Quintessential Quotes – The Wonderful Words of Walt Disney

The name Walt Disney is known the world over – Disneyland, Disney World, the incredible movies, and of course the mouse.  Walt holds two amazing records, receiving the most Academy Award nominations (59), and winning the most Academy Awards (22).  But Disney’s world wasn’t always so magical.

Walt tried to enlist in the Army during WWI, but was rejected because he was only 16 years old.  He got a job as an apprentice artist, but was laid off.  He and a partner started their own art studio, but it went bankrupt.  He was on the verge of a breakthrough with an animated character he created named Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, only to have the deal fall apart because of a pay dispute with the Producer.  Worse, he found that the Producer had sold the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, so Walt couldn’t do anything with the character he created.

Sometimes circumstances that seem terrible in the moment turn out to be fortuitous events when all is said and done. In Walt’s case, the loss of Oswald led him to create another character, one that would become the basis for a magical kingdom, one’s whose name, of course, was Mickey Mouse.

Walt Disney’s vision and imagination created a magical kingdom enjoyed by people around the world.  Below are some wonderful words from Walt Disney.

“First, think.  Second, dream.  Third, believe.  And finally, dare.”

“A person should set his goals as early as he can and devote all his energy and talent to getting there.  With enough effort, he may achieve it.  Or he may find something that is even more rewarding.  But in the end, no matter what the outcome, he will know he has been alive.”

“All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me… You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

“The greatest moments in life are not concerned with selfish achievements but rather with the things we do for the people we love…”

“Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever.”

“Somehow I can’t believe that there are any heights that can’t be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true.  This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four C’s.  They are curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy.”

“I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter.”

“People often ask me if I know the secret of success and if I could tell others how to make their dreams come true.  My answer is, you do it by working.”

“Whatever you do, do it well.  Do it so well that when people see you do it they will want to come back and see you do it again and they will want to bring others and show them how well you do what you do.”