Persistence Is Stronger than Failure

"Abraham Lincoln is acknowledged as one of America's greatest presidents.  Here is a brief summary of his career:

1831 - Failed in business
1832 - Defeated for legislature
1833 - Failed in business again
1834 - Elected to legislature
1835 - Sweetheart died
1836 - Had nervous breakdown
1838 - Defeated for speaker
1840 - Defeated for elector
1843 - Defeated for congressional nomination
1846 - Elected to Congress
1848 - Defeated for Congress
1855 - Defeated for Senate
1856 - Defeated for Vice President
1859 - Defeated for Senate
1860 - Elected President of the United States

The model Mr. Lincoln gave us with his persistence is one we can remember in the face of our own setbacks.  And what is most wondrous of all is that persistence is a quality that we ourselves control.  You, and only you, can decide whether you will stay the course."

Excerpt taken from "Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court" by John Wooden