1. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
repeatedly(adv.) many times
excellence(n.) the quality of being extremely good
habit(n.) something that you do regularly or usually, often without thinking about it because you have done it so many times before
2. You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, “I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.” You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
strength(n.) the quality of being brave or determined in dealing with difficult or unpleasant situations
live through something – to experience something difficult or painful and continue to live
come along – to arrive; to appear
3. Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.
success(n.) when you achieve what you want or intend
failure(n.) a lack of success in achieving or doing something
enthusiasm(n.) a strong feeling of excitement and interest in something and a desire to become involved in it
4. You should never believe a thing simply because you want to believe it.
simply(adv.) only
5. Sometimes nothing is the hardest thing to do.
6. Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.
effectively(adv.) in a way that produces the intended result or a successful result
7. The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
adapt(v.) 1. to change your behavior in order to deal more successfully with a new situation/ 2. to change something in order to make it suitable for a new use or situation
persist(v.) to continue to do something, although this is difficult, or other people oppose it
depend on something/somebody – to need something or someone in order to exist, or be healthy, successful etc
8. Put all your eggs in one basket and then watch that basket.
9. If you don't execute your ideas, they die.
execute(v.) (formal) to do a piece of work, perform a duty, put a plan into action, etc.
10. Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.
victorious(adj.) having won a victory, or ending in a victory
warrior(n.) (especially in the past) a person who fights in a battle or war
seek(v.) to try to find or get something, especially something that is not a physical object
11. People can’t make decisions easily when stressed, are low in willpower or feeling overwhelmed. When you are too tired to make a decision, you tend to just repeat what you usually do.
overwhelm (v.) 1. if someone is overwhelmed by an emotion, they feel it so strongly that they cannot think clearly/ 2. if work or a problem overwhelms someone, it is too much or too difficult to deal with
tend to do something – to be likely to do something or to happen in a particular way because this is what often or usually happens
12. If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original.
come up with something – to think of an idea, answer etc
think of somebody/something – to produce an idea, name, suggestion etc by thinking
original(adj.) completely new and different from anything that anyone has thought of before
13. It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It's what we do consistently.
once in a while – sometimes but not often
shape(v.) to influence something such as a belief, opinion etc and make it develop in a particular way
consistently(adv.) in a way that does not change and continues for a period of time
14. The goal in creating habits is to change your brain with repetition.
repetition(n.) doing or saying the same thing many times
15. There’s no justice in the world. Not unless we make it.
justice(n.) the fair treatment of people
fair(adj.) acceptable and appropriate in a particular situation
unless(conj.) used to say that something can only happen or be true in a particular situation
16. Nothing is more hateful than failing to protect the one you love.
hateful(adj.) very unpleasant
17. A lot can happen between now and never.
18. A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man.
19. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
journey(n.) an act of travelling from one place to another, especially when they are far apart
20. A man with no motive is a man no one suspects.
motive(n.) a reason for doing something
suspect(v.) 1. to have an idea that something is probably true or likely to happen, especially something bad, but without having definite proof/ 2. to have an idea that somebody is guilty of something, without having definite proof
21. Always keep your foes confused. If they don’t know who you are or what you want, they can’t know what you plan to do next.
foe(n.) an enemy
confused(adj.) unable to think clearly or to understand what is happening or what somebody is saying
22. If you can’t explain something simply, you don’t understand it well enough.
23. Your ability to get things done depends on how well you can focus on one task at a time, whether it’s for five minutes or an hour.
depend on something/somebody – to need something or someone in order to exist, or be healthy, successful etc
24. Fortunately, the more we work on focusing on one task at a time and ignoring distractions, the more we exercise the prefrontal cortex – the more evolved part of our brains. Then it becomes easier to focus.
distraction(n.) a thing that takes your attention away from what you are doing or thinking about
evolve(v.) to develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complicated form; to develop something in this way
25. Working continuously and for long hours does not mean you’re getting more done. Sometimes the best way to get something done is not to work on it for a while.
continuously(adv.) in a way that happens or exists for a period of time without interruption
26. Multitasking is an illusion. Research shows that people get more done if they concentrate on one task at a time. Switching frequently between tasks – or believing that you are actually doing more than one thing at once – will actually slow you down.
multitasking(n.) the ability to do several things at the same time
illusion(n.) an idea or belief that is not true
concentrate(v.) to give all your attention to something and not think about anything else
at once - together, at the same time
27. It’s better to change your position throughout the day, in a regular cycle of sitting, standing and moving around. Among other things, this variety helps bring more blood to your brain, improving your cognition and therefore your productivity.
throughout – during all of a particular period, from the beginning to the end
among other things – used when you are giving one fact, reason, effect etc but want to suggest that there are many others
variety(n.) the quality of not being the same or not doing the same thing all the time
cognition(n.) the process of knowing, understanding, and learning something
productivity(n.) the rate at which a worker, a company or a country produces goods, and the amount produced, compared with how much time, work and money is needed to produce them
28. It is important to take breaks throughout the workday.
break(n.) a short period of time when you stop what you are doing and rest, eat, etc.
workday(n.) the part of a day during which you work
29. Managers do things right. Leaders do the right thing.
30. Fuzzy thinking leads to hesitancy in acting. Clear thinking makes it easier to act boldly and consistently. And really ambitious goals generally require bold and consistent action.
fuzzy(adj.) not clear
hesitancy(n.) the state or quality of being slow or uncertain in doing or saying something
boldly(adv.) in a brave, confident way; without being afraid to say what you feel or to take risks
ambitious(adj.) an ambitious plan, idea etc shows a desire to do something good but difficult
bold(adj.) not afraid of taking risks and making difficult decisions
31. Being able to set an ambitious goal, create a plan to achieve it, and then work the plan all the way to victory is a skill that can take a lifetime to master.
master(v.) 1. to learn a skill or a language so well that you have no difficulty with it/ 2. to learn or understand something completely
32. Quality is more important than quantity.
quality(n.) how good or bad something is
quantity(n.) an amount of something that can be counted or measured
33. Essentially, a certain income level is necessary for food, shelter, and preventing daily worries, but once you have reached that basic level of financial security, making more money is unlikely to lead to better days.
essentially(adv.) used when stating the most basic facts about something
shelter(n.) a place to live, considered as one of the basic needs of life
prevent(v.) to stop something from happening, or stop someone from doing something
reach(v.) to get to a particular level, especially a high one
security(n.) protection from bad things that could happen to you
34. It’s better to be cruel than weak.
cruel(adj.) having a desire to cause physical or mental pain and make somebody suffer
35. No one can survive in this world without help.
survive(v.) to continue to live or exist
36. The more people you love, the weaker you are. You’ll do things for them that you know you shouldn’t do. You’ll act the fool to make them happy, to keep them safe.
act/play the fool - If you play the fool or act the fool, you behave in a playful, childish, and foolish way, usually in order to make other people laugh
playful(adj.) funny and not serious
childish(adj.) If you describe someone, especially an adult, as childish, you disapprove of them because they behave in an immature way
foolish(adj.) unwise, stupid, or not showing good judgment
37. Trouble is the perfect time for training.
38. What is done is done. What is past is past.
39. Some doors close forever, others open in most unexpected places.
40. The fool who persists in his folly will become wise.
folly(n.) a very stupid thing to do, especially one that is likely to have serious results
41. The best way to predict your future is to create it.
predict(v.) to say that something will happen, before it happens
42. Remember, to learn and not to do is really not to learn. To know and not to do is really not to know.
43. If love is what you need, you must be willing to travel to the ends of the world to find it.
44. If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.
giant(n.) a person who is very good at something
45. If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.
46. He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.
bear(v.) to bravely accept or deal with a painful, difficult, or upsetting situation
47. The unexamined life is not worth living.
examine(v.) to check or study something carefully, especially to prove an idea, learn new information, or discover possible problems
worth(adj.) used to recommend the action mentioned because you think it may be useful, pleasant, etc.
48. A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.
whetstone(n.) a stone that is used to make tools, knives and weapons sharp
49. The lack of money is the root of all evil.
root(n.) the main cause of something, such as a problem or difficult situation
evil(n.) a force that causes bad things to happen; morally bad behavior
50. There is a difference between being poor and being broke. Broke is temporary. Poor is eternal.
poor(adj.) having very little money; not having enough money for basic needs
broke(adj.) having no money
temporary(adj.) continuing for only a limited period of time
eternal(adj.) without an end; existing or continuing forever
51. The poor and the middle class work for money. The rich have money work for them.
middle class(n.) 1. the social class that includes people who are educated and work in professional jobs, for example teachers or managers/ 2. the social class whose members are neither very rich nor very poor and that includes professional and business people
52. Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.
courage(n.) the ability to control your fear in a dangerous or difficult situation
53. Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.
resistance(n.) the act of fighting against something that is attacking you, or refusing to accept something
mastery(n.) complete control of something
54. Courageous people are still afraid, but they don’t let the fear paralyze them.
courageous(adj.) brave
paralyze(v.) 1. if something paralyses you, it makes you lose the ability to move part or all of your body, or to feel it/ 2. to make something unable to operate normally
55. Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads.
talent(n.) a natural ability to do something well
rare(adj.) not seen or found very often, or not happening very often
lead(v.) to go with or in front of a person or an animal to show the way or to make them go in the right direction
56. The highest courage is to dare to appear to be what one is.
dare(v.) to be brave enough to do something
appear(v.) to start to be seen
57. Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.
inaction(n.) lack of action; the state of doing nothing about a situation or a problem
breed(v.) to cause a particular feeling or condition
conquer(v.) to succeed in dealing with or controlling something
58. When you avoid facing a fear and then feel relieved that you escaped it, this acts as a psychological reward that reinforces the mouse-like avoidance behavior, making you even more likely to avoid facing the fear in the future.
relieved(adj.) feeling happy because you are no longer worried about something
escape (v.) to avoid something bad or that you do not want to happen
act as sth – to have a particular effect
psychological(adj.) relating to the way that your mind works and the way that this affects your behavior
reinforce(v.) to make a feeling, an idea, etc. stronger
59. It took her a full month to summon the courage to tell her mother.
summon(v.) to try very hard to have enough of something such as courage, energy, or strength, because you need it
60. When you become so attached to an outcome, trying to control something that isn’t completely within your control, you lose your sense of peace.
attached(adj.) to like someone or something very much
peace(n.) 1. a very quiet and pleasant situation in which you are not interrupted/ 2. a feeling of being calm, happy, and not worried
61. Believing you need to control what you cannot control is a recipe for stress and overwhelm.
be a recipe for something – to be likely to cause a particular result, often a bad one
62. Remember the golden rule. He who has the gold makes the rules.
rule(n.) a statement of what may, must or must not be done in a particular situation or when playing a game
63. The fear of being different prevents most people from seeking new ways to solve their problems.
64. A person can be highly educated, professionally successful, and financially illiterate.
highly(adv.) very
educated(adj.) having been well taught and learned a lot
illiterate(adj.) someone who is illiterate has not learned to read or write
economically/politically/scientifically etc illiterate – knowing very little about economics, politics etc
65. An intelligent person hires people who are more intelligent than he is.
intelligent(adj.) 1. an intelligent person has a high level of mental ability and is good at understanding ideas and thinking clearly/ 2. good at learning, understanding and thinking in a logical way about things; showing this ability
hire(v.) to give somebody a job
66. Actions, not words, reveal beliefs. If you want to understand what you truly believe, observe your actions.
reveal(v.) to make known something that was previously secret or unknown
belief(n.) an idea that you believe to be true, especially one that forms part of a system of idea
observe(v.) to watch somebody/something carefully, especially to learn more about them
67. Opportunities come and go. Being able to know when to make quick decisions is an important skill.
68. Often in the real world, it’s not the smart who get ahead, but the bold.
get ahead - to be successful and do better than other people in a job or work
bold(adj.) not afraid of taking risks and making difficult decisions
69. Few people realize that luck is created, just as money is.
few – a small number or not many
realize(v.) to understand or become aware of a particular fact or situation
70. The single most powerful asset we all have is our mind. If it is trained well, it can create enormous wealth seemingly instantaneously.
asset(n.) something or someone that is useful because they help you succeed or deal with problems
enormous(adj.) very big in size or in amount
seemingly(adv.) appearing to have a particular quality, when this may or may not be true
instantaneously(adv.) immediately
71. Simple math and common sense are all you need to do well financially.
common sense(n.) the ability to behave in a sensible way and make practical decisions
72. Great opportunities are not seen with your eyes. They are seen with your mind.
73. Most people never get wealthy simply because they are not trained financially to recognize opportunities right in front of them.
recognize(v.) to admit or to be aware that something exists or is true
74. Winners are not afraid of losing. But losers are.
75. Failure is part of the process of success. People who avoid failure also avoid success.
76. When you need advice, make sure you choose your adviser wisely.
advice(n.) an opinion or a suggestion about what somebody should do in a particular situation
adviser(n.) a person who gives advice, especially somebody who knows a lot about a particular subject
wisely(adv.) 1. in a way that shows you have a lot of experience and knowledge/ 2. in a way that shows you have good judgement
77. There is always risk, so learn to manage risk instead of avoiding it.
risk(n.) the possibility that something bad, unpleasant, or dangerous may happen
78. To be truly rich, we need to be able to give as well as to receive.
79. The primary difference between a rich person and a poor person is how they manage fear.
primary(adj.) most important
80. We’re all heroes at something, and cowards at something else.
coward(n.) a person who is not brave and is too eager to avoid danger, difficulty, or pain
81. Everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die.
82. For winners, losing inspires them. For losers, losing defeats them.
inspire(v.) 1. to encourage someone by making them feel confident and eager to do something/ 2. to make someone feel that they want to do something and can do it
defeat(v.) to cause someone or something to fail
83. I always tried to turn every disaster into an opportunity.
turn (somebody/something) into something – to become something different, or to make someone or something do this
disaster(n.) 1. an unexpected event, such as a very bad accident, a flood or a fire, that kills a lot of people or causes a lot of damage/ 2. a very bad situation that causes problems
84. Doubt is expensive.
doubt(n.) a feeling of being not sure whether something is true or right
85. Greed is good.
greed(n.) a strong desire for more wealth, possessions, power, etc. than a person needs
86. I don’t like being an employee.
employee(n.) a person who is paid to work for somebody
87. Choice is the main reason people want to live in a free country.
choice(n.) 1. an act of choosing between two or more possibilities; something that you can choose/ 2. the right to choose; the possibility of choosing
88. Remember, the easy road often becomes hard, and the hard road often becomes easy.
89. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
definition(n.) a phrase or sentence that says exactly what a word, phrase, or idea means
insanity(n.) the state of being seriously mentally ill, so that you cannot live normally in society
90. Security is mostly a superstition.
mostly(adv.) mainly; generally
superstition(n.) 1. a belief that some objects or actions are lucky or unlucky, or that they cause events to happen, based on old ideas of magic/ 2. the belief that particular events happen in a way that cannot be explained by reason or science; the belief that particular events bring good or bad luck
91. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
daring(n.) brave and taking risks
adventure(n.) an unusual, exciting or dangerous experience, journey or series of events
92. If you see your life as valuable and meaningful, then you will value your time as well. If you find yourself wasting a lot of time, you probably don’t have a strong enough reason to manage your time well.
meaningful(adj.) serious and important
value(v.) to think that someone or something is important
93. If your life has no meaningful purpose, then you don’t have a compelling enough reason to improve your time management skills. You might get motivated every once in a while, but your motivation to improve just won’t last.
purpose(n.) why you do something or why something exists
compelling(adj.) If a reason, argument, etc. is compelling, it makes you believe it or accept it because it is so strong
motivated(adj.) very keen to do something or achieve something, especially because you find it interesting or exciting
every once in a while – sometimes, although not often
motivation(n.) the feeling of wanting to do something, especially something that involves hard work and effort
94. I can resist everything except temptation.
resist(v.) to refuse to accept something and try to stop it from happening
temptation(n.) a strong desire to have or do something even though you know you should not
95. If you want something badly enough, then quitting is simply not an option.
badly(adv.) to a great or serious degree
quit(v.) to stop doing something
96. Needing someone but worrying that you’re not good enough to keep that person is a recipe for jealousy.
jealousy(n.) a feeling of unhappiness and anger because someone has something or someone that you want
97. It’s far better to happily achieve than it is to feel you must achieve in order to be happy.
98. Security comes from trusting in yourself — in your ability to think and to take action. As long as you have the ability to think and take action, you’re secure.
secure(adj.) feeling confident about yourself and your abilities
99. A big mistake people make when trying to increase their success in some area is that they’ll ask advice from people who aren’t getting the right results.
100. Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.
creativity(n.) the ability to use your imagination to produce new ideas, make things etc
延伸閱讀