Home › Proverbs

You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great

Meaning: Greatness is not a prerequisite for beginning; beginning is the path to greatness.

Origin: Attributed to Zig Ziglar, American motivational speaker and author, 20th century.

Translations

  • French: Il n'est pas nécessaire d'être grand pour commencer, mais il faut commencer pour être grand (literally: You don't have to be great to start, but you must start to be great)
  • Spanish: No tienes que ser grande para empezar, pero tienes que empezar para ser grande (literally: You don't have to be great to start, but you must start to be great)
  • Japanese: 偉大でなくても始められるが、始めなければ偉大になれない (Idai de nakute mo hajimerareru ga, hajimenakereba idai ni narenai) (literally: You don't have to be great to start, but you can't become great without starting)

More proverbs about Perseverance

  • 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.
  • Nothing is impossible to a willing heart — With true determination and commitment, any obstacle can be overcome.

← Back to Proverbs

Loading the full interactive collection…