Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
About the most originality that any writer can hope to achieve honestly is to steal with good judgment.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
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
Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
For a man to achieve all that is demanded of him he must regard himself as greater than he is.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress.
—Nicholas Murray Butler (1862–1947) American Philosopher, Diplomat, Educator
Well done is better than well said.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Having once decided to achieve a certain task, achieve it at all costs of tedium and distaste. The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labor is immense.
—Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) British Novelist, Playwright, Critic
One must marry one’s feelings to one’s beliefs and ideas. That is probably the only way to achieve a measure of harmony in one’s life.
—Etty Hillesum (1914–43) Jewish Diarist
We are most nearly ourselves when we achieve the seriousness of the child at play.
—Heraclitus (535BCE–475BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has already achieved, but at what he aspires to.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-American Philosopher, Poet, Sculptor
Studies indicate that the one quality all successful people have is persistence. They’re willing to spend more time accomplishing a task and to perservere in the face of many difficult odds. There’s a very positive relationship between people’s ability to accomplish any task and the time they’re willing to spend on it.
—Joyce Brothers (1927–2013) American Psychologist, Advice Columnist
Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work; I want to achieve immortality through not dying. I don’t want to live on in the hearts of my countrymen; I want to live on in my apartment.
—Woody Allen (b.1935) American Film Actor, Director
He who requires urging to do a noble act will never accomplish it.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-American Philosopher, Poet, Sculptor
If we fight a war and win it with H-bombs, what history will remember is not the ideals we were fighting for but the methods we used to accomplish them. These methods will be compared to the warfare of Genghis Khan who ruthlessly killed every last inhabitant of Persia.
—Hans Bethe (1906–2005) German-American Theoretical Physicist
A person should set his goals as early as he can and devote all his energy and talent to getting there. With enough effort, he may achieve it. Or he may find something that is even more rewarding. But in the end, no matter what the outcome, he will know he has been alive.
—Walt Disney (1901–66) American Entrepreneur
Your ability to negotiate, communicate, influence, and persuade others to do things is absolutely indispensable to everything you accomplish in life. The most effective men and women in every area are those who can quite competently organize the cooperation and assistance of other people toward the accomplishment of important goals and objectives.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
The chief duty I long to accomplish great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
Man can acquire accomplishments or he can become an animal, whichever he wants. God makes the animals, man makes himself.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.
—John Stuart Mill (1806–73) English Philosopher, Economist
The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
We are the creative force of our life, and through our own decisions rather than our conditions, if we carefully learn to do certain things, we can accomplish those goals.
—Stephen Covey (1932–2012) American Self-help Author
When you’re young, the silliest notions seem the greatest achievements.
—Pearl Bailey (1918–1990) American Jazz Singer, Actress, Writer
One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: “To rise above the little things.”
—John Burroughs (1837–1921) American Naturalist, Writer
The salary of the chief executive of a large corporation is not a market award for achievement. It is frequently in the nature of a warm personal gesture by the individual to himself.
—John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Canadian-Born American Economist
Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever imagine.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
Never tell a man how to do something. Tell him what to do and let him surprise you with his ingenuity.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
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