“We [climbers] demonstrate in the most stunning way of all - at the risk of our lives - that there is no limit to the effort man can demand of himself. This quality is the basis of all human achievementit can never be proved enough. I consider that we climbers - that I - serve all humanity. We prove that there is no limit to what man can do.” MenWayHumansEnoughHumanityCan DoEffortQualityOur LivesRiskDemandProveLimitsBasesStunningClimbers Author:Walter Bonatti
“If we once admit that our life is here for the purpose of race-improvement, then we question any religion which does not improve the race, or the main force of which evaporates, as it were, directing our best efforts toward the sky.... Improvement in the human race is not accomplished by extracting any number of souls and placing them in heaven, or elsewhere. It must be established on earth, either through achievement in social service, or through better children.” IfsHumansChildrenDoeSoulEarthLife IsPurposeForceHeavenSocialNumbersEffortRaceOur LivesSkyAtheismAchievementPositive AtheismImprovementHuman RaceAccomplishedElsewhereBest EffortSocial Service Author:Charlotte Perkins Gilman
“our domestic lives reflect the major trend that dominates the consumer marketplace today: an ever-increasing emphasis on variety and choice. ... we find ourselves inventing our lives as we go along, improvising in an effort to take advantage of the bewildering range of choices that we face.” TodayFacesChoicesEffortOur LivesMajorsAdvantageVarietyConsumersRangeTrendsEmphasisMarketplaceInventingImprovisingDomestic Life Author:Sally Helgesen
“If we think it takes a lot of effort and hard work to get what we want, then our life is going to be about struggle.” IfsThinkingWantHardLife IsBeliefEffortStruggleOur LivesHard WorkEffort And Hard Work Book:Beyond Positive Thinking: A No-Nonsense Formula for Getting the Results You Want Source: Beyond Positive Thinking: A No-Nonsense Formula for Getting the Results You Want
“Sabbath ceasing means to cease not only from work itself, but also from the need to accomplish and be productive, from the worry and tension that accompany our modern criterion of efficiency, from our efforts to be in control of our lives as if we were God, from our possessiveness and our enculturation, and, finally, from the humdrum and meaninglessness that result when life is pursued without the Lord at the center of it all.” IfsNeedsMeanLife IsResultsEffortLordWorryOur LivesModernAccomplishCeaseTensionProductiveEfficiencyCriteriaPursuedAccompanySabbathMeaninglessnessPossessivenessHumdrum Author:Marva Dawn
“Even when our intentions are noble and our efforts sincere, even when we dedicate our lives to the service of others, the corrosive pressure of frantic over-activity can nonetheless cause suffering in ourselves and others. A "successful" life can become a violent enterprise.” SufferingCausesEffortSuccessfulOur LivesActivityPressureIntentionNobleViolentEnterpriseSincereFranticSuccessful Life Author:Wayne Muller
“If, in each hour, a man could learn a single fragment of some branch of knowledge, a single rule of some mechanical art, a single pleasing story or proverb (the acquisition of which would require no effort), what a vast stock of learning he might lay by. Seneca is therefore right when he says: "Life is long, if we know how to use it." It is consequently of importance that we understand the art of making the very best use of our lives.” IfsKnowsMenLongArtStoriesUseMightLife IsHoursEffortKnow HowOur LivesImportanceLaysBranchesFragmentsAcquisition Author:John Amos Comenius
“It is easy to look at these waves, accomplishing so little and to think that no matter what efforts we put forth in our lives, all we're really doing is rearranging the sand grains in a beach that in essence never changes.” ThinkingLooksLittlesMatterEasyEffortOur LivesEssenceNo Matter WhatWaveBeachSandGrainNever ChangeRearranging Author:Neal Stephenson
“For joy, I live by the mantra of surrounding yourself with people who make your life better... people who enhance your life and motivate you to be the best version of yourself. It's not always easy, but I've had to make a conscious effort to remove people who are a lot of work and drain my energy...you know, those energy suckers we each have in our lives.” PeopleKnowsJoyEnergyEasyEffortOur LivesConsciousVersionsBeing The BestRemoveLive ByDrainsMantrasSucker Author:Theo Rossi