Few ever lived to a great age, and fewer still ever became distinguished, who were not in the habit of early rising.—Dr. John Todd.
Next to temperance, a quiet conscience, a cheerful mind and active habits, I place early rising as a means of health and happiness.—Flint.
Thus we improve the pleasures of the day,
While tasteless mortals sleep their time away.
—Mrs. Centlivre.
No man can promise himself even fifty years of life, but any man may, if he please, live in the proportion of fifty years in forty;—let him rise early, that he may have the day before him, and let him make the most of the day, by determining to expend it on two sorts of acquaintance only,—those by whom something may be got, and those from whom something may be learnt.—Colton.
The famous Apollonius being very early at Vespasian's gate, and finding him stirring, from thence conjectured that he was worthy to govern an empire, and said to his companion, "This man surely will be emperor, he is so early."—Caussin.
Earnestness.—Without earnestness no man is ever great, or does really great things. He may be the cleverest of men, he may be brilliant, entertaining, popular; but he will want weight. No soul-moving picture was ever painted that had not in it the depth of shadow.—Peter Bayne.
A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise shall give no peace.—Emerson.
Patience is only one faculty; earnestness the devotion of all the faculties. Earnestness is the cause of patience; it gives endurance, overcomes pain, strengthens weakness, braves dangers, sustains hope, makes light of difficulties, and lessens the sense of weariness in overcoming them.—Bovee.
There is no substitute for thorough-going, ardent and sincere earnestness.—Dickens.
He who would do some great thing in this short life, must apply himself to the work with such a concentration of his forces as to the idle spectators, who live only to amuse themselves, looks like insanity.—John Foster.