Persistence

Persistence is defined as "voluntary continuation of a goal-directed action in spite of obstacles, difficulties, or discouragement" (Peterson and Seligman, 2004, p. 229). Repentance can turn a person around from persistent destructive habits.

Quote

Calvin Coolidge in 1919

Persistence is a virtue, as Calvin Coolidge said:

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.

• Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
• Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
• Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
• First a person will learn to be cruel of necessity, then by habit, and eventually for pleasure.

The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.

Journal article

• Persistence Is Multi-Trait: Persistence Scale Development and Persistence Perseveration and Perfectionism Questionnaire into Polish Translation, Brain Sci. 2023 May 26;13(6):864. doi: 10.3390/brainsci13060864

Books

• Unstoppable Brain: The New Neuroscience that Frees Us from Failure, Eases Our Stress, and Creates Lasting Change by Kyra Bobinet. Forbes Books. April 30, 2024
• Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable by Tim S. Grover. Scribner; 45737th edition (April 16, 2013)
• From Stuck to Unstoppable: A Practical Guide to Overcoming Fear and Taking Action by Matilda Harlow. ASIN: B0G3BBST9F. November 21, 2025
• Unstoppable: The Young Athlete’s Guide to Rock Solid Mental Strength by Thomas Bourne. ASIN: B0BBJLPWQW. August 23, 2022
• Unstoppable Mindset: How to Use What You Have to Get What You Want by Alden Mills. Matt Holt Books. April 23, 2024
• Unstoppable: Transforming Your Mindset to Create Change, Accelerate Results, and Be the Best at What You Do by Dave Anderson. ‎ Wiley. September 25, 2017
• Unstoppable: Motivation Secrets You Need to Develop Courage, Confidence and A Positive Mental Attitude by Brian Tracy. G & D Media. March 13, 2023
• Unstoppable: The Incredible Power of Faith in Action by Nick Vujicic. WaterBrook. October 2, 2012
• Positively Unstoppable: The Art of Owning It by Diamond Dallas Page. Rodale Books. January 15, 2019.
• Unstoppable: 45 Powerful Stories of Perseverance and Triumph from People Just Like You by Cynthia Kersey. Sourcebooks. Publication date: ‎June 1, 1998
• The Fight to Find Yourself: Moving from Uncertain to Unstoppable by Joel Tudman. FaithWords. November 4, 2025

See also

• Grit (personality trait)
• Commitment as a virtue
• Mindset
• Books about having a winning mindset
• Attitude
• Mental toughness
• Psychological resilience
• Addiction

External links

• Persistence Defined by Ben Dean Ph.D
• The Positive Psychology of Persistence and Flexibility, Dr. Paul Wong
• Perseverance in Psychology: Meaning, Importance & Books by Anna Katharina Schaffner, Ph.D.
• How does one become unstoppable?
• How does one become unstoppable?