Mike Royko

"Don't let yesterday take up too much of today."

"You can either have excuses or success, but not both."

"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try."

"The master has failed more times than the beginner has tried."

"Do the thing and you will have the power."

"Excellence is not a destination; it's a continuous journey."

"Your story isn't over yet; make the next chapter your best."

"Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get."

"The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be."

"Keep going, even when it hurts."

"Progress is progress, no matter how small."

"You don't rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems."

"Comparison is the thief of joy."

"The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday."

"Stop waiting for Friday, for summer, for a man, for success."

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."

"Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody."

"Gratitude turns what we have into enough."

"The only thing that counts in this world is nerve, and sitting on the fence doesn't get you anywhere."

"Never trust a man who doesn't drink coffee in the morning."

"Chicago is an October sort of city even in spring."

"The problem with political jokes is they get elected."

"A good bartender is like a therapist, except cheaper and with better drinks."

"Most people are too busy to notice that their lives are passing them by."

"If you want to understand a city, ride the bus."

"The real Chicago isn't in the fancy buildings—it's in the neighborhoods where people actually live."

"Cynicism is just disappointment wearing a tough face."

"You can't con an honest man."

"The worst thing about getting older is realizing how much time you wasted being young."

"Character is what you do when nobody's watching."