Quotes About Effort

Composition is a process of combination, in which thought puts together complementary truths, and talent fuses into harmony the most contrary qualities of style. So that there is no composition without effort, without pain even, as in all bringing forth. The reward is the giving birth to something living--something, that is to say, which, by a kind of magic, makes a living unity out of such opposed attributes as orderliness and spontaneity, thought and imagination, solidity and charm.

Nature does at least what she can to translate into visible form the wealth of the creative formula. By the vastness of the abysses into which she penetrates, in the effort--the unsuccessful effort--to house and contain the eternal thought, we may measure the greatness of the divine mind.

Most American fascists are enthusiastically supporting the war effort. They are doing this even in those cases where they hope to have profitable connections with German chemical firms after the war ends.

For looking down the ladder of our deeds, The rounds seem slender: all past work appears Unto the doer faulty: the heart bleeds, And pale Regret comes weltering in tears, To think how poor our best has been, how vain, Beside the excellence we would attain.

We combat obstacles in order to get repose, and, when got, the repose is insupportable.

This is the army! Nobody can do the best they can.

Men will lie on their backs, talking about the fall of man, and never make an effort to get up.

A gun gives you the body, not the bird.

There is no more fatal blunderer than he who consumes the greater part of his life getting his living.

It is not necessary that a man should earn his living by the sweat of his brow unless he sweats easier than I do.

Nothing goes by luck in composition. It allows of no tricks. The best you can write will be the best you are.

Unless a man undertakes more than he possibly can do, he will never do all that he can.

More difficult still, apparently, is the life of ever upward growth. Most men attempt it for a time, but growth is slow; and despair overtakes them while the goal is far away.

Whenever you attempt a good work you will find other men doing the same kind of work, and probably doing it better. Envy them not.

A scientist's accomplishments are equal to the integral of his ability integrated over the hours of his effort.

Business is never so healthy as when, like a chicken, it must do a certain amount of scratching for what it gets

Nobody can think straight who does not work. Idleness warps the mind.

Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason why so few engage in it.

Business is never so healthy as when, like a chicken, it must do a certain amount of scratching around for what it gets.

Wealth, like happiness, is never attained when sought after directly. It comes as a by-product of providing a useful service.

Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason so few engage in it.

Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice

everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.

Genius is seldom recognized for what it is: a great capacity for hard work.