Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.
—Og Mandino (1923–96) American Self-Help Author
Things turn out best for the people who make the best out of the way things turn out.
—Art Linkletter (1912–2010) Canadian-born American Radio Personality, TV Personality
The natural effort of every individual to better his own condition is so powerful that it is alone, and without any assistance, capable not only of carrying on the society to wealth and prosperity, but of surmounting 100 impertinent obstructions with which the folly of human laws too often encumbers its operations.
—George Goodman (b.1930) American Economist, Author
Where the determination is, the way can be found.
—George Samuel Clason (1874–1957) American Businessperson, Author
I put a piece of paper under my pillow, and when I could not sleep I wrote in the dark.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
You can do anything you think you can. This knowledge is literally the gift of the gods, for through it you can solve every human problem. It should make of you an incurable optimist. It is the open door.
—Robert Collier (1885–1950) American Self-Help Author
Impossible situations can become possible miracles.
—Robert H. Schuller (1926–2015) American Christian Televangelist, Author
We are determined that before the sun sets on this terrible struggle, our flag will be recognized throughout the world as a symbol of freedom on the one hand and of overwhelming force on the other.
—George Marshall (1880–1959) American Military Leader
Education will not (take the place of persistence); the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
Nothing in this world is impossible to a willing heart.
—Unknown
The only good luck many great men ever had was being born with the ability and determination to overcome bad luck.
—Channing Pollock (1880–1946)
American Playwright, Critic
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
It is not a lucky word, this same “impossible” no good comes of those who have it so often in their mouth.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
I don’t care if I fall as long as someone else picks up my gun and keeps on shooting.
—Che Guevara (1928–67) Argentine-Cuban Revolutionary
Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle, and a victory.
—Unknown
Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins—not through strength but by perseverance.
—H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (b.1940) American Self-Help Author
To the timid and hesitating everything is impossible because it seems so.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
When the thunder rumbles,
Now the age of gold is dead.
When the dreams we’ve clung to
Trying to stay young,
Have left us parched and old instead.
When my courage crumbles,
When I feel confused and frail,
When my spirit falters on decaying altars
And my illusions fail—
I go on right then.
I go on again.
I go on to say I will celebrate another day.
I go on.
If tomorrow tumbles
And everything I love is gone,
I will face regret all my days, and yet
I will still go on.
—Leonard Bernstein (1918–90) American Composer, Conductor
We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.
—Jesse Owens (1913–80) American Track-and-Field Athlete
The longer I live, the more deeply am I convinced that that which makes the difference between one man and another—between the weak and powerful, the great and insignificant, is energy—invisible determination—a purpose once formed, and then death or victory.—This quality will do anything that is to be done in the world; and no talents, no circumstances, no opportunities will make one a man without it.
—Sir Thomas Buxton, 1st Baronet (1786–1845) English Politician, Social Reformer
You can do anything if you have enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes rise to the stars. With it, there is accomplishment. Without it there are only alibis.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
In all human affairs there are efforts, and there are results, and the strength of the effort is the measure of the result.
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Impossibilities are merely things which we have not yet learned.
—Charles W. Chesnutt (1858–1932) American Novelist, Essayist, Political Activist, Short Story Write
When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.
—Jacob Riis (1849–1914) Danish-born American Social Reformer, Journalist, Photographer
Do not fight against Providence; nor bring more heavy weather to the storm. Face what is already there.
—Menander (c.343–c.291 BCE) Greek Comic Dramatist, Poet
Success is just a matter of luck-just ask any failure.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.
—Louis Brandeis (1856–1941) American Jurist
I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Now it is a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best you very often get it.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright