Quotes on Effort: A curated selection of passionate messages left by great figures and famous people

If you break anything down into small tasks, nothing is particularly difficult.John D. Rockefeller

John D.

Rockefeller (1839–1937) was an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Standard Oil Company and monopolized the oil market.

He became the first American to possess assets exceeding one billion dollars, yet he used the majority of his wealth for philanthropic activities.

He teaches us that even great tasks can surely be accomplished if we break them into smaller parts and tackle them bit by bit.

Genius is finite. Effort is infinite.Kiyoshi Nakamura

Genius is finite [Quote by Kiyoshi Nakamura]

Kiyoshi Nakamura (1913–1985) was a track and field coach, famous as the mentor of Toshihiko Seko and Wakiuri.

He said, “It is my mission to have my athletes bloom into full flower once a year,” and went on to cultivate one talented athlete after another.

There is no end to effort—truly words of weight.

Once you’ve decided to do something, don’t postpone it with excuses like not being in the mood or wanting a distraction. Start at once—even if only superficially. Good ideas will come.Tolstoy

Listen in audio: 'Tolstoy's Famous Quotes' Episode 15

Tolstoy (1828–1910) was a Russian novelist and thinker.

Even though steady daily effort is necessary, we often find excuses to slack off—saying we’re tired today, not in the mood, and so on.

At such times, he teaches us that what matters is to just get started for now.

Once you begin, your initial mood often shifts, and you frequently find yourself getting into a good rhythm, don’t you?

When I was young, I found that out of ten things I tried, nine didn’t work. So I worked ten times harder.Bernard Shaw

[Moving Quotes] A Collection of Quotes That Can Change Your Life in an Instant — Bernard Shaw II

George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) was an Irish man of letters, screenwriter, and playwright, and one of the founders of modern British drama.

He wrote as many as 53 plays over his lifetime and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925.

When trying to achieve something, you can’t always choose the correct method.

Even if you fail, it’s important to learn from it and rise again.

Happiness is more often earned through effort than given.Saneatsu Mushanokōji

[Moving Quotes] A Collection of Life-Changing Sayings in an Instant — Saneatsu Mushanokōji 5

Saneatsu Mushanokōji (1885–1976) was a Japanese novelist, poet, and playwright.

Happiness is sometimes given by others, and sometimes seized by oneself.

Both are mixed into life, but this saying—that the greater happiness is the kind you grasp through your own efforts—gives a jolt to that timid heart that finds itself hoping someone will bring happiness along.

If you remember before falling asleep at night that there’s something you still haven’t done, get up immediately and do it.Dostoevsky

[Moving Quotes] A Collection of Quotes That Can Change Your Life in an Instant — Dostoevsky 1

Dostoevsky (1821–1881) is a leading literary giant of 19th-century Russia, known for masterpieces such as Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov.

The message seems to be that we must not greet tomorrow without having made the effort we were supposed to make today—if we don’t act now, we’ll create a negative legacy for tomorrow.

It’s a painful truth to hear, but it certainly compels us to put it into practice.

Even if a person fails time and again, as long as they don’t lose the courage to try “once more,” they will surely make something of themselves.Konosuke Matsushita

It will surely amount to something [A quote by Konosuke Matsushita]

Konosuke Matsushita (1894–1989) was the founder of the Panasonic Group and is known as the “God of Management.” His great achievements were indeed the fruit of indomitable effort.

Even if you fail, rise again—that, he teaches us, is what makes a big difference.