Quotes About Action

Remember how long you've been putting this off…At some point you have to recognize what world it is that you belong to; what power rules it and from what source you spring; that there is a limit to the time assigned you, and if you don't use it to free yourself it will be gone and will never return.

That cucumber is bitter, so toss it out!

Have you reason? I have. Why then do you not use it? When it performs its proper office what more do you require?

You could be good today. But instead, you choose tomorrow.

Get busy with life's purpose, toss aside empty hopes, get active in your own rescue—if you care for yourself at all—and do it while you can.

Do thy work not as a drudge, nor as desirous of pity or praise. Desire one thing only, to act or not to act as civic reason directs.

No longer wander at hazard; for neither will you read your own memoirs, nor the acts of the ancient Romans and Hellenes, and the selections from books you were reserving for your old age. Hasten then to your appointed end and, throwing away idle hopes, come to your own aid, if you care at all for yourself, while it is in your power.

Be a boxer, not a gladiator, in the way you act on your principles. The gladiator takes up his sword only to put it down again, but the boxer is never without his fist and only has to clinch it.

Time was that wherever forsaken I was a man well-portioned; but that man well-portioned is he that has given himself a good portion; and good portions are good phases of the soul, good impulses, good actions.

You have lived your life. Now, take what's left and live it properly. What doesn't transmit light creates its own darkness.

You must build up your life action by action, and be content if each one achieves its goal as far as possible.

Be not dilatory in doing, nor confused in conversation, nor vague in thought; let not thy soul be wholly concentred in itself nor uncontrollably agitated; leave thyself leisure in thy life.

Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.

Y entonces amigo mío? haz lo que exige de ti la naturaleza, manos a la obra mientras haya lugar, y no te preocupes por si te imitan. No sueñes en ver establecida la republica de Platón, antes bien, conténtate con tal que progreses un poco, considerando que no es poco fruto este pequeño resultado

Waste no time arguing what a good man should be; Be one.

El arrepentimiento es cierto reproche de si mismo, por haber omitido hacer algo provechoso, dado que el bien es necesariamente una cosa útil y acreedora a que el hombre honesto la ambicione. Por otro lado jamás un hombre recto se arrepentirá de haber desdeñado algún placer, ya que el placer ni es cosa útil ni es bien alguno.

If the choice rests with thee, why do the thing? if with another, whom dost thou blame? Atoms or Gods? To do either would be crazy folly. No one is to blame. For if thou canst, set the offender right. Failing that, at least set the thing itself right. If that too be impracticable, what purpose is served by imputing blame? For without a purpose nothing should be done.

Why all the guesswork? You can see what needs to be done. If you can see the road follow it. Cheerfully, without turning back.

The happiness and unhappiness of the rational, social animal depends not on what he feels but on what he does; just as his virtue and vice consist not in feeling but in doing.

procrastination in the face of poor performance is a fool's remedy.

All is focused, once more, on the temple. Jesus acted in such a way as to indicate that he saw his own movement as the god-given replacement for the temple itself.

What one has, one ought to use; and whatever he does, he should do with all his might.

User de ce qu'on a, et agir en tout selon ses forces, telle est la règle du sage.

But unfortunately, decent people are usually slow to act and ignore dangers until a crisis erupts. They are sluggish and willing to abide with peace without honor, but their own inaction causes them to lose both.