I have simply tried to do what seemed best each day, as each day came.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Arrogant S.O.B.s run the world. A performer can never have too much self-confidence. The best in every field are likely to strike most people as irrationally confident, but that’s how they got to the top.
—John Eliot (b.1971) American Psychologist, Academic
The shortest and best way to make your fortune is to let people see clearly that it is in their interest to promote yours.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
The really great man is often considered selfish by a large group of people who are connected with him and who feel that he might bestow upon them more benefits than he does.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
Be careful when you cast out your demons that you don’t throw away the best of yourself.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
The best horse doesn’t always win the race.
—Irish Proverb
The best is good enough.
—German Proverb
A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.
—Irish Proverb
Turn on to politics, or politics will turn on you.
—Ralph Nader (b.1934) American Lawyer, Consumer Activist
To love and win is the best thing. To love and lose, the next best.
—William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–63) English Novelist
It’s important to focus on what we do best and master one craft at a time.
—Russell Simmons (b.1957) American Music Promoter
The key ingredient to any kind of happiness or success is to never give less than your best.
—Russell Simmons (b.1957) American Music Promoter
It’s rest I want—there, I have said it out—
From cooking meals for hungry hired men
And washing dishes after them—from doing
Things over and over that just won’t stay done.
By good rights I ought not to have so much
Put on me, but there seems no other way.
Len says one steady pull more ought to do it.
He says the best way out is always through.
And I agree to that, or in so far
As that I can see no way out but through—
Leastways for me—and then they’ll be convinced.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
To get paid the best, you must be the best.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
The fishing is best where the fewest go, and the collective insecurity of the world makes it easy for people to hit home runs while everyone else is aiming for base hits. There is just less competition for bigger goals.
—Tim Ferriss (b.1977) American Self-help Author
Like squirrels, the best in every business do what they have learned to do without questioning their abilities – they flat out trust their skills, which is why we call this high-performance state of mind the “Trusting Mindset”.
—John Eliot (b.1971) American Psychologist, Academic
If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
The most important thing is for you to be your own best friend. Whatever you are doing—don’t put yourself down. Slowly begin to discover which, for you, is the path of the heart. Which path in life will make you grow? That is the path to take.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
Die when I may, I want it said of me by those who know me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower when I thought a flower would grow.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
The man who has done his level best, and who is conscious that he has done his best, is a success, even though the world may write him down a failure.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically—to say “no” to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger “yes” burning inside. The enemy of the “best” is often the “good”.
—Stephen Covey (1932–2012) American Self-help Author
No man needs sympathy because he has to work. Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
When you have a thought that is not in alignment with your highest vision change to a new thought! Then and there. When you say a thing that is our of alignment with your grandest idea, make a note not to say something like that again. When you do a thing that is misaligned with your best intention, decide to make that the last time. And make it right with whomever was involved if you can.
—Marlo Morgan (1937–98) American Novelist, Author
To excel means to reach beyond the best you have ever given because doing so matters to you personally, for its own sake. It means to run your own race—as an individual, team, or organization. To excel is to know your greatest strengths and passions, and to emphasize them while honestly admitting and managing your weaknesses.
—Robert Cooper (b.1947) British Diplomat
Nothing goes by luck in composition. It allows of no tricks. The best you can write will be the best you are.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Civilization had too many rules for me, so I did my best to rewrite them.
—Bill Cosby (b.1937) American Actor, Comedian, Activist, Producer, Author
No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because death is very likely the single best invention of life.
—Steve Jobs (1955–2011) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
All is for the best in the best of the possible worlds.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Language learning deserves special mention. It is, bar none, the best thing you can do to hone clear thinking.
—Tim Ferriss (b.1977) American Self-help Author