If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything. In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few.
—Shunryu Suzuki (1904–71) Zen Buddhist Monk, Author
We all have possibilities we don’t know about. We can do things we don’t even dream we can do.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation.
—Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) South African Political leader
All things are possible until they are proved impossible–even the impossible may only be so, as of now.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
Look at things… as they can be.
—David J. Schwartz (1927–87) American Self-help Author
I’ve discovered I’ve got this preoccupation with ordinary people pursued by large forces.
—Steven Spielberg (b.1946) American Film Director, Screenwriter, Film Producer, Businessperson
Some of the world’s greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible.
—Doug Larson (1926–2017) American Columnist
Perhaps nobody ever accomplishes all that he feels lies in him to do but nearly every one who tries his power touches the walls of his being occasionally, and learns about how far to attempt to spring.
—Charles Dudley Warner (1829–1900) American Essayist, Novelist
The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible—and achieve it, generation after generation.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
Man is not the sum of what he has already, but rather the sum of what he does not yet have, of what he could have.
—Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–80) French Philosopher, Playwright, Novelist, Screenwriter, Political Activist
You can have it all. You just can’t have it all at once.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
All of us failed to match our dreams of perfection. So I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible.
—William Faulkner (1897–1962) American Novelist
There are no limits to your possibilities! Your successes will multiply and increase in proportion to your mastery of the law.
—Roger McDonald (b.1941) Australian Novelist, Poet, Screenwriter, Writer
If I had some idea of a finish line, don’t you think I would have crossed it years ago?
—Richard DeVos (1926–2018) American Businessman, Philanthropist
The riches of life, the love and joy and exhilaration of life can be found only with an upward look. This is an exciting world. It’s cram-packed with opportunity. Great moments wait around every corner.
—Richard DeVos (1926–2018) American Businessman, Philanthropist
I realized that if what we call human nature can be changed, then absolutely anything is possible. And from that moment, my life changed.
—Shirley MacLaine (b.1934) American Actor, Dancer, Author, Activist
When nothing is sure, everything is possible.
—Margaret Drabble (b.1939) English Novelist, Biographer, Critic, Short Story Writer
We must dare to think ‘unthinkable’ thoughts. We must learn to explore all the options and possibilities that confront us in a complex and rapidly changing world. We must learn to welcome and not to fear the voices of dissent. We must dare to think about ‘unthinkable things’ because when things become unthinkable, thinking stops and action becomes mindless.
—J. William Fulbright (1905–95) American Political leader, Politician
There are no such things as incurable, there are only things for which man has not found a cure.
—Bernard M. Baruch (1870–1965) American Financier, Economic Consultant
Today Americans are overcome not by the sense of endless possibility but by the banality of the social order they have erected against it.
—Christopher Lasch (1932–94) American Historian, Moralist, Social Critic
If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
The only way to discover the limits of the possible
is to go beyond them to the impossible.
—Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) British Scientist, Science-fiction Writer
Life is a video game. No matter how good you get, you are always zapped in the end.
—Anonymous
It is impossible to underrate human intelligence—beginning with one’s own.
—Henry Adams (1838-1918) American Historian, Man Of Letters
Man would not have attained the possible unless time and again he had reached out of the impossible.
—Max Weber (1864–1920) German Sociologist
As you begin to understand the immense power and love you hold inside, you will find an unending surge of joy, light and love that will nourish and support you all the days of your life.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
We never know how high we are till we are called to rise. And then, if we are true to plan, our statures touch the skies.
—Emily Dickinson (1830–86) American Poet
When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
—Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) British Scientist, Science-fiction Writer
She didn’t know it couldn’t be done, so she went ahead and did it.
—Unknown
Alleged “impossibilities” are opportunities for our capacities to be stretched.
—Chuck Swindoll (b.1934) American Evangelical Christian Pastor, Author
If you use these principles wisely and intelligently, there can be no uncertainty as to the outcome of any endeavor, and no limit to your possibilities.
—Roger McDonald (b.1941) Australian Novelist, Poet, Screenwriter, Writer
It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.
—Walt Disney (1901–66) American Entrepreneur
So often we dwell on the things that seem impossible rather than on the things that are possible. So often we are depressed by what remains to be done and forget to be thankful for all that has been done.
—Marian Wright Edelman (b.1939) American Civil Regrets Advocate, Humanitarian, Lawyer
Indeed, what is there that does not appear marvelous when it comes to our knowledge for the first time? How many things, too, are looked up on as quite impossible until they have been actually effected?
—Pliny the Elder (23–79) Roman Statesman, Scholar
It is important to live each day with a positive perspective. It is not wise to pretend problems do not exist, but it is wise to look beyond the problem to the possibilities that are in it. When Goliath came against the Israelites, the soldiers all thought, “He’s so big, we can never kill him.” But David looked at the same giant and thought, “He’s so big, I can’t miss him.”
—Dale Turner (1917–2006) American Priest, Columnist, Epigrammist
I am looking for a lot of men who have an infinite capacity to not know what can’t be done. If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
I cannot discover that anyone knows enough to say definitely what is and what is not possible.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
It is our duty as men and women to proceed as though the limits of our abilities do not exist.
—Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881–1955) French Jesuit Philosopher, Paleontologist
Our thoughts and imagination are the only real limits to our possibilities.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
I have always been driven to buck the system, to innovate, to take things beyond where they’ve been.
—Sam Walton (1918–92) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see farther.
—J. P. Morgan (1837–1913) American Financier, Philanthropist, Art Collector
It is not a dreamlike state, but the somehow insulated state, that a great musician achieves in a great performance. He’s aware of where he is and what he’s doing, but his mind is on the playing of his instrument with an internal sense of rightness — it is not merely mechanical, it is not only spiritual; it is something of both, on a different plane and a more remote one.
—Arnold Palmer (b.1929) American Sportsperson
Only she who attempts the absurd can achieve the impossible.
—Robin Morgan (b.1941) American Activist, Writer, Poet, Editor
Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they’re yours.
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Novelist, Aviator