We learn by pushing ourselves and finding what really lies at the outer reaches of our abilities.

In chess you might find a good move. Then you might find a better move. But take your time. Find the best move.

A man wants to walk across the land, but the earth is covered with thorns. He has two options - one is to pave his road, to tame all of nature into compliance. The other is to make sandals. Making sandals is the internal solution...it does not base success on a submissive world or overpowering force, but on intelligent preparation and cultivated resilience.

In America, people focus on the end result; they focus on the star.

I have never considered myself a prodigy. Others have used that term, but I never bought in to it.

Not only do we have to be good at waiting, we have to love it. Because waiting is not waiting, it is life.

The key to pursuing excellence is to embrace an organic, long-term learning process, and not to live in a shell of static, safe mediocrity. Usually, growth comes at the expense of previous comfort or safety.