A winner never quits and a quitter never wins.
—Unknown
How many years you have to keep on doing, until you know what to do and how to do.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Endure, and preserve yourselves for better things.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
Tough times never last, but tough people do.
—Robert H. Schuller (1926–2015) American Christian Televangelist, Author
If something is boring after 2 minutes, try it for 4. If still boring, try it for 8, 16, 32, and so on. Eventually, one discovers that it is not boring, but very interesting.
—Zen Proverb Japanese School of Mahayana Buddhism
It is easier to begin well than to finish well.
—Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus) (c.250–184 BCE) Roman Comic Playwright
Gnaw your own bone; gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it, gnaw it still.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Endurance and to be able to endure is the first lesson a child should learn because it’s the one they will most need to know.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it,—but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
I have not ceased being fearful, but I have ceased to let fear control me. I have accepted fear as a part of life—specifically the fear of change, the fear of the unknown; and I have gone ahead despite the pounding in my heart that says: turn back, turn back, you’ll die if you venture too far.
—Erica Jong (b.1942) American Novelist, Feminist
Make haste slowly.
—Common Proverb
One man scorned and covered with scars still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable stars; and the world was better for this.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged … I had poems which were rewritten so many times I suspect it was just a way of avoiding sending them out.
—Erica Jong (b.1942) American Novelist, Feminist
This is courage in a man: to bear unflinchingly what heaven sends.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
We can do anything we want to do if we stick to it long enough.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
I may not be there yet, but I’m closer than I was yesterday.
—Unknown
To struggle when hope is banished.
To live when life’s salt is gone!
To dwell in a dream that’s vanished –
To endure, and go calmly on.
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637) English Dramatist, Poet, Actor
I am not the smartest or most talented person in the world, but I succeeded because I keep going, and going, and going.
—Sylvester Stallone (b.1946) American Actor, Screenwriter, Director
The men who learn endurance, are they who call the whole world, brother.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
If you want to see the sunshine, you have to weather the storm.
—Frank Lane (1896–1981) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
If something doesn’t come up the way you want, you have to forge ahead.
—Clint Eastwood (b.1930) American Film Director, Film Producer, Film Actor
In the game of life nothing is less important than the score at halftime.
—Unknown
Genius is often only the power of making continuous efforts. The line between failure and success is so fine that we scarcely know when we pass it—so fine that we are often on the line and do not know it. How many a man has thrown up his hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience, would have achieved success. As the tide goes clear out, so it comes clear in. In business sometimes prospects may seem darkest when really they are on the turn. A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success. There is no failure except in no longer trying. There is no defeat except from within, no really insurmountable barrier save our own inherent weakness of purpose.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
For me at least there came moments when faith wavered. But there is the great lesson and the great triumph: keep the fire burning until, by and by, out of the mass of sordid details there comes some result.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American Jurist, Author
All’s well that ends well.
—Common Proverb
Four steps to achievement: plan purposefully, prepare prayerfully, proceed positively, pursue persistently.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
There is but an inch of difference between the cushioned chamber and the padded cell.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
First there are those who are the winners and know they are winners. Then there are the losers know they are losers. Then there arc those who are not winners but don’t know it. They’re the ones for me. They never quit trying. They’re the soul of our game.
—Bear Bryant (1913–83) American College Football Coach
For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
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