Inspirational Quotes – Positive Motivational Life Thoughts

Inspirational quotes can help motivate us and helps to create a positive outlook on life and work when we need it most. They do so by harnessing the power of positive thinking. Reframing our brains to think positively is a key step in leading a happy and successful life.

You make a choice when you decide how you will react to any given situation. If you’re choosing (sometimes subconsciously) to complain and think negatively, your natural reaction will be to dwell on the negatives of every situation.

When you actively choose to think positively, however, you turn the situation into a development plan for growth, helping you become a better problem-solver and leader. Over time and after reframing your mind to think positively about problems, you’ll feel motivated, inspired, and empowered to take on any challenge that comes your way!

While reading through this list, I recommend writing down some of the inspirational quotes to keep you motivated that resonate with you and your current situation. After writing them down, read them out loud, and really try to understand their meaning.

You may find these quotes to come in handy when you’re having a hard day and need a little extra encouragement and motivation!

Looking for something in particular? Jump to the exact quotes you’re looking for: 

Inspirational Quotes

From short quotes and widely relatable anecdotes to quotes specifically about work and life in general, here is a list of my favorite quotes:

1. “We become what we think about” – Earl Nightingale

A reminder that positive thinking helps you frame your mindset and change your life, spoken by the author of, “Essence of Success.”

2. “People who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”- Rob Siltanen

Rob is a leading creative marketer responsible for some of the most effective and iconic advertising campaigns of the past 30 years.

3. “Optimism is the one quality more associated with success and happiness than any other.”- Brian Tracy

Let your positivity and optimism inspire you and lead you to success. That’s my favorite way to achieve success.

4. “Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions.”-Dalai Lama

A visionary among us, the Dalai Lama always has something inspiring to share.

5. “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”- Walt Disney

This amazing quote comes from the man who created the happiest place on earth – and a multibillion-dollar empire.

6. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill

When it comes to inspirational, encouraging quotes by successful people, Winston Churchill’s words of wisdom always make my list.

7. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” Theodore Roosevelt

Coming from the youngest person to become the US president, Teddy really lived by what he said.

8. “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” – Jimmy Dean

American country singer turned breakfast food entrepreneur, this man knew a thing or two about adjusting his sails to a new course.

9. “Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.”- Brian Tracy

Life only changes when you decide to change. It may not be comfortable or easy, but it sure is worth it.

10. “It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.” – William James

The American philosopher and psychologist William James was the first educator to offer a psychology course in the United States. He knew it was the beginning of a difficult task that ultimately led to a successful outcome.

11. “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis

Famous British scholar and author C.S. Lewis began writing the “The Chronicles of Narnia” series when he was 51 years old.

12. “We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” – Joseph Campbell

This quote comes from Joseph Campbell, an American Literature professor. His literary work covers many aspects of the human experience.

13. “Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.”- George Addair

Fear is powerful. It often bears the façade of protection, keeping us from doing things that may harm us.  But sometimes, the real harm comes from the inaction that fear enables. 

Short Quotes

14. “You get what you give.” – Jennifer Lopez

The iconic actress, singer, and dancer Jennifer Lopez gave it her all, and look how far she rose!

15. “Your life only gets better when you get better.”- Brian Tracy

You experience external change only once you change internally. Start today and watch how everything around you begins to change!

16. “Happiness is not by chance, but by choice.” – Jim Rohn

American entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker Jim Rohn decided to follow a different path in life after attending a lecture given by entrepreneur John Earl Shoaff. Within just six years, Rohn earned his first fortune.

17. “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”- Mahatma Ghandi

Probably the most quoted man on Earth, Ghandi’s famous words are embedded into our culture and society.

18. “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

A revolutionary, Martin Luther King Jr. made it his mission to change the world with his great words and actions.

19. “We generate fears while we sit. We overcome them by action.” –  Dr. Henry Link

Famous psychologist Dr. Henry Link understood how the human mind tends to overthink and how we can fight against it.

20. “Today’s accomplishments were yesterday’s impossibilities.” – Robert H. Schuller

A motivational speaker, Robert H. Schuller inspires people to consider how the work they put in today will show up for them tomorrow.

21. “Light tomorrow with today!” –  Elizabeth Barrett Browning

22. “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

23. “Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you.” – Walt Whitman

24. “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” – Michael Altshuler

25. “Never limit yourself because of others’ limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination.”  – Mae Jemison

26. “Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow’s reality.” –  Malala Yousafzai

Quotes About Life

27. “Don’t Let Yesterday Take Up Too Much Of Today.” – Will Rogers

28. “For every reason it’s not possible, there are hundreds of people who have faced the same circumstances and succeeded.” – Jack Canfield

29. “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” – Maya Angelou

30. “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”― Mae West

31. “In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”― Robert Frost

32. “Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.”― Allen Saunders

33. “I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. ― Douglas Adams

34. “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”― George Bernard Shaw

35. “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”― Albert Einstein

36. “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” ― Marie Curie

37. “You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot ― it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.” ― Maya Angelou

Quotes for Work

Check out my blog “20 Leadership Quotes For Great Leaders” for more quotes!

38. The best way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” ― Walt Disney

39. “Leaders never use the word failure. They look upon setbacks as learning experiences.” – Brian Tracy

40. “There are no limits to what you can accomplish, except the limits you place on your own thinking.” – Brian Tracy

41. “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” – Warren Buffet

42. “The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.” – Winston Churchill

43. “You learn more from failure than from success. Don’t let it stop you. Failure builds character.” – Unknown

44. “If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” – Steve Jobs

45. “Entrepreneurs are great at dealing with uncertainty and also very good at minimizing risk. That’s the classic entrepreneur.” – Mohnish Pabrai

46. “The man who has confidence in himself gains the confidence of others.” – Hasidic Proverb

47. “What you lack in talent can be made up with desire, hustle and giving 110% all the time.” – Don Zimmer

48. “Fake it until you make it! Act as if you had all the confidence you require until it becomes your reality.” – Brian Tracy

49. “I think goals should never be easy, they should force you to work, even if they are uncomfortable at the time.” – Michael Phelps

50. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” – Steve Jobs

51. “Leaders think and talk about the solutions. Followers think and talk about the problems.” – Brian Tracy

Motivational Quotes

Motivational quotes are meant to inspire action. These quotes have the potential to encourage you to become the best version of yourself. Read them when you need a push to work towards your goals. These quotes are here to help motivate you to reach your peak performance.  

Whether you’re looking for the motivation and inspiration to write your first book, become a better speaker, or simply start a new project, these motivational quotes can provide the support you need to get started. And just getting started is the key, remember the 80/20 rule and go after the things that will produce the most results first.  And always remember, your motivation, determination, and hard work will lead to your success in work and in life.

Good Motivational Quotes

52. “Integrity is the most valuable and respected quality of leadership. Always keep your word.” – Brian Tracy

53. “Leaders set high standards. Refuse to tolerate mediocrity or poor performance.” – Brian Tracy

54. “The key responsibility of leadership is to think about the future. No one else can do it for you.” – Brian Tracy

55. “The effective leader recognizes that they are more dependent on their people than they are on them. Walk softly. ” – Brian Tracy

56. “Practice golden rule management in everything you do. Manage others the way you would like to be managed.” – Brian Tracy

57. “Leaders are anticipatory thinkers. They consider all consequences of their behaviors before they act.” – Brian Tracy

58. “The true test of leadership is how well you function in a crisis.”- Brian Tracy

59. “The three ‘C’s’ of leadership are consideration, caring, and courtesy. Be polite to everyone.” – Brian Tracy

60. “Respect is the key determinant of high-performance leadership. How much people respect you determines how well they perform.” – Brian Tracy

61. “Entrepreneurial leadership requires the ability to move quickly when opportunity presents itself.” – Brian Tracy

62. “Leaders are innovative, entrepreneurial, and future-oriented. They focus on getting the job done.”- Brian Tracy

63. “Leaders are never satisfied; they continually strive to be better.” – Brian Tracy

64. “Leadership is the ability to get extraordinary achievement from ordinary people.” – Brian Tracy

65. “The best leaders have a high consideration factor. They really care about their people.” – Brian Tracy 

Motivational Quotes for Work

66. “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right..” – Henry Ford

67. “Security is mostly a superstition. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” – Helen Keller

68. “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” – Albert Einstein

69. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Wishing is not enough; we must do.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

70. “Develop an ‘attitude of gratitude.’ Say thank you to everyone you meet for everything you do.” – Brian Tracy

71. “To see what is right and not do is a lack of courage.” – Confucius

72. “Reading is to the mind, as exercise is to the body.” – Brian Tracy

73. “A room without books is like a body without a soul.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero

74. “You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.” —George Lorimer F

75. “Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see further.” —Thomas Carlyle

76. “Your talent determines what you can do. Your motivation determines how much you’re willing to do. Your attitude determines how well you do it.” —Lou Holtz

Positive Quotes

As we know, the power of positive thinking is remarkable. When you think of something that brings you joy, your brain actually releases endorphins. Those endorphins fill you with the feeling of well-being.

But when we feel down, it’s often difficult to conjure up things that make us happy. That’s why having some positive quotes on hand can be helpful in situations like that. These positive motivational quotes are encouraging and can help lift your spirit.

Consider writing down daily affirmations and quotes and be sure to take the time to say them out loud to yourself. Through repetition and consistency, you can rewire your brain to think positively in any situation.

Use this list of positive quotes to aid in the release of your endorphins and rewire your mind to a state of joy and well-being.

Positive Life Quotes

77. “You learn more from failure than from success. Don’t let it stop you. Failure builds character.” – Unknown

78. “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up.” –Vince Lombardi

79. “Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.” – Og Mandino

80. “Do what you can with all you have, wherever you are.” – Theodore Roosevelt

81. “One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals.” – Michelle Obama

82. “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar

83. “Folks are usually about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” – Abraham Lincoln

84. “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” – Dolly Parton

85. “The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.” – Marcus Aurelius

86. “Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out.” – John Wooden

87. “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive.” – Maya Angelou

88. “Make your life a masterpiece, imagine no limitations on what you can be, have, or do.”  – Brian Tracy

89. “Life changes very quickly, in a very positive way, if you let it.”  – Lindsey Vonn

90. “Inspiration comes from within yourself. One has to be positive. When you’re positive, good things happen.” – Deep Roy

Short Positive Quotes

91. “Change the world by being yourself.“ – Amy Poehler

92. “Every moment is a fresh beginning.” – T.S Eliot

93. “Never regret anything that made you smile.” – Mark Twain

94. “There is no substitute for hard work.”  – Thomas Edison

95. “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” – Nelson Mandela

96. “Turn your wounds into wisdom.” – Oprah Winfrey

97. “Change the game, don’t let the game change you.” – Macklemore

98. “It hurt because it mattered.” – John Green

99. “Imagine your life is perfect in every respect; what would it look like?” – Brian Tracy

100. “The future belongs to the competent. Get good, get better, be the best!” – Brian Tracy

Live By These Inspirational Quotes 

Thanks for reading my favorite inspirational quotes. I hope you found them to be both motivating and encouraging, as well. Use these words whenever you feel like you need a boost. These can guide you through any challenge and allow you to face any situation head-on.

These positive motivational quotes can also push you towards progress and help you accomplish the goals you create for yourself. Use them as daily motivation to help train your mind to think positively and as affirmations to boost your endorphins.

Jot them down, read them aloud, and bookmark them! I also encourage you to share them with a friend or family member who is looking for inspiration. Consider sharing your favorite quotes from this list on Facebook and Instagram!

If you’re ready for actionable steps to stay motivated after reading these quotes, check out my 15 Questions to Stay Motivated. These questions will help you identify your most powerful motivations and harness them to achieve your full potential. Use these questions alongside the quotes and notice how differently you approach problems. You’ll be able to see real personal development.

Editor’s Note: This post was updated in 2021 with additional motivational quotes

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