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.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.”
Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919)
Citizenship in a Republic (1910)
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247 quotes match your filters · Press Space for the next one
“Love your life, poor as it is.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Walden
“It is never too late to give up our prejudices.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Walden
“Things do not change; we change.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Walden
“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
“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Walden
“Only that day dawns to which we are awake. There is more day to dawn. The sun is but a morning star.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Walden
“A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Walden
“In Wildness is the preservation of the World.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Walking
“Be not simply good; be good for something.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Letter to H. G. O. Blake (1848)
“The question is not what you look at, but what you see.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Journal (1851)
“There is no remedy for love but to love more.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Journal (1839)
“Goodness is the only investment that never fails.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Walden
“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
“Nothing is so much to be feared as fear.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Journal (1851)
“As if you could kill time without injuring eternity.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Walden
“We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
Walden
“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)
“Well done is better than well said.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
Poor Richard's Almanack (1737)
“Lost time is never found again.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
Poor Richard's Almanack (1748)
“Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
Poor Richard's Almanack (1735)
“Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that's the stuff life is made of.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
Poor Richard's Almanack (1746)
“Little strokes fell great oaks.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
Poor Richard's Almanack (1750)
“Diligence is the mother of good luck.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
Poor Richard's Almanack (1736)
“One to-day is worth two to-morrows.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
The Way to Wealth
“Hide not your talents, they for use were made: what's a sun-dial in the shade?”
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
Poor Richard's Almanack (1750)
“Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbours, and let every new year find you a better man.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
Poor Richard's Almanack (1755)
“He that can have patience can have what he will.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
Poor Richard's Almanack (1736)
“There are no gains without pains.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
The Way to Wealth
“A small leak will sink a great ship.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
The Way to Wealth
“Genius without education is like silver in the mine.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
Poor Richard's Almanack (1750)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Graduations, new jobs, tough weeks and big exams all call for a few encouraging words. A classic quote says a lot in one line.
A well-chosen quote makes a strong opening or closing line. Credit the author when you use it.
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.
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.
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.
Classic public-domain quotes can be shared freely, and they have stood the test of time. Many still feel surprisingly modern.
Yes. Copy any quote and share it in a card, message, post or presentation. Please include the author's name.
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.
Yes. Pick a theme and the quotes will match it. Press Next to move through them.
Yes. Classic quotes make strong openings and closings. Put the words in quotation marks and name the author.
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Last updated October 2, 2026