Washington Irving Quotes

For me to get through the toughest periods in my life, I had to look within to find the energy to do it. I don't give up. Never have. Never will.

I've gone through all of it: I've literally heard every single name in the book be told to me. So don't be discouraged by anyone as long as you're confident in yourself, and just keep doing what you're doing.

Sometimes to go forward you've got to go to the depths of your own personal despair and claw yourself back. From that point, no matter what happens, you know you can do it.

I've been through a lot of things in my personal and family life. That turned me into a fighter. I always strive to be the best I possibly can.

I just think that there are those people that their resolve is strengthened by what it is that's keeping them down, and there are some people that will buckle under it. You never know which one is which until you get into the eighth or ninth round of the fight.

Somehow I kept my head above water. I relied on the discipline, character, and strength that I had started to develop as that little girl in her first swimming pool.

I was a slightly overweight, spiky-fringed, rat's-tailed '80s girl who was just showing up. That's all I've ever really done to get here, just kept showing up. Even when I didn't want to. That's what I do.

To overcome any form of adversity, to not give up, to not give up on yourself, your dreams, to not sequester yourself away from people - that's the most important thing to do with your life.

Throughout the journey of my life, I have maintained a strong faith in the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity. I deeply believe in one's own positive will to overcome even the most daunting challenges.

I've been through hell and back. I have, to be honest, and still I'm able to do what I do and nothing can stop me. No one can stop me, no matter what. I stop when I'm ready to stop. You know, and I'm just saying, you know, I will continue to move forward no matter what.

There is no chance, no destiny, no fate,Can circumvent or hinder or controlThe firm resolve of a determined soul.Gifts count for nothing; will alone is great;All things give way before it soon or late.What obstacle can stay the mighty forceOf the sea seeking river in its course,Or cause the ascending orb of day to wait?

It's a kind of philosophy of my own life, to create the energy enough to keep on going.

It takes a lot of energy and creativity to make such screwed up lives carry on. And the kind of will people have to survive, year after year, dealing with that stuff, is weirdly impressive.

One thing I've come to learn about myself is that I have to keep going.

Extraordinary people survive under the most terrible circumstances and they become more extraordinary because of it.

'That which does not kill me makes me stronger' is not a law of the universe. What it can be, if we so choose, is a resolution.

I always wanted to be somebody. If I made it, it's half because I was game enough to take a lot of punishment along the way and half because there were a lot of people who cared enough to help me.

The struggle goes on. The victory is in the struggle, for me. And I accepted that a long time ago.

I'm a big believer in overcoming and achieving and doing things and not feeling sorry for yourself.

Sometimes we fall, sometimes we stumble, but we can't stay down. We can't allow life to beat us down. Everything happens for a reason, and it builds character in us, and it tells us what we are about and how strong we really are when we didn't think we could be that strong.

The best people I know have had a lot of obstacles to overcome.

Courage to continue comes from deeper sources than outward results.

Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.

I'm functioning on a lung and a half, but I have proved that it's possible to challenge yourself.

'Give up... it's time to quit,' I don't think I've ever really accepted those kinds of words in my life or vocabulary.