The very first step towards success in any occupation is to become interested in it.
—William Osler (1849–1919) Canadian Physician
All glory comes from daring to begin.
—Eugene F. Ware
Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.
—Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–45) German Lutheran Pastor, Theologian
The way to do is to be.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
He who deliberates fully before taking a step will spend his entire life on one leg.
—Chinese Proverb
The opportunity is often lost by deliberating.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
Three outstanding qualities make for success: judgement, industry, health. And the greatest of these is judgement.
—Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook (1879–1964) Canadian-born British Politician, Journalist
We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Success follows doing what you want to do. There is no other way to be successful.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
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
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
Wishing does not make a poor man rich.
—Arabic Proverb
Necessity of action takes away the fear of the act, and makes bold resolution the favorite of fortune.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
We are always getting ready to live, but never living.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The test of any man lies in action.
—Pindar (c.518–c.438 BCE) Greek Lyric Poet
By his deeds we know a man.
—African Proverb
And now, Lord, what wait I for?
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Action is the only reality; not only reality, but morality as well.
—Abbie Hoffman (1936–89) American Political Activist, Anarchist
For purposes of action, nothing is more useful than narrowness of thought combined with energy of will.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
To be is to do.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
To believe a business impossible is the way to make it so. How many feasible projects have miscarried through despondency, and been strangled in their birth by a cowardly imagination.
—Jeremy Collier (1650–1726) Anglican Church Historian, Clergyman
Now or never was the time.
—Laurence Sterne (1713–68) Irish Anglican Novelist, Clergyman
Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it. The man who knows how will always have a job. The man who also knows why will always be his boss. As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Four steps to achievement: plan purposefully, prepare prayerfully, proceed positively, pursue persistently.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
A hard beginning maketh a good ending.
—John Heywood
If a man would move the world, he must first move himself.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher