Orison Swett Marden

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

When a man feels throbbing within him the power to do what he undertakes as well as it can possibly be done, and all of his faculties say "amen" to what he is doing, and give their unqualified approval to his efforts, - this is happiness, this is success.

Many a man has finally succeeded only because he has failed after repeated efforts. If he had never met defeat he would never have known any great victory.

Unless you are prepared yourself to profit by your chance, the opportunity will only make you ridiculous. A great occasion is valuable to you in proportion as you have educated yourself to make use of it.

There are powers inside of you, if you could discover and use, would make of you everything you ever dreamed or imagined you could become.

It is the youth who sees a great opportunity hidden in just these simple services, who sees a very uncommon situation, a humble position, who gets on in the world.

It is like the seed put in the soil - the more one sows, the greater the harvest.

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.

Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them.

You cannot measure a man by his failures. You must know what use he makes of them. What did they mean to him. What did he get out of them.