Big shots are only little shots who keep shooting.

In the words of Christopher Morley, wit, thinker, and keen observer of life’s struggles, we hear this immortal reminder: “Big shots are only little shots who keep shooting.” This phrase, dressed in humor but armored in truth, proclaims that greatness is not the gift of gods, nor the inheritance of a chosen few, but the fruit of persistence. The mighty are not born mighty—they are made by countless small attempts, failures, and renewed efforts. The “big shot” is not different in kind from the “little shot,” except in one thing: he refused to stop firing.

The origin of this wisdom lies in Morley’s deep understanding of perseverance. Living in a world that glorifies sudden success, he sought to strip away the illusion that greatness is magical or mysterious. His words remind us that behind every figure of renown lies a trail of attempts, often unseen, that were humble, flawed, and ordinary. What transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary is not luck, but the relentless act of continuing—of shooting again and again, until skill sharpens and opportunity bows.

History itself bears witness. Consider Thomas Edison, who attempted thousands of experiments before perfecting the incandescent lightbulb. To many, he was a failure, wasting time and resources. Yet he kept shooting, and in time his persistence transformed him into a “big shot,” remembered across centuries. His genius was not in never failing, but in never ceasing to try. Edison himself said: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” He was the living embodiment of Morley’s creed.

The ancients, too, spoke of this law. The hero Heracles did not earn glory through one labor, but through twelve. Each task seemed insurmountable, yet he continued, sweat upon sweat, trial upon trial. It was not the first blow of his club that made him a legend, but the unyielding rhythm of his strikes, his refusal to surrender, his continual shooting at fate until even the gods crowned him immortal. So too, all great men and women are forged by repetition of effort, not by singular triumph.

The meaning of Morley’s words is profound: no one begins as a “big shot.” We all begin as “little shots,” fumbling, uncertain, often overlooked. But the difference between obscurity and greatness lies in endurance. To keep shooting—to keep writing, speaking, building, creating, fighting—is to sharpen the aim and strengthen the arm. Victory comes not to the one who fires once with perfection, but to the one who fires a thousand times with determination.

The lesson for us is eternal: do not envy the “big shots,” nor believe they were born as such. See instead in their story the trail of perseverance. And do not despise your own beginnings, however small or imperfect. Every master was once an apprentice. Every victor was once a struggler. The only path forward is through continual effort, through the refusal to put down the bow, the pen, or the tool of your craft.

Practical counsel is this: choose your target, and begin shooting. Do not demand perfection in the first attempt, for perfection is not the parent of progress, but its child. Keep a record of your efforts, not to shame yourself, but to witness your growth. Surround yourself with those who will encourage you to keep shooting when weariness sets in. And above all, remember that persistence is more powerful than brilliance. For in the long march of life, it is not talent alone but endurance that secures triumph.

Thus, Morley’s words echo across generations as a hymn of persistence: “Big shots are only little shots who keep shooting.” Children of tomorrow, carry this wisdom with you. When failure stings, when progress is slow, when doubt creeps near, remember: each shot, however small, brings you closer to mastery. Keep shooting, keep striving, and in time you will stand among the “big shots”—not because you were born great, but because you refused to stop.