Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
I am a kind of burr; I shall stick.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
For all things difficult to acquire, the intelligent man works with perseverance.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
This is no time for ease and comfort. It is the time to dare and endure.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
A jug fills drop by drop.
—Buddhist Teaching
Lots of people limit their possibilities by giving up easily. Never tell yourself this is too much for me. It’s no use. I can’t go on. If you do you’re licked, and by your own thinking too. Keep believing and keep on keeping on.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
We conquer – not in any brilliant fashion – we conquer by continuing.
—George Matheson (1842–1906) Scottish Theologian, Preacher
It is not always by plugging away at a difficulty and sticking at it that one overcomes it; but, rather, often by working on the one next to it. Certain people and certain things require to be approached at an angle.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist
All’s well that ends well.
—Common Proverb
A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
I argue not against heaven’s hand or will, nor bate a jot of heart or hope, but still bear up, and steer right onward.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity.
—Louis Pasteur (1822–95) French Biologist
Difficult things take a long time, impossible things a little longer.
—Unknown
It matters if you just don’t give up.
—Stephen Hawking (1942–2018) English Theoretical Physicist, Cosmologist, Academic
It is really true what philosophy tells us, that life must be understood backwards. But with this, one forgets the second proposition, that it must be lived forwards.
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
Failure after long perseverance is much grander than never to have a striving good enough to be called a failure.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
In the lexicon of youth, which fate reserves for a bright manhood, there is no such word as fail.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
The most interesting thing about a postage stamp is the persistence with which it sticks to its job.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
The falling drops at last will wear the stone.
—Lucretius (c.99–55 BCE) Roman Epicurean Poet, Philosopher
Great effects come of industry and perseverance; for audacity doth almost bind and mate the weaker sort of minds.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Your most valuable asset can be your willingness to persist longer than anyone else.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
Vigilance is not only the price of liberty, but of success of any sort.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; 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
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
There are two ways of attaining an important end, force and perseverance; the silent power of the latter grows irresistible with time.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
Diamonds are only lumps of coal that stuck to their jobs.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
Persistence is what makes the impossible possible, the possible likely, and the likely definite.
—Robert Half
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
Hope is a vigorous principle; it is furnished with light and heat to advise and execute; it sets the head and heart to work, and animates a man to do his utmost. And thus, by perpetually pushing and assurance, it puts a difficulty out of countenance, and makes a seeming impossibility give way.
—Jeremy Collier (1650–1726) Anglican Church Historian, Clergyman
It’s the steady, constant driving to the goal for which you’re striving, not the speed with which you travel, that will make your victory sure.
—Unknown