Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you’re willing to pay the price.

The line uses a memorable wordplay—only in a dictionary does “success” precede “work”—to reject the idea of effortless achievement. It frames success as something earned through sustained effort and sacrifice (“the price”), implying that talent or desire alone is insufficient without disciplined labor. In the Lombardi aura, the “price” also suggests commitment to standards: preparation, repetition, and willingness to endure discomfort in pursuit of excellence. The quote’s appeal lies in its moral clarity: outcomes are tied to inputs, and the decisive factor is whether one is prepared to pay the cost in time, energy, and perseverance.

“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”
“Hard work is the price we must pay for success.”
“I think you can accomplish anything if you’re willing to pay the price.”