“Persistence is to the character of man as carbon is to steel.”
What this quote means
This metaphor compares persistence to carbon that strengthens steel. Without persistence, a man's character lacks solidity and may break under pressure. Persistence is what gives resistance and durability to our personality. It invites us to cultivate this quality as an essential element of our development. It emphasizes that perseverance is not an option, but a necessity to forge a strong character.
How to apply it daily
Choose an area where you lack persistence. Create a daily routine that helps you stay consistent, and stick to it for a month.
Reading guide
Which book should you read to discover Napoleon Hill?
Our starting point
Understanding the ideas behind his best-known sayings
Think and Grow Rich
It is the most direct starting point for his themes of desire, decision, persistence, and personal organization.
- Level
- Accessible
- Reading time
- 8–10 hours
- Formats to compare
- Print · Ebook · Audio
Merchant links help compare editions. Recommendations are editorially independent.
Continue
Related quotes
Same author or same theme — keep reading.
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”Create visual
“Believe you can and you're halfway there.”Create visual
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”Create visual
“The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.”Create visual
“Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.”Create visual
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”Create visual
More quotes by Napoleon Hill
“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”Create visual
“A goal is a dream with a deadline.”Create visual
“Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.”Create visual
“Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.”Create visual