100 Quotes About Life That Will Uplift and Inspire You

If you are lacking confidence or passion or are just looking for some inspiration to help you in any area of your life from your personal relationships, work, or health, right through to finding your life’s purpose, then these life quotes can help reignite the spark and set you on course to achieve your goals.

Here are 100 quotes about life that will inspire you:

The wound is the place where the light enters you.
~ Rumi

This profound quote about life is helpful when we are going through some of our darkest moments, it helps us to remember that our personal wounds can be healed and the healing we experience can put us on the path to enlightenment and make us a more whole and complete person.

In Japan the art of kintsugi in ceramics refers to the practice of repairing cracks in pottery with gold, in effect making the broken pottery more valuable than the pristine piece. In this way we see that our own cracks can be filled with gold.

Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.
~ William Faulkner

The author of this inspirational life quote was a Nobel Prize-winning novelist and one of America’s most revered writers. I love this quote as it can be applied to all aspects of our lives. To aim higher than what we think we can achieve, to better ourselves, is something we should all aspire to.

I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.
~ Carl Jung

Powerful words from the father of analytical psychology. Many of us can dwell too long in the past and let events of the past shape our future. We are not what happened to us; this quote is about moving on from the victim mentality and creating a new life of our choosing.

Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.
~ African Proverb

Proverbs have been passed on down the centuries because their messages have relevancy. In life, you become better able to deal with things once you have experienced them.

Life doesn’t always go as planned and it’s a sea of ups and downs. It’s all about how we weather the storm and the life skills we pick up along the way. So if you are going through a tough time, just remember this quote, there is always much to be learned from all our experiences.

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face. We must do that which we think we cannot.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Wise words from this former First Lady. We only gain courage by facing our fears and often, once faced they are conquered. It is no coincidence that many quotes about life share a similar message to the above.

How many times have you been afraid to do something, and then after the fact realized it wasn’t so bad after all or felt proud of yourself? The bravery and freedom from fear is found in the ‘doing’.

Be vigilant; guard your mind against negative thoughts.
~ Buddha

A grand piece of advice. Negative thoughts can consume us and literally ensure our unhappiness. Who wants to be unhappy? This doesn’t mean we will not have negative thoughts, just that we should recognize them, accept them for what they are and then let them go. Meditation is a great way to quiet the mind.

Your attitude not your aptitude will determine your altitude.
~ Zig Ziglar

One cannot help but be inspired by anything that Zig Ziglar had to say about life. All Ziglar’s quotes about life and living are positive in the extreme. Who gets anywhere by having a negative attitude? In this quote he is saying that we will never fly like the eagle without a positive attitude, regardless of how skilled we are for the job at hand. It is our attitude toward life which is important.

Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that.
~ Norman Vincent Peale

We can all sometimes give ourselves excuses that we cannot achieve our dreams because we haven’t got the money, or the time. This is especially true when it comes to life choices such as starting our own business or pursuing a career or new venture.

It is lack of right thinking and a lack of heart which is actually setting us back. Where there is a will there is always a way.

Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.
~ Earl Nightingale

This is a fabulous quote about life from the Grand Daddy of positive thinking. How many times have you thought ‘I am too old to take up so and so’ or ’I just don’t have the time to make it happen’? The time is going to pass anyway, so you may as well spend it following your passion and dreams.

Strength does not come from physical capacity; it comes from indomitable will.
~ Mahatma Gandhi.

Our inner strength has little to do with how many press ups we can do; real strength comes from having a will which will not be defeated, no matter what. This can certainly be combined with physical strength to make an awesome athlete or sports person, but the real warrior comes from within.

Just get happy now! “But I can’t until I get a better job” Just get happy now! “But I can’t until I get more money” Just get happy now! “But I can’t until my body looks better”…
…If you’re waiting around for someone or something to change, before you can feel better, you’re in deep doo-doo! Everything you ever wanted is for one reason only, you think in the having of it, it’ll make you feel better…just find a way, anyway to get happy now, and what you want will be able to come into your experience. Like attracts like. You can’t be happy now, if you’re angry at yourself for not having it.
~ Abraham/Esther Hicks

I had to read this one through a couple of times before it made perfect sense. We can all be ’want monsters’ and peg our happiness on something which may or may not happen in the future. We think that once we have the perfect job, relationship, dress, whatever, then we will be happy. But it doesn’t work like that. Be happy for happiness’s sake and the things you want, and the joy that goes with it will come to you. Be happy now!

If you believe in what you are doing, then let nothing hold you up in your work. Much of the best work of the world has been done against seeming impossibilities.
~ Dale Carnegie

It’s true. If you really believe in what you are doing and it comes from the heart, don’t let people tell you it cannot be done. Anything is possible if we just believe. This quote is from one of the most famous self-improvement gurus and author of the best-selling book How to Win Friends and Influence People. Born into poverty himself, Carnegie knew all about the power of self-belief and self-confidence.

You will either step forward into growth, or you will step back into safety.
~ Abraham Maslow

It’s easy not to venture out in life and stay where we feel safe; it’s almost a natural human instinct. We can all quite happily live our whole lives in our comfort zones, never trying new things or having different experiences; never taking a risk. But without pushing ourselves, or without stepping outside of our self-imposed comfort zones in all areas of life, then we will not grow. Growth is always about moving forward.

When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us to develop inner happiness and peace.
~ Dalai Lama

The great thing about this life quote is that it can easily be tested. Think about someone you really love and care for or something you have selflessly done for another being; and straight away you will notice that it puts a smile on your face and makes you feel happy. It is a simple yet extremely powerful route to inner peace and comes from the man of the mountains himself.

I looked in temples churches and mosques. But I found the Divine within my heart.
~ Rumi

We can look everywhere for God or Allah or whoever we perceive the Divine to be. Whatever our religion, or even if we don’t necessary follow a particular creed, the Divine is within, not without. Trust in yourself, your heart will always guide you.

Softness starts in the mind and then filters through to the body.
~ Mel Fleming

When we are stressed our bodies are also tense, the negative thoughts we have in our mind also manifest in our physical bodies. Controlling our minds is very important when focusing on our goals. We can see evidence of this with top sportsmen and martial artists, a very important part of their winning technique is based on their attitude and mindset.

This particular quote originates from a teacher of horsemanship and refers to riding in synchronicity a horse, but it’s equally applicable in our everyday lives.

The only disability in life is a bad attitude.
~ Scott Hamilton

This amazing quote about life and overcoming obstacles was said by one of the most inspirational athletes of modern times when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. At the time he was a male figure skating star and instead of letting himself be defined by his illness he vowed to be back on the ice within months, and he was.

His life story is a testimonial to what a strong positive attitude, inner strength and determination to succeed can achieve.

When people undermine your dreams, predict your doom, or criticize you remember, they’re telling you their story, not yours.
~ Cynthia Occelli

People often like to project their own fears onto others. Just because what you are doing is something that they themselves would not necessarily do, it doesn’t mean that you should let their opinion deter you.

Some people also like to criticize others, of course just because someone has an opinion, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t valid. Just take it on board and use it if it is relevant. But don’t get hung up on it.

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.
~ Goethe

Unless you start something you don’t know if it is going to work or not. If we wait for all the right conditions to be met we would never end up doing anything, but we often find that once we begin something, things do start to fall into place. So start now.

Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.
~ Carl Jung

We all know what the purpose to our lives is deep down; it’s just that some of us spend time looking outward for our happiness and life purpose instead of looking within. This quote is reminding us that life is about what we experience on the inside, not the outside.

Whatever inspires you fires you.
~ Geoff Thompson

So true. Unless you have something which inspires you then quite frankly you are not going to enjoy doing it, assuming you get round to doing it at all. In life it’s important that we have passions and things that inspire us, because they move us forever forward and make the process much more rewarding and enjoyable. 

When you doubt your power, you give power to your doubt.
~ Honore de Balzac

Once we get on the slippery slope to self-doubt, that self-doubt can snowball and before you know it there are signs of avalanche. So never doubt your own personal power. Instead be empowered by your own awesomeness.

Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts.
~ Buddha

There is nothing more powerful than our thoughts, so choose to make them positive and constructive ones. This quote about life is warning us that there is no enemy more dangerous than the negative and dark thoughts we harbor.

We can all imagine worse case scenarios and make up things in our heads what others may or may not think about us, but these thoughts are not necessarily true. We become what we think, so think positive and strong, and no one will be able to harm us.

Change is the only constant.
~ Heraclitus

Apart from death the only other certainty there is in life is change. Even a stagnant pond is teaming with life under the surface. Life is constantly changing, so in order to survive we need to be adaptable. Good times and bad times are all part of life’s rich tapestry.

People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are, the people who get on in the world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances that they want and if they can’t find them, make them.
~ George Bernard Shaw

We can all make excuses for not doing things, but at the end of the day the choice is ours. Whatever circumstance we end up in, we always have a choice. It doesn’t matter if we are born rich or poor, at the end of the day we create our own circumstances and opportunities in life.

Instead of sitting around moping, we need to get up and take action.

Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else.
~ Les Brown

Don’t rely on others to sort out your life for you. At the end of the day you can only rely on you. Other people have their own issues and your life is no more their responsibility than their life choices are yours. So just get on with it, take responsibility and take action.

You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.
~ Joe Sabah

Unless you start something then you are never going to be great. That’s a fact. Sometimes we have the notion that we have to be great at something before we start it, but that’s just not possible. It’s true that some people may have a natural skill or aptitude for something, but all skills need honing and none of us know how good we are at something until we try.

I remember thinking I was a bad cook, but that was just a story I had told myself. It wasn’t until I started trying that I realized I could cook. This quote about life reminds me of another quote, ‘good is the enemy of the great’. And it is. Just because you are good at something, don’t stop there. Life is all about bettering ourselves, but first we have to begin. 

If you are not doing what you love, you are wasting your time.
~ Billy Joel

Really. What is the point in doing things that bring you no joy? There are of course things in life that we all have to do which we don’t enjoy, but when we are doing what we love even these are usually a means to an end.

If you are spending your life being a person you are not or doing something that does not bring you joy, then do all you can to change that. Otherwise what is the point?

Sometimes the fastest way is not always the best way. Sometimes the best things in life take a while.
~ Emily Beth

Good things do come to those who wait. Sometimes we are so fixated on the destination that we forget all about the journey, and the journey usually holds the greatest gifts of wisdom. So don’t rush. Be like the tortoise, not the hare.

Impotence is the inability of the mind, not the body.
~ Mohamed Mohsen

This quote is not just referring to sexual impotence which can be due to emotional distress and psychological pressure; after all we know the greatest sex organ is the brain. I

t’s also about how our minds are so incredibly powerful, that what we think can have both direct and indirect consequences on our life. We are what we perceive ourselves to be.

Whatever happens to you, don’t fall in despair. Even if all the doors are closed, a secret path will be there for you that no one knows. You can’t see it yet but so many paradises are at the end of this path. Be grateful! It is easy to thank after obtaining what you want, thank before having what you want.
~ Rumi

Many of us have been in a painful situation where we cannot see anything but despair. Everywhere we turn all the doors of opportunity appear to be slammed shut and no matter what we do life seems to be playing against us. But it isn’t.

The universe is never against us, there is always a way out of even the darkest of situations. This quote about life has a very powerful message because it is not only telling us to be thankful for what we already have but also what we will have.

“I worry about my age” Worry is self-attack. In truth, no one will hold your age against you if you don’t. Remember, you are never too old, to love, to smile, to give a compliment, to think positively. Be ageless today. Let your inner light shine today.
~ Eckhart Tolle

This has got to be one of the most beautiful, inspirational and poignant quotes about life from the spiritual master of our generation. Nobody says it quite like Tolle. Many women worry about their age, we think we are too old to do this or be that. Some of us might even think we are too old to love. You are not a number. When you let your inner light shine through, you are truly ageless.

There is only one thing which makes a dream impossible to achieve; the fear of failure.
~ Paulo Coelho

This quote is all about that old chestnut ‘fear’ again. Fear has a knack of being able to latch on to our inner most dreams and desires and stops them dead in their tracks. In this quote we are being told that our dreams are possible but first we must conquer the fear of failure.

You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger.
~ Buddha

If you hold onto anger, no one is going to punish or blame you for it. However you will be hurting yourself. Many of us have also heard the expression that holding onto anger is like holding onto a hot coal. This is a similar quote with the same meaning. Let your anger go, for your own sake.

Everybody you fight is not your enemy and everybody who helps you is not your friend.
~ Mike Tyson

Not that I would argue with Mr Tyson, the former world heavyweight boxing champion, but he sure does have a valid point. Not just on a physical level but on a very deep philosophical level too. Here is a man who has had to endure a lot in his lifetime and has come out the other side a different person. This quote is about how things are not always what they seem.

Sometimes the things you fight are also the things you learn the most from, or teach you a lesson, or a bit of wisdom. Likewise unfortunately not everyone who appears to help you is your friend. This isn’t about distrust; in fact it is about trusting yourself and accepting life. Yeah, you are going to have to fight your corner sometimes, but life is about ducking and weaving, keeping on your feet and forever moving forward.

Be happy for no reason like a child. If you are happy for a reason you’re in trouble, because that reason can be taken from you.
~ Deepak Chopra

This is a very wise quote about life which we should all take on board. Children can be spontaneously happy, they laugh, smile and chuckle seemingly for no reason whatsoever. But that’s the point. Somewhere along the way we have been conditioned to believe that in order to be happy, one must have a reason. And then off we go on an endless search for happiness.

If you want to be happy, then just smile and be happy. Once we start attaching our happiness to things, people and events, then we peg our happiness on things outside of our control, things that can be taken away at any moment.

Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.
~ Corrie ten Boom

Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch writer who along with her family helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during WWII. Corrie and her family were eventually caught and sent to a concentration camp. Corrie survived the war and went on to write about her experiences and set up rehabilitation centers.

However these centers were not just for concentration camp survivors but also for the Dutch who had collaborated with the Nazis during the war and were now without jobs. She went on to travel the world preaching and also talking about her experiences.

If there is one woman qualified to pay testimony to the incredible power of faith and forgiveness, then it’s Corrie ten Boom. 

Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?
~ Benjamin Franklin

This lovely poetical quote full of wisdom comes from one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. We all have talents; it may even be that we don’t know what they are yet. But wherever our talents lie, then it is our duty to use them, because they were bestowed upon us for the reason.

As the author so rightly points out, what point is there of a sundial in the shade? 

The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.
~ Anthony Robbins

There is no impossible journey in life; it is only rendered impossible if we do not begin it in the first place. Many of us go through life waiting for the perfect time to start a project, or do this or that, and sometimes we can let self-doubt creep in, and before you know it, we have convinced ourselves that it was impossible to achieve in the first place. But how do we know?

It’s true that our journey may have some detours and even a few road blocks, but the journey itself is only impossible if we do not begin it.

I never dreamed about success, I worked for it.
~ Estee Lauder

Success doesn’t happen overnight it takes hard work and Estee Lauder knows all about hard work. After leaving high school she helped her uncle with his business selling face creams and fragrances and eventually set up her own beauty company.

Lauder’s multi-billion dollar cosmetics empire was in fact borne out of her childhood dream to become a movie star. She knew that to be in the movies she needed to have flawless skin. Lauder did achieve her childhood dream and ended up in the limelight, just not in the way she imagined. Many movies stars wore her products and her own flawless skin gave credibility to her products. 

I’ve come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you.
~ Oprah Winfrey

Everything Oprah says has validity, and this life quote really captures it all. The key to our lives appears to be finding our purpose and then just getting on with it. Find out what we love to do, what we are skilled at, and then just do it with a passion.

The key point here is that we don’t keep our skills and knowledge to ourselves but we use them to be of service or to benefit others in some way. This is the way in which the universe works. I love this quote as it really captures the purpose of our lives; that it’s not just about us, but it’s about helping everyone else too.

You don’t die if you fall in water; you die only if you don’t swim.
~ Unknown

This quote is metaphorical and is saying if you find yourself in a bad place, or fall upon hard times, you only drown if you don’t take action. So if you find yourself in a sea of troubles, then start swimming and you will eventually reach the shore.

Nothing with power is working against me. Everything with power is working for me. At the center of my being is that which cannot be intimidated, threatened, or oppressed.
~ T.K. Coleman

This is a brilliant and uplifting positive quote about life. It makes me want to jump out of bed in the morning and take on the world head on like some kind of warrior queen. But I don’t need to be a warrior to live an empowered life, I just need to remember that everything I need I already have inside of me and know that the universe is not conspiring against me, but is working with me and for me.

Whenever you fall, pick something up.
~ Oswald Avery

An easy to remember quote about life. A bit like your mom telling you not to leave the room empty handed, there is always something to be taken to the kitchen or brought back into the room or errands to be run. However this quote has the added benefit of also telling us to learn from our mistakes and take the gift of wisdom and experience with us. There is always something to be learned from every experience we have, whether good or bad.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
~ Mark Twain

One of my favorite Mark Twain quotes and one that actually propelled me to make some big scary changes in my own life. Don’t live your life with regret, forever wondering what would or wouldn’t happen. Life is for living and taking risks, it’s about exploring and having new adventures and experiences, it’s not for plodding along in the safe zone doing the same thing day in day out. Life is an adventure.

The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
~ Winston Churchill

This is the kind of positive mental attitude that Churchill instilled into the British nation during the dark days of WWII. In any situation we find ourselves in, it’s vital that we see the positive, even if it’s a little thing, we cannot let dark thoughts make a situation worse than it is or make a good thing fraught with difficulty. I recall as a child asking my older sister what an optimist was and she explained it succinctly as follows:

’Imagine if it was raining, you would be upset because you couldn’t go outside and play. Well, an optimist would think ’hey great it’s raining; I can wear my new red wellington boots’. So nowadays when I am faced with challenges, I metaphorically put on my red wellington boots.

Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.
~ Arthur Ashe

This is exactly what Arthur Ashe did when he went on to become a world champion tennis player. Not only was he the first black player to be selected for the United States Davis Cup team but he was also the winner of three Grand Slam titles.

To fix your attention on the best is to surround yourself with the best, and to become the best.
~ Wallace D Wattles

To become the best at whatever we want to achieve, we have to surround ourselves with the people and things we seek to become like. This does not mean we will become carbon copies of another person, it just means that successful people tend to hang out with other successful and like-minded people because good ideas and positive energy rub off on others.

The exchange of knowledge and ideas is good for everyone. So whether you want to improve your yoga or become a great parent, to be the best at what you do, you need to focus on the best.

When you learn that you can trust life, life will deliver treasures beyond your imagination.
~ Debbie Ford

Life will inevitably have its ups and downs, we have good times and we have not so good times, it’s all the circle of life. But what we need to keep in mind is that we can trust that where we are right now, is where we are supposed to be. If you accept and trust that the universe is working for you, you really will be amazed at what unfolds.

When your heart speaks, take good notes.
~ Judith Campbell

Deep inside we know what is best for us, we know what our life purpose is, and we know what we need to do. Our heart often speaks to us, but sometimes we do not hear. Always listen to your inner self and intuition, your heart knows best. This life quote is telling you to always listen to your heart; it will not lead you astray.

You’ll seldom experience regret for anything that you’ve done. It is what you haven’t done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear. Do it! Develop an appreciation for the present moment. Seize every second of your life and savor it.
~ Dr Wayne Dyer

A strong message of carpe diem from Dr Wayne Dyer, one of the world’s most well-respected motivational speakers and self-help authors. Live for today or later on you may regret it. Even if things don’t work out so what, at least you gave it a go and you never know where life may lead you. But if you don’t do something then you will never know, and living with regret is not a good thing. 

We lose ourselves in the things we love; we find ourselves there, too.
~ Kristin Martz

This is a beautiful and sublime quote about life and love. When we pursue the things we love to do in life, we find out about ourselves and learn who we truly are. When we are lost in our passion, our whole soul resonates with truth, when we do what we love we are conversing with our soul. 

We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us.
~ Charles Bukowski

Death probably trembled when he came for Bukowski, the American poet, short story writer and novelist who liked to write about girls, drink and gambling. The movie Barfly which Bukowski wrote the screenplay for was semi-autobiographical, and to this day his work gains new followers. The great thing about this quote is that it is extremely life affirming and is urging us to live our lives to the full.

We are what we think. We are what we say. We are what we believe. We are what we do. So isn’t it wonderful that we are completely in charge of all that we are?
~ Regina Cates

With this wonderful quote we are being asked to accept responsibility for our lives, after all at the end of the day, what we think, say and believe is who we are. And there is only one person who has total control of that, and it’s us. 

It’s not what happens to you that matters. It’s how you respond to what happens to you that makes a difference.
~ Zig Ziglar

People respond to things in completely different ways, and the way in which we respond to events in our life affect the outcome. For example, if we react to a situation with aggression and negativity, then the only outcome is more negativity.

However, if we react to events with love and compassion, then we are creating a completely different and better outcome. If we let things get us down, then we can be paralyzed by our own thoughts and fears and become victims. Therefore it is always important to be aware of our reactions.

There is only one way to avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing and be nothing.
~ Aristotle

The only way to avoid criticism in any area of life is to do nothing. We will always attract some form of criticism from someone no matter how we act, so it’s best to just accept this and get on with it. By doing nothing we become nothing.

If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.
~ Roald Dahl

This has got to be the number one beauty secret of all time. Happy brides look beautiful not because of the dress they are wearing, or the shoes or the lavishness of their wedding, they look beautiful as they project an inner radiance. There is nothing more beautiful than a radiant soul.

Every artist was first an amateur.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Every single one, even Picasso. Everyone has to start somewhere and it’s when we are amateurs that we pick up all the important skills of our trade or profession. But this life quote is just as relevant to the career area of our life as it is to our emotional lives. We don’t know everything when we start out in life, we learn things about love and relationships on the way, and we all make mistakes.

Your dream doesn’t have an expiration date. Take a deep breath and try again.
~ KT Witten

You know what they say, if at first you don’t succeed, then try try again. Just because you may have suffered a knock back it doesn’t mean you should just give up.

If everyone gave up at the first obstacle there would be no great books ever written (because the author would have given up after the first rejection slip), no films ever made, no bridges ever built etc. The list goes no. Keep on going.

If your compassion does not include you, it’s incomplete.
~ Jack Kornfield

This is an important quote about life as it is about how you treat yourself. It’s all very well showing compassion to others, but if you cannot be compassionate with yourself then you are incomplete. Compassion demands to be all encompassing. All or nothing. If you want to be kind to others its paramount you are kind to yourself first.

Sometimes in tragedy we find our life’s purpose. The eye sheds a tear to find its focus.
~ Robert Brault

It can be in life’s most challenging and dark days that we can find the spark that reignites us, which changes our life forever, which gives us the power and passion to start anew or carry on. Many people have found their life’s purpose while experiencing despair or grief. True treasure often lays waiting at the bottom of the darkest seas. 

Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.
~ Rumi

There is only one way to change the way we perceive the world to be and it is to change ourselves. To change our perceptions we are required to see things from other people’s point of view, walk in other people’s moccasins and react in a completely different way to life than we did before. The profound quote is acknowledging that you cannot change the world by applying your intellect alone, but by changing you. 

A hard fall means a high bounce… if you are made of the right material.
~ Unknown

It is the times when we have nowhere else to fall, when we have hit the ground so hard, that the only option open to us is that we bounce right back up like a super charged tennis ball. But first we have to be made of the right material and to do this we need to foster a strong mind and positive mental attitude at all times.

This is what heroes are made of, people who defy the odds and literally take life on no matter what. Make sure you are one of them.

Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends.
~ Shirley Maclaine

There are many silly prejudices and imaginary borders in the world which make strangers of people who should be friends. It’s important that we keep an open mind about all the people we meet regardless what creed or beliefs they hold or where they come from. To not to do so can not only breed ignorance but also means we could be missing out on great friendships.

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.
~ Anon

Nothing in life will ever be just perfect, that’s the beauty of life; it’s an imperfect world. It’s important that we carry on through challenges and not to just celebrate the good times. Making the most of every moment is what counts, and embracing challenges and turning them to our advantages. You don’t have to be Gene Kelly to be able to sing and dance in the rain.

Do just once what others say you can’t do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again.
~ James Cook

Some people can impose their own fears and limits on to us and tell us what they think we cannot do. Once you have actually done something which others say you cannot, it gives you added power and belief that anything is possible. All of a sudden you will no longer be limited by other people’s beliefs and this is very rewarding and life affirming.

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
~ Herm Albright

It’s true. Having a positive attitude will certainly enhance your life no end, but it can also be a great snub to those who doubt you. The best ’revenge’ is just getting on with your life, turning challenging situations into successes and saying to hell with those you criticize you. This is your life not anyone else’s. Keep positive and keep on going.

Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.
~ Ralph Waldo Emmerson

Self-doubt and a lack of self-esteem can literally stop us in our tracks, The fear of what other people might be thinking or a lack of self-love don’t really get us anywhere. We are all capable of great things and living our lives to our full potential; the only obstacle in our way is usually ourselves.

We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.
~ Frederick Keonig

There is always something to be grateful for, even in the direst of situations. Many of us chase things we think will make us happy but once we have it, the novelty soon wears off, so we chase something else. This life quote is telling us to be happy and grateful now for all that we have, because now is all we have and it can all so easily be taken away. 

Don’t think you’re on the right road just because it’s a well-beaten path.
~ Unknown

Following the path of others does not necessarily lead to happiness. This is mainly because when we follow well-beaten paths, we are following other people’s paths and not our own. We are all unique and wonderful in our own ways, and have different skills and needs.

It’s important that we follow our own path in life. I once asked a former boss what was his secret to success. His response was ‘don’t run with the pack’. And he was right.

Our subconscious minds have no sense of humor, play no jokes and cannot tell the difference between reality and an imagined thought or image. What we continually think about eventually will manifest in our lives.
~ Robert Collier

A classic example of the law of attraction at work here. What we continually think about will eventually manifest in our lives and this is why constant worrying is like praying for something you don’t want to happen. The language we use with ourselves is also very important.

For example, if we are constantly telling ourselves that we don’t want to have an accident, eventually we will, because our subconscious is only reading the word ’accident’ and this is what goes out into the universe, like a cosmic ordering system.

Hold on to what is good. Even if it is a handful of earth.
~ Hopi Prayer

There is always something to be grateful for and we are all blessed, regardless of our circumstances. This life quote is telling you to hold on to what you love and what is good, no matter what and is part of a beautiful prayer as follows:

Hold on to what is good,
even if it’s a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe,
even if it’s a tree that stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do,
even if it’s a long way from here.
Hold on to your life,
even if it’s easier to let go.
Hold on to my hand,
even if I’ve gone away from you.

In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.
~ Albert Camus

This is a beautiful quote about life which uses the seasons to convey our inbuilt capacity to survive whatever life throws our way, if only we believe. It’s not until we face some of the worse moments, that we realize our real treasure lies within.

The eagle never lost so much time, as when he submitted to learn of the crow.
~ William Blake

An interesting quote to ponder on. What does it mean exactly?

I think it means that in life we need to play to our own strengths and walk our own path, do what we know to be true. If you were an eagle, you would not learn your life skills from a crow. You would follow your own mind.

Nature holds all the answers – go outside and ask some questions – open your heart and listen to the response!
~ Amethyst Wyldfyre

There is nothing like a walk in nature to refresh your soul. Often if we are troubled or stressed the best thing we can do is take a stroll outside and converse with nature. Take some time to notice the flowers, plants and trees and just stop a while.

It can recharge you like nothing else and can also clear your mind and provide you with fresh ideas. If you are looking for some peace or a solution to a problem you have, just ask Mother Nature to provide it for you. You will be surprised at the response.

There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do.
~ Freya Stark

If the actions we take are not aligned with our core beliefs then we will suffer. This is because our soul is out of sync and this can cause great distress and even disease in the long run. Never engage in activity in which you do not believe.

Shun idleness. It is rust that attaches itself to the most brilliant metals.
~ Voltaire

This life quote is a superb analogy by one of the world’s greatest wits.

Being idle is a waste of time, and time is something which is very precious, something once lost, we can never get back. We may be brilliant, gifted and skilled, but unless we practice and hone our skills all our efforts will have been wasted. 

The real voyage of discovery consists of not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.
~ Marcel Proust

Imagine being a child and seeing everything for the first time, remember how magical the world seemed when we were young, imagine being able to experience life in this way again. Well the good news is that we can. What I think Proust means here is that we can change our life and understand ourselves better just by changing our perception.

We don’t have to travel a thousand miles to another landscape to witness beauty or everyday bravery. It’s on our doorstep. Right in front of our very eyes. Likewise, if we view a situation from a different perspective, we can learn a lot about ourselves and others.

Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.
~ Mary Anne Radmacher

I love this quote about life as it is giving us all the instructions for a joyful life experience in a few simple sentences. The words ’walk to the edge’ and ’listen hard’ really grab me and to me means that in life we should take risks if need be and always listen to our hearts. A very empowering quote indeed.

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

With this inspirational advice you cannot go wrong. If we truly believed that every day was the best day, imagine what we could achieve and do with our lives. In many ways Emerson hits the nail on the head with this life affirming quote about life and living, because every day is the best day and every day we have the ability to choose to be happy.

If I could give you one key, and one key only to more abundant life, I would give you a sense of your own worth, an unshakable sense of your own dignity as one grounded in the source of the cosmic dance, as one who plays a unique part in the unfolding of the story of the world.
~ Greta Crosby

So many of us go through life unaware of our own inner power, which if left unchecked, can lead to issues of low self-esteem. We are all unique and have incredible power which lies within, the trick is to find it and use it. We are all children of the universe and have a distinct purpose and role to fulfill in the incredible journey we are on.

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

Wise words from the first women to win a Nobel Prize for her pioneering work in the field of radioactivity. Marie Curie was not afraid of the unknown; instead she explored it and used her skills for the advancement of humanity. She knew that we must not fear anything in life, instead understand it so we can eradicate all fears.

The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours – it is an amazing journey – and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.
~ Bob Moawad

This is an incredibly empowering quote about life; it talks about taking responsibility not only for our actions, but for what happens in our life. We cannot go around blaming others for the bad things that happen, we just have to accept and take responsibility for the way we react to them.

We can choose to be happy or sad, to live a life of bitter regret or one of joy. Once we realize the key to happiness is ours, that’s the day we really begin to experience all life has to offer.

Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

Don’t die with your music still in you. If you have a calling then go for it, this is what you are here for. Many people believe they are not good enough or the time is not right. The time is now. 

To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.
~ Reba McEntire

This is a fun and easy to remember quote. We need a wishbone so that we can have a goal in life, a backbone so that we have the balls and the strength to stand tall and a funny bone to be able to laugh at ourselves. As Oscar Wilde once said ’Life is far too important to be taken seriously’. 

Use your imagination, not to scare yourself to death; but to inspire yourself to live.
~ Adele Brockman

Instead of using our minds to worry about things and make up worse case scenarios in our heads with regard to the future, we can instead use our incredible powerful minds to create something wonderful and inspirational. Our minds are a potent hotbed of fresh ideas. Take one, nurture it, and start living.

People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child, our own two eyes. All is a miracle.
~ Thich Nhat Hanh

This is a wonderful quote about the miracle of life. We don’t need to defy gravity or walk on water to witness miracles as they are happening with every breath we take. The fact that we are alive on this wonderful planet is nothing short of a miracle.

Appreciate this and respect and protect the planet we live on and the everyday true miracles we witness. 

What you WANT is irrelevant, what you’ve CHOSEN is at hand.
~ Spock (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

A quote straight from the Starship Enterprise and not just for trekkies. In life we get what we choose by our actions. If we live a life of negativity or greed or hate, then that’s what we get back. Likewise if we choose a path of love and positivity then this is what shows up in our own life. So whatever you want in life, first be what you want.

Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But, it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done. Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that!
~ Rocky Balboa movie

This is Sylvester Stallone’s character Rocky talking to his son in the inspirational movie Rocky Balboa. You can watch it here and it certainly packs a powerful punch. In life it is about keeping on going, no matter what life throws at us, and taking responsibility instead of blaming others. If you want something, go get it. End of.

So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’re chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.
~ Morrie Schwartz

This quote is from the inspirational book ’Tuesdays With Morrie’ and is the account of the conversations and teachings of a dying man as told to his former student in his final weeks. It is a great quote about life which makes you question your path and spurs you into action to do something good for yourself while helping others at the same time.

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.
~ Epicurus

This is a very valid point. How many times do we want things that we haven’t got instead of appreciating all that we already have? It is true that everything we already have was something we desired. Keep the attitude of gratitude for what you already have alive, instead of always wanting more.

To succeed, you need to take that gut feeling in what you believe and act on it with all of your heart.
~ Christy Borgeld

Without acting on our gut feelings, we are going against our inner nature and also against the universe. When we go against our gut feelings we can actually cause ourselves unnecessary stress because we are not living the life we really desire. If you want something, go for it. If you are acting on it with all your heart then you will succeed.

If you are brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.
~ Paulo Coelho

Sometimes we can cling on to things and people because we are afraid of the vacuum that will be left behind, but vacuums are always filled and if we are brave enough to say goodbye to something which no longer has a place in our life, then you can be certain that someone or something else will fill that void.

So don’t be afraid to let something go which isn’t working, it just means it’s no longer for you, and something better is on its way.

A small boy looked at a star and began to weep. The star said, ‘Boy, why are you weeping?’ And the boy said, ‘You are so far away I will never be able to touch you.’ And the star answered, ‘Boy, if I were not already in your heart, you would not be able to see me.’
~ John Magliola

A profound and meaningful quote about life which portrays how anything we perceive, we can achieve. In other words if we know what our goal is, then like with the boy in the parable, the goal is already in our heart, it is already part of who we are and therefore reachable. 

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.
~ Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

It’s so true that genuinely beautiful people do not just happen. The most beautiful people in the world have usually known some suffering which makes them more empathetic toward others. Having a pretty face or an aesthetically pleasing body is nothing compared to what is on the inside which is what really makes us beautiful. 

Don’t fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have.
~ Louis E. Boone

Imagine going through life so afraid of failure that it actually stops you from doing things you have never done before. Failure is actually a big and invaluable part of being successful as you learn so much from it; it teaches you to move on past fear. But who says you are going to fail anyway? So don’t refrain from doing something just because you are afraid of failing or you will end up never doing anything.

Waste your money and you’re only out of money, but waste your time and you’ve lost a part of your life.
~ Michael Leboeuf

Time is precious and we are only here for a finite amount of time, so make the most of it. We can get back money we have spent but we can never get back time we have wasted. 

You can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one. Each day is a different one; each day brings a miracle of its own. It’s just a matter of paying attention to this miracle.
~ Paulo Coelho

Every day brings new miracles; it’s just a matter of being able to see them. Being alive in itself is a great blessing and miracle. The trouble is that we can quickly become so familiar with our daily tasks and surroundings that we stop seeing all the amazing things about our lives and environment.

You see this when traveling; people ask visitors why they would want to go to their country, but to the intrepid traveler their country is a new and wonderful place with plenty to explore. To the natives it’s their home, and sometimes they too have ceased to see the wonders and miracles of their everyday environment.

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.
~ Robert Brault

This life quote is so important. It is the little things in life which often bring us the greatest pleasure and joy, and little things can have a tremendous power all of their own. It could be a small kindness, or the smile on a child’s face, the wag of a dog’s tail, or a stunning sunset. These are the things that life is made of.

And finally…

Don’t take life too seriously. You’ll never get out alive.
~ Elbert Hubbard