quote · Legacy record
Success! It is won by a patient endeavor, Energy's fire, and the flame-glow of Will; By grasping the chance with a "Now, now or never!" Urging on, on! while the laggard stands still. Success! It is facing life's trials, undaunted; Fighting the present—forgetting the past: By trusting to Fate, though for years she has taunted, And bearing Time's scars; facing front, to the last! Success! Would you win it and wear its bright token? Smile and step out to the drummer's light lilt; Fight on till the last inch of sword-blade is broken. Then do not say die. Fight on with the hilt!
Success! It is won by a patient endeavor, Energy's fire, and the flame-glow of Will; By grasping the chance with a "Now, now or never!" Urging on, on! while the laggard stands still. Success! It is facing life's trials, undaunted; Fighting the present—forgetting the past: By trusting to Fate, though for years she has taunted, And bearing Time's scars; facing front, to the last! Success! Would you win it and wear its bright token? Smile and step out to the drummer's light lilt; Fight on till the last inch of sword-blade is broken. Then do not say die. Fight on with the hilt!
In print by 1911 AD · modern
Recorded in a printed collection by this date; the original date of these words is still unknown.
Meaning not yet available
An individual explanation has not yet been added. We do not substitute a generic description for an interpretation of these particular words.
Begin with source-checked readings and explanations ↗Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Mary Markwell
Attribution: attributed - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- In print by 1911 AD · modern
In print by 1911: recorded in The Optimist’s Good Morning (1911). Collection publication is an upper bound for this wording, not its earliest origin, composition date or the author's lifetime.
An author lifetime, approximate period or collection date is not necessarily the date when these words were first written or spoken. - Recorded source
- The Optimist’s Good Morning (1911) (1911 AD)
Complete signed selection 142; printed byline: Mary Markwell; Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1911; printed copyright 1907
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.