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)
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 247
- Wisdom
“Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Romeo and Juliet
- Courage
“Men at some time are masters of their fates.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Julius Caesar
- Work
“I wasted time, and now doth time waste me.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Richard II
- Perseverance
“Sweet are the uses of adversity.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
As You Like It
- Work
“Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
The Merry Wives of Windsor
- 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
- Hope
“Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, which we ascribe to heaven.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
All's Well That Ends Well
- Change
“We know what we are, but know not what we may be.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Hamlet
- Kindness
“Let gentleness my strong enforcement be.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
As You Like It
- Happiness
“A light heart lives long.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Love's Labour's Lost
- Learning
“Ignorance is the curse of God, knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Henry VI, Part 2
- Wisdom
“Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin as self-neglecting.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Henry V
- Perseverance
“Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.”
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
Rasselas
- Perseverance
“Few things are impossible to diligence and skill.”
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
Rasselas
- Learning
“Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind.”
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
The Rambler
- Learning
“Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it.”
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
Recorded in Boswell's Life of Johnson
- Learning
“The true art of memory is the art of attention.”
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
The Idler
- Wisdom
“Language is the dress of thought.”
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
Lives of the Poets
- Success
“Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one step of success to another, forming new wishes and seeing them gratified.”
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
The Rambler
- Kindness
“To err is human, to forgive, divine.”
Alexander Pope (1688–1744)
An Essay on Criticism
- Learning
“A little learning is a dang'rous thing.”
Alexander Pope (1688–1744)
An Essay on Criticism
- Hope
“Hope springs eternal in the human breast.”
Alexander Pope (1688–1744)
An Essay on Man
- Hope
“They also serve who only stand and wait.”
John Milton (1608–1674)
Sonnet 19
- Kindness
“That best portion of a good man's life, his little, nameless, unremembered, acts of kindness and of love.”
William Wordsworth (1770–1850)
Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey
- Change
“The Child is father of the Man.”
William Wordsworth (1770–1850)
My Heart Leaps Up
- Learning
“Come forth into the light of things, let Nature be your teacher.”
William Wordsworth (1770–1850)
The Tables Turned
- Happiness
“A thing of beauty is a joy for ever.”
John Keats (1795–1821)
Endymion
- Hope
“If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?”
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822)
Ode to the West Wind
- Perseverance
“To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892)
Ulysses
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