Once while St. Francis of Assisi was hoeing his garden, he was asked, ''What would you do it you were suddenly to learn that you were to die at sunset today?'' He replied, ''I would finish hoeing my garden.''

I have brought myself, by long meditation, to the conviction that a human being with a settled purpose must accomplish it, and that nothing can resist a will which will stake even existence upon its fulfillment.

Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way.

Real leaders are ordinary people with extraordinary determination.

If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.

To him who is determined it remains only to act.

An invincible determination can accomplish almost anything and in this lies the great distinction between great men and little men.

I put a piece of paper under my pillow, and when I could not sleep I wrote in the dark.

You can do what you have to do, and sometimes you can do it even better than you think you can.