Orison Swett Marden, (1850-1924) American author and founder of Success magazine. Quotes

When a man feels throbbing within him the power to do what he undertakes as well as it can possibly be done, this is happiness, this is success.

The hopeful man sees success where others see failure, sunshine where others see shadows and storm.

There is something greater than wealth, grander even than fame -- manhood, character, stand for success...nothing else really does.

If we put the emphasis upon the right things; if we live the life that is worth while and then fail, we will survive all disasters, we will out-live all misfortune. We should be so well balanced and symmetrical that nothing which could ever happen could throw us off our center, so that no matter what misfortune should overtake us, there would still be a whole magnificent man or woman left after being stripped of everything else.

No young man starting in life could have better capital, than plenty of friends. They will strengthen his credit, support him in every great effort and make him what, unaided, he could never be. Friends of the right sort will help him more -- to be happy and successful -- than much money...

Most men fail, not through lack of education, but from lack of dogged determination, from lack of dauntless will.

There is an infinite difference between a little wrong and just right, between fairly good and the best, between mediocrity and superiority….

It is those who have this imperative demand for the best in their natures, and who will accept nothing short of it, that hold the banners of progress, that set the standards, the ideals, for others.

This force, which is the best thing in you, your highest self, will never respond to any ordinary half-hearted call, or any milk-and-water endeavor, It can only be reached by your supremest call, your supremest effort. It will respond only to the call that is backed up by the whole of you, not part of you; you must be all there in what you are trying to do. You must bring every particle of your energy, unanswerable resolution, your best efforts, your persistent industry to your task or the best will not come out of you. You must back up your ambition by your whole nature, by unbounded enthusiasm and a determination to win which knows no failure.... Only a masterly call, a masterly will, a supreme effort, intense and persistent application, can unlock the door to your inner treasure and release your highest powers.

Achievement is not always success, while reputed failure often is. It is honest endeavor, persistent effort to do the best possible under any and all circumstances.