“Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.”
Jack Kornfield
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The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
About this quote
Meaning
The quote cuts through the common habit of preparing endlessly while actual progress stalls. Getting ahead, in almost any endeavor, depends not on perfect conditions or complete readiness but simply on taking the first concrete step. The wit of the line lies in how obvious it sounds once stated, yet how easy it is to forget when facing something difficult or unfamiliar.
Context
Mark Twain wrote and spoke prolifically about human nature, motivation, and the gap between intention and action. This observation fits naturally within his long career of puncturing self-deception with humor. Whether it appeared in a lecture, a letter, or a casual remark, its appeal is its directness: it names the obstacle (not starting) and names the cure (starting) without sentimentality. It has been widely quoted and occasionally attributed to others, but it is most consistently associated with Twain.
About the author
Mark Twain was an American writer and humorist who lived from 1835 to 1910 and became one of the most celebrated literary voices of his era. He is best known for novels exploring American life, morality, and adventure, but he was equally famous during his lifetime as a lecturer and wit. His gift for compressing a sharp observation into a single memorable sentence has kept his shorter remarks in circulation long after his death, and this quote stands as a good example of that talent.
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