Quotes About Effort

If I have done the hardest possible day's work, and then come to sit down in a corner and eat my supper comfortably --why, then I don't think I deserve any reward for my hard day's work --for am I not now at peace? Is not my supper good?

Each time we find a way to minimize our effort and increase our gain we are making a business deal, even if it is with ourselves. These negotiations are so ingrained in our routine that they are barely noticeable. But the truth is our existence revolves around profit.

Every single one of our acts is ruled by the laws of economy. When we first wake up in the morning we trade rest for profit. When we go to bed at night we give up potentially profitable hours to renew our strength. And throughout our day we engage in countless transactions. Each time we find a way to minimize our effort and increase our gain we are

All men's gains are the fruit of venturing.

Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal, while others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than ever before

Every shift is a work of art.

The prospect of a German invasion of Britain in 1940 forced the Abwehr to mount a desperate effort to make up for lost time and infiltrate spies into England. Of the twenty-one agents they landed on British soil, all but one were either captured or gave themselves up. The exception committed suicide.

Badness you can get easily, in quantity: the road is smooth, and it lies close by. But in front of excellence the immortal gods have put sweat, and long and steep is the way to it, and rough at first. But when you come to the top, then it is easy, even though it is hard.

Before the gates of excellence the high gods have placed sweat long is the road thereto and rough and steep at first but when the heights are reached, then there is ease, though grievously hard in the winning.

Even though it's hard, it's easy.

I mean you well, Perses, you great idiot, and I will tell you. Look, badness is easy to have, you can take it by handfuls without effort. The road that way is smooth and starts here beside you. But between us and virtue the immortals have put what will make us sweat. The road to virtue is long and goes steep up hill, hard climbing at first, but the last of it, when you get to the summit (if you get there) is easy going after the hard part.

Badness can be got easily and in shoals; the road to her is smooth, and she lives very near us. But between us and Goodness the gods have placed the sweat of our brows;

It is from work that men are rich in flocks and wealthy, and a working man is much dearer to the immortals

I followed him as closely as a three-legged racer toward the bar.

Men build bridges and throw railroads across deserts, and yet they contend successfully that the job of sewing on a button is beyond them. Accordingly, they don't have to sew buttons.

Sweat is the cologne of accomplishment.

As the Greek said, 'Give me a long enough lever... and I can move the earth'!

Matilda told such dreadful lies,It made one gasp and stretch one's eyes;Her aunt, who, from her earliest youth,Had kept a strict regard for truth,Attempted to believe Matilda:The effort very nearly killed her.

No evil dooms us hopelessly except the evil we love, and desire to continue in, and make no effort to escape from. —George Eliot

If your going to be ugly it is well to be whole-hearted about it, put some effort in. Georges turned heads.

MOTHER TIME: We all get the exact same 365 days. The only difference is what we do with them.

Ere need be shown, some men will act, As trees may fruit without a flower; To some you speak with no result, As seeds may die, and yield no grain.

You have three choices, you can give up, give in or give it your all.

Nothing's perfect, the world's not perfect. But it's there for us, trying the best it can; that's what makes it so damn beautiful.