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Quotations

Bertolt BrechtIf you fight you might lose; if you don’t, you have already lost.

—  Bertolt Brecht, 1898-1956, German writer

17 likes
Wolfgang GoetheEverything is hard before it is easy.

—  Wolfgang Goethe, 1749-1832, German poet & philosopher

17 likes
Alfred TennysonIt's better to have tried and failed than to live life wondering what would've happened if I had tried.

—  Alfred Tennyson, 1809-1892, English poet

11 likes
Thomas EdisonGenius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.

—  Thomas Edison, 1847-1934, American inventor

7 likes
George SantayanaFanaticism consists in redoubling your efforts when you have forgotten your aim.

—  George Santayana, 1863-1952, Spanish-American philosopher

7 likes
Theodore RooseveltIt is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood.

—  Theodore Roosevelt, 1858-1919, American President [1901-1909]

7 likes
Vince LombardiLeaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.

—  Vince Lombardi, 1913-1970, American football coach

6 likes
Paul ValeryAlways, start again.

Toujours recommancer.

—  Paul Valery, 1871-1945, French poet

5 likes
Erica JongCreativity demands nothing less than all you have. Talent alone is never enough.

—  Erica Jong, 1942-, American writer

5 likes
Thomas JeffersonI find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.

—  Thomas Jefferson, 1749-1826, American President [1801-1809]

4 likes
Winston ChurchillContinuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential.

—  Winston Churchill, 1874-1965, British Prime Minister, Nobel 1953

4 likes
Zig ZiglarWhen you are tough on yourself, life is going to be infinitely easier on you.

—  Zig Ziglar, 1926-2012, American self-help writer

4 likes
Napoleon HillThe man who does more than he is paid for, and does it in a pleasant mental attitude, sooner or later is paid for more than he does.

—  Napoleon Hill, 1883-1970, American self-help writer

4 likes
Pierre de CoubertinThe important thing in Life is not triumph, but the struggle; the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.

—  Pierre de Coubertin, 1863-1937, French, father of the Olympic Games

4 likes
HoraceLife grants nothing to us mortals without hard work.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

4 likes
Joseph JoubertGenius begins great works. Labor alone finishes them.

—  Joseph Joubert, 1754-1824, French author of maxims

3 likes
Calvin CoolidgeAll growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort means work.

—  Calvin Coolidge, 1872-1933, American President [1923-1929]

3 likes
Eugene O’NeillAny fool knows that to work hard at something you want to accomplish is the only way to be happy.

—  Eugene O’Neill, 1888-1953, American playwright, Nobel 1936

3 likes
Donald RumsfeldNothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must be first overcome.

—  Donald Rumsfeld, American politician

3 likes
Gabriel Garcia MarquezDon't struggle so much, the best things happen when not expected.

—  Gabriel Garcia Marquez, 1927-2014, Colombian writer

3 likes
Michael CaineWhen you reach the top, that's when the climb begins.

—  Michael Caine, 1933-, English actor

3 likes
George Bernard ShawWhen I was young, I observed that nine out of ten things I did were failures. So I did ten times more work.

—  George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, Irish writer, Nobel 1925

3 likes
Sylvia PlathI love my rejection slips. They show me I try.

—  Sylvia Plath, 1932-1963, American poet & writer

2 likes
H. Jackson Brown, Jr.Don't judge those who try and fail. Judge only those who fail to try.

—  H. Jackson Brown, Jr., 1940-2021, American self-help writer

2 likes
Jim RohnFor every disciplined effort there is a multiple reward.

—  Jim Rohn, 1930-2009, American self-help speker

2 likes
Bob MarleyBeginnings are usually scary, and endings are usually sad, but its everything in between that makes it all worth living.

—  Bob Marley, 1945-1981, Jamaican singer

2 likes
Zig ZiglarThere are no traffic jams on the extra mile.

—  Zig Ziglar, 1926-2012, American self-help writer

2 likes
Vince LombardiDictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you’re willing to pay the price.

—  Vince Lombardi, 1913-1970, American football coach

2 likes
Vince LombardiThe harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.

—  Vince Lombardi, 1913-1970, American football coach

2 likes
Lou HoltzNo one has ever drowned in sweat.

—  Lou Holtz, 1937-, American football coach

2 likes
Antoin de Saint-ExupéryIt is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.

—  Antoin de Saint-Exupéry, 1900-1940, French writer

2 likes
Samuel JohnsonExcellence in any department can be attained only by the labor of a lifetime; it is not to be purchased at a lesser price.

—  Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784, English writer

2 likes
Lawrence DurrellIt takes a lot of energy and a lot of neurosis to write a novel. If you were really sensible, you'd do something else.

—  Lawrence Durrell, 1912-1990, British writer

2 likes
Cesare PaveseThe only joy in the world is to begin.

—  Cesare Pavese, 1908-1950, Italian writer

Noel CowardWork hard, do the best you can, don't ever lose faith in yourself and take no notice of what other people say about you.

—  Noel Coward, 1899-1973, British playwright

Bertrand RussellNo great achievement is possible without persistent work.

—  Bertrand Russell, 1872-1970, British philosopher

George EliotIt will never rain roses: when we want to have more roses, we must plant more roses.

—  George Eliot, 1819-1880, English writer

John SteinbeckMuscles aching to work, minds aching to create – this is man.

—  John Steinbeck, 1902-1968, American writer, Nobel 1962

Oliver W. Holmes Sr.A man may fulfill the object of his existence by asking a question he cannot answer, and attempting a task he cannot achieve.

—  Oliver W. Holmes Sr., 1809-1894, American writer

Rudyard KiplingGardens are not made by singing “Oh, how beautiful!” and sitting in the shade.

—  Rudyard Kipling, 1865-1936, English writer, Nobel 1907

Earl WarrenEverything I did in my life that was worthwhile, I caught hell for.

—  Earl Warren, 1891-1974, American Chief Justice

Barbara WaltersWork harder than everybody. You're not going to get it by whining, and you're not going to get it by shouting, and you're not going to get it by quitting. You're going to get it by being there.

—  Barbara Walters, 1929-2022, American TV journalist

William Hazlitt Life is a continued struggle to be what we are not, and to do what we cannot.

—  William Hazlitt , 1778-1830, English essayist & critic

Robert Louis StevensonThe saints are the sinners who keep on trying.

—  Robert Louis Stevenson, 1850-1894, Scottish writer

Henry de MontherlantAlmost all human life is corrupted by the need to justify existence.

—  Henry de Montherlant, 1895-1972, French writer

Alexandre DumasThe merit of all things lies in their difficulty.

—  Alexandre Dumas, 1802-1870, French writer

Alexandre DumasSleeping on a plank has one advantage: it encourages early rising.

—  Alexandre Dumas, 1802-1870, French writer

Napoleon HillOne of the most important principles of success is developing the habit of going the extra mile.

—  Napoleon Hill, 1883-1970, American self-help writer

Napoleon HillPatience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.

—  Napoleon Hill, 1883-1970, American self-help writer

Søren KierkegaardIt is better to try something and fail than to try nothing and succeed. The result may be the same, but you won't be. We always grow more through defeats than victories.

—  Søren Kierkegaard, 1813-1855, Danish philosopher

Ray BradburyI know you've heard it a thousand times before. But it's true, hard work pays off. If you want to be good, you have to practice, practice, practice. If you don't love something, then don't do it.

—  Ray Bradbury, 1920-2012, American sci-fi writer

TertullianChristians are made, not born.

Fiunt non nascuntur Christiani.

—  Tertullian, 155-240 AD, Berber-Roman Christian author

Joseph ConradAll roads are long which lead to one's heart's desire.

—  Joseph Conrad, 1857-1924, British-Polish writer

Bob RossI really believe that if you practice enough you could paint the ‘Mona Lisa’ with a two-inch brush.

—  Bob Ross, 1942-1995, American painter & TV personality

Bob RossTalent is a pursued interest. Anything that you’re willing to practice, you can do.

—  Bob Ross, 1942-1995, American painter & TV personality

Quotes in Verse

Robert FrostBut I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

—  Robert Frost, 1874-1963, American poet

4 likes

Ancient Greek

Ancient Greek phraseGood things are difficult.

Χαλεπά τα καλά.

—  Ancient Greek phrase

7 likes
HesiodThe gods have placed sweat before value.

Αρετής προπάροιθε ιδρώτα θεοί αθάνατοι θήκαν.

—  Hesiod, 7th cent. BC, Ancient Greek poet ‐ Works and Days -289

6 likes
Ancient Greek proverbHard work is the father of good reputation.

Πόνος ευκλείας πατήρ.

—  Ancient Greek proverb

5 likes
SophoclesLittle effort will not bring much glory.

Μικρού δ’ αγώνος ου μέγα έρχεται κλέος.

—  Sophocles, 496-406 BC, Ancient tragic poet

4 likes
PlutarchThose who try a lot succeed a lot.

Οι πολλά βάλλοντες επιτυγχάνουσι πολλάκις.

—  Plutarch, 47-120 AD, Ancient Greek historian

4 likes
EuripidesGood things are achieved through myriads efforts.

Συν μυρίοισι τα καλά γίγνεται πόνοις.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Archelaus

4 likes
DemosthenesDemosthenes when asked how he became successful in rhetoric, replied “By spending more on oil than on wine.”

Δημοσθένης ερωτηθείς «πώς της ρητορικής περιγένου»; «Πλέον», έφη, «έλαιον οίνου δαπανήσας».

—  Demosthenes, 384-322 BC, Ancient Athenian & statesman orator

3 likes
EuripidesNo one who is slack gains a good reputation; it is hard work that leads to excellence.

Ουδείς ών ράθυμος ευκλεής ανήρ, άλλ’ οι πόνοι τίκτουσι την ευδοξίαν.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Archelaos

3 likes
IsokratesSpending efforts for things you shouldn't, you will be inadequate for things you should.

Δαπανώμενος εφ’ α μη δει, ολίγος έση εφ’ α δει.

—  Isokrates, 436-338 BC, Ancient Greek rhetorician

3 likes

Proverbs

American proverbNo pain, no gain.

—  American proverb

4 likes
Chinese proverbRaise your sail one foot and you get ten feet of wind.

—  Chinese proverb

2 likes



Similar categories & topics of Quotations






Similar Topics

Doing

Action

Determination

Searching

Initiative

Adversity

Usefulness

Ways & Means

Willingness

Diligence

Persistence

Success & Failure

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Laziness

Ineffectiveness

Quitting

Easiness

Inaction

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2024: Manolis Papathanassiou