Orison Swett Marden

No one is mocked with the yearning for that which he has no ability to attain. If he holds the right mental attitude and struggles earnestly, honestly toward his goal, he will reach it, or at least approximate to it.

Every man must play the part of his ambition. If you are trying to be a successful man, you must play the part.

The size of your accomplishments, the quality of your achievement, will depend very largely on how big a man you see in yourself, what sort of image you get of your possible self, yourself at your best.

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.

To many a man, and sometimes to a youth, there comes the opportunity to choose between honorable competence and tainted wealth. The young man who starts out to be poor and honorable, holds in his hand one of the strongest elements of success.

All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible.

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.

No man can be ideally successful until he has found his place. Like a locomotive he is strong on the track, but weak anywhere else.

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

Nearly all the great improvements, discoveries, inventions, and achievements which have elevated and blessed humanity have been the triumphs of enthusiasm.

Strength of will is the test of a young man's possibilities. Can he will strong enough and hold whatever he undertakes with an iron grip?

If you would make the most of yourself, never picture yourself as anything different from what you would actually be, the man or woman you long to become.