Orison Swett Marden

“He who improves an opportunity sows a seed which will yield fruit in opportunity for himself and others.”

“Character is the indelible mark that determines the only true value of all people and all their work.”

“Most of us are at war with ourselves, are our own worst enemies. We expect a great deal of ourselves, yet we do not put ourselves in a condition to achieve great things. We are either too in...”

“The influential man is the successful man, whether he be rich or poor.”

“The Universe is one great kindergarten for man. Everything that exists has brought with it its own peculiar lesson.”

“Golden opportunities are nothing to laziness, but industry makes the commonest chances golden.”

“The Creator has not given you a longing to do that which you have no ability to do.”

“When we begin to desire a thing, to yearn for it with all our hearts, we begin to establish relationship with it in proportion to the strength and persistency of our longing and intelligent...”

“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.”

“In order to keep himself at the top of his condition, to obtain complete mastery of all his powers and possibilities, a man must be good to himself mentally; he must think well of himself.”

“There is an infinite difference between a little wrong and just right, between fairly good and the best, between mediocrity and superiority.”

“Enthusiasm will steady the heart and strengthen the will; it will give force to the thought and nerve to the hand until what was only a possibility becomes a reality.”

“Should you be so unfortunate as to suppose you are a genius, and that 'things will come to you,' it would be well to undeceive yourself as soon as possible. Make up your mind that industry m...”

“Necessity has been a priceless spur which has helped men to perform miracles against incredible odds.”

“There is only one thing for us to do, and that is to do our level best right where we are every day of our lives; To use our best judgment, and then to trust the rest to that Power which hol...”

“If our dreams are sincere desires to achieve, not mere pipe-dreams, there is something deep within ourselves which comes out to meet them and helps to make them realities.”

“Every youth owes it to himself and to the world to make the most possible out of the stuff that is in him.”

“The man who has no money is poor, but one who has nothing but money is poorer. He only is rich who can enjoy without owning; he is poor who though he has millions is covetous.”

“He has missed the finest lesson of culture and experience who has not learned how to enjoy without owning.”

“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.”