Come, my friends,
‘T is not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
Plodding wins the race.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Vitality shows not only in the ability to persist but the ability to start over.
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) American Novelist
An arch never sleeps.
—Indian Proverb
I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it,—but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
I read my own books sometimes to cheer me when it is hard to write and then I remember that it was always difficult and how nearly impossible it was sometimes.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer
Call the roll in your memory of conspicuously successful (business) giants and, if you know anything about their careers, you will be struck by the fact that almost every one of them encountered inordinate difficulties sufficient to crush all but the gamest of spirits. Edison went hungry many times before he became famous.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
We rate ability in men by what they finish, not by what they attempt.
—Unknown
If you start to take Vienna – take Vienna.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit.
—Bernard Williams (1929–2003) English Philosopher
Diamonds are only lumps of coal that stuck to their jobs.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
If something is boring after 2 minutes, try it for 4. If still boring, try it for 8, 16, 32, and so on. Eventually, one discovers that it is not boring, but very interesting.
—Zen Proverb Japanese School of Mahayana Buddhism
Four steps to achievement: plan purposefully, prepare prayerfully, proceed positively, pursue persistently.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
The great thing and the hard thing is to stick to things when you have outlived the first interest, and not yet got the second, which comes with a sort of mastery.
—Janet Erskine Stuart (1857–1914) English Catholic Nun, Educationalist
Endurance is nobler than strength, and patience than beauty.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
Life begins on the other side of despair.
—Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–80) French Philosopher, Playwright, Novelist, Screenwriter, Political Activist
The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it.—Skilful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.
—Epicurus (c.341–270 BCE) Greek Philosopher
Let no one till his death
Be called unhappy. Measure not the work
Until the day’s out and the labor done:
Then bring your gauges.
—Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–61) English Poet
For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Victory belongs to the most persevering.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won’t.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Tough times never last, but tough people do.
—Robert H. Schuller (1926–2015) American Christian Televangelist, Author
The first and final thing you have to do in this world is to last in it, and not be smashed by it.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer
Without perseverance talent is a barren bed.
—Welsh Proverb
Successful leaders have the courage to take action while others hesitate.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Christian Professional Speaker, Author, Clergyman
We must learn from life how to suffer it.
—French Proverb
Make haste slowly.
—Common Proverb
One man scorned and covered with scars still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable stars; and the world was better for this.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
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