TENACITY

James G.’s “one little word” = TENACITY

Synonyms and similar words: Hardiness, Toughness, Strength, Resilience, Persevering, Steadfast.

It does not matter how many tumbles you have in this life, so long as you do not get dirty when you tumble; it is only the people who have to stop to be washed and made clean, who must necessarily lose the race. And I can assure you that there is the greatest practical benefit in making a few failures early in life. You learn that which is of inestimable importance – that there are a great many people in the world who are just as clever as you are. You learn to put your trust, by and by, in an economy of frugality of the exercise of your powers, both moral and intellectual; and you very soon find out, if you have not found it out before, that patience and tenacity of purpose are worth more than twice their weight of cleverness.         Thomas Henry Huxley

Some people have greatness thrust upon them. Few have excellence trust upon them . . . They achieve it. They do not achieve it unwittingly by doing what comes naturally and they don’t stumble into it in the course of amusing themselves. All excellence involves discipline and tenacity of purpose.               John W. Gardner

The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.         Robyn Davidson

Whoever knocks persistently, ends by entering.    Ali

A diamond is a piece of coal that stuck to the job.    Michael Larsen

Dripping water hollows a stone.    Lucretius

Drop upon drop collected will make a river.  Rivers upon rivers collected will make a sea.   Sa’Di