Orison Swett Marden
Orison Swett Marden
Dr. Orison Swett Mardenwas an American inspirational author who wrote about achieving success in life and founded SUCCESS magazine in 1897. His writings discuss common-sense principles and virtues that make for a well-rounded, successful life. Many of his ideas are based on New Thought philosophy...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionWriter
CountryUnited States of America
humble opportunity simple
It is the youth who sees a great opportunity hidden in just these simple services, who sees a very uncommon situation, a humble position, who gets on in the world.
optimism tears done
Pessimism has never done anything but tear down and destroy what optimism has built up.
humble ambition character
The sculptor will chip off all unnecessary material to set free the angel. Nature will chip and pound us remorselessly to bring out our possibilities. She will strip us of wealth, humble our pride, humiliate our ambition, let us down from the ladder of fame, will discipline us in a thousand ways, if she can develop a little character. Everything must give way to that. Wealth is nothing, position is nothing, fame is nothing, manhood is everything.
dream giving-up block
There is a legend of an artist who long sought for a piece of sandalwood, out of which to carve a Madonna. He was about to give up in despair, leaving the vision of his life unrealized, when in a dream he was bidden to carve his Madonna from a block of oak wood which was destined for the fire. He obeyed and produced a masterpiece from a log of common firewood. Many of us lose great opportunities in life by waiting to find sandalwood for our carvings, when they really lie hidden in the common logs that we burn.
procrastination rocks sea
A lobster, when left high and dry among the rock, does not have the sense enough to work his way back to the sea, but waits for the sea to come to him. If it does not come, he remains where he is and dies, although the slightest effort would enable him to reach the waves, which are perhaps within a yard of him. The world is full of human lobsters; people stranded on the rocks of indecision and procrastination, who, instead of putting forth their own energies, are waiting for some grand billow of good fortune to set them afloat.
excellence common wells
Doing common things uncommonly well.
excellence littles can-do
Superiority - doing things a little better than anybody else can do them.
grieving sorrow trials
Our trials, our sorrows, and our grieves develop us.
pay-the-price pay corners
No one has a corner on success. It is his who pays the price.
dream inspiration world
Dreams that are realized become an inspiration for new endeavor. It is in the power to make the dream good that we find the hope of this world.
sight purpose world
There's no grander sight in the world than that of a person fired with a great purpose, dominated by one unwavering aim.
being-happy cheer sunshine
There is no investment you can make which will pay you so well as the effort to scatter sunshine and good cheer through your establishment.
manhood
How can I develop myself into the grandest possible manhood?
ceases gathers lies possibilities powers secret success turns
The secret of success lies in that old word, 'Drudgery,' in doing one thing long after it ceases to be amusing; and it is 'this one thing I do' that gathers me together from my chaos, that concentrates me from possibilities to powers, and turns powers into achievements.