Orison Swett Marden Quotes
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Obstacles are like wild animals. They are cowards but they will bluff you if they can. If they see you are afraid of them... they are liable to spring upon you; but if you look them squarely in the eye, they will slink out of sight.
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Wanted: a man who will not lose his individuality in a crowd, a man who has the courage of his convictions, who is not afraid to say 'No,' though all the world say 'Yes.'
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The secret of success lies in that old word, 'Drudgery,' in doing one thing long after it ceases to be amusing; and it is 'this one thing I do' that gathers me together from my chaos, that concentrates me from possibilities to powers, and turns powers into achievements.
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The man who practises unselfishness, who is genuinely interested in the welfare of others, who feels it a privilege to have the power to do a fellow-creature a kindness - even though polished manners and a gracious presence may be absent - will be an elevating influence wherever he goes.
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The Universe is one great kindergarten for man. Everything that exists has brought with it its own peculiar lesson.
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Golden opportunities are nothing to laziness, but industry makes the commonest chances golden.
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Nearly all the great improvements, discoveries, inventions, and achievements which have elevated and blessed humanity have been the triumphs of enthusiasm.
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When God calls a man to be upright and pure and generous, he also calls him to be intelligent and skillful, and strong and brave.
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There are powers inside of you which, if you could discover and use, would make of you everything you ever dreamed or imagined you could become.
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What power can poverty have over a home where loving hearts are beating with a consciousness of untold riches of the head and heart?
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When the mind has once formed the habit of holding cheerful, happy, prosperous pictures, it will not be easy to form the opposite habit.
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No matter where your lot may be cast, no power on earth can keep you from making a man of yourself, a superb character, a masterpiece.
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If you do not feel yourself growing in your work and your life broadening and deepening, if your task is not a perpetual tonic to you, you have not found your place.
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The true doctrine is that labor - systematic, effective, congenial labor - is not only a necessity, but is the source of the highest enjoyment.
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Nothing else so destroys the power to stand alone as the habit of leaning upon others. If you lean, you will never be strong or original. Stand alone or bury your ambition to be somebody in the world.
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Achievement is not always success, while reputed failure often is. It is honest endeavor, persistent effort to do the best possible under any and all circumstances.
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Believe with all your heart that you will do what you were made to do. Never for an instant harbor a doubt of it.
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Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them.
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True economy means the wisest expenditure of what we have, everything considered, looking at it from the broadest standpoint. It is not a good thing to save a nickel at the expenditure of twenty-five cents' worth of time.
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Every youth owes it to himself and to the world to make the most possible out of the stuff that is in him.
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The sort of man you will make of yourself, how you will be regarded by the world, whether people will admire and respect or despise you, whether you win the approval or the condemnation of your Maker - all this is in your own hands.
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Without this tremendous passion for power, influence, and advantage which money gives, how could nature develop the highest type of man? Without this infinite longing, whence would come the discipline which industry, perseverance, tact, sagacity, and frugality give?
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There is not a single indication in man's wonderful mechanism that he was created for a life of poverty. There is something larger and grander for him in the divine plan than perpetual slavery to the bread-winning problem.
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By constant contemplation of excellence, we clear our selfhood of all dross and impurities.