Few names in the world of personal development and sales motivation are as legendary as Zig Ziglar. With his signature blend of wit, wisdom, and Southern charm, Ziglar transformed the way millions of people think about success, attitude, leadership, and faith.
Born Hilary Hinton Ziglar in 1926, Zig became one of the most well-known motivational speakers of the 20th century. His quotes are concise, powerful, and packed with timeless truths that still resonate in business meetings, classrooms, and personal journals today.
- “Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation.”
- “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
- “Success is the maximum utilization of the ability that you have.”
- “Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.”
- “Success is not a destination, it’s a journey.”
- “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing — that’s why we recommend it daily.”
- “Motivation gets you going, and habit gets you there.”
- “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”
- “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.”
- “Do it, and then you will feel motivated to do it.”
- “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.”
- “A positive attitude will have positive results, because attitudes are contagious.”
- “The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what you want most for what you want right now.”
- “It’s not what happens to you that determines how far you will go in life — it is how you handle what happens to you.”
- “Be helpful. When you see a person without a smile, give them yours.”
- “You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life.”
- “If people like you, they’ll listen to you. But if they trust you, they’ll do business with you.”
- “Honesty and integrity are absolutely essential for success in life – all areas of life.”
- “Building a better you is the first step to building a better America.”
- “The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love, and loyalty.”
- “You were designed for accomplishment, engineered for success, and endowed with the seeds of greatness.”
- “When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal; you do not change your decision to get there.”
- “Hope is the power that gives a person the confidence to step out and try.”
- “Duty makes us do things well, but love makes us do them beautifully.”
- “With integrity, you have nothing to fear, since you have nothing to hide.”
- “Discipline yourself to do the things you need to do.”
- “Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see further.”
- “The more you are grateful for what you have, the more you will have to be grateful for.”
- “Fear has two meanings: ‘Forget Everything And Run’ or ‘Face Everything And Rise.’ The choice is yours.”
- “Make today worth remembering.”
Zig Ziglar’s wisdom is as relevant today as it was decades ago. His quotes remind us that success isn’t just about talent it’s about mindset, discipline, and service to others.
“Live your life as though you are a role model. Because you are.” – Zig Ziglar
