Jack Dempsey

William Harrison “Jack” Dempsey, nicknamed the “Manassa Mauler,” held the world heavyweight title from 1919 to 1926 and became one of the defining sports celebrities of the Roaring Twenties. He grew up in hardscrabble poverty in Colorado and fought in saloons and mining camps for small purses — the lived experience behind his often-quoted line about getting up because he “had to collect the two dollars for winning or go hungry.” His blend of ferocity and hard-won resilience made him a natural magnet for perseverance sayings.