--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perseverance isn't just the willingness…" description: "\"Perseverance isn't just the willingness to work hard. It's that plus the willingness to be stubborn about your own belief in yourself.\" — Merlin Olsen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/merlin-olsen-18777_belief_perseverance-isn-t-just-the-willingness_1794426.jpg" --- # Perseverance isn't just the willingness to work hard. It's… ![“Perseverance isn't just the willingness to work hard. It's that plus the willingness to be stubborn about your own belief in yourself.” quote by Merlin Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/merlin-olsen-18777_belief_perseverance-isn-t-just-the-willingness_1794426.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/merlin-olsen-18777_belief_perseverance-isn-t-just-the-willingness_1794426.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/merlin-olsen-18777_belief_perseverance-isn-t-just-the-willingness_1794426.jpg) > “Perseverance isn't just the willingness to work hard. It's that plus the willingness to be stubborn about your own belief in yourself.” [Merlin Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-olsen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True perseverance mixes effort with unwavering belief in oneself, even when stubbornness is needed. **In simple terms:** Hard work plus self‑belief equals perseverance. Key Takeaway Believe in yourself while working hard. Themes determination self‑belief resilience Mood motivational cautious Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - coaching - career challenges - personal setbacks Key Concepts confidence mental toughness Questions to Reflect On - When does stubbornness become a hindrance? - How to balance confidence with humility? A Different Perspective Stubbornness can ignore constructive feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Belief in yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-in-yourself/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Perseverance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perseverance/) [Perseverance Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perseverance-isn-1975107/) [Plus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plus/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Stubborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stubborn/) [Stubborn Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stubborn-belief-1656714/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Willingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness/) [Willingness Stubborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness-stubborn-1975108/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [This is why I say that the individual's most potent weapon is a stubborn belief in the triumph of common decency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rusesabagina/this-is-why-i-say-that-the-individual-s-most-potent-weapon-is-a/) [Paul Rusesabagina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rusesabagina/) > [You need a stubborn belief in an idea in order to see it realised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/you-need-a-stubborn-belief-in-an-idea-in-order-to-see-it-realised/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) > [“Persevering through something that is drudgery to you in the name of perseverance alone isn’t commendable; it’s senseless stubbornness. Even if you stick with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/persevering-through-something-that-is-drudgery-to-you-in-the-name-of/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“perseverance isn’t a virtue if what you’re doing is wrong,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-meyer/perseverance-isn-t-a-virtue-if-what-you-re-doing-is-wrong/) [Scott Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-meyer/) > [“Oh well," said Miss Marple, "it's just perseverance, isn't it, that leads to things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/oh-well-said-miss-marple-it-s-just-perseverance-isn-t-it-that-leads/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Whether you believe in the sun or a stone or a god or the moon or a guru, whatever you believe in, nothing can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/whether-you-believe-in-the-sun-or-a-stone-or-a-god-or-the-moon-or-a/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Confidence - is a belief in yourself and your ability to meet your goals. Persistence - is the tendency to see lifeôs obstacles as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/confidence-is-a-belief-in-yourself-and-your-ability-to-meet-your/) [Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/) > [Respect Yourself so much that you cant stand one wrong word against yourself! Raise your voice against those who talk shit about you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikicorn/respect-yourself-so-much-that-you-cant-stand-one-wrong-word-against/) [Nikicorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikicorn/) > [I am whatever you make me, nothing more. I am your belief in yourself, your dream of what a people may become… I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-knight-lane/i-am-whatever-you-make-me-nothing-more-i-am-your-belief-in-yourself/) [Franklin Knight Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-knight-lane/) > [Your chances of success in any undertaking can always be measured by your belief in yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/your-chances-of-success-in-any-undertaking-can-always-be-measured-by/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [“Believe in yourself. Determine to pursue your goals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/believe-in-yourself-determine-to-pursue-your-goals/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The worst handicap you can have is a lack of belief in yourself! Lani Deauville”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-lee-crosby/the-worst-handicap-you-can-have-is-a-lack-of-belief-in-yourself-lani/) [Bette Lee Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-lee-crosby/) > [Always be a first-rate version of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [“Sometimes all of a sudden all the obstacles on your way disappear. You may call this situation as ‘an action of God’ or an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/sometimes-all-of-a-sudden-all-the-obstacles-on-your-way-disappear-you/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) ## More by Merlin Olsen > [One of life's most painful moments comes when we must admit that we didn't do our homework, that we are not prepared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-olsen/one-of-life-s-most-painful-moments-comes-when-we-must-admit-that-we/) [Merlin Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-olsen/) > [I had a hockey puck and stick-the only ones in town. I definitely would have played hockey ahead of football, had it been available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-olsen/i-had-a-hockey-puck-and-stick-the-only-ones-in-town-i-definitely/) [Merlin Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-olsen/) > [I don't know where I got this size. Good nutrition, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-olsen/i-don-t-know-where-i-got-this-size-good-nutrition-i-guess/) [Merlin Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-olsen/) > [When a man lies, he murders some part of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-olsen/when-a-man-lies-he-murders-some-part-of-the-world/) [Merlin Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-olsen/) > [After a few games I knew I was going to be able to compete. The idea of being a star never crossed my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-olsen/after-a-few-games-i-knew-i-was-going-to-be-able-to-compete-the-idea/) [Merlin Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-olsen/) > [Fight for time with your family. They grow so quickly, and they are gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-olsen/fight-for-time-with-your-family-they-grow-so-quickly-and-they-are-gone/) [Merlin Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-olsen/) > [Our coach was absolutely out of his head. He must have read Bear Bryant's book. We had 78 players out. The first day 35…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-olsen/our-coach-was-absolutely-out-of-his-head-he-must-have-read-bear/) [Merlin Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-olsen/) > [I've caught fish as big as I am. I've caught marlin close to 300 pounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-olsen/i-ve-caught-fish-as-big-as-i-am-i-ve-caught-marlin-close-to-300-pounds/) [Merlin Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-olsen/) > [The basketball coach cut me within two days, so I was back in the pool. I was the first one in the wall after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-olsen/the-basketball-coach-cut-me-within-two-days-so-i-was-back-in-the-pool/) [Merlin Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-olsen/) > [Sigma Chi was a learning experience for me in personal growth, in finding out more about myself, in shaping my life more effectively, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-olsen/sigma-chi-was-a-learning-experience-for-me-in-personal-growth-in/) [Merlin Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-olsen/) > [I bet I made close to 20 tackles because nobody on either side knew what they were doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-olsen/i-bet-i-made-close-to-20-tackles-because-nobody-on-either-side-knew/) [Merlin Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-olsen/) > [I can ski out of my back door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-olsen/i-can-ski-out-of-my-back-door/) [Merlin Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-olsen/) > [Our whole philosophy was to intimidate the quarterback. We were able to do it. We were pioneers. People still recognize us as, maybe, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-olsen/our-whole-philosophy-was-to-intimidate-the-quarterback-we-were-able/) [Merlin Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-olsen/) > [I probably played hurt a lot more times than I should have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-olsen/i-probably-played-hurt-a-lot-more-times-than-i-should-have/) [Merlin Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-olsen/) > [Jogging is my idea of nothing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-olsen/jogging-is-my-idea-of-nothing-to-do/) [Merlin Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-olsen/) [Explore all 34 Merlin Olsen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-olsen/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Perseverance isn't just the willingness to work hard. 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