Little strokes fell great oaks. No human masterpiece has ever been created without great labor. There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet. Gift, like genius, I often think means only an infinite capacity for taking pains. Evil is wrought by want of thought as well as want of heart.
Life grants nothing to mortals without hard work.
Constant effort and frequent mistakes are the stepping stones of genius. Success is ten percent opportunity and ninety percent intelligent hustle. Thought is the labor of the intellect, reverie its pleasure. To replace thought by reverie is to confound food with poison. Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverence.