Persistence means never giving up and continuing your efforts to achieve success even in the face of failures and setbacks. It is important for achieving big dreams and goals, as without persistence one may quit at the first sign of defeat. Thomas Edison exemplified persistence through his over 10,000 failed attempts at inventing the light bulb before succeeding. Developing persistence requires having definiteness of purpose, strong desires, and enthusiasm, which together help one achieve their heart's desires through never quitting.