Success
“Insist on yourself; never imitate.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
Self-Reliance
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
- Perseverance
“The strongest of all warriors are these two—Time and Patience.”
Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910)
War and Peace (trans. Louise and Aylmer Maude)
- Success
“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.”
Booker T. Washington (1856–1915)
Up from Slavery
- Perseverance
“If there is no struggle there is no progress.”
Frederick Douglass (1818–1895)
West India Emancipation speech (1857)
- Courage
“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)
- Work
“Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”
Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919)
Labor Day address (1903)
- Work
“Never put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day.”
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
Letter to Thomas Jefferson Smith (1825)
- Happiness
“How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened!”
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
Letter to Thomas Jefferson Smith (1825)
- Wisdom
“When angry, count ten, before you speak; if very angry, an hundred.”
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)
- Work
“Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.”
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
Letter to Thomas Jefferson Smith (1825)
- Wisdom
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.”
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
Letter to Nathaniel Macon (1819)
- Learning
“I cannot live without books.”
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
Letter to John Adams (1815)
- Wisdom
“To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour.”
William Blake (1757–1827)
Auguries of Innocence
- Success
“Great things are done when men and mountains meet.”
William Blake (1757–1827)
Notebook
- Work
“The busy bee has no time for sorrow.”
William Blake (1757–1827)
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
- Courage
“No bird soars too high, if he soars with his own wings.”
William Blake (1757–1827)
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
- Hope
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
Lady Windermere's Fan
- Learning
“Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes.”
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
Lady Windermere's Fan
- 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
- Courage
“The mountains are calling and I must go.”
John Muir (1838–1914)
Letter to his sister Sarah (1873)
- 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)
- Learning
“For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.”
Aristotle (384–322 BC)
Nicomachean Ethics, Book II (trans. W. D. Ross)
- Wisdom
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Socrates (c. 470–399 BC)
Plato, Apology (trans. Benjamin Jowett)
- Courage
“Any one can hold the helm when the sea is calm.”
Publilius Syrus (1st century BC)
Moral Sayings (trans. Darius Lyman)
- Success
“They can because they think they can.”
Virgil (70–19 BC)
Aeneid, Book V
- Learning
“Life is short, and Art long.”
Hippocrates (c. 460–c. 370 BC)
Aphorisms (trans. Francis Adams)
- Learning
“He who never made a mistake never made a discovery.”
Samuel Smiles (1812–1904)
Self-Help
- Success
“The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual.”
Samuel Smiles (1812–1904)
Self-Help
- Perseverance
“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”
Thomas Paine (1737–1809)
The American Crisis
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