J. Robert Oppenheimer Quotes

I thought in terms of the enthusiasm of doing it. I didn't think about whether I was ready.

I firmly believe that life is an 'and' proposition and not an 'or' one. If you really love something, you just have to try it. The worse that can happen is that you'll be told 'no.'

How do you know you're going to do something, untill you do it?

When you see something that is technically sweet, you go ahead and do it and you argue about what to do about it only after you have had your technical success. That is the way it was with the atomic bomb.

I always say to people when I'm trying to get something going, bringing on other producers or other directors, "You can think of 95 reasons why not to make a movie. You've got to address why you want to make the movie and get it done. Just do it." I tend to live by that rule.

Screw it, just do it!

Make the decision that you'll no longer use excuses to keep you from what you know is in your best interest. Today, act on something you've always avoided and explained away with a convenient excuse. Make a phone call you've been putting off, write a letter to a friend, put on a pair of walking shoes and go for a stroll, clean out your closet—do something you've been justifying not doing with excuses.

Life gives us choices. You either grab on with both hands and just go for it, or you sit on the sidelines.

You’re only poor if you give up. The most important thing is that you did something. Most people only talk and dream of getting rich. You’ve done something.

I would rather fail trying than succeed at doing nothing.

When we find inspiration, we need to take action for ourselves and for our communities. Even if it means making a hard choice, or cutting out something and leaving it in your past.

Make your move BEFORE you are ready!

I know in my heart the dream will be realized. I choose to believe. And choosing is a powerful thing. It's available to you at every moment. You can choose understanding over anger, believing over nonbelieving, action over inaction. It gives meaning to every choice we make.

Know your goal, make a plan and pull the trigger

If you have not done so yet, decide to decide.

In truth, the degree of anyone's success depends on how often they can say the word yes and hear the word no.

I'd rather be in trouble for having done something than for not having done anything.

If you wait for perfect conditions to seize an opportunity, you'll be waiting till the day you die.

The fact that you can only do a little is no excuse for doing nothing.

The machines men are so intent on making have carried them very far from the old sweet things.

I knew it was all or nothing.

When action is needed, optimism, even of the mildly delusional variety, may be a good thing.

The greatest secret of winners is that failure inspires winning; thus, they are not afraid of losing.

There's a point when you go with what you've got. Or you don't go.