“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says: «I'm possible!»”
Audrey Hepburn (1929–1993) British actress
Motivational Quotes page 4
“Big jobs usually go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow small ones.”
Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, 26th president of the United States
“Success is like a ladder and no one has ever climbed a ladder with their hands in their pockets.”
Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American motivational speaker
Laozi (-604) semi-legendary Chinese figure, attributed to the 6th century, regarded as the author of the Tao Te Ching and fou…
Source: yt
“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”
Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American motivational speaker
“More is lost by indecision than wrong decision.”
Marcus Tullius Cicero (-106–-43 BC) Roman philosopher and statesman
“We aim above the mark to hit the mark.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) American philosopher, essayist, and poet
“Quality is not an act, it is a habit.”
Aristotle (-384–-321 BC) Classical Greek philosopher, student of Plato and founder of Western philosophy
“The trouble is, you think you have time.”
Jack Kornfield (1945) American writer
Source: Buddha's Little Instruction Book
“Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character”
Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born physicist and founder of the theory of relativity
Speech made in honor of Thomas Mann in January 1939, when Mann was given the Einstein Prize given by the Jewish Forum. Quoted in Einstein Lived Here by Abraham Pais (1994), p. 214 http://books.google.com/books?id=u_9QAAAAMAAJ&q=%22becomes+lack+of+power%22#search_anchor <br class="br">1930s <br class="br">Context: The standard bearers have grown weak in the defense of their priceless heritage, and the powers of darkness have been strengthened thereby. Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character; it becomes lack of power to act with courage proportionate to danger. All this must lead to the destruction of our intellectual life unless the danger summons up strong personalities able to fill the lukewarm and discouraged with new strength and resolution.
“I think it’s intoxicating when somebody is so unapologetically who they are.”
Don Cheadle (1964) actor, film producer, philanthropist, and author
“Life's like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending.”
Jim Henson (1936–1990) American puppeteer
Brian Tracy (1944) American motivational speaker and writer
Source: The Gift of Self-Confidence
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) 1817-1862 American poet, essayist, naturalist, and abolitionist
Variant: I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
Source: Walden: Or, Life in the Woods
“The world is a fine place, and worth fighting for.”
Ernest Hemingway book For Whom the Bell Tolls
Variant: The world is a fine place and worth fighting for and I hate very much to leave it.
Source: For Whom the Bell Tolls
“Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.”
John Wooden (1910–2010) American basketball coach
Variant: Things turn out best for those who make best of how things turn out.
“Writing, to me, is simply thinking through my fingers.”
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, known for his works of science fiction …
“The path to success is to take massive, determined action.”
Anthony Robbins (1960) Author, actor, professional speaker
“To be or not to be. That's not really a question.”
Jean-Luc Godard (1930) French-Swiss film director, screenwriter and film critic
Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American writer and lecturer
As quoted in The Ring of Truth (2004) by Joseph O'Day
“Think like a queen. A queen if not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.”
Oprah Winfrey (1954) American businesswoman, talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist
“Your problem isn't the problem, it's your attitude about the problem.”
Ann Brashares The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Variant: The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem. Got that? -Coach Brevin
Source: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
“The time is always right to do what’s right.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968) American clergyman, activist, and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement
Speech delivered in Finney Chapel at Oberlin College (22 October 1964), as reported in "When MLK came to Oberlin" by Cindy Leise, The Chronicle-Telegram (21 January 2008) http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2008/01/21/when-mlk-came-to-oberlin/ <br class="br">1960s <br class="br">Variant: The time is always right to do what’s right.
“Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”
Warren Buffett (1930) American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist
Statement of January 1991, as quoted in Of Permanent Value: The Story of Warren Buffett (2007) by Andrew Kilpatrick
“Do for yourself, for no one else will.”
Johanna Lindsey (1952–2019) American writer
Source: A Heart So Wild
“If we take care of the moments, the years will take care of themselves.”
Maria Edgeworth (1768–1849) Irish writer
“The key to life is accepting challenges. Once someone stops doing this, he's dead.”
Bette Davis (1908–1989) film and television actress from the United States
Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American author
As quoted in Diamond Power : Gems of Wisdom from America's Greatest Marketer (2003) by Barry Farber, p. 53
Dan Millman book Way of the Peaceful Warrior
Source: Way of the Peaceful Warrior
“Sometimes you can't see yourself clearly until you see yourself through the eyes of others.”
Ellen DeGeneres (1958) American stand-up comedian, television host, and actress
“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”
Maya Angelou book Letter to My Daughter
Source: Letter to My Daughter
“Just because you’re rivals doesn’t mean you have to be enemies.”
Susan Elizabeth Phillips book Nobody's Baby But Mine
Nobody's Baby But Mine
“Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the poor.”
Sholem Aleichem (1859–1916) Yiddish author and playwright
“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.”
Jimmy Johnson (1928) American Chicago blues guitarist and singer
“I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing.”
Herman Melville (1818–1891) American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet
Source: Moby-Dick or, The Whale
Martha Graham (1894–1991) American dancer and choreographer
As quoted in The Life and Work of Martha Graham (1991) by Agnes de Mille, p. 264, <!-- de Mille precedes the Graham quotation with: "The greatest thing she ever said to me was in 1943 after the opening of Oklahoma!, when I suddenly had unexpected, flamboyant success for a work I thought was only fairly good, after years of neglect for work I thought was fine. I was bewildered and worried that my entire scale of values was untrustworthy. I talked to Martha. I remember the conversation well. It was in a Schrafft's restaurant over a soda. I confessed that I had a burning desire to be excellent, but no faith that I could be. Martha said to me, very quietly, ... " -->
Context: There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.... No artist is pleased. [There is] no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.
“The successful man will profit from his mistakes and
try again in a different way.”
Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American writer and lecturer
“Focus on where you want to go, not on what you fear.”
Anthony Robbins (1960) Author, actor, professional speaker
“It was a Monday and they walked on a tightrope to the sun.”
Markus Zusak book The Book Thief
Source: The Book Thief
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) American economist and diplomat
Source: The Age of Uncertainty (1977), Chapter 12, p. 330
“There is no "I" in team but there is in win.”
Michael Jordan (1963) American retired professional basketball player and businessman
“A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.”
David Brinkley (1920–2003) American journalist
“There are two ways of spreading light.. to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”
Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English philosopher, statesman, scientist, jurist, and author
“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”
Oprah Winfrey (1954) American businesswoman, talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist
“If you’re alive, you’re a creative person.”
Elizabeth Gilbert Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
Source: Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
“People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.”
Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American writer and lecturer
Dale Carnegie, quoted in Permission to Play : Taking Time to Renew Your Smile (2003) by Jill Murphy Long, p. 69
“Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.”
Og Mandino (1923–1996) American author
“They always say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.”
Andy Warhol book The Philosophy of Andy Warhol
Source: 1975, The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (1975), Ch. 7: Time
Source: The Philosophy of Andy Warhol
“Maybe that's what life is… a wink of the eye and winking stars.”
Jack Kerouac (1922–1969) American writer
Letter to Alan Harrington (23 April 1949) published in Kerouac: Selected Letters: Volume 1 1940-1956 (1996)
Source: Selected Letters, 1940-1956
“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.”
Henry Ford (1863–1947) American industrialist
Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born physicist and founder of the theory of relativity
Source: The World As I See It
“Change your thoughts and you can change the world.”
Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American writer
As quoted in Back on Track : How to Straighten Out Your Life When It Throws You a Curve (1997) by Deborah Norville, p. 201
Variant: Change your thoughts and you change your world.
“Wealth is not about having a lot of money; it's about having a lot of options.”
Chris Rock (1965) American comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer, and director
“The POSITIVE THINKER sees the INVISIBLE, feels the INTANGIBLE, and achieves the IMPOSSIBLE.”
Winston S. Churchill (1874–1965) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Source: My Early Life, 1874-1904
“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.”
Winston S. Churchill (1874–1965) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Source: The Second World War: Alone
“If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right.”
Mary Kay Ash (1918–2001) Entrepreneur
Variant: If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can not, you are right.
“You can never quit. Winners never quit, and quitters never win.”
Ted Turner (1938) American media mogul and philanthropist
Muhammad Ali (1942–2016) African American boxer, philanthropist and activist
On training, as quoted in "Ali: Born Again!" by Pete Axthelm and Peter Bonventre, Newsweek (25 September 1978)
John Stuart Mill (1806–1873) British philosopher and political economist
Attributed to John Stuart Mill in The Phrenological Journal and Science of Health, Vol. LXXXV (September 1887), p. 170
Disputed
“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”
Will Rogers (1879–1935) American humorist and entertainer
Variant: Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there.
“A quitter never wins-and-a winner never quits.”
Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American author
Variant: A quitter never wins and a winner never quits.
Source: Think and Grow Rich: The Landmark Bestseller - Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century
“Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish playwright
Everybody's Political What's What? (ebook, must be borrowed) https://openlibrary.org/books/OL24979564M/Everybody's_political_what's_what (1944), Chapter XXXVII: Creed and Conduct, p. 330 <br class="br">1940s and later <br class="br">Variant: Progress is impossible without change; and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. <br class="br">Context: Progress is impossible without change; and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. Creeds, articles, and institutes of religious faith ossify our brains and make change impossible. As such they are nuisances, and in practice have to be mostly ignored.
“Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.”
Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973) American politician, 36th president of the United States (in office from 1963 to 1969)
“A year from now you may wish you had started today.”
Karen Lamb (1982) British tennis player
“It always comes down to just two choices. Get busy living, or get busy dying.”
Stephen King (1947) American author
Different Seasons (1982), Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption
Variant: Either get busy living or get busy dying
Source: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption: A Story from Different Seasons
John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) 35th president of the United States of America
Variant: Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.
“If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing.”
Marc Chagall (1887–1985) French artist and painter
“Never regret. If it's good, it's wonderful. If it's bad, it's experience.”
Eleanor Hibbert (1906–1993) English novelist
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope.”
Helen Keller book Optimism
Optimism (1903)
Variant: Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement
