A hard beginning maketh a good ending.
—John Heywood
Go ahead with your life, your plans … Don’t waste time by stopping before the interruptions have started.
—Richard L. Evans (1906–71) American Religious Leader, Writer
If you dam a river it stagnates. Running water is beautiful water.
—English Proverb
Action makes more fortune than caution.
—Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–47) French Moralist, Essayist, Writer
Who hesitate and falter life away, and lose tomorrow the ground won today.
—Matthew Arnold (1822–88) English Poet, Critic
By his deeds we know a man.
—African Proverb
Begin somewhere; you cannot build a reputation on what you intend to do.
—Liz Smith (1923–2017) American Journalist, Columnist
Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
The best way to prepare for life is to begin to live.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
The way to do is to be.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
The conditions of conquest are always easy. We have but to toil awhile, endure awhile, believe always, and never turn back.
—William Gilmore Simms (1806–70) American Poet, Historian, Novelist, Editor
The ordinary man is involved in action, the hero acts. An immense difference.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
Imposing limitations on yourself is cowardly because it protects you from having to try, and perhaps failing.
—Vladimir K. Zworykin (1889–1982) Russian-American Physicist, TV Pioneer, Inventor
Self-trust is the first secret of success.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Success follows doing what you want to do. There is no other way to be successful.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
There is no such thing as a long piece of work, except one that you dare not start.
—Charles Baudelaire (1821–67) French Poet, Art Critic, Essayist, Translator
All glory comes from daring to begin.
—Eugene F. Ware
There are no secrets to success: don’t waste time looking for them. Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty to those for whom you work, and persistence.
—Colin Powell (1937–2021) American Military Leader
We don’t have enough time to premeditate all our actions.
—Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–47) French Moralist, Essayist, Writer
How, then, find the courage for action? By slipping a little into unconsciousness, spontaneity, instinct which holds one to the earth and dictates the relatively good and useful … By accepting the human condition more simply, and candidly, by dreading troubles less, calculating less, hoping more.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
If a man would move the world, he must first move himself.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
He who has begun has half done. Dare to be wise; begin.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
To be busy with material affairs is the best preservative against reflection, fears, doubts… all these things which stand in the way of achievement. I suppose a fellow proposing to cut his throat would experience a sort of relief while occupied in stropping his razor carefully.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
Many a man has walked up to the opportunity for which he has long been preparing himself, looked it full in the face, and then begun to get cold feet … when it comes to betting on yourself and your power to do the thing you know you must do or write yourself down a failure, you’re a chicken-livered coward if you hesitate.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
There is nothing to be gained by waiting for a better situation. You see where you are and you do what you can with that.
—Jacob K. Javits (1904–86) American Lawyer, Politician
Who waits until the wind shall silent keep will never find the ready hour to sow.
—Helen Hunt Jackson (1830–85) American Novelist, Civil Rights Activist
Everyone must row with the oars he has.
—English Proverb
It’s weak and despicable to go on wanting things and not trying to get them.
—Marion Milner (‘Joanna Field’) (1900–98) British Writer, Psychoanalyst
Four steps to achievement: plan purposefully, prepare prayerfully, proceed positively, pursue persistently.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
The greatest secret of success in life is for a person to be ready when their opportunity comes.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
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