The Quotation IndexThe trusted reference for quotations and the sources behind them
Tag Tag Effort
Diligence is the mother of good luck.
Benjamin Franklin Poor Richard’s Almanack · 1732-1758

Quotes

“Effort is one of the things that gives meaning to life. Effort means that you care about something, that something is important to you and you are willing to work for it.”

Carol S. Dweck · Self-Theories, 2000 · Primary source

“God helps them that help themselves.”

Benjamin Franklin · Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1732-1758 · Primary source

“Hope of gain lessens pain.”

Benjamin Franklin · Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1732-1758 · Primary source

“Little strokes fell great oaks.”

Benjamin Franklin · The Way to Wealth, 1758 · Primary source

“It 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; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

Theodore Roosevelt · Citizenship in a Republic, 1910 · Primary source

“The law of nature is, do the thing, and you shall have the power: but they who do not the thing have not the power.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson · Compensation, 1841 · Primary source

“Good luck is another name for tenacity of purpose.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson · Wealth, 1860 · Primary source

“All things are easy to industry, all things difficult to sloth.”

Benjamin Franklin · Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1732-1758 · Primary source

“No gains without pains.”

Benjamin Franklin · Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1732-1758 · Primary source

“I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease, but the doctrine of the strenuous life, the life of toil and effort, of labor and strife; to preach that highest form of success which comes, not to the man who desires mere easy peace, but to the man who does not shrink from danger, from hardship, or from bitter toil, and who out of these wins the splendid ultimate triumph.”

Theodore Roosevelt · The Strenuous Life, 1900 · Primary source

“Bond didn’t defend the practice. He simply maintained that the more effort and ingenuity you put into gambling, the more you took out.”

Ian Fleming · Casino Royale, 1953 · Primary source

“He who has put forth his total strength in fit actions has the richest return of wisdom.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson · The American Scholar, 1837 · Primary source

“Be of good cheer. Do not think of today’s failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find a joy in overcoming obstacles. Remember, no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost.”

Helen Keller · The Story of My Life, 1903 · Primary source

“I have never felt that anything really mattered but the satisfaction of knowing that you stood for the things in which you believed, and had done the very best you could.”

Eleanor Roosevelt · My Day, 1935-1962 · Primary source

“Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.”

Thomas Jefferson · Letter to Thomas Jefferson Smith, 1825 · Primary source

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

Thomas Edison · No reliable source

“Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson · No reliable source

Related Tags

Self-reliance 49 Purpose 31 Resilience 30 Experience 30 Perseverance 29 Responsibility 27 Courage 25 Action 23 Initiative 21 Persistence 19 Integrity 19 Industry 17 Ambition 17 Commitment 17 Diligence 15 Opportunity 15 Achievement 15 Preparation 13 Hope 12 Failure 12 Motivation 11 Sacrifice 10 Consistency 10 Criticism 10 Success 7 Wisdom 7 Hard work 6 Capability 6 Conviction 5 Personal responsibility 5 Moral courage 5 Skill 4 Practical knowledge 4 Practice 4 Work 4 Sloth 3 Hardship 3 Gambling 3 Tenacity 3 Providence 2 Reward 2 Work ethic 2 Obstacles 2 Personal conduct 2 Incremental progress 1 Striving 1 Ingenuity 1 Willingness 1 Attitude 1 Personal values 1