It’s easier to resist at the beginning than at the end.

That is why, no matter how desperate the predicament is, I am always very much in earnest about clutching my cane, straightening my derby hat and fixing my tie, even though I have just landed on my head.

My favorite affirmation when I feel stuck or out of sorts is: Whatever I need is already here, and it is all for my highest good. Jot this down and post it conspicuously throughout your home, on the dashboard of your car, at your office, on your microwave oven, and even in front of your toilets!

I kept writing not because I felt I was so good, but because I felt they were so bad, including Shakespeare, all those. The stilted formalism, like chewing cardboard.

In all my work, I try to say – ‚You may be given a load of sour lemons, why not try to make a dozen lemon meringue pies?‘

The resolve of our great nation is being tested. But make no mistake, we will show the world that we will pass the test.

However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?

Mental toughness is a lifestyle. It’s something that you live every single day of your life. When I was growing up, I was a lazy kid. I was a lazy kid, and everybody goes, ‚How did you get to where you’re at today? How did you get to where you’re running 200 miles at one time in 39 hours? Being so disciplined?‘

Anger is the enemy of non-violence and pride is a monster that swallows it up.

I believe that if you show people the problems and you show them the solutions they will be moved to act.

I thought I couldn’t make a difference because I was too small.

Remember, always give your best. Never get discouraged. Never be petty. Always remember, others may hate you. But those who hate you don’t win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself.

Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose.

Whatever you want to do, if you want to be great at it, you have to love it and be able to make sacrifices for it.

With Kansas, I had a four-year deal. The initial two months were real tough. I had to adjust a lot. Then, things started looking up.

God has equipped you to handle difficult things. In fact, He has already planted the seeds of discipline and self-control inside you. You just have to water those seeds with His Word to make them grow!

When a man becomes a writer, I think he takes on a sacred obligation to produce beauty and enlightenment and comfort at top speed.

You can have no dominion greater or less than that over yourself.

You see, God helps only people who work hard. That principle is very clear.

Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.

I know you’ve heard it a thousand times before. But it’s true – hard work pays off. If you want to be good, you have to practice, practice, practice. If you don’t love something, then don’t do it.

To enjoy freedom we have to control ourselves.

When a team takes ownership of its problems, the problem gets solved. It is true on the battlefield, it is true in business, and it is true in life.

Make yourself necessary to somebody.

You don’t have to give way to careless speech or complaining. You don’t have to let your feelings get in the way of what God wants to do in your life.

Nothing succeeds like success. Get a little success, and then just get a little more.

The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.

Glory lies in the attempt to reach one’s goal and not in reaching it.

The truth is, anyone can start projects. The world is full of just-started projects that looked great at the time but were never completed.

Don’t just read the easy stuff. You may be entertained by it, but you will never grow from it.

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.

How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?

Anytime I feel lost, I pull out a map and stare. I stare until I have reminded myself that life is a giant adventure, so much to do, to see.

Defeat doesn’t finish a man, quit does. A man is not finished when he’s defeated. He’s finished when he quits.

Experience acquired in the heroic battle against Batista’s tyranny showed that the enemy, no matter what his strength, could not defeat the Cuban people.

Wow, I get to wake up again? Ok. You have to make good with what you’ve got.

Over a 10-year period, 99 out of 100 new entrepreneurs will fail. Only one will be left standing as others get pushed out of the market or burn out from working so hard. It’s really sad.

Nearly everything you do is of no importance, but it is important that you do it.

Life’s a fight. It’s a good fight of faith.

Where much is expected from an individual, he may rise to the level of events and make the dream come true.

If you start by promising what you don’t even have yet, you’ll lose your desire to work towards getting it.

The reason that I’m here at all is because of my relationship with my family and their encouragement of me to be a musician and to work hard. As long as I stay there in that space, I can do anything. That’s my truth.

Anyone who proposes to do good must not expect people to roll stones out of his way, but must accept his lot calmly, even if they roll a few stones upon it.

This is a world of action, and not for moping and droning in.

I’m sure the feeling of fear, as long as you can take advantage of it and not be rendered useless by it, can make you extend yourself beyond what you would regard as your capacity. If you’re afraid, the blood seems to flow freely through the veins, and you really do feel a sense of stimulation.

It has always been my belief that a man should do his best, regardless of how much he receives for his services, or the number of people he may be serving or the class of people served.

After the first day of practice, there’s not one guy who’s playing at 100 percent or who feels great. Sometimes, getting up in the morning and brushing your teeth is the hardest part of the day – it just hurts.

By indignities men come to dignities.

Desire is the essence of a man.

To excel at the highest level – or any level, really – you need to believe in yourself, and hands down, one of the biggest contributors to my self-confidence has been private coaching.

The moment the alarm goes off is the first test; it sets the tone for the rest of the day. The test is not a complex one: when the alarm goes off, do you get up out of bed, or do you lie there in comfort and fall back to sleep? If you have the discipline to get out of bed, you win – you pass the test.

I can’t ever remember sitting around and saying, ‚gosh let’s hurry up and get these debates going, that’ll win it for me.‘ Nope.

Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.

The attempt and not the deed confounds us.

Two qualities are indispensable: first, an intellect that, even in the darkest hour, retains some glimmerings of the inner light which leads to truth; and second, the courage to follow this faint light wherever it may lead.

If you dream the proper dreams, and share the myths with people, they will want to grow up to be like you.

The greatest difficulty always comes right before the birth of a dream.

He only earns his freedom and his life Who takes them every day by storm.

I tell everybody, I get so much because I give so much. I give freely, I give all my time, give all my money, give all of my soul. I try to motivate people. I try to inspire them.

He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.

Ego is only fine when it is working for your motivation.