A resolute determination is the truest wisdom.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
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
Real leaders are ordinary people with extraordinary determination.
—Unknown
If you can’t, you must. If you must, you can.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
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
A man’s limitations are not the things he wants to do and can t; they are the things he ought to do but doesn’t. The difficult we will do eventually, the impossible will just take a little more time.
—Unknown
The Wright brothers flew right through the smoke screen of impossibility.
—Charles F. Kettering (1876–1958) American Inventor, Entrepreneur, Businessperson
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
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
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
Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
An invincible determination can accomplish almost anything and in this lies the great distinction between great men and little men.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Something which we think is impossible now is not impossible in another decade.
—Constance Baker Motley (1921–2005) American Lawyer, Jurist
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
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
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
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
The Difficult is that which can be done immediately; the Impossible that which takes a little longer.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities.
—Unknown
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
Be determined to handle any challenge in a way that will make you grow.
—Les Brown
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
Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are foosteps on the moon.
—Anonymous
I will go anywhere, provided it is forward.
—David Livingstone (1813–73) Scottish Missionary, Explorer
It’s the constant and determined effort that breaks down all resistance and sweeps away all obstacles.
—Claude M. Bristol (1891–1951) American Journalist, Self-Help Author
He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
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
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
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
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
Think big. Think differently. Think fast. Think ahead. Aim for the best.
—Dhirubhai Ambani (1932–2002) Indian Businessperson
To him who is determined it remains only to act.
—Italian Proverb
Your decision to be, have and do something out of ordinary entails facing difficulties that are out of the ordinary as well. Sometimes your greatest asset is simply your ability to stay with it longer than anyone else.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
The mighty Oak was once a little nut that stood its ground.
—Anonymous
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 most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.
—Amelia Earhart (1897–1937) American Aviator
Determination is the wake-up call to the human will.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
Impossibilities are merely things which we have not yet learned.
—Charles W. Chesnutt (1858–1932) American Novelist, Essayist, Political Activist, Short Story Write
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 difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination.
—Tommy Lasorda (b.1927) American Baseball Player, Coach
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
If someone says can’t, that shows you what to do.
—John Cage (1912–92) American Composer
Success is just a matter of luck-just ask any failure.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American 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
Determination gives you the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before you.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
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
The only place where your dream becomes impossible is in your own thinking.
—Robert H. Schuller (1926–2015) American Christian Televangelist, Author
A thick skin is a gift from God.
—Konrad Adenauer (1876–1967) German Statesman