Before success comes in any man’s life, he is sure to meet with much temporary defeat, and, perhaps, some failure. When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and most logical thing to do is to quit. That is exactly what the majority of men do. More than five hundred of the most successful men this country has ever known told the author their greatest came just one step *beyond* the point at which defeat had overtaken them.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
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
To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
Commerce is a game of skill, which every man cannot play, which few men can play well. The right merchant is one who has the just average of faculties we call commonsense; a man of strong affinity for facts, who makes up his decision on what he has seen. He is thoroughly persuaded of the truths of arithmetic. There is always a reason, in the man, for his good or bad fortune; and so, in making money. Men talk as if there were some magic about this, and believe in magic, in all parts of life. He knows that all goes on the old road, pound for pound, cent for cent-for every effect a perfect cause-and that good luck is another name for tenacity of purpose.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Genius is divine perseverance. Genius I cannot claim nor even extra brightness but perseverance all can have.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
Endurance is the crowning quality, and patience all the passion of great hearts.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
No greater thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.
—Newt Gingrich (b.1943) American Politician
Life begins on the other side of despair.
—Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–80) French Philosopher, Playwright, Novelist, Screenwriter, Political Activist
Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines.
—Robert H. Schuller (1926–2015) American Christian Televangelist, Author
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
We make way for the man who boldly pushes past us.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
If you get up one more time than you fall you will make it through.
—Chinese Proverb
I may not be there yet, but I’m closer than I was yesterday.
—Unknown
Every great work, every great accomplishment, has been brought into manifestation through holding to the vision, and often just before the big achievement, comes apparent failure and discouragement.
—Florence Scovel Shinn (1871–1940) American Illustrator, Spiritual Writer
Be strong!
It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong
How hard the battle goes, the day how long
Faint not – fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.
—Maltbie Davenport Babcock (1858–1901) American Presbyterian Minister, Writer
It is more easy to forgive the weak who have injured us, than the powerful whom we have injured. That conduct will be continued by our fears which commenced in our resentment. He that has gone so far as to cut the claws of the lion will not feel himself quite secure until he has also drawn his teeth.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
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
Even in social life, it is persistency which attracts confidence more than talents and accomplishments.
—Edwin Percy Whipple (1819–86) American Literary Critic
Achievement seems to be connected with action. Successful men and women keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.
—Conrad Hilton (1887–1979) American Business Person
The last three or four reps is what makes the muscle grow. This area of pain divides the champion from someone else who is not a champion. That’s what most people lack, having the guts to go on and just say they’ll go through the pain no matter what happens.
—Arnold Schwarzenegger (b.1947) Austrian-American Athlete, Actor, Politician
We conquer – not in any brilliant fashion – we conquer by continuing.
—George Matheson (1842–1906) Scottish Theologian, Preacher
He that can’t endure the bad will not live to see the good.
—Yiddish Proverb
Perseverance and audacity generally win.
—Dorothee Luzy Dotinville (1747–1830) French Dancer, Actress
Consider the postage stamp, my son. It secures success through its ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
Victory belongs to the most persevering.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Let no one till his death
Be called unhappy. Measure not the work
Until the day’s out and the labor done:
Then bring your gauges.
—Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–61) English Poet
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
Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacle s, discouragement s, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
The longer I live, the more deeply am I convinced that that which makes the difference between one man and another—between the weak and powerful, the great and insignificant, is energy—invisible determination—a purpose once formed, and then death or victory.—This quality will do anything that is to be done in the world; and no talents, no circumstances, no opportunities will make one a man without it.
—Sir Thomas Buxton, 1st Baronet (1786–1845) English Politician, Social Reformer
In the realm of ideas, everything depends on enthusiasm; in the real world, all rests on perseverance.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Come, my friends,
‘T is not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
I’m hardnosed about luck. I think it sucks. Yeah, if you spend seven years looking for a job as a copywriter, and then one day somebody gives you a job, you can say, “Gee, I was lucky I happened to go up there today”. But dammit, I was going to go up there sooner or later in the next 70 years … If you’re persistent in trying and doing and working, you almost make your own fortune.
—Jerry Della Femina (b.1936) American Advertising Executive
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
Any man can work when every stroke of his hand brings down the fruit rattling from the tree to the ground; but to labor in season and out of season, under every discouragement, by the power of truth … that requires a heroism which is transcendent.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog.
—Unknown
Men who have attained things worth having in this world have worked while others idled, have persevered when others gave up in despair, have practiced early in life the valuable habits of self-denial, industry, and singleness of purpose. As a result, they enjoy in later life the success so often erroneously attributed to good luck.
—Grenville Kleiser (1868–1935) Canadian Author
When the world says, “Give up,” hope whispers, “Try it one more time.”
—Unknown
Don’t leave before the miracle happens.
—Unknown
In the game of life nothing is less important than the score at halftime.
—Unknown
Triumph often is nearest when defeat seems inescapable.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
One of the most difficult things everyone has to learn is that for your entire life you must keep fighting and adjusting if you hope to survive. No matter who you are or what your position is you must keep fighting for whatever it is you desire to achieve.
—George E. Allen (1896–1973) American Sportsperson
The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Pay as little attention to discouragement as possible. Plough ahead as a steamer does, rough or smooth – rain or shine. To carry your cargo and make your port is the point.
—Maltbie Davenport Babcock (1858–1901) American Presbyterian Minister, Writer
I hold a doctrine, to which I owe not touch, indeed, but all the little I ever had, namely, that with ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable.
—Sir Thomas Buxton, 1st Baronet (1786–1845) English Politician, Social Reformer
He turns not back who is bound to a star.
—Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Polymath, Painter, Sculptor, Inventor, Architect
The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won’t.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Saints are sinners who kept on going.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
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
All great masters are chiefly distinguished by the power of adding a second, a third, and perhaps a fourth step in a continuous line. Many a man had taken the first step. With every additional step you enhance immensely the value of you first.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher