Quotes by American Authors | Beyond Motive 2/2832

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Quotes by American Authors

"It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation."

"It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation."

Herman Melville, American Novelist

Wisdom, Imitation, Originality, Succeed

60

"People who are employed in a way they don't like - my heart cries for them."

"People who are employed in a way they don't like - my heart cries for them."

Fred L. Turner, American Businessman

59

"Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive."

"Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive."

Elbert Hubbard, American Writer

57

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Poet

Leadership, May

57

"Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness."

"Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness."

Napoleon Hill, American Writer

Success, Sacrifice, Achievement, Result, Selfishness

56

"My father was a carpenter, a very good carpenter. He also worked for the Jones boys. They were not family members, we weren't related at all. They started the policy racket in Chicago, and they had the five and dime store."

"My father was a carpenter, a very good carpenter. He also worked for the Jones boys. They were not family members, we weren't related at all. They started the policy racket in Chicago, and they had the five and dime store."

Quincy Jones, American Musician

Family, Father, Policy, Boys

56

"We have a hunger of the mind which asks for knowledge of all around us, and the more we gain, the more is our desire; the more we see, the more we are capable of seeing."

"We have a hunger of the mind which asks for knowledge of all around us, and the more we gain, the more is our desire; the more we see, the more we are capable of seeing."

Maria Mitchell, American Scientist

Knowledge, Desire, Gain, Hunger

54

"Sam Wood, the director, made most of his money as a real estate agent; there was nothing of the temperamental artist about him."

"Sam Wood, the director, made most of his money as a real estate agent; there was nothing of the temperamental artist about him."

Gloria Swanson, American Actress

Money, Artist, Nothing, Wood

54

"One man with courage makes a majority."

"One man with courage makes a majority."

Andrew Jackson, American President

Leadership, Courage, Majority, Man

54

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do."

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do."

Steve Jobs, American Businessman

Career, Passion, Work, Excellence

53

"The important achievement of Apollo was demonstrating that humanity is not forever chained to this planet and our visions go rather further than that and our opportunities are unlimited."

"The important achievement of Apollo was demonstrating that humanity is not forever chained to this planet and our visions go rather further than that and our opportunities are unlimited."

Neil Armstrong, American Astronaut

Achievement, Humanity, Visions

53

"The thing about coming back to the Bay Area, it's like coming home for me."

"The thing about coming back to the Bay Area, it's like coming home for me."

Richard Serra, American Sculptor

53

"Somoza may be a son of a bitch, but he's our son of a bitch."

"Somoza may be a son of a bitch, but he's our son of a bitch."

Franklin D. Roosevelt, American President

Family, Son, May

53

"I say luck is when an opportunity comes along and you're prepared for it."

"I say luck is when an opportunity comes along and you're prepared for it."

Denzel Washington, American Actor

Opportunity, Luck

53

"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough."

"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough."

Mae West, American Actress

Positive, Right

52

"Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will."

"Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will."

Marie Forleo, American Entrepreneur

Motivation, Doubt, Dreams

52

"Revenge only engenders violence, not clarity and true peace. I think liberation must come from within."

"Revenge only engenders violence, not clarity and true peace. I think liberation must come from within."

Sandra Cisneros, American Author

Peace, Clarity, Revenge, Violence

51

"I don't really think in terms of obstacles. My biggest obstacle is always myself."

"I don't really think in terms of obstacles. My biggest obstacle is always myself."

Steve Earle, American Musician

51

"Life is strange. Every so often a good man wins."

"Life is strange. Every so often a good man wins."

Frank Dane, American Humorist

50

"I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world!"

"I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world!"

Douglas MacArthur, American Soldier

Fight, Fighting, Marines

50

"I know that my race must change."

"I know that my race must change."

Chief Joseph, American Leader

49

"You have within you right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you."

"You have within you right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you."

Brian Tracy, American Author

Now, Right, World

49

"The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend."

"The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend."

Abraham Lincoln, American Politician

Friendship, Friend, Enemy, President

49

"Woman must not accept; she must challenge. She must not be awed by that which has been built up around her; she must reverence that woman in her which struggles for expression."

"Woman must not accept; she must challenge. She must not be awed by that which has been built up around her; she must reverence that woman in her which struggles for expression."

Margaret Sanger, American Activist

Challenge, Expression, Woman

49

"I would like to take you seriously, but to do so would affront your intelligence."

"I would like to take you seriously, but to do so would affront your intelligence."

William F. Buckley, Jr., American Journalist

Intelligence, William F. Buckley, Jr.

49

"One of the greatest gifts I've ever gotten is my daughter."

"One of the greatest gifts I've ever gotten is my daughter."

Ace Frehley, American Musician

Daughter, Gifts

49

"Everywhere I go, I'm asked if I think the universities stifle writers. My opinion is that they don't stifle enough of them. There's many a best seller that could have been prevented by a good teacher."

"Everywhere I go, I'm asked if I think the universities stifle writers. My opinion is that they don't stifle enough of them. There's many a best seller that could have been prevented by a good teacher."

Flannery O'Connor, American Author

Opinion, Writers

49

"Marketing is too important to be left to the marketing department."

"Marketing is too important to be left to the marketing department."

David Packard, American Businessman

48

"The duty of youth is to challenge corruption."

"The duty of youth is to challenge corruption."

Kurt Cobain, American Musician

Challenge, Corruption, Duty, Youth

48

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other."

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other."

Abraham Lincoln, American Politician

Motivational, Mind, Resolution, Succeed

48

"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming."

"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming."

John Wooden, American Coach

Motivational, Peace, Success, Mind, Result

48

"A spirit of thankfulness is one of the most distinctive marks of a Christian whose heart is attuned to the Lord. Thank God in the midst of trials and every persecution."

"A spirit of thankfulness is one of the most distinctive marks of a Christian whose heart is attuned to the Lord. Thank God in the midst of trials and every persecution."

Billy Graham, American Clergyman

Love, Most, Emotion, Spirit

48

"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life."

"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life."

Muhammad Ali, American Athlete

Courage, Life, Nothing, Will

47

"It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skill."

"It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skill."

Wilbur Wright, American Inventor

Knowledge, Skill

47

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Poet

Wisdom, Time, Glory, Lies, Living

47

"Money and success don't change people; they merely amplify what is already there."

"Money and success don't change people; they merely amplify what is already there."

Will Smith, American Actor

Change, Money, Success, People

47

"When law and duty are one, united by religion, you never become fully conscious, fully aware of yourself. You are always a little less than an individual."

"When law and duty are one, united by religion, you never become fully conscious, fully aware of yourself. You are always a little less than an individual."

Frank Herbert, American Writer

Religion, Duty, Law, United

47

"The reason actors, artists, writers have agents is because we'll do it for nothing. That's a basic fact - you gotta do it."

"The reason actors, artists, writers have agents is because we'll do it for nothing. That's a basic fact - you gotta do it."

Morgan Freeman, American Actor

Actor, Actors, Artists, Fact, Nothing

47

"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward."

"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward."

Vernon Law, American Athlete

Wisdom, Experience, First

46

"Change before you have to."

"Change before you have to."

Jack Welch, American Businessman

46

"Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed nothing else can be managed."

"Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed nothing else can be managed."

Peter Drucker, American Businessman

45

"We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology."

"We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology."

Carl Sagan, American Scientist

Science, Society, Technology

45

"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."

"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."

Philip K. Dick, American Writer

45

"People are very open-minded about new things - as long as they're exactly like the old ones."

"People are very open-minded about new things - as long as they're exactly like the old ones."

Charles Kettering, American Inventor

People, Old, Open

44

"Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind."

"Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind."

Lionel Hampton, American Musician

Gratitude, Heart, Memory, Mind

44

"Take time for all things: great haste makes great waste."

"Take time for all things: great haste makes great waste."

Benjamin Franklin, American Politician

Moderation, Time, Haste, Waste

44

"If you are not prepared to use force to defend civilization, then be prepared to accept barbarism."

"If you are not prepared to use force to defend civilization, then be prepared to accept barbarism."

Thomas Sowell, American Economist

Civilization, Force

44

"The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress."

"The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress."

Charles Kettering, American Inventor

Change, Progress, World

43

"Focused, hard work is the real key to success. Keep your eyes on the goal, and just keep taking the next step towards completing it. If you aren't sure which way to do something, do it both ways and see which works better."

"Focused, hard work is the real key to success. Keep your eyes on the goal, and just keep taking the next step towards completing it. If you aren't sure which way to do something, do it both ways and see which works better."

John Carmack, American Scientist

Work, Success, Goal, Eyes

43

"Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like."

"Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like."

Will Smith, American Actor

Money, People, Want

43

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