As plants take hold, not for the sake of staying, but only that they may climb higher, so it is with men. By every part of our nature we clasp things above us, one after another, not for the sake of remaining where we take hold, but that we may go higher.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
To know that one has never really tried—that is the only death.
—Marie Dressler (1868–1934) American-Canadian Actress
Expect the people you love to be better. It helps them to become better. But don’t get upset when they fail. It helps them keep trying.
—Anonymous
The road must be trod, but it will be very hard. And neither strength nor wisdom will carry us far upon it. This quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong. Yet such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.
—J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973) British Scholar, Author
If you spend life trying to be good at everything you will never be great at anything.
—Tom Rath (b.1975) American Consultant
Every noble acquisition is attended with its risks; he who fears to encounter the one must not expect to obtain the other.
—Metastasio (1698–1782) Italian Poet, Librettist
Anyone who doesn’t make mistakes isn’t trying hard enough.
—Wess Roberts
Most people are so busy knocking themselves out trying to do everything they think they should do, they never get around to what they want to do.
—Kathleen Winsor (1919–2003) American Novelist
Any supervisor worth his salt would rather deal with people who attempt too much than with those who try too little.
—Lee Iacocca (1924–2019) American Businessperson
Whatever course you have chosen for yourself, it will not be a chore but an adventure if you bring to it a sense of the glory of striving, if your sights are set far above the merely secure and mediocre.
—David Sarnoff (1891–1972) American Broadcaster, Businessman
Many a man never fails because he never tries.
—Norman MacEwen (1881–1953) British Military Leader
For want of a block, man will stumble at a straw.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
How high could you go if you knew you wouldn’t fall?
—Anonymous
A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
—Douglas Adams (1952–2001) English Novelist, Scriptwriter
As a result of trying to solve the big problems we face in life, many of us end up sacrificing individual relationships by doing things that we may consider as being small or insignificant at the time. This reminds us of the George and Gracie routine where George asks Gracie, How do you cook a pot roast? She replied, I put both a big pot roast and a small pot roast in the oven. When the small one is burnt, the big one is done just right!
—Unknown
Experiment is folly when experience shows the way.
—Roger Babson (1875–1967) American Economist
Concentrate on the essentials. We will then be accomplishing the greatest possible results with the effort expended.
—Ted Engstrom (1916–2006) American Christian Religious Leader
Every time I catch myself saying, “Oh no, you shouldn’t try that,” I think, “Yes, I should.”
—Erica Jong (b.1942) American Novelist, Feminist
Without risk, faith is an impossibility.
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
Venture nothing, and life is less than it should be.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
Trying to determine what is going on in the world by reading newspapers is like trying to tell the time by watching the second hand of a clock.
—Ben Hecht (1894–1964) American Screenwriter, Playwright
To fail is a natural consequence of trying, To succeed takes time and prolonged effort in the face of unfriendly odds. To think it will be any other way, no matter what you do, is to invite yourself to be hurt and to limit your enthusiasm for trying again.
—David Viscott (1938–96) American Psychiatrist, Author, Businessperson
God lends a helping hand to the man who tries hard.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Playwright
A winner never stops trying.
—Tom Landry (1924–2000) American Sportsperson
When one is trying to do something beyond his known powers it is useless to seek the approval of friends. Friends are at their best in moments of defeat.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is to you.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The worst thing one can do is not to try, to be aware of what one wants and not give in to it, to spend years in silent hurt wondering if something could have materialized – never knowing.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
Do. Or do not. There is no try.
—Yoda Character In ‘Star Wars’
There is merit in the attempt, and a whole lot accomplished along the way.
—Unknown
Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Leave a Reply