The quote database

I won't have a problem with you if you aim high and miss, but I will have a real problem if you aim low and hit.

These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale, but surely, surely, a great rich country like ours will see that those who are dependent on us are properly provided for.

We are weak, writing is difficult, but for my own sake I do not regret this journey, which has shown that Englishmen can endure hardships, help one another, and meet death with as great a fortitude as ever in the past.

Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman.

We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of Providence, determined still to do our best to the last.

We shall stick it out to the end, but we are getting weaker, of course, and the end cannot be far.

Evil is uncertain in the same degree as good, and for the reason that we ought not to hope too securely, we ought not to fear with too much dejection.

Difficulties may intimidate the weak, but they act only as a wholesome stimulus to men of resolution and valour.

A man must have the courage to be himself, and not the shadow or the echo of another.

Great evils are in some cases only to be met by resistance; they cannot be wept down, but must be battled down.

Courage may be displayed in everyday life as well as in historic fields of action.

A man must so train his habits as to rely upon his own powers and depend upon his own courage in moments of emergency.

Courage, combined with energy and perseverance, will overcome difficulties apparently insurmountable.

It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better

There is little place in active life for the timid good man.

The poorest way to face life is to face it with a sneer.

Let us strive hardily for success even if by so doing we risk failure, spurning the poorer souls of small endeavor who know neither failure nor success.

We have it in our power to begin the world over again

By flight alone we cannot overcome, but by endurance and true humility we are made stronger than all our enemies.

Reckless audacity came to be considered the courage of a loyal ally; prudent hesitation, specious cowardice; moderation was held to be a cloak for unmanliness; ability to see all sides of a question, inaptness to act on any.

It is never wrong to do the right thing.

No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works.