Motivational Quotes

Action

The chief difference between words and deeds is that words are always intended for men for their approbation, but deeds can be done only for God.

- Tolstoy, Count Leo

Best Quotes about Action

Our grand business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.

Carlyle, Thomas

There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is on a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.

Graham, Martha

It is the function of art to renew our perception. What we are familiar with we cease to see. The writer shakes up the familiar scene, and, as if by magic, we see a new meaning in it.

Nin, Anais

In action be primitive; in foresight, a strategist.

Char, Rene

Often the difference between a successful person and a failure is not one has better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one has to bet on one's ideas, to take a calculated risk -- and to act.

Maltz, Maxwell

In action a great heart is the chief qualification. In work, a great head.

Schopenhauer, Arthur

Do the things you know, and you shall learn the truth you need to know.

Macdonald, George

In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.

Robbins, Anthony

A man's action is only a picture book of his creed.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo

10.

The chief condition on which, life, health and vigor depend on, is action. It is by action that an organism develops its faculties, increases its energy, and attains the fulfillment of its destiny.

Proudhon, Pierre Joseph

11.

The soul is made for action, and cannot rest till it be employed. Idleness is its rust. Unless it will up and think and taste and see, all is in vain.

Traherne, Thomas

12.

Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often

13.

The sure conviction that we could if we wanted to is the reason so many good minds are idle.

Lichtenberg, Georg C.

14.

He who strikes first, strikes twice.

Proverb, Mexican

15.

Satisfaction consists in freedom from pain, which is the positive element of life.

Schopenhauer, Arthur

16.

Sings. Hope in every sphere of life is a privilege that attaches to action. No action, no hope.

Levi, Peter

17.

The only correct actions are those that demand no explanation and no apology.

Auerbach, Red

18.

To talk goodness is not good... only to do it is.

Proverb, Chinese

19.

You can't pick cherries with your back to the tree.

Morgan, John Pierpont

20.

Activity and sadness are incompatible.

21.

It is not good enough for things to be planned -- they still have to be done; for the intention to become a reality, energy has to be launched into operation.

Khan, Pir Vilayat

22.

He who has begun has half done. Dare to be wise; begin.

Horace

23.

Ideas won't keep, something must be done about them.

Whitehead, Alfred North

24.

A well begun is half ended.

Plato

25.

When all is said and done, more is said than done.

Holtz, Lou

26.

Teachers open the door but you must walk through it yourself.

Proverb, Chinese

27.

The person of intellect is lost unless they unite with energy of character. When we have the lantern of Diogenese we must also have his staff.

Chamfort, Sebastien-Roch Nicolas De

28.

You have to make it happen.

Greene, Joe

29.

Don't think, just do.

Horton, Reiko

30.

I think there is something, more important than believing: Action! The world is full of dreamers, there aren't enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualize their vision.

Stone, W. Clement

31.

Don't be a spectator, don't let life pass you by.

Holtz, Lou

32.

If you start soon enough, you won't have to run to catch up.

33.

Be both the gardener and the rose.

34.

It is the mark of a good action that it appears inevitable in retrospect.

Stevenson, Robert Louis

35.

Good actions ennoble us, and we are the sons of our own deeds.

Cervantes, Miguel De

36.

The greatest of all mistakes is to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can.

Smith, Sydney

37.

Don't look back, just keep on walking.

38.

Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing perfectly.

Schuller, Robert H.

39.

I didn't think; I experimented.

Roentgen, Wilhelm

40.

What really matters is what you do with what you have.

Lord, Shirley

41.

The road of life can only reveal itself as it is traveled; each turn in the road reveals a surprise. Man's future is hidden.

42.

The greatest step is out the door.

Proverb, German

43.

Nothing wilts faster than laurels that have been rested upon.

Rowan, Carl

44.

Never confuse motion with action.

Franklin, Benjamin

45.

Anything you do can get you fired; this includes doing nothing.

46.

No steam or gas ever drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara is ever turned into light and power until it is tunneled. No life ever grows until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined.

Fosdick, Harry Emerson

47.

Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all.

Peale, Norman Vincent

48.

Satisfaction of one's curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.

Pauling, Linus

49.

Life leaps like a geyser for those who drill through the rock of inertia.

Carrel, Alexis

50.

He who believes is strong; he who doubts is weak. Strong convictions precede great actions.

Clarke, James Freeman