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
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
The only place where your dream becomes impossible is in your own thinking.
—Robert H. Schuller (1926–2015) American Christian Televangelist, Author
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
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
Be determined to handle any challenge in a way that will make you grow.
—Les Brown
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 you can’t, you must. If you must, you can.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
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 difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.
—Robert H. Goddard (1882–1945) American Inventor, Physicist, Academic
Be fearless and pure; never waver in your determination or your dedication to the spiritual life. Give freely. Be self-controlled, sincere, truthful, loving, and full of the desire to serve…Learn to be detached and to take joy in renunciation. Do not get angry or harm any living creature, but be compassionate and gentle; show good will to all. Cultivate vigor, patience, will, purity; avoid malice and pride. Then, you will achieve your destiny.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
Man can believe the impossible, but can never believe the improbable.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
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
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
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
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
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
Impossible situations can become possible miracles.
—Robert H. Schuller (1926–2015) American Christian Televangelist, Author
Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.
—Og Mandino (1923–96) American Self-Help Author
If we have our own why of life, we shall get along with almost any how. Man does not strive for pleasure; only the Englishman does.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
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
Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle, and a victory.
—Unknown
I didn’t know it was impossible when I did it
—Unknown
A thick skin is a gift from God.
—Konrad Adenauer (1876–1967) German Statesman
So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height; for the people had a mind to work.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
There is nothing impossible to him who will try.
—Lucan (Marcus Annaeus Lucanus) (39–65 CE) Roman Statesman, Latin Poet
True wisdom for a general is vigorous determination.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
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
Maybe who we are isn’t so much about what we do, but rather what we’re capable of when we least expect it.
—Jodi Picoult (b.1966) American Novelist
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
Confronting and overcoming challenges is an exhilarating experience. It does something to feed the soul and the mind. It makes you more than you were before. It strengthens the mental muscles and enables you to become better prepared for the next challenge.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
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
Impossible is a word only to be found in the dictionary of fools.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
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
The mighty Oak was once a little nut that stood its ground.
—Anonymous
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
To him who is determined it remains only to act.
—Italian Proverb
In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities.
—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
Success is just a matter of luck-just ask any failure.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Practice easing your way along. Don’t get het up or in a dither. Do your best; take it as it comes. You can handle anything if you think you can. Just keep your cool and your sense of humor.
—Smiley Blanton
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’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 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
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
A resolute determination is the truest wisdom.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
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
Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
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