Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
No greater thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
What can any of us do with his talent but try to develop his vision, so that through frequent failures we may learn better what we have missed in the past.
—William Carlos Williams (1883–1963) American Poet, Novelist, Cultural Historian
Jesus taught that perseverance is the essential element of prayer. Men must be in earnest when they kneel at God’s footstool. Too often we get faint-hearted and quit praying at the point where we ought to begin. We let go at the very point where we should hold on strongest. Our prayers are weak because they are not impassioned by an unfailing and resistless will.
—Edward McKendree Bounds (1835–1913) American Methodist Clergyman, Author, Lawyer
We shall live to fight again, and to strike another blow.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
Life begins on the other side of despair.
—Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–80) French Philosopher, Playwright, Novelist, Screenwriter, Political Activist
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
The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
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
We can do anything we want to do if we stick to it long enough.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
Be strong!
It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong
How hard the battle goes, the day how long
Faint not – fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.
—Maltbie Davenport Babcock (1858–1901) American Presbyterian Clergyman, Writer
I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged … I had poems which were rewritten so many times I suspect it was just a way of avoiding sending them out.
—Erica Jong (b.1942) American Novelist, Feminist
The tragedy of life is not that man loses,
but that he almost wins.
—Heywood Hale Broun (1918–2001) American Journalist, Commentator, Actor
I realized early on that success was tied to not giving up. Most people in this business gave up and went on to other things. If you simply didn’t give up, you would outlast the people who came in on the bus with you.
—Harrison Ford (b.1942) American Actor
In the clutch of circumstance, I have not winced or cried aloud; under the bludgeoning of chance, my head is bloody but unbowed.
—William Ernest Henley (1849–1903) English Poet, Critic, Editor
Men who have attained things worth having in this world have worked while others idled, have persevered when others gave up in despair, have practiced early in life the valuable habits of self-denial, industry, and singleness of purpose. As a result, they enjoy in later life the success so often erroneously attributed to good luck.
—Grenville Kleiser (1868–1935) Canadian Author
No one succeeds without effort … Those who succeed own their success to their perseverance.
—Ramana Maharshi (1879–1950) Indian Hindu Mystic
There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.
—Beverly Sills (1929–2007) American Singer, Musician
If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.
—Dolly Parton (b.1946) American Musician, Actress
A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Slow and steady wins the race.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
In soloing—as in other activities—it is far easier to start something than it is to finish it.
—Amelia Earhart (1897–1937) American Aviator
Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Men do not fail; they stop trying.
—Elihu Root (1845–1937) American Jurist, Statesman
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
If you stop struggling, then you stop life.
—Huey P. Newton (1942–89) American Political Activist
Wisely and slow; — they stumble that run fast.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Everyone has his superstitions. One of mine has always been when I started to go anywhere, or to do anything, never to turn back or to stop until the thing intended was accomplished.
—Ulysses S. Grant (1822–85) American Civil War General, Head of State
Genius is often only the power of making continuous efforts. The line between failure and success is so fine that we scarcely know when we pass it—so fine that we are often on the line and do not know it. How many a man has thrown up his hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience, would have achieved success. As the tide goes clear out, so it comes clear in. In business sometimes prospects may seem darkest when really they are on the turn. A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success. There is no failure except in no longer trying. There is no defeat except from within, no really insurmountable barrier save our own inherent weakness of purpose.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
You go back to the gym and you just do it again and again until you get it right.
—Arnold Schwarzenegger (b.1947) Austrian-American Athlete, Actor, Politician
Diamonds are only lumps of coal that stuck to their jobs.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
Never give in — never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
We can do whatever we wish to do provided our wish is strong enough. But the tremendous effort needed – one doesn’t always want to make it – does one? … But what else can be done? What’s the alternative? What do you want most to do? That’s what I have to keep asking myself, in the face of difficulties.
—Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923) New Zealand-born British Author
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
There’s nothing in this world that comes easy. There are a lot of people who aren’t going to bother to win. We learn in football to get up and go once more.
—Woody Hayes (1913–87) American Sportsperson
I’m hardnosed about luck. I think it sucks. Yeah, if you spend seven years looking for a job as a copywriter, and then one day somebody gives you a job, you can say, “Gee, I was lucky I happened to go up there today”. But dammit, I was going to go up there sooner or later in the next 70 years … If you’re persistent in trying and doing and working, you almost make your own fortune.
—Jerry Della Femina (b.1936) American Advertising Executive
If you wish success in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother and hope your guardian genius.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
The great majority of men are bundles of beginnings.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
I can remember walking as a child. It was not customary to say you were fatigued. It was customary to complete the goal of the expedition.
—Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) American Actor, TV Personality
As long as one keeps searching, the answers come.
—Joan Baez (b.1941) American Singer, Songwriter, Musician
Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; while others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than ever before.
—Polybius (c.200–c.118 BCE) Greek Historian
We conquer by continuing.
—George Matheson (1842–1906) Scottish Theologian, Preacher
Never admit defeat.
—Arthur Rimbaud (1854–91) French Poet, Adventurer
Success in the majority of circumstances depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed.
—Montesquieu (1689–1755) French Political Philosopher, Jurist
All’s well that ends well.
—Common Proverb
I’m a little wounded, but I am not slain; I will lay me down to bleed a while. Then I’ll rise and fight again.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
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
He turns not back who is bound to a star.
—Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Polymath, Painter, Sculptor, Inventor, Architect
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
What cannot be altered must be borne, not blamed.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
The big shots are only the little shots who keep shooting.
—Christopher Morley (1890–1957) American Novelist, Essayist
If you want to see the sunshine, you have to weather the storm.
—Frank Lane (1896–1981) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
I’m a slow walker, but I never walk back.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
There are but two roads that lead to an important goal and to the doing of great things: strength and perseverance. Strength is the lot of but a few privileged men; but austere perseverance, harsh and continuous, may be employed by the smallest of us and rarely fails of its purpose, for its silent power grows irresistibly greater with time.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
By perseverance the snail reached the Ark.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
It’s the plugging away that will win you the day
So don’t be a piker old pard!
Just draw on your grit; it’s so easy to quit.
It’s the keeping your chin up that’s hard.
—Robert W. Service (1874–1958) Scottish Poet, Author
I am not the smartest or most talented person in the world, but I succeeded because I keep going, and going, and going.
—Sylvester Stallone (b.1946) American Actor, Film Director, Screenwriter
Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
I was taught that the way of progress is neither swift nor easy.
—Marie Curie (1867–1934) Polish-born French Physicist, Chemist
I hold a doctrine, to which I owe not touch, indeed, but all the little I ever had, namely, that with ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable.
—Sir Thomas Buxton, 1st Baronet (1786–1845) English Politician, Social Reformer
Character is built into the spiritual fabric of personality hour by hour, day by day, year by year in much the same deliberate way that physical health is built into the body.
—E. Lamar Kincaid (1924–2014) American Protestant Minister
When we see ourselves in a situation which must be endured and gone through, it is best to make up our minds to meet it with firmness, and accommodate everything to it in the best way practical. This lessons the evil, while fretting and fuming only serve to increase your own torments.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Education is hanging around until you’ve caught on.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
If something doesn’t come up the way you want, you have to forge ahead.
—Clint Eastwood (b.1930) American Film Director, Film Producer, Film Actor
First there are those who are the winners and know they are winners. Then there are the losers know they are losers. Then there arc those who are not winners but don’t know it. They’re the ones for me. They never quit trying. They’re the soul of our game.
—Bear Bryant (1913–83) American Sportsperson
They merit more praise who know how to suffer misery than those who temper themselves with contentment.
—Pietro Aretino (1492–1556) Italian Author, Playwright, Poet, Satirist
A high heart ought to bear calamities and not flee them, since in bearing them appears the grandeur of the mind and in fleeing them the cowardice of the heart.
—Pietro Aretino (1492–1556) Italian Author, Playwright, Poet, Satirist
When you get into a tight place, and everything goes against you till it seems as if you could n’t hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that ‘s just the place and time that the tide ‘ll turn. Never trust to prayer without using every means in your power, and never use the means without trusting in prayer.
—Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–96) American Abolitionist, Author
For me at least there came moments when faith wavered. But there is the great lesson and the great triumph: keep the fire burning until, by and by, out of the mass of sordid details there comes some result.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American Jurist, Author
Triumph often is nearest when defeat seems inescapable.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher