda (b.1937) American Actress, Political Activist
This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
When the ancients said a work well begun was half done, they meant to impress the importance of always endeavoring to make a good beginning.
—Polybius (c.200–c.118 BCE) Greek Historian