Quotations: Perseverance and patience


I never failed once. It just happened to be a 2000-step process.
Thomas Edison, American inventor) (1847-1931), responding to a reporter who asked how it felt to fail 2000 times before successfully inventing the light bulb

Be patient and calm—for no one can catch fish in anger.
Herbert Hoover, American public servant and 31st president (1874-1964)

Fall seven times. Stand up eight.
Japanese proverb

If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down.
Mary Pickford (Gladys Louise Smith), American actress (1893-1979)

The way to succeed is never quit. Thats it. But really be humble about it.
Alex Haley, American author (1921-1992)

Our energy is in proportion to the resistance it meets. We attempt nothing great but from a sense of the difficulties we have to encounter, we persevere in nothing great but from a pride in overcoming them.
William Hazlitt, English essayist and literary critic (1778-1830)

The greater the obstacle the more glory in overcoming it.
Molière (Jean-Baptiste Poquelin), French dramatist (1622-1673)

What does not destroy makes me stronger.
Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher (1844-1900)

Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them—every day begin the task anew.
Saint Francis de Sales, bishop of Geneva (1567-1622)

Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall.
Oliver Goldsmith, English author (1730-1774)

Endurance is nobler than strength and patience than beauty.
John Ruskin, British critic and author (1819-1900)

By and by never comes.
St. Augustine, philosopher and bishop of Hippo (354-430)

Energy and persistence conquer all things.
Benjamin Franklin, American Founding Father, inventor and statesman (1706-1790)

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan press on has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
Calvin Coolidge, 30th American president (1872-1933)

People may fail many times, but they become failures only when they begin to blame someone else.
Unknown

One is defeated only when one accepts defeat.
Marshal Foch, French general and war hero (1851-1929)

It is not falling into the water, but lying in it, that drowns.
Unknown

Winners are losers who got up and gave it one more try.
Dennis DeYoung, songwriter and member of the pop rock band Styx (b. 1947)

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