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
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.
—Louis Brandeis (1856–1941) American Jurist
There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.
—Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919) American Poet, Journalist
Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal – a commitment to excellence – that will enable you to attain the success you seek.
—Mario Andretti (b.1940) Italian-born American Sportsperson
The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.
—Vince Lombardi, Jr. (1913–70) American Football Player, Coach
If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they are determined to be so.
—Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970) French General, Statesman
The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
I learned about the strength you can get from a close family life. I learned to keep going, even in bad times. I learned not to despair, even when my world was falling apart. I learned that there are no free lunches. And I learned the value of hard work.
—Lee Iacocca (1924–2019) American Businessperson
A leader, once convinced that a particular course of action is the right one, must be undaunted when the going gets tough.
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
I always feel pressure. If you don’t feel nervous, that means you don’t care about how you play. I care about how I perform. I’ve always said the day I’m not nervous playing is the day I quit.
—Tiger Woods (b.1975) American Sportsperson
The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
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
If someone says can’t, that shows you what to do.
—John Cage (1912–92) American Composer, Philosopher, Poet, Artist
Every failure, obstacle or hardship is an opportunity in disguise. Success in many cases is failure turned inside out. The greatest pollution problem we face today is negativity. Eliminate the negative attitude and believe you can do anything. Replace ‘if I can, I hope, maybe’ with ‘I can, I will, I must.’
—Mary Kay Ash (1918–2001) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Today’s accomplishments were yesterday’s impossibilities.
—Robert H. Schuller (1926–2015) American Christian Televangelist, Author
He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Do Not Quit
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit…
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar.
So, stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit…
It’s when things go wrong that you mustn’t quit.
—Edgar Guest (1881–1959) English-born American Poet, Radio Personality, TV Personality
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
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
What this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it.
—Alexander Graham Bell (1847–1922) Scottish-born American Inventor, Engineer, Academic
Firmness, both in suffering and exertion, is a character which I would wish to possess. — I have always despised the whining yelp of complaint, and the cowardly feeble resolve.
—Robert Burns (1759–96) Scottish Poet, Songwriter
Determination and perseverance move the world; thinking that others will do it for you is a sure way to fail.
—Marva Collins (b.1936) American Educator
One of the saddest lines in the world is, ‘Oh come now – be realistic.’ The best parts of this world were not fashioned by those who were realistic. They were fashioned by those who dared to look hard at their wishes and gave them horses to ride.
—Richard Nelson Bolles (1927–2017) American Self-Help Author
The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination.
—Tommy Lasorda (b.1927) American Baseball Player, Coach
Man can believe the impossible, but can never believe the improbable.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
I will go anywhere, provided it is forward.
—David Livingstone (1813–73) Scottish Missionary, Explorer
Where the determination is, the way can be found.
—George Samuel Clason (1874–1957) American Businessperson, Author
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
You can do what you have to do, and sometimes you can do it even better than you think you can.
—Jimmy Carter (b.1924) American Head of State, Military Leader
Think big. Think differently. Think fast. Think ahead. Aim for the best.
—Dhirubhai Ambani (1932–2002) Indian Businessperson
You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.
—George Horace Lorimer (1867–1937) American Editor, Publisher, Philanthropist
The thing that contributes to anyone’s reaching the goal he wants is simple wanting that goal badly enough.
—Charles Erwin Wilson (1886–1972) American Businessperson
Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
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
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
No man can fight his way to the top and stay at the top without exercising the fullest measure of grit, courage, determination, resolution. Every man who gets anywhere does so because he has first firmly resolved to progress in the world and then has enough stick-to-it-tiveness to transform his resolution into reality. Without resolution, no man can win any worthwhile place among his fellow men.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher