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Progress Quotes

Words on moving forward, one step at a time.

This page gathers quotes on progress in its widest sense - from the slow, hard-won steps of social reform to the ambitions of politicians who say they champion it. Some voices here are hopeful; others question whether it is happening at all. Readers who like this theme often check out Change as well.

Fiscal discipline is a priority in Romania, and we have already proven we are committed and able to make real progress in this area.

Quotes by Victor Ponta

On what can we now place our hopes of solving the many riddles which still exist as to the origin and composition of cosmic rays? It must be emphasized here above all that to attain really decisive progress greater funds...

Quotes by Victor Francis Hess

In order to make further progress, particularly in the field of cosmic rays, it will be necessary to apply all our resources and apparatus simultaneously and side-by-side; an effort which has not yet been made, or at least, only to...

Quotes by Victor Francis Hess

Another symptom of progress toward the Singularity: ideas themselves should spread ever faster, and even the most radical will quickly become commonplace.

Quotes by Vernor Vinge

President Obama celebrates diversity, yet instinctively seeks common ground and builds on that common ground to make progress.

Quotes by Valerie Jarrett

Nigeria shed the last of a succession of brutal military dictatorships in 1997 and adopted a democratic form of government only in 1999. Our elections of 2003, 2007, and 2011 were complicated and fraught with tension, but each one has...

Quotes by Uzodinma Iweala

I wouldn't put a big trust in what people in Silicon Valley say. They may be good at manipulating ones and zeroes and writing software, but beyond that, their contribution to human progress has been pretty dismal. I'm not impressed.

Quotes by Vaclav Smil

Hold fast to the Bible. To the influence of this Book we are indebted for all the progress made in true civilization and to this we must look as our guide in the future.

Quotes by Ulysses S. Grant

Real progress comes from people.

Quotes by Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj

We need to figure out how to merge political progress with actual progress.

Quotes by Travis Kalanick

Ultimately, progress and innovation win.

Quotes by Travis Kalanick

It's the same each time with progress. First they ignore you, then they say you're mad, then dangerous, then there's a pause and then you can't find anyone who disagrees with you.

Quotes by Tony Benn

The first song I ever wrote was when I was 12, and it had, like, four lines in it. You progress and get better.

Quotes by Tom Odell

Our progress against malaria is impressive. But vigilance remains a critical ingredient to protect the health of all people.

Quotes by Tom Frieden

Modern motor vehicles are safer and more reliable than they have ever been - yet more than 1 million people are killed in car accidents around the world each year, and more than 50 million are injured. Why? Largely because...

Quotes by Tom Chatfield

We have to attack those things which stand in the way of America progress. And what stands in the way of American progress right now is the federal government.

Quotes by Tim Scott

Progress is always relative: to the oppressed, it can only be viewed as an all or nothing deal - if oppression continues, even in a modified form, then the system must still be attacked until that injustice is eradicated.

Quotes by Tim Wise

People will pay a price for putting political obstruction over progress in a time that is so critical and urgent.

Quotes by Tim Kaine

Progress is man's ability to complicate simplicity.

Quotes by Thor Heyerdahl

I love and reverence the Word, the bearer of the spirit, the tool and gleaming ploughshare of progress.

Thomas Mann

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the "progress" quotes on this page focus on?
These quotes look at progress from several different angles - from a historical, high-cost view ("Every step of progress the world has made has been from scaffold to scaffold, and from stake to stake") to political ambition and personal belief. It's not one narrow theme; it spans history, national politics, and personal conviction.
Does the page include quotes about political progress?
Yes. One quote is a politician's personal reflection on their father, "one of the leaders of the Iraqi Democratic Party, who believed in progress." Another sample post shares a speaker's own critical assessment of how much progress was being made in Iraq at the time - that assessment is presented in the quote as the speaker's opinion, not as an established fact.
Is there a quote about bringing "progressive" issues to a national stage?
Yes, one sample quote comes from a speaker discussing progress and progressive issues they were tackling locally, in Miramar, with the stated ambition of taking those issues nationally - presented as that speaker's own political goal, not a neutral fact.
What's a well-known standalone line about progress from this collection?
One of the most quotable lines here is "Every step of progress the world has made has been from scaffold to scaffold, and from stake to stake" - a stark way of framing how much progress has often cost throughout history.
Where can I find more quotes related to progress and change?
If you enjoyed these, you may also like our Change and New quotes pages, which explore related ideas about moving forward and starting fresh.

Because progress means something different depending on who is speaking - a reformer, a candidate, or a skeptic watching a distant conflict unfold - this set stays broad rather than picking one definition. For related reading, browse Good or More.