"All things are difficult before they are easy." Unknown
"And it will come to the question of how much fire you have in your belly." Oliver Wendell HolmesJr.(March 8, 1841 - March 6, 1935) was an American jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1902 to 1932, and as Acting Chief Justice of the United States in January - February 1930 (Or was this quote by his father, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.?
"Back at college I'd been reading about courage in my philosophy classes. There were a number of definitions of courage, but now I was seeing it in its simplest form: you do what has to be done day after day, and you never quit." (The speaker was traveling into Rwanda after many people were slaughtered.) Eric Greitens, author, in The Heart and the Fist
"Be a pianist, not a piano." A. R. Orage, (22 January 1873 – 6 November 1934)
"Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there." Josh Billings, the pen name of 19th-century American humorist Henry Wheeler Shaw (April 21, 1818 – October 14, 1885). He was a famous humor writer and lecturer in the United States, perhaps second only to Mark Twain, during the latter half of the 19th century.
"Believe you can and you're halfway there." Theodore Roosevelt, 26th president of the U.S.A.
"Black care rarely sits behind a rider whose pace is fast enough." Theodore Roosevelt - Teddy, (1858–1919), 26th president of the US 1901–09, The meaning of this is that clouds of sorrow and self-doubt never linger over someone who keeps moving forward
"12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." James 1:12 NIV
"Bullfight critics row on row
Crowd the enormous Plaza de Toros
But only one is there who knows
And he is the one who fights the bull."
Robert Graves (1895–1985), English poet, novelist, and critic; professor of poetry at Oxford University 1961–66; full name Robert Ranke Graves.
"By doing just a little every day, I can gradually let the task completely overwhelm me." Ashleigh Brilliant, (born 9 December 1933) is an author and syndicated cartoonist born in London, UK, and living in Santa Barbara, California, USA. He is best known for his Pot-Shots, single-panel illustrations with one-line humorous remarks, which began syndication in the United States of America in 1975. Brilliant achieved American citizenship in 1969.
"Conceive an idea. Then stick to it. Those who hang on are the only ones who amount to anything." Augustus Saint-Gaudens (March 1, 1848 – August 3, 1907) was an American sculptor of the Beaux-Arts generation who most embodied the ideals of the "American Renaissance".
"2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. " James 1:2-4 NIV
"Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then . . . find the way." Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the U.S.A.
Do the dreaded job first, so you'll have the rest of the day to look forward to! Unknown
"Dreams are a lot of work." Stated by Dooley Barlow Kavanagh, a character in Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon
"Dwell not upon thy weariness, thy strength shall be according to the measure of thy desire." Arab proverb
"Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old." Winston Churchill, (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955.
"Fall seven times, stand up eight." Japanese Proverb
"First they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi known as Mahatma Gandhi ( 2 October 1869 - 30 January 1948) was an Indian lawyer,and political ethicist, who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British Rule, and in turn inspire movements for civil rights and freedom across& the world.
"'Go to the ant.' Tammerlane used to relate to his friends an anecdote of his early life. 'I once,' he said, 'was forced to take shelter from my enemies in a ruined building, where I sat alone many hours. Desiring to divert my mind from my hopeless condition, I fixed my eyes on an ant that was carrying a grain of corn larger than itself up a high wall. I numbered the efforts it made to accomplish this object. The grain fell sixty-nine times to the ground; but the insect persevered, and the seventieth time it reached the top. This sight gave me courage at the moment, and I never forgot the lesson.' " The King's Business as written in Streams in the Desert 1
"God has seen to it that the human heart is stronger than any power on earth." Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 4 February 1906 – 9 April 1945) was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, anti-Nazi dissident, and key founding member of the Confessing Church.
"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." C.S. Lewis as appeared in C.S. Lewis by Allister McGrath
"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble." Helen Keller, (1880–1968), US writer, social reformer, and academic
"I said if he can do it I'm gonna try." James Henry Arruda who taught himself to read at age 92 and then wrote and published a book at age 96
"If at first you don't succeed, start over and try again." Sonia Pietruszka, 6th grader at Nestucca Valley Middle School 2001
"If this long island story of ours is to end at last, let it end only when each one of us lies choking in his own blood upon the ground." Winston Churchill, (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955.
"If you practice it gets easier." Reverend Tim Kavanagh, a character in Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon
"If you’re going through hell, keep going. Winston Churchill, (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955.
"In 1917, a young seamstress was thrilled to get admitted to one of New York City's most renowned fashion design schools. But when Ann Lowe Cone arrived from Florida to register for classes, the school director told her she wasn't welcome. 'To be blunt, Mrs. Cone, we didn't know that you were a Negro,' he said. Refusing to leave, she whispered a prayer: Please let me stay here. Seeing her persistence, the director let Ann stay, but segregated her from the whites-only classroom leaving the back door open 'for [her] to hear.'
Undeniably talented, Ann still graduated six months early and attracted high-society clients including former First Lady of the United States, Jacqueline Kennedy, whose world-famous wedding gown she designed. She made the gown twice, seeking God's help after a pipe burst aboe her sewing studio, ruining the first dress.
Persistence like that is powerful, especially in prayer. Our Daily Bread August 16,2021
"Just do it." Advertising slogan, Nike sportswear
"Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity." Louis Pasteur (December 27, 1822 – September 28, 1895) was a French chemist and microbiologist renowned for his discoveries of the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation and pasteurization.
"Let us then be up and doing with a heart for any fate." Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 – March 24, 1882) was an American poet and educator.
"Men do not stumble over mountains, but over molehills." Confucious
"Nearly every crisis seems to be the worst one, but after it's over, it isn't so bad . . ." Harry Truman, (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was the 33rd President of the United States (1945–1953).
" . . . never give in, 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." Winston Churchill, (1874–1965), British statesman; prime minister 1940–45 and 1951–55;
"Never let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." John Robert Wooden (October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010) was an American basketball player, brother of Beta Theta Pi, and coach.
"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men 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 will always solve the problems of the human race." Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the U.S.A.
"Oh, what a happy soul am I!
Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I shall be.
How many blessings I enjoy
That other people don't.
To weep and sigh because I'm blind,
I cannot - and I won't!
Fanny Crosby, March 24, 1820 – February 12, 1915) was an American mission worker, poet, lyricist, and composer. A member of the Sixth Avenue Bible Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York, she wrote many hymns together with her pastor, Robert Lowry. She was one of the most prolific hymnists in history, writing over 8,000 hymns and gospel songs, with over 100 million copies printed, despite being blind from shortly after birth.
"One whose seeds have not sprouted does not give up planting." Kenyan Proverb
"Patience and perseverance have a magical affect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." John Quincy Adams, July 11, 1767 – February 23, 1848) was an American statesman who served as the sixth President of the United States from 1825 to 1829. He also served as a diplomat, a Senator and member of the House of Representatives.
"Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did." Newt Gingrich - Newton Leroy Gingrich né McPherson; born June 17, 1943) is an American politician and author who served as the 50th speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999.
"Quitting is a permanent solution to a temporary situation." Dr. Rob Gilbert
"Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what. Harper Lee, author in To Kill a Mockingbird
"Suffering can show us when we take wrong turns, or do bad things. It can bring home to us the frailty and transience of our existence, and challenge our belief that we can get by on our own. Pain thus helps to shatter the illusion that 'all is well,' allowing God to plant 'the flag if truth within the fortress of a rebel soul.' " Alister McGrath, author of C.S. Lewis - A Life: Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit, The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are." Marcus Aurelius (26 April 121 – 17 March 180) was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoic philosopher. He was the last of the rulers known as the Five Good Emperors, and the last emperor of the Pax Romana, an age of relative peace and stability for the Roman Empire.
"The foot of the ladder is a poor place to sit down.." A Tiberan proverb quoted by Charles Cowman. - "The ladder still towers before us. We must continue." Charles Elmer Cowman (March 13, 1868 – September 25, 1924) was a missionary evangelist in Japan. He was also one of the cofounders of the Oriental Missionary Society (now One Mission Society; formerly OMS International).
" . . . The only fight which is lost is that which we give up." Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 4 February 1906 – 9 April 1945) was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, anti-Nazi dissident, and key founding member of the Confessing Church.
" The society lady told the brilliant pianist. ‘Maestro, you’re a genius.’ The maestro replied with a smile, ‘Thank you, madam, but before I was a genius I was a bore.’ His apparently effortless artistry was the product of hours and hours of unseen, disciplined practice. Our world applauds the glitter of genius, but it does not always appreciate the drudgery of discipline." Stuart Briscoe in Devotions for MenD. Stuart Briscoe (9 November 1930 – 3 August 2022) was an evangelical Christian author, speaker and senior pastor of Elmbrook Church, in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
"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. (August 29, 1809 - October 7, 1894) was an American physician, poet, and polymath based in Boston. A member of the Fireside Poets, he was acclaimed by his peers as one of the best writers of the day.
"Twice General McArthur was refused admission to West Point. But the third time he was accepted, and marched into the history books. Rudyard Kipling received a rejection letter from the San Francisco Examiner saying, 'Sorry Mr. Kipling, but you just don't know how to use the English language.' After a lifetime of defeats, at 62, Winston Churchill became one of Britain's greatest Prime Ministers. Enrico Caruso's music teacher told him he had 'no voice at all and couldn't sing,' Einstein's school teachers described him as, 'mentally slow, unsociable and adrift in his foolish dreams.' By age 46, Beethoven was completely deaf, yet he wrote 5 of his greatest symphonies without hearing a note." (Taken from On the Right Note, November 16, ?)
"We can do anything we want if we stick to it long enough." Helen Keller, (1880–1968), US writer, social reformer, and academic
"We will face our future as our ancestors would have faced it, without disquiet, without arrogance, but in stolid and inflexible determination." Winston Churchill, (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955.
"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd president of the U.S.A.
"When you get right down to the root of the meaning of the word 'succeed,' you find it simply means to follow through." F.W. Nichol, general manager of I.B.M. in 1935
"You must find a way or make one." Hannibal, (247–182 bc ), Carthaginian general
Return to Quotations for Daily Use Menu!
Return to SouthTillamookCounty Home Page!