What makes life dreary is want of motive.
They never die, who have the future in them.
As long as I have a want, I have a reason for living. Satisfaction is death.
One must not lose desires. They are mighty stimulants to creativeness, to love and to long life.
Take away the cause, and the effect ceases.
Every true man, sir, who is a little above the level of the beasts and plants, lives so as to give a meaning and a value to his own life.
The secret of discipline is motivation. When a man is sufficiently motivated, discipline will take care of itself.
Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
Talent isn't enough. You need motivation-and persistence, too: what Steinbeck called a blend of faith and arrogance. When you're young, plain old poverty can be enough, along with an insatiable hunger for recognition. You have to have that feeling of "I'll show them." If you don't have it, don't become a writer.
Never let go of that fiery sadness called desire.
It seems to me we can never give up longing and wishing while we are alive. There are certain things we feel to be beautiful and good, and we must hunger for them.
One man with a dream, at pleasure, Shall go forth and conquer a crown, And three with a new song's measure, Can trample an empire down.
Winning isn't everything. Wanting to win is.
For every man there exists a bait which he cannot resist swallowing.