I run on the road, long before I dance under the lights.
—Muhammad Ali (1942–2016) American Sportsperson
If you are prepared, you will be confident, and will do the job.
—Tom Landry (1924–2000) American Sportsperson
At all times it is better to have a method.
—Mark Caine
Your problem is to bridge the gap which exists between where you are now and the goal you intend to reach.
—Earl Nightingale (1921–89) American Motivational Speaker, Author
If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
We need a sense of the value of time — that is, of the best way to divide one’s time into one’s various activities.
—Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) British Novelist, Playwright, Critic
Spectacular achievement is always preceded by unspectacular preparation.
—Robert H. Schuller (1926–2015) American Christian Televangelist, Author
If you employed study, thinking, and planning time daily, you could develop and use the power that can change the course of your destiny.
—W. Clement Stone (1902–2002) American Self-help Guru, Entrepreneur
A little neglect may breed great mischief. For want of a nail, the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe, the horse was lost; and for want of a horse, the rider was lost; being overtaken, and slain by the enemy. All for want of care about a horse-shoe nail.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it’s not all mixed up.
—A. A. Milne (1882–1956) British Humorist, Playwright, Children’s Writer
Somewhere there is a map of how it can be done.
—Ben Stein (b.1944) American Lawyer, Writer, Economist, Humorist
In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
A first-rate Organizer is never in a hurry. He is never late. He always keeps up his sleeve a margin for the unexpected.
—Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) British Novelist, Playwright, Critic
The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
Shape your heart to front the hour, but dream not that the hours will last.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
He who every morning plans the transactions of the day and follows out that plan carries a thread that will guide him through the labyrinth of the most busy life. The orderly arrangement of his time is a like a ray of life which darts itself through all his occupations. But where no plan is laid, where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incident, chaos will soon reign.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Developing the plan is actually laying out the sequence of events that have to occur for you to achieve your goal.
—George Morrisey
The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today’s work superbly well.
—William Osler (1849–1919) Canadian Physician
A good plan violently executed right now is far better than a perfect plan executed next week.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
The method of the enterprising is to plan with audacity and execute with vigor.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
There is no royal road to anything. One thing at a time, all things in succession. That which grows fast, withers as rapidly. That which grows slowly, endures.
—Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819–81) American Editor, Novelist
Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan.
—Tom Landry (1924–2000) American Sportsperson
The wise man bridges the gap by laying out the path by means of which he can get from where he is to where he wants to go.
—J. P. Morgan (1837–1913) American Financier, Philanthropist, Art Collector
The best preparation for the future is the present well seen to, the last duty well done.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination.
—Earl Nightingale (1921–89) American Motivational Speaker, Author
A clear vision, backed by definite plans, gives you a tremendous feeling of confidence and personal power.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
Do not plan for ventures before finishing what’s at hand.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
If we had more time for discussion we should probably have made a great many more mistakes.
—Leon Trotsky (1879–1940) Russian Marxist Revolutionary
The man who is prepared has his battle half fought.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
Many people spend more time in planning the wedding than they do in planning the marriage.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Affairs that depend on many rarely succeed.
—Francesco Guicciardini (1483–1540) Italian Historian, Political leader
We can’t cross a bridge until we come to it; but I always like to lay down a pontoon ahead of time.
—Bernard M. Baruch (1870–1965) American Financier, Economic Consultant
Meticulous planning will enable everything a man does to appear spontaneous.
—Mark Caine
Many things difficult in design prove easy in performance.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Whatever failures I have known, whatever errors I have committed, whatever follies I have witnessed in private and public life have been the consequence of action without thought.
—Bernard M. Baruch (1870–1965) American Financier, Economic Consultant
There is no advancement to him who stands trembling because he cannot see the end from the beginning.
—E. J. Klemme American Educator
Dislodging a green nut from it’s shell is almost impossible, but let it dry and the lightest tap will do it.
—Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (1836–86) Indian Hindu Philosopher
Each man should frame life so that at some future hour fact and his dreaming meet.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Life is a long preparation for something that never happens.
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) Irish Poet, Dramatist