1. Dreams – Motivation to Believe
Dreaming is easy. Transforming dreams into reality, not so much, which means we often find ourselves stuck, lacking the motivation to move forward, and the hope that we’ll ever see our dreams come true. This is where the wise words of someone who had a dream and saw it through go a long way. They can give us the push we need, restore our faith, and show us what to do to pick up the pace and move in the right direction.
- “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” – Henry David Thoreau
- “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” – Norman Vincent Peale
- “I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” – Estée Lauder
- “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” – Earl Nightingale
- “If you can dream it, you can do it.” – Walt Disney
- “You are who you are meant to be. Dance as if no one’s watching. Love as if it’s all you know. Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.” – James Dean
- “Let us make our future now and let us make our dreams tomorrow’s reality.” – Malala Yousafzai
2. Action and Attitude – Motivation to Move Forward
Looking for a quote to motivate you to act, change your attitude, avoid procrastination, improve focus, and, more than anything, move forward? These are the words that move mountains and lead you anywhere you want to go. Once they get stuck in your head, nothing can stop you from reaching your potential, growing, and achieving those amazing goals.
- “You’ve got to get up every morning with determination, if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.” – George Horace Lorimer
- “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” – Theodore Roosevelt
- “He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.” – Confucius
- “The time is always right to do what is right.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
- “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” – Mae West
- “There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, there are no limits.” – Michael Phelps
- “There is nothing impossible to those who will try.” – Alexander the Great
3. Persistence – Motivation to Keep Going
Sometimes, we excel at imagining something new, defining goals, and taking the first step toward achieving them. However, things become more difficult, so we slow down the pace and become discouraged from even continuing. We need something to pick us up, motivate us to keep going, and help us stay committed to our vision and see it through to completion.
- “Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.” – Napoleon Hill
- Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.” – Bill Bradley
- The most important characteristics you need to succeed in business are resilience, determination, and persistence.” – Karren Brady
- “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. The slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” – Calvin Coolidge
- “Persistence is the twin sister of excellence. One is a matter of quality; the other, a matter of time.” – Marabel Morgan
- “A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success.” – Elbert Hubbard
- “If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit.” – Banksy
4. Determination – Motivation to Pursue
There are countless quotes to motivate us to pursue our journey, overcome obstacles and challenges, and remain focused on achieving our desired outcome. We may need them when working on a challenging task or project, when we get yet another rejection letter from the company we so much want to work for, or when we run a marathon. Determination is what makes the struggle bearable and worthwhile.
- “The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs, one step at a time.” – Joe Girard
- “A winner is just a loser who tried one more time.” – George M. Moore Jr.
- “It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
- “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” – Sylvester Stallone
- “The Sun himself is weak when he first rises, and gathers strength and courage as the day gets on.” – Charles Dickens
- “Don’t wish it were easier. Wish you were better.” – Jim Rohn
- “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein
5. Success – Motivation to Dare
Perhaps the most powerful words spoken by famous people are those related to success. After all, they wouldn’t be famous if they weren’t successful. Although not many of us aspire to be as successful as Walt Disney, we all have our ambitions. It may be getting a promotion, having a fulfilling career, publishing a best-selling book, or founding a nonprofit organization. Regardless of your goals, these motivational quotes will inspire you to achieve them.
- “Your success and happiness lie in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.” – Helen Keller
- “Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get.” – W. P. Kinsella
- “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “Optimism is the one quality more associated with success and happiness than any other.” – Brian Tracy
- “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive.” – Maya Angelou
- “Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see further.” – Thomas Carlyle
- “The only limits you have are the limits you believe.” – Wayne Dyer
6. Deep Quotes for Women – Motivation to Believe in Yourself
When the need goes deeper than doing well at an interview or finishing a task on time, the wise words that reach you come from people you resonate with. For women, in particular, quotes from other women, such as activists, public speakers, actresses, thinkers, and philosophers, provide the strength and resilience they need, supporting them to believe in themselves and dream big.
- “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” – Shirley Chisholm
- “I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.” – Lucille Ball
- “Turn your wounds into wisdom.” – Oprah Winfrey
- “I raise up my voice – not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. … We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.” – Malala Yousafzai
- “It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.” – Madeleine Albright
- “After all, Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backward and in high heels.” – Ann Richards
7. Powerful Thoughts for Men – Motivation to Overcome
Women aren’t the only ones who need to hear words of wisdom from someone like them. Men, too, respond better to powerful thoughts coming from other men because the words target their exact need, fear, or struggle. When we feel understood, we are more likely to have a positive attitude, move forward, and believe in ourselves.
- “Try not to become a man of success but rather become a man of value.” – Albert Einstein
- “The successful man will profit from his mistakes and try again in a different way.” – Dale Carnegie
- “One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
- “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” – Edmund Burke
- “Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.” – Marcus Aurelius
- “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” – Winston Churchill
- “If your dreams don't scare you, they are too small.” – Richard Branson
8. Funny Lines – Motivation for Joy
Okay, we all agree that we need wisdom to lift us up in dark moments. We need the right words at the right time. However, humor is sometimes more efficient, especially when it encompasses wise and heartfelt meaning. Funny lines are like taking a medicine in the form of a sweet syrup instead of a bitter pill. It just reaches our hearts faster.
- “I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying.” – Oscar Wilde
- “I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.” – Lily Tomlin
- “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing—that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar
- “If you think you're too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” – Dalai Lama
- “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas A. Edison
- “If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving isn’t for you.” – Steven Wright
- “Life is hard. After all, it kills you.” – Katharine Hepburn
9. Encourage & Uplift – Motivation to Pick You Up
From time to time, hearing a few encouraging words can help us pick up the pieces and move forward. It’s nice to have a small uplift coming our way every morning and start the day on a positive note. These quotes are ideal as mantras to repeat any time you need a bit of support.
- “Don’t let the bastards grind you down.” – Margaret Atwood
- “Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
- “Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong.” – Ella Fitzgerald
- “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi
- “Nobody is built like you; you design yourself.” – Jay-Z
- “Live your beliefs, and you can turn the world around.” – Henry David Thoreau
- “When it comes to luck, you make your own.” – Bruce Springsteen
10. Achieve – Motivation to Fly High
Achievements, even the small ones, boost our morale and motivate us more than anything else. Reaching the smallest milestone may be the first step towards success. These quotes inspire you to imagine, create, work hard, and stay focused on your milestones, achievements, and goals. They are ideal for all the doers out there, for those who can’t rest until they know their job was well done.
- “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” – Stephen King
- “Don't wait. The time will never be just right.” – Napoleon Hill
- “Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.” – Truman Capote
- “If my mind can conceive it, if my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it.” – Muhammad Ali
- “What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.” – Plutarch
- “If you're going through hell, keep going.” – Winston Churchill
- “The only journey is the one within.” – Rainer Maria Rilke
11. Confidence – Motivation to Trust
All the hits we take, all the mishappens, refusals, and negative feedback affect our confidence. Therefore, it is imperative to find the words that build it back, giving you the best chances to move forward and reach your goals. As many people struggled with a lack of confidence before you, it’s easy to find motivational quotes for every situation.
- “Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you.” – Walt Whitman
- “Fake it until you make it! Act as if you had all the confidence you require until it becomes your reality.” – Brian Tracy
- “A surplus of effort could overcome a deficit of confidence.” – Sonia Sotomayor
- “The man who has confidence in himself gains the confidence of others.” – Hasidic Proverb
- “Life has got all those twists and turns. You’ve got to hold on tight and off you go.” – Nicole Kidman
- “No matter what you're going through, there's a light at the end of the tunnel.” – Demi Lovato
- “Limit your 'always' and your 'nevers.” – Amy Poehler
12. To Overcome Bad News and Obstacles – Motivation to Fight
Motivation and inspiration are particularly welcome when we feel down, broken, or not enough. When one receives bad news, encounters an obstacle, faces a challenge, or receives negative feedback, maintaining a level of energy and morale is essential. Motivational quotes are great at this because they allow you to self-regulate. They are straightforward and readily available, so anyone can use them to overcome any challenges that come their way.
- “We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.” – Maya Angelou
- “The only man who never makes mistakes is the man who never does anything.” – Theodore Roosevelt
- “When you think of quitting, remember why you started!” – John Di Lemme
- “You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – Christopher Robin
- “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” - Lao Tzu
- “While one person hesitates because he feels inferior, the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior.” – Henry Link
- “Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.” – Og Mandino
13. To Brighten Your Day – Motivation Step-By-Step
A cinnamon roll and a good cup of coffee are the only things that boost your morale in the morning? Your inner voice begs to differ. A well-suited motivational quote may act as a morning mantra, brightening your day from the get-go and inspiring you step by step. It may be a verse from your favorite poem or song, the wise words of a wise man, a slogan, or simply words you find inspiring. Here are our top choices:
- “I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing.” – Herman Melville
- “Where there's hope, there's life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again.” – Anne Frank
- “Happiness is not something readymade; it comes from your own actions.” – The Dalai Lama
- “Happiness is not by chance, but by choice.” – Jim Rohn
- “If you’re not positive energy, you’re negative energy.” – Mark Cuban
- “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” – T.S. Eliot
- “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain
14. Inspiring Words – Motivation to Create
Inspiring words help you dream big, innovate, create, imagine a better future, and find the energy and solutions you need to improve it. They may refer to work-related areas, such as improving performance and teamworking, or to career goals, such as becoming more confident and ambitious. Furthermore, you can recite the same inspiring words every morning or seek something different for every occasion. And if you appreciate novelty, just search online for a motivation quote that matches your current situation.
- “Dreams come true. Without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them.” – John Updike
- “Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not.” – George Bernard Shaw
- “A man who has committed a mistake and doesn’t correct it is committing another mistake.” – Confucius
- “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot
- “Monday is for people with a mission.” – Cristina Imre
- “Many hands make light work.” – John Heywood
- “You do not find the happy life. You make it.” – Camilla Eyring Kimball
15. Short Quotes – Motivation to Pace Up
Short motivational quotes are catchy and easy to remember. They may be the ace up your sleeve you pull out whenever you need to pick yourself up. You may have favorites, of course, even a note on your phone or in your agenda from which to choose the quote that fits the moment. Look for quotes with no more than ten words, that rhyme, or that remind you of a funny moment.
- “Do the best you can. No one can do more than that.” – John Wooden
- “Don’t let someone else’s opinion of you become your reality.” – Les Brown
- “Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.” – Chris Grosser
- “Teamwork makes the dream work.” – John Maxwell
- “Good order is the foundation of all things.” – Edmund Burke
- “You must do the things you think you cannot do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
- “We will fail when we fail to try.” – Rosa Parks
FAQ
What is motivation?
Motivation is the set of factors, internal or external, that compel you to take action in the direction you want or need to go. For example, motivation is the inner state that helps you remain resilient and see a project through to completion. Motivation may also be the encouragement of your partner to pursue a lifelong dream or the well-being of your family that prompts you to seize an opportunity to earn more money. Internal factors, such as your dreams and goals, contribute to intrinsic motivation, while external factors, including encouragement and rewards, contribute to extrinsic motivation. We are influenced by both at all times.
How do you motivate yourself?
Most of the time, we need to self-regulate and self-motivate to reach our objectives and see our dreams come true. Luckily, this is a learnable skill. And here is how to start:
- Set achievable goals. For instance, you can use the SMART method to ensure your goals are within reach, have precise deadlines and achievable milestones, and support you in enjoying the process, not just the results.
- Imagine. It helps to visualize your goals in detail and manifest the result. You may even want to put together a storyboard or describe in your journal what your future will look like.
- Stay positive. Use motivational quotes, mantras, and social relationships as a shield against negativity. Motivation is correlated with how much you believe in yourself and your chances. Consider the Universe a place of abundance (which it is) instead of a place of scarcity. Trust that there is enough for everybody.
- Enjoy it. Burnout, stress, anxiety, and poor health are the main enemies of motivation. You can do great things when you don’t look out for yourself or beat yourself down. So, care for yourself, treat yourself with compassion, and learn to live well to do well in life.
Why are motivational quotes important?
Motivational quotes are meaningful because they offer a quick and accessible way to self-regulate, self-motivate, and find inspiration during challenging times. They act as daily reminders that you got this, whatever this may be for you right now. At the same time, they provide guidelines and proof that success and happiness are not only possible but also entirely in your control. Like daily planners, to do apps, calendars, and other similar tools, motivational quotes help you stay organized, determined, and focused.
How do you use motivational quotes for daily inspiration?
First of all, select the quotes that work for you, either because you admire the person they belong to or can relate in some way to either the author or the message.
Then, make it a habit to use motivational quotes daily. You may prefer to have one at hand each morning and start your day on a positive note. Or you may prefer to end your day with a few wise words. Anything in between applies too. Make this as personal as possible because otherwise, you’ll do it for a couple of days and then forget about it.
Use habit packing to add your daily dose of inspiration to an already established habit, such as having a cup of coffee or listening to a podcast on your way to work. If mantras are your thing, add a short motivational quote to them. If journaling is your thing, write down something motivational too.
Share. Motivational quotes are great for self-regulating, but when you share them, you get the support of others too, and that goes a longer way.
What do you do when quotes aren’t enough?
If you feel you are sinking regardless, try to reevaluate and break down your goals to give you more small milestones to celebrate. You want some reward from time to time. So, revisit your goals periodically and see where you get stuck.
It also helps to change something in your routine or the way you go about doing things. For instance, working in an environment you despise will demotivate you more than a quote can inspire you. At some point, changes are required to keep you moving forward.
Last but not least, the support you receive from the people around you bears no comparison. You can cope on your own so much. Seek support from friends and family members, rely on a mentor to get you through a hard time at work, or seek counseling if you fear the problem is deeper than that.
Take Away
- Motivation is the set of factors, internal or external, that compel you to take action in the direction you want or need to go.
- Motivational quotes are important because they offer a quick and accessible way to self-regulate, self-motivate, and find inspiration during challenging times.
- Motivational quotes encompass a wide range of situations, from dreams and achievements to building confidence and resilience. They also come from diverse individuals, including philosophers, writers, public figures, and actors.
- Use motivational quotes as daily inspiration to boost your morale or as a self-regulating technique on demand.
- When motivational quotes are not enough anymore, revisit your goals, make changes, and seek help to the people around you.