William Jennings Bryan
"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained."
Madame Curie
"I ran and ran and ran every day, and I acquired this sense of determination, this sense of spirit that I would never, never give up, no matter what else happened."
Wilma Rudolph
"There are no standards and no possible victories except the joy you are living while dancing your own run . . . You are not running for some future reward - The real reward is now."
Fred Rohe
"An aim in life is the only fortune worth the finding."
Robert Louis Stevenson
"If the winds of fortune are temporarily blowing against you, remember that you can harness them and make them carry you toward your definite purpose, through the use of your imagination."
Napoleon Hill
"The roots of true achievement lie in the will to become the best that you can become."
Harold Taylor
"My mother drew a distinction between achievement and success. She said that 'achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised by others, and that's nice, too, but not as important or satisfying.' Always aim for achievement and forget about success."
Helen Hayes
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measure or far away."
Henry David Thoreau
"Most people race to see who is the fastest. I race to see who has the most guts."
Steve Prefontaine
"People begin running for any number of motives, but we stick to it for one basic reason - to find out who we really are."
George Sheehan, M.D.
"The will to win means nothing if you haven't the will to prepare.
Juma Ikangaa
"Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else."
Donald Nichols
Finish each day
And be done with it
You have done what you could
Some blunders and
Absurdities have crept in
Forget them as soon as you can
Tomorrow is a new day
You shall begin it serenly
And with too high a spirit
To be encumbered by
Your old nonsense
Ralph Waldo Emerson
"History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats."
B.C. Forbes
"Only in winter can you tell which trees are truly green. Only when the winds of adversity blow can you tell whether an individual or a country has steadfastness."
John F. Kennedy
"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift."
Steve Prefontaine