Superior strength is found in the long run to lie with those who had right on their side.
—James Anthony Froude (1818–94) British Historian, Novelist, Biographer, Editor
Gentleness corrects whatever is offensive in our manner.
—Hugh Blair (1718–1800) Scottish Preacher, Scholar, Critic
Strength instead of being the lusty child of passion, grows by grappling with and subduing them.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.
—Walter Bagehot (1826–77) English Economist, Journalist
Every minute you spend in planning saves 10 minutes in execution; this gives you a 1,000 percent return on energy.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
What does not kill me makes me stronger.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
At times to think of one’s outer helplessness is good, but to think always of one’s inner strength is infinitely better.
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
Strength, wanting judgment and policy to rule, overturneth itself.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
He who has injured thee was either stronger or weaker than thee. If weaker, spare him; if stronger, spare thyself.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
It is sometimes the most fragile things that have the power to endure and become sources of strength.
—May Sarton (1912–95) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Novelist
Men give me credit for some genius. All the genius I have lies in this: When I have a subject in hand, I study it profoundly. Day and night it is before me. I explore it in all its bearings. My mind becomes pervaded with it. Then the effort which I have made is what people are pleased to call the fruit of genius. It is the fruit of labor and thought.
—Alexander Hamilton (c.1757–1804) American Federalist Politician, Statesman
Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look there.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
Strength of mind rests in sobriety; for this keeps your reason unclouded by passion.
—Pythagoras (570–495 BCE) Greek Philosopher
The people rate strength before everything.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
It is the nature, and the advantage, of strong people that they can bring out the crucial questions and form a clear opinion about them. The weak always have to decide between alternatives that are not their own.
—Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–45) German Lutheran Pastor, Theologian
Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
If A equals success, then the formula is A equals X plus Y and Z, with X being work, Y play, and Z keeping your mouth shut.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
There is no strength in unbelief. Even the unbelief of what is false is no source of might. It is the truth shining from behind that gives the strength to disbelieve.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
I’m not going to lie down and let trouble walk over me.
—Ellen Glasgow (1873–1945) American Novelist
Don’t hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting, but never hit soft.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of the birds, the ebb and flow of the tides, the folded bud ready for the spring. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter.
—Rachel Carson (1907–64) American Naturalist, Science Writer
When a man feels throbbing within him the power to do what he undertakes as well as it can possibly be done, this is happiness, this is success.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
Rather than cripple, failure can strengthen. Depending on how we respond to them, blows can shatter us as if we were a cheap clay pot or temper us as they would steel.
—Unknown
Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
There are two ways of exerting one’s strength; one is pushing down, the other is pulling up.
—Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) African-American Educationist
Keep in mind that neither success nor failure is ever final.
—Roger Babson (1875–1967) American Economist
Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength.
—August Wilson (1945–2005) American Playwright
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Try not to become a man of success, but rather to become a man of value. He is considered successful in our day who gets more out of life than he puts in. But a man of value will give more than he receives.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist