Happiness
“I exist as I am, that is enough.”
Walt Whitman (1819–1892)
Song of Myself
Motivational Quotes
Find motivational quotes from writers and thinkers of the past, one at a time. Press Next for a new quote, or pick a theme that fits your day.
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Motivational quotes 31
- Happiness
“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.”
Seneca (c. 4 BC–AD 65)
Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 2 (trans. Richard M. Gummere)
- Happiness
“Begin at once to live, and count each separate day as a separate life.”
Seneca (c. 4 BC–AD 65)
Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 101 (trans. Richard M. Gummere)
- Happiness
“Confine thyself to the present.”
Marcus Aurelius (121–180)
Meditations, Book VII (trans. George Long)
- Happiness
“Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life.”
Epictetus (c. 50–c. 135)
Enchiridion (trans. George Long)
- Happiness
“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”
Epictetus (c. 50–c. 135)
Fragments (trans. George Long)
- Happiness
“Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
Self-Reliance
- Happiness
“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
Works and Days
- Happiness
“Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Walden
- Happiness
“Love your life, poor as it is.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Walden
- Happiness
“Every morning was a cheerful invitation to make my life of equal simplicity, and I may say innocence, with Nature herself.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Walden
- Happiness
“A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Walden
- Happiness
“I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Walden
- Happiness
“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Journal (1853)
- Happiness
“Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
Poor Richard's Almanack (1749)
- Happiness
“Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with.”
Mark Twain (1835–1910)
Following the Equator
- Happiness
“Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.”
Mark Twain (1835–1910)
Following the Equator
- Happiness
“A light heart lives long.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Love's Labour's Lost
- Happiness
“A thing of beauty is a joy for ever.”
John Keats (1795–1821)
Endymion
- Happiness
“I exist as I am, that is enough.”
Walt Whitman (1819–1892)
Song of Myself
- Happiness
“Forever – is composed of Nows –”
Emily Dickinson (1830–1886)
Forever – is composed of Nows –
- Happiness
“There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy.”
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894)
An Apology for Idlers
- Happiness
“The world is so full of a number of things, I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings.”
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894)
Happy Thought
- Happiness
“Reflect upon your present blessings—of which every man has many—not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”
Charles Dickens (1812–1870)
Sketches by Boz
- Happiness
“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour.”
Charles Dickens (1812–1870)
A Christmas Carol
- Happiness
“There is no wealth but life.”
John Ruskin (1819–1900)
Unto This Last
- Happiness
“How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened!”
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
Letter to Thomas Jefferson Smith (1825)
- Happiness
“Take things always by their smooth handle.”
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
Letter to Thomas Jefferson Smith (1825)
- Happiness
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
The Soul of Man under Socialism
- Happiness
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
John Muir (1838–1914)
- Happiness
“One swallow does not make a summer, nor does one day.”
Aristotle (384–322 BC)
Nicomachean Ethics, Book I (trans. W. D. Ross)
What this page does
Press Next and a new quote appears, with its author shown underneath. Every quote comes from classic, public-domain writing – words from philosophers, poets, scientists and leaders of the past that have lasted for generations.
Pick a theme to narrow things down, and copy any quote you want to keep. Short, wise and often surprisingly modern, these lines have helped readers through hard days for a very long time.
How to use it
- Pick a theme to see quotes on a topic that fits your mood, or leave it open for a mix.
- Press Next (or the Space bar) for a new quote.
- Read the author's name under each quote.
- Copy the quote to paste it into a note, card, message or presentation.
Ways to use a motivational quote
Start your morning
Read one quote before you check your messages. Write it at the top of your journal or planner and come back to it at the end of the day.
Quote of the day in class
Put a quote on the board and ask students what they think it means, whether they agree, and how it might apply to their week. Old words often start lively discussions.
Team meetings
Open a meeting or a training session with a short quote. It sets the tone in a few seconds and gives people something to think about.
Cards and notes
Graduations, new jobs, tough weeks and big exams all call for a few encouraging words. A classic quote says a lot in one line.
Speeches and essays
A well-chosen quote makes a strong opening or closing line. Credit the author when you use it.
Reflection and journaling
Ask yourself why a quote rings true, or where you disagree with it. Our writing prompts include journaling ideas if you want to go further.
Goals and fresh starts
New year, new job, new training plan? Pick a quote that matches what you're working toward and keep it where you'll see it every day – on your mirror, your desk or your lock screen.
Tips
- Read it twice. Some older quotes use old-fashioned wording, and the meaning often lands on the second read.
- Credit the author when you share a quote in writing or on social media.
- Collect your favorites. Copy quotes you love into a notebook or a note on your phone.
- Keep it visible. A quote on a sticky note by your desk does more than one you read once and forget.
- Make it beautiful. Turn a short quote into decorative script with cursive letters.
Questions
Where do these motivational quotes come from?
They come from classic writing that is in the public domain – words by authors, thinkers and leaders who lived long ago. The author is shown with every quote.
Why only quotes from the past?
Classic public-domain quotes can be shared freely, and they have stood the test of time. Many still feel surprisingly modern.
Can I share these quotes?
Yes. Copy any quote and share it in a card, message, post or presentation. Please include the author's name.
Are the quotes correctly attributed?
We show the author for every quote and stick to classic sources. Famous lines are often credited to the wrong person online, so if you spot a mistake, please let us know.
Can I choose quotes on a certain topic?
Yes. Pick a theme and the quotes will match it. Press Next to move through them.
Can I use a quote in a speech or an essay?
Yes. Classic quotes make strong openings and closings. Put the words in quotation marks and name the author.
Is it free to use?
Completely free, with no sign-up. The site sets no cookies and doesn't track you.
Last updated October 2, 2026