Wisdom
“Language is the dress of thought.”
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
Lives of the Poets
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 36
- Wisdom
“Nothing, Lucilius, is ours, except time.”
Seneca (c. 4 BC–AD 65)
Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 1 (trans. Richard M. Gummere)
- Wisdom
“No longer talk at all about the kind of man that a good man ought to be, but be such.”
Marcus Aurelius (121–180)
Meditations, Book X (trans. George Long)
- Wisdom
“Such as are thy habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of thy mind; for the soul is dyed by the thoughts.”
Marcus Aurelius (121–180)
Meditations, Book V (trans. George Long)
- Wisdom
“If it is not right, do not do it: if it is not true, do not say it.”
Marcus Aurelius (121–180)
Meditations, Book XII (trans. George Long)
- Wisdom
“Take away thy opinion, and then there is taken away the complaint, "I have been harmed." Take away the complaint, "I have been harmed," and the harm is taken away.”
Marcus Aurelius (121–180)
Meditations, Book IV (trans. George Long)
- Wisdom
“Men are disturbed not by the things which happen, but by the opinions about the things.”
Epictetus (c. 50–c. 135)
Enchiridion (trans. George Long)
- Wisdom
“No man is free who is not master of himself.”
Epictetus (c. 50–c. 135)
Fragments (trans. George Long)
- Wisdom
“Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.”
Confucius (551–479 BC)
The Analects, Book I (trans. James Legge)
- Wisdom
“The superior man wishes to be slow in his speech and earnest in his conduct.”
Confucius (551–479 BC)
The Analects, Book IV (trans. James Legge)
- Wisdom
“If a man take no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.”
Confucius (551–479 BC)
The Analects, Book XV (trans. James Legge)
- Wisdom
“The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.”
Confucius (551–479 BC)
The Analects, Book XIII (trans. James Legge)
- Wisdom
“He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent. He who overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is mighty.”
Lao Tzu (6th century BC (traditional))
Tao Te Ching, chapter 33 (trans. James Legge)
- Wisdom
“The highest excellence is like that of water.”
Lao Tzu (6th century BC (traditional))
Tao Te Ching, chapter 8 (trans. James Legge)
- Wisdom
“Character is higher than intellect.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
The American Scholar
- Wisdom
“The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
Nature
- Wisdom
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Walden
- Wisdom
“Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Walden
- Wisdom
“In Wildness is the preservation of the World.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Walking
- Wisdom
“The question is not what you look at, but what you see.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Journal (1851)
- Wisdom
“A small leak will sink a great ship.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
The Way to Wealth
- Wisdom
“Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest.”
Mark Twain (1835–1910)
Note to the Young People's Society (1901)
- Wisdom
“Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.”
Mark Twain (1835–1910)
Pudd'nhead Wilson
- Wisdom
“Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.”
Mark Twain (1835–1910)
Pudd'nhead Wilson
- Wisdom
“This above all: to thine own self be true.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Hamlet
- Wisdom
“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Hamlet
- Wisdom
“Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Romeo and Juliet
- Wisdom
“Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Hamlet
- Wisdom
“Modest doubt is call'd the beacon of the wise.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Troilus and Cressida
- Wisdom
“Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin as self-neglecting.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Henry V
- Wisdom
“Language is the dress of thought.”
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
Lives of the Poets
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