Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance
Meaning: Long-term persistence is more powerful than raw ability or brute force.
Origin: From Samuel Johnson's The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia (1759), where the poet Imlac encourages the prince as they dig an escape tunnel: "Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance; yonder palace was raised by single stones."
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: Les grandes œuvres ne sont pas accomplies par la force, mais par la persévérance (literally: Great works are not accomplished by strength but by perseverance)
- Spanish: Las grandes obras no se realizan con fuerza, sino con perseverancia (literally: Great works are not accomplished by strength but by perseverance)
- Japanese: 偉大な業績は力ではなく忍耐によって成し遂げられる (Idai na gyōseki wa chikara de wa naku nintai ni yotte nashitogerareru) (literally: Great achievements are accomplished not by strength but by perseverance)
- German: Steter Tropfen höhlt den Stein (literally: A constant drop hollows out the stone)
More proverbs about Perseverance
- You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great — Greatness is not a prerequisite for beginning; beginning is the path to greatness.
- He who limps is still walking — Even imperfect progress is still progress; do not let imperfection stop you.
- Stars cannot shine without darkness — Hardship and struggle are what allow our greatest qualities to become visible.
- Even the tallest tower began with a single brick — Every great achievement starts with one humble first step.
- He conquers who endures — Persistence and endurance are the ultimate keys to victory.
- To lose patience is to lose the battle — Losing your composure under pressure ensures defeat; staying calm is essential to success.
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