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Eight old quotes for anyone who keeps a website going

Short lines from writers, thinkers and statesmen on starting, finishing and keeping at it. Each one has its source, so you can check it.

Nobody ever finished a website. You publish it, then you keep it right. These are eight old lines that help on the days it feels like a chore.

On starting

“Nothing will ever be attempted, if all possible objections must first be overcome.” Samuel Johnson, Rasselas, 1759.

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” Theodore Roosevelt, quoting Squire Bill Widener, in his Autobiography, 1913.

Both are a polite way of saying the same thing. Your first version won’t be perfect, so publish it and fix it as you go.

On the words

“Brevity is the soul of wit.” William Shakespeare, Hamlet, around 1600.

“I have made this longer than usual because I have not had time to make it shorter.” Blaise Pascal, Provincial Letters, 1657.

Short takes time. If a page feels long and flabby, cut a line and read it again. Then cut another.

On making it good

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Wind, Sand and Stars, 1939.

“Well done is better than well said.” Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1737.

Your visitors can’t see how much you meant to improve the page. They only see what is on it today.

On keeping at it

“Little strokes fell great oaks.” Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1750.

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, Circles, 1841.

A site stays right through small changes: a price, a photo, an opening hour. Ten minutes a week adds up faster than you’d think.