Make Your Bed Quotes

“It is easy to blame your lot in life on some outside force, to stop trying because you believe fate is against you. It is easy to think that where you were raised, how your parents treated you, or what school you went to is all that determines your future. Nothing could be further from the truth. The common people and the great men and women are all defined by how they deal with life’s unfairness: Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, Stephen Hawking, Malala Yousafzai, and—Moki Martin. Sometimes no matter how hard you try, no matter how good you are, you still end up as a sugar cookie. Don’t complain. Don’t blame it on your misfortune. Stand tall, look to the future, and drive on!”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“Life is a struggle and the potential for failure is ever present, but those who live in fear of failure, or hardship, or embarrassment will never achieve their potential. Without pushing your limits, without occasionally sliding down the rope headfirst, without daring greatly, you will never know what is truly possible in your life.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“None of us are immune from life’s tragic moments. Like the small rubber boat we had in basic SEAL training, it takes a team of good people to get you to your destination in life. You cannot paddle the boat alone. Find someone to share your life with. Make as many friends as possible, and never forget that your success depends on others.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“Hope is the most powerful force in the universe.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“Making my bed correctly was not going to be an opportunity for praise. It was expected of me. It was my first task of the day, and doing it right was important. It demonstrated my discipline. It showed my attention to detail, and at the end of the day it would be a reminder that I had done something well, something to be proud of, no matter how small the task.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“You cannot paddle the boat alone. Find someone to share your life with. Make as many friends as possible, and never forget that your success depends on others.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“I realized that the past failures had strengthened me, taught me that no one is immune from mistakes. True leaders must learn from their failures, use the lessons to motivate themselves, and not be afraid to try again or make the next tough decision.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“If you want to change the world… be your very best in the darkest moments.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“The common people and the great men and women are all defined by how they deal with life’s unfairness: Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, Stephen Hawking, Malala Yousafzai, and—Moki Martin. Sometimes no matter how hard you try, no matter how good you are, you still end up as a sugar cookie. Don’t complain. Don’t blame it on your misfortune. Stand tall, look to the future, and drive on!”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“those who live in fear of failure, or hardship, or embarrassment will never achieve their potential.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“start each day with a task completed. Find someone to help you through life. Respect everyone. Know that life is not fair and that you will fail often. But if you take some risks, step up when times are toughest, face down the bullies, lift up the downtrodden, and never, ever give up—”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“Bullies are all the same, whether they are in the schoolyard, in the workplace, or ruling a country through terror. They thrive on fear and intimidation. Bullies gain their strength through the timid and faint of heart. They are like sharks who sense fear in the water. They will circle to see if their prey is struggling. They will probe to see if their victim is weak. If you don't find the courage to stand your ground, they will strike. In life, to achieve your goals, to complete the night swim, you will have to be men and women of great courage. That courage is within all of us. Dig deep and you will find it in abundance.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“without daring greatly, you will never know what is truly possible in your life.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“At some point we will all confront a dark moment in life. If not the passing of a loved one, then something else that crushes your spirit and leaves you wondering about your future. In that dark moment, reach deep inside yourself and be your very best.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“In life you will face a lot of Circuses. You will pay for your failures. But, if you persevere, if you let those failures teach you and strengthen you, then you will be prepared to handle life’s toughest moments.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“Quitting never makes anything easier.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“Our goal, which we believed to be honorable and noble, gave us courage. And courage is a remarkable quality. Nothing and nobody can stand in your way. Without it, others will define your path forward. Without it, you are at the mercy of life's temptations. Without courage, men will be ruled by tyrants and despots. Without courage, no great society can flourish. Without courage, the bullies of the world rise up. With it, you can accomplish any goal. With it, you can defy and defeat evil.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“Life is full of difficult times. But someone out there always has it worse than you do. If you fill your days with pity, sorrowful for the way you have been treated, bemoaning your lot in life, blaming your circumstances on someone or something else, then life will be long and hard. If, on the other hand, you refuse to give up on your dreams, stand tall and strong against the odds—then life will be what you make of it—and you can make it great.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“Hope is the most powerful force in the universe. With hope you can inspire nations to greatness. With hope you can raise up the downtrodden. With hope you can ease the pain of unbearable loss. Sometimes all it takes is one person to make a difference.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“If you want to change the world… measure a person by the size of their heart.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“It is easy to blame your lot in life on some outside force, to stop trying because you believe fate is against you. It is easy to think that where you were raised, how your parents treated you, or what school you went to is all that determines your future. Nothing could be further from the truth. The common people and the great men and women are all defined by how they deal with life’s unfairness:”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“They all understood that life is hard and that sometimes there is little you can do to affect the outcome of your day.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“Throughout my career, I always had great respect for the British Special Air Service, the famed SAS. The SAS motto was “Who Dares Wins.” The motto was so widely admired that even moments before the bin Laden raid, my Command Sergeant Major, Chris Faris, quoted it to the SEALs preparing for the mission. To me the motto was more than about how the British special forces operated as a unit; it was about how each of us should approach our lives. Life is a struggle and the potential for failure is ever present, but those who live in fear of failure, or hardship, or embarrassment will never achieve their potential. Without pushing your limits, without occasionally sliding down the rope headfirst, without daring greatly, you will never know what is truly possible in your life.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“Sometimes no matter how hard you try, no matter how good you are, you still end up as a sugar cookie. Don’t complain. Don’t blame it on your misfortune. Stand tall, look to the future, and drive on!”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“I know that anything I achieved in my life was a result of others who have helped me along the way.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“True leaders must learn from their failures, use the lessons to motivate themselves, and not be afraid to try again or make the next tough decision.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right. And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made—that you made—and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better. If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Feel grounded and think positive in 10 simple steps

“If you want to change the world… don’t ever, ever ring the bell.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

“If you want to change the world… start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World