I have to do things for myself, and if those standards are set high, then it's up to me to pass or fail.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes personal responsibility in achieving one’s own high standards.
Henry Rollins highlights the importance of self-determination and accountability in striving for personal excellence. By setting high standards for oneself, he asserts that it is ultimately the individual’s choice to succeed or fail based on their actions and dedication.
In practice
During a motivational speech to inspire students to take charge of their futures.
Some people see Black Friday as a much-needed break for their wallet. I see it as retail outlets showing the customers the full weight of their contempt. The frenzy to buy cheap crap from China, the human downgrade of people fighting with each other over items they can probably live without, to me, is an insult.
Strength is the product of struggle, you must do what others don't to achieve what others won't.
Sitting in a room, alone, listening to a CD is to be lonely. Sitting in a room alone with an LP crackling away, or sitting next to the turntable listening to a song at a time via 7-inch single is enjoying the sublime state of solitude.
When the Iron doesn't want to come off the mat, it's the kindest thing it can do for you. If it flew up and went through the ceiling, it wouldn't teach you anything.
If you paid Americans a living wage, they would be able to pay for products made by Americans in America.
If I lose the light of the sun, I will write by candlelight, moonlight, no light. If I lose paper and ink, I will write in blood on forgotten walls. I will write always. I will capture nights all over the world and bring them to you
When you talk about 'doing the work', that's the work I'm interested in. What can I contribute as a human being?
One thing hurts me. I keep hearing 'Terry Fox.' I'm not doing the run to become rich or famous... To me, being famous is not the idea of the run. The only important part is that cancer can be beaten.
Why did I become Jackie Chan? Mostly because I work very hard. When people were sleeping, I was still training.
There is an expression among even the most advanced runners that getting your shoes on is the hardest part of any workout
For me now, I will continue to focus ever harder on my goal of being the very best I can be with Toulon Rugby Club and continue to embrace and enjoy wherever that path takes me.
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. Say you’re running and you think, ‘Man, this hurts, I can’t take it anymore. The ‘hurt’ part is an unavoidable reality, but whether or not you can stand anymore is up to the runner himself.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.