If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly.

Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.

I have always been pushed by the negative. The apparent failure of a play sends me back to my typewriter that very night, before the reviews are out. I am more compelled to get back to work than if I had a success.

It’s not ‚can‘; it’s ‚will.‘ You have to will things into fruition.

If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.

I had a rough childhood coming up, and I just took all that negative energy and made it very positive for myself to drive me. I’m a very driven person. I have passion that almost scares people, just to be successful and make it no matter what.

I firmly believe that unless one has tasted the bitter pill of failure, one cannot aspire enough for success.

To lead people walk behind them.

You can’t have it all all at once. Over my lifespan, I think I have had it all, but in given periods in time, things were rough. And if you have a caring life partner, you help the other person when that person needs it.

The answer to all writing, to any career for that matter, is love.

I want kids to know: Don’t wait for somebody to come along and tell you you’re special. Because that may never happen.

If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.

Good leadership consists of showing average people how to do the work of superior people.

To not follow your passion in life is a recipe for failure and unhappiness.

In this great country, we celebrate success. We don’t want to penalize those who have done well.

If you’re going to be a winner in life, you have to constantly go beyond your best.

You know, not to sound corny or nuthin‘, but I felt like a fighter comin‘ up, man. I felt like, you know, I’m being attacked for this reason or that reason, and I gotta fight my way through this.

Talent without working hard is nothing.

You must take action now that will move you towards your goals. Develop a sense of urgency in your life.

The doer alone learneth.

Only you can control your future.

I’m chasing perfection.

There is no such thing on earth as an uninteresting subject; the only thing that can exist is an uninterested person.

Don’t be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves.

I want to challenge you today to get out of your comfort zone. You have so much incredible potential on the inside. God has put gifts and talents in you that you probably don’t know anything about.

You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.

A rooster crows only when it sees the light. Put him in the dark and he’ll never crow. I have seen the light and I’m crowing.

I wanted to use my fame and this face that everyone knows so well to help uplift and inspire people around the world.

Thought is the parent of the deed.

I have a great respect for incremental improvement, and I’ve done that sort of thing in my life, but I’ve always been attracted to the more revolutionary changes. I don’t know why. Because they’re harder. They’re much more stressful emotionally. And you usually go through a period where everybody tells you that you’ve completely failed.

Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop good character.

Not to go back is somewhat to advance, and men must walk, at least, before they dance.

I worked out early on to give up things I couldn’t do well at all.

It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.

Anger is wonderful. It keeps you going. I’m angry about bankers. About the government.

I go to cancer wards, and I tell them guys, ‚I’ve beaten it. You can, too.‘

Giving up cannot be an option.

I will prepare and some day my chance will come.

The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.

Get up tomorrow early in the morning, and earlier than you did today, and do the best that you can. Always stay near me, for tomorrow I will have much to do and more than I ever had, and tomorrow blood will leave my body above the breast.

I need music. It’s like my heartbeat, so to speak. It keeps me going no matter what’s going on – bad games, press, whatever!

I go to assume a task more difficult than that which devolved upon Washington. Unless the great God, who assisted him, shall be with me and aid me, I must fail; but if the same omniscient mind and almighty arm that directed and protected him shall guide and support me, I shall not fail – I shall succeed.

One word from the Lord is like a piece of gold to a believer, who is like a jeweler, shaping and hammering out the promise for a number of weeks.

Let each become all that he was created capable of being.

Throughout my career, I fed off the fuel of people not being able to understand me.

Great acts are made up of small deeds.

Even as you make progress, you need the discipline to keep from backtracking and sabotaging the success as it’s happening.

Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.

The secret is not to give up hope. It’s very hard not to because if you’re really doing something worthwhile I think you will be pushed to the brink of hopelessness before you come through the other side.

There have to be reasons that you get up in the morning and you want to live. Why do you want to live? What’s the point? What inspires you? What do you love about the future? If the future does not include being out there among the stars and being a multi-planet species, I find that incredibly depressing.

Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake.

My philosophy in life is, Decide what you want to do. You have to have something to hope for.

I dropped out of NYU, moved out of my parent’s house, got my own place, and survived on my own. I made music and worked my way from the bottom up.

The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.

He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason.

The worst thing one can do is not to try, to be aware of what one wants and not give in to it, to spend years in silent hurt wondering if something could have materialized – never knowing.

Women, like men, should try to do the impossible. And when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others.

Not knowing when the dawn will come I open every door.

If you’re going to wake up early all the time, and you’re working hard, and you’re working out, sometimes you’re going to get tired. It’s OK. It’s acceptable – somewhat. We’re all human, unfortunately.

The average person puts only 25% of his energy and ability into his work. The world takes off its hat to those who put in more than 50% of their capacity, and stands on its head for those few and far between souls who devote 100%.

Fun is one of the most important – and underrated – ingredients in any successful venture. If you’re not having fun, then it’s probably time to call it quits and try something else.