I love inspirational quotes because they represent little snippets of wisdom passed on to us by people from all walks of life. Their words struck an emotional chord in someone, and soon enough, they made the rounds around the world, inspiring and motivating others. Some are very specific, addressing a particular aspect of life, while others are so generic, they cover all areas of life.
It’s fantastic to see how a sentence that fits on a small card can generate such powerful motivation in the blink of an eye. We all need these pick-me-ups now and then when we feel down or need a push to move on. People print these inspirational quotes on their walls at work or home and glance at them during the day. All it takes is a glance to recapture the emotion behind those words and feel empowered again.
Below, I have collected twenty of my favorite quotes from writers, thinkers, athletes, and more. They all hint toward the power we all have within ourselves to not only change our lives but grow and help others in the process. Some of them might be classics, and you might recognize them on the spot, others less so. Nevertheless, enjoy them and use them as you see fit.
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With that in mind, enjoy these inspirational quotes, and I hope they make a difference in your life!
Maya Angelou
“Nothing will work unless you do.” ~ Maya Angelou
This is one of my favorite inspirational quotes of all time. So simple, yet so powerful, and it all boils down to one thing: power and growth come from within. If you have a vision and work tirelessly toward it, you will get there one way or another. But it all starts with you.
Thomas Jefferson
“I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
This is an excellent quote for those people who think they lack control in their life. If you have an external locus of control, read this quote over and over again. You create your luck through hard work, dedication, and resilience—no other way.
Robert Kiyosaki
“Don’t let the fear of losing be greater than the excitement of winning.” ~ Robert Kiyosaki
The world is a scary place, and the older we get, the more complex and volatile it becomes. It’s not surprising that we all have different fears that prevent us from taking a leap of faith and embrace the opportunities in front of us. But when we focus on the excitement that future success promises, we can cast those fears away and take that leap toward greatness.
H.G. Wells
“If you fell down yesterday, stand up today.” ~ H.G. Wells
This is a reminder that every so often, we all fail at something. We all stumble, fall, and get hurt. It’s a part of life and our growth. But that is not the end of the road; in fact, it is precisely the beginning. When you stand up and regain your footing, you can move forward with new knowledge about the world and about yourself. It’s just another way of saying, never give up!
Napoleon Hill
“A goal is a dream with a deadline.” ~ Napoleon Hill
We all have dreams and desires. Sometimes we have clarity about them, and other times we don’t. But one thing is certain: if you dream without taking any action, you are merely creating a delusion for yourself. Action, though, requires a deadline. When you set up a deadline for your life goals, you commit to massive action and hold yourself accountable. This inspirational quote is just a small golden nugget from the many great ideas and thoughts Napoleon Hill left for us.
Charles Swindoll
“Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.” ~ Charles Swindoll
How true this is! We have no control over what happens to us, but we have 100 percent control over how we react in life. Our attitudes and behaviors, which result from the values and beliefs that lie at the core of our character, drives our lives, not those external factors. That is a call to action that requires us to understand and accept that we are always responsible for our lives, and we must hold ourselves accountable for it.
Winston Churchill
“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” ~ Winston Churchill
Tough times come once in a while. It’s inevitable, and it happens to all of us, on a smaller or larger scale. The point of this message is to never give up. Be resilient and push through. If you find yourself in a metaphorical hell, do not stop. Hell is not infinite, and with determination, you will break through to the other side. Just keep going!
George Lorimer
“You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.” ~ George Lorimer
This inspirational quote tells you that you must have a plan for everything at all times. You must create a vision for your life that you derive deliberately and with intent. When you do that, your purpose or why becomes crystal clear, and your actions align with those goals. That determination will lead over time to living a fulfilled life filled with joy and accomplishments.
Azim Premji
“If people are not laughing at your goals, your goals are too small.” ~ Azim Premji
This brings up, once more, the idea of a grand vision. Your audacious goals, your moonshot dreams cannot be small or even average. Instead, they must be gigantic and appear untouchable, so much so that people might laugh and doubt you. That’s okay because you believe in your dreams, and that is what will get you there. That is all that matters.
Vincent Lombardi
“Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” ~ Vincent Lombardi
This is all about mindset and how you approach the world. If you focus too much on the result, the outcome, you miss the entire journey. On the other hand, if you don’t desire to go on the journey, you will never make it to the end. But if you crave it and work tirelessly to get it, soon enough, you are going to win.
Dalai Lama
“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” ~ Dalai Lama
The concept of happiness is one of the most elusive of all, although we all claim loud and clear that we want to live happier lives. This quote reminds us that happiness is not a state bestowed upon us by something or someone but rather a result of our efforts and actions. We create our happiness, not the other way around.
William B. Sprague
“Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot, but make it hot by striking.” ~ William B. Sprague
This is another quote that hammers the point that action cannot wait for motivation. You cannot merely wait for opportunities to fall in your lap and only then hop on the bandwagon and take advantage of them. Instead, you must create your opportunities by searching, doing, experimenting, trying. Always. Take action first, ask questions later.
Theodore Roosevelt
“Believe that you can and you’re half way there.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt
The lack of self-confidence and belief in oneself is probably the main reason why people fail in life. It’s not because they can’t or don’t know; it’s not because they can’t learn or ask someone. Instead, it’s because they have lost their belief in themselves. Embracing new opportunities and setting up fresh experiences in life is at the root of growing your self-confidence, self-esteem, and understanding your value.
Dr. Robert Schuller
“Tough times never last, but tough people do.” ~ Dr. Robert Schuller
Much like the above quote from Winston Churchill, this inspirational quote reminds us that no matter how grim the situation is, it will not last forever. Nothing ever did throughout our history. During those dark times, though, it is the people who maintain their resilience and determination who get to see the light.
Steve Jobs
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” ~ Steve Jobs
There cannot be a list of quotes without one from Steve Jobs. The man was an institution, and his words transcended his life. Here, he reminds us to be authentic and create and live the life we desire. The alternative is that we’ll wind up fulfilling somebody else’s dreams.
Judy Garland
“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-version of somebody else.” ~ Judy Garland
Once more, this inspirational quote talks about authenticity. If you work hard, learn, and grow, you will continue to be the best version of yourself day after day. That kind of growth mindset is what you need to thrive. But if you pretend to be somebody else or live someone else’s life, you will forever be stuck in a vicious circle of unauthenticity.
Amit Ray
“A bird is safe in its nest, but that is not what its wings are made for.” ~ Amit Ray
We all need safety and security. It’s a part of our biology to seek shelter, whether emotional, physical, or mental. But the more you shelter yourself inside your comfort zone, the less you will be able to grab onto opportunities. Instead, you must open those metaphorical wings and fly away! This is a call for courage and understanding that growth and progress require you to step outside of your comfort zone, boldly and often.
Muhammad Ali
“Don’t count the days; make the days count.” ~ Muhammad Ali
Have you ever heard someone say, “Oh, I just want to get through the day!” What if you could change that mentality for good, and instead of just getting through the day, you make each day the best day of your life? That’s a tough mindset shift, but it’s not impossible. If you took the time to understand your mission in life and spend every day working toward it, you could transform the day from a mere passage of time into something meaningful.
Aristotle
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” ~ Aristotle
Thousands of years ago, the Greek philosopher understood the power of habits. He knew that to be successful, you must think and believe in success, and you must create an environment in which you can act following your plan. The more you behave a certain way, the more those actions drive who you are, not the other way around.
Jonatan Martensson
“Success will never be a big step in the future; success is a small step taken just now.” ~ Jonathan Martensson
There’s a misconception that “something big’s coming.” One day, something so massive will happen that you will finally attain the success you’ve always wanted. The reality is that it will never happen in that way. Success is defined by taking a small step today and another tomorrow, again, and again. By breaking down your big, audacious goals into their smaller parts, you can divide and conquer those goals one step at a time.
Hi there! I’m Iulian, and I want to thank you for reading my article. There’s a lot more if you stick around. I write about personal development, productivity, fiction writing, and more. Also, I’ve created Self-Growth Journey, a free program that helps you get unstuck and create the beautiful life you deserve. Enjoy!
He who permits himself to tell a lie once finds it much easier to do it a second and third time, till at length it becomes habitual; he tells lies without attending to it, and truths without the world’s believing him. This falsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good dispositions — THOMAS JEFFERSON
Another quote attributed to Mr. Jefferson. Particularly applicable to the United States just now.
He who permits himself to tell a lie once finds it much easier to do it a second and third time, till at length it becomes habitual; he tells lies without attending to it, and truths without the world’s believing him. This falsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good dispositions — THOMAS JEFFERSON
Another quote attributed to Mr. Jefferson. Particularly applicable to the United States just now.