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
Energy and persistence conquer all things.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
A day is a span of time no one is wealthy enough to waste.
—Unknown
The fall of dropping water wears away the Stone.
—Lucretius (c.99–55 BCE) Roman Epicurean Poet, Philosopher
Boys, there ain’t no free lunches in this country. And don’t go spending your whole life commiserating that you got the raw deals. You’ve got to say, “I think that if I keep working at this and want it bad enough I can have it.” It’s called perseverance.
—Lee Iacocca (1924–2019) American Businessperson
Don’t halt before you are lame.
—English Proverb
The miracle, or the power, that elevates the few is to be found in their industry, application, and perseverance under the promptings of a brave, determined spirit.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Patience and tenacity of purpose are worth more than twice their weight of cleverness.
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95) English Biologist
The darkest hour is just before the dawn.
—Common Proverb
Do not quit! Hundreds of times I have watched people throw in the towel at the one-yard line while someone else comes along and makes a fortune by just going that extra yard.
—E. Joseph Cossman
You just can’t beat the person who never gives up.
—Nancie J. Carmody
I hate the giving of the hand unless the whole man accompanies it.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Continuous, unflagging effort, persistence and determination will win. Let not the man be discouraged who has these.
—James Whitcomb Riley (1849–1916) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Writer
Diamonds are only lumps of coal that stuck to their jobs.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
Diligence is the mother of good fortune, and idleness, its opposite, never brought a man to the goal of any of his best wishes.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second. Give your dreams all you’ve got and you’ll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
He conquers who endures.
—Persius (34–62 CE) Roman Satirist
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
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, self-reliance, energetic effort, are doubly strengthened when your rise to battle again.
—Indian Proverb
Never say die.
—Common Proverb
Endure and persist; this pain will turn to good by and by.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
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
A little and a little, collected together, becomes a great deal; the heap in the barn consists of single grains, and drop and drop make the inundation.
—Sa’Di (Musharrif Od-Din Muslih Od-Din) (c.1213–91) Persian Poet
I’m proof against that word failure. I’ve seen behind it. The only failure a man ought to fear is failure of cleaving to the purpose he sees to be best.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
To persevere, trusting in what hopes he has, is courage in a man. The coward despairs.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) 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
Stars are good too. I wish I could get some to put in my hair. But I suppose I never can. You would be surprised to find how far off they are, for they do not look it. When they first showed last night I tried to knock some down with a pole, but it didn’t reach, which astonished me. Then I tried clods till I was all tired out, but I never got one. I did make some close shots, for I saw the black blot of the clod sail right into thee midst of the golden clusters forty or fifty times, just barely missing them, and if I could’ve held out a little longer, maybe I could’ve got one.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
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