Joshua Reynolds Quotes

When I think about parallels between myself and an Olympian, I believe that success in the world of business is underpinned by very similar principles of perseverance and hard work.

Work harder than anybody you've ever seen. That's what I believe.

I remember hearing Will Smith, back when he was just a rapper, saying, 'When all the other rap stars are in bed, I'm practicing my rapping.' I try to be like that. There is always something to improve.

I love competing in everything that I do, and I try to express that, but I try not to rush it.

If you're studying for an exam you're not thinking about the results. If you're always worried about the results, you can't study a lot. So to be engaged and detached from the outcome is excellent. Excellence is behavior. I mean, isn't that what martial arts is about? And that's what meditation is about, that's what, in many ways, sports are about.

Talent is cheap; dedication is expensive. It will cost you your life.

Some people may have greatness thrust upon them. Very few have excellence thrust upon them. They achieve it. They do not achieve it unwittingly, by “doin' what comes naturally”; and they don't stumble into it in the course of amusing themselves. All excellence involves discipline and tenacity of purpose.

Sometimes the things we want most are the hardest to get. That means you need to be even more determined to succeed. That's what it takes to be a winner. You have to want it bad enough to stick with it no matter how tough things get.

Beyoncé says it was Mathew Knowles, her father, who made her understand discipline and work ethic, what it means to come in early before class starts to stretch, or to work on your dégagés or your pirouettes or whatever it was. I was a turner! So to come in early and then to stay afterward and to just soak up everything that the teacher has, that's really what it's about - the striving for excellence.

The pursuit of greatness means that laziness has no place in your life.

Motivation means we have an idea and we are going to carry through on that idea. We work hard at it, and we are disciplined.

I was 16 when I quit gymnastics and decided to start acting. I started booking immediately after. I was very lucky and fortunate, but I also did the hard work. Half of it's hard work and half of it's luck. It's been working out so far. Fingers crossed for the future.

Excellence requires discomfort.

Excellence is an art won by training and habituation.

I'm always trying to be the best, on and off the pitch, is also very important. I've always taken things very seriously, since I was very young, and that's reflected in my career. Always being nominated, winning trophies for the club or individual awards, that's the culmination of many years of dedication, hard work and professionalism and that makes me very happy.

I've never really viewed myself as particularly talented. I've viewed myself as slightly above average in talent. And where I excel is ridiculous, sickening, work ethic. You know, while the other guy's sleeping? I'm working. While the other guy's eatin'? I'm working. While the other guy's making love, I mean, I'm making love, too. But I'm working really hard at it.

Men, my brothers, men the workers, ever reaping something new, That which they have done but earnest of the things which they shall do.

I worked with patience which means almost power.

To things which you bear with impatience you should accustom yourself, and, by habit you will bear them well.

I'm just like my country, I'm young, scrappy and hungry, and I'm not throwing away my shot.

Martial arts are art forms and require a great deal of discipline and dedication. I so admire people who focus their lives on it, because it's not an easy thing to do.

That's how you become successful, man - you gotta stay busy.

Success is not handed to you. You must work hard for it and you must never dishonor what you’ve achieved.