No man is ever whipped, until he quits—in his own mind.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
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
As long as a person doesn’t admit he is defeated, he is not defeated – he’s just a little behind, and isn’t through fighting.
—Darrell Royal (1924–2012) American Football Player
Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Hasten slowly, and without losing heart put your work twenty times upon the anvil.
—Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux (1636–1711) French Poet, Satirist, Literary Critic
Fate gave to man the courage of endurance.
—Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) German Composer, Musician
Neither evil tongues, rash judgments, nor the sneers of selfish men, nor greetings where no kindness is, nor all the dreary intercourse of daily life, shall ever prevail against us.
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850) English Poet
Most ball games are lost, not won.
—Casey Stengel (1890–1975) American Sportsperson
Act with a determination not to be turned aside by thoughts of the past and fears of the future.
—Robert E. Lee (1807–70) Confederate General during American Civil War
At first we hope too much; later on, not enough.
—Philibert Joseph Roux (1780–1854) French Surgeon
Patience and tenacity of purpose are worth more than twice their weight of cleverness.
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95) English Biologist
Perseverance is more prevailing than violence; and many things which cannot be overcome when they are together, yield themselves up when taken little by little.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
It’s not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Sportsperson
We shall live to fight again, and to strike another blow.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
One thing we learned. To make a start and keep plugging. When I had fights at school, the little while I went, I just bowed my neck and kept swinging until something hit the dirt. Sometimes it was me, but I always got up.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
If you are truly flexible and go until… there is really very little you can’t accomplish in your lifetime.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
If you persevere, stick with it, work at it, you have a real opportunity to achieve. If you do your best and keep a true compass, you’ll get there.
—Ted Kennedy (1932–2009) American Politician
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
Many strokes overthrow the tallest oaks.
—John Lyly (1554–1606) English Dramatist, Novelist, Writer
Keep on going and the chances are you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I have never heard of anyone stumbling on something sitting down.
—Charles F. Kettering (1876–1958) American Inventor, Entrepreneur, Businessperson
There is genius in persistence. It conquers all opposers. It gives confidence. It annihilates obstacles. Everybody believes in a determined man. People know that when he undertakes a thing, the battle is half won, for his rule is to accomplish whatever he sets out to do.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
Education is hanging around until you’ve caught on.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
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
Whatever necessity lays upon thee, endure; whatever she commands, do.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
The first and final thing you have to do in this world is to last in it, and not be smashed by it.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer
Saints are sinners who kept on going.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
You’ve got to say, “I think that if I keep working at this and want it badly enough I can have it.” It’s called perseverance.
—Lee Iacocca (1924–2019) American Businessperson
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
Everyone has his superstitions. One of mine has always been when I started to go anywhere, or to do anything, never to turn back or to stop until the thing intended was accomplished.
—Ulysses S. Grant (1822–85) American Civil War General, Head of State
Nothing succeeds like persistence. The common denominator of all successful people is their persistence.
—John-Roger, Peter McWilliams
Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
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
We conquer – not in any brilliant fashion – we conquer by continuing.
—George Matheson (1842–1906) Scottish Theologian, Preacher
Zeal without knowledge is like expedition to a man in the dark.
—John Newton (1725–1807) English Clergyman, Writer
It helps, I think, to consider ourselves on a very long journey: the main thing is to keep to the faith, to endure, to help each other when we stumble or tire, to weep and press on.
—M. C. Richards (1916–99) American Poet, Potter, Writer
Do not hover always on the surface of things, nor take up suddenly with mere appearances; but penetrate into the depth of matters, as far as your time and circumstances allow, especially in those things which relate to your profession.
—Isaac Watts (1674–1748) English Hymn writer
One may walk over the highest mountain one step at a time.
—John Wanamaker (1838–1922) American Merchant, Civil Servant
Whoever perseveres will be crowned.
—Johann Gottfried Herder (1744–1803) German Lutheran Philosopher, Theologian, Poet, Literary Critic
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
The characteristic of genuine heroism is its persistency. All men have wandering impulses, fits and starts of generosity. But when you have resolved to be great, abide by yourself, and do not weakly try to reconcile yourself with the world. The heroic cannot be the common, nor the common the heroic.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The great majority of men are bundles of beginnings.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
A determination to succeed is the only way to succeed that I know anything about.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
I’ve always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn’t have a chance to win.
—Arnold Palmer (b.1929) American Sportsperson
And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Don’t foul, don’t flinch—hit the line hard.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
Never let up. The more you can win by, the more doubts you put in the other players’ minds the next time out.
—Sam Snead (1912–2002) American Professional Golfer
When you put your hand to the plow, you can’t put it down until you get to the end of the row.
—Alice Paul (1885–1977) American Suffragist, Feminist
Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle, and a victory.
—Unknown
The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one often comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won’t.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
There are two ways of attaining an important end-force and perseverance. Force falls to the lot only of the privileged few, but austere and sustained perseverance can be practised by the most insignificant.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer