Growth Mindset Quotes: 21 Inspiring Quotes on the Power of Persistence

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Looking for some inspiring growth mindset quotes? You’re in the right place!

The one thing all books on learning agree on is the value of adopting a growth mindset.

What is a growth mindset? A growth mindset rejects the claim that abilities are innate and largely fixed. Instead, as Carol Dweck explains in her eponymous book, a growth mindset is the belief that all abilities are trainable. That nothing is fixed. That we can change everything from intelligence to creativity to athleticism (and even our characters) through persistent and adaptive effort.

Why is such a simple idea so important? Because, as Matthew Syed reminds us, “the path to excellence could not be more difficult. It is steep, gruelling, and arduous. It is inordinately lengthy. And, most importantly of all, it forces voyagers to stumble and fall on every single stretch of the journey.” All of us may travel this path. But doing so demands more than just expecting failure. It demands we embrace it. Excellence demands nothing less than a growth mindset.

You’ll find many quotes to remind you of this truth. The 21 below are among my favourite. I chose them because they remind me to get started, embrace failure, persevere and never stop taking action. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Good luck and remember, “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” – Babe Ruth.

1. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.

Audrey Hepburn was an actress, model, dancer and humanitarian who forged her resilience as a child of the Second World War. This quote reminds us that “impossible” is just a label for things we just don’t know how to do yet.

2. TO SUCCEED, YOU MUST FIRST BEGIN.

Theodore Roosevelt overcame a sickly childhood to embrace a famously active lifestyle and the 26th presidency of the United States. This quote is one of many (including one of my favourite passages of all time) that captures his proactive approach to adversity.

3. FAILING TO TRY IS LIKE TRYING TO FAIL.

Michael Jordan is the NBA’s “greatest basketball player of all time”. A master of learning from every mistake, his growth-oriented attitude to failure was immortalised in the legendary “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career” Nike commercial.

4. DON’T WAIT FOR SUCCESS.

Marva Collins was an educator who dedicated her life to fighting inequality, the talent myth and the inadequacies of public schooling. This quote is a reminder that the only person responsible for your life is you. If you want it, go and get it.

5. WORK HARD NOW.

Shaquille O’Neal is another NBA great – famous as much for his relentless growth mindset on the court as off of it. This quote reminds us to buckle down, trust the process and remember – the best time to start isn’t later, it’s now.

6. EXPLORE. DREAM. DISCOVER.

Mark Twain was a writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer once hailed as “the father of American literature”. This quote reminds us that, in the face of death, the only real failure in life is regret.

7. TREAT LIFE AS AN EXPERIMENT.

Ralph Waldo Emerson was an essayist, lecturer, philosopher, poet and champion of individualism. The quote is a great reminder to approach life with the playfulness and detachment of a (mad) scientist. Because…

8. DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY.

Tony Robbins is an author, entrepreneur, philanthropist and life coach famous for his “can-do” attitude and philosophies. This quote reminds us that the value in every failure is the lesson that brings us one step nearer success.

9. EMBRACE FEEDBACK.

Lebron James is the third and final NBA all-star to appear on this list. This quote reminds us that criticism isn’t a weapon, it’s a gift. When given to wound, it trains resilience. When given to help, there’s nothing more valuable to growth.

10. BECOME A MASTER AT FAILING.

J. K. Rowling is best known for Harry Potter – the series famously rejected by 12 publishers before becoming an international sensation. This quote reminds us not only that failure is a pivotal ingredient in success, but that learning to embrace it is a skill – one all of us can master.

11. QUITTERS NEVER WIN.

Albert Einstein overturned centuries of conventional wisdom to co-found modern theoretical physics. This quote, among many, exemplifies the mindset that transformed him into one of the greatest thinkers of modern history.

12. WINNERS NEVER QUIT.

Pelé is a retired soccer player regarded by many as “the greatest footballer of all time”. This quote reminds us that excellence in any endeavour means having the passion and patience to collect thousands of compounding marginal gains.

13. MAKE ALL THE MISTAKES.

Niels Bohr was a Nobel-Prize-winning physicist who transformed our understanding of atomic theory and quantum physics. His secret? Realising that excellence isn’t about learning all the right ways to do something. It’s about learning to avoid all the wrong ones.

14. PERSEVERE.

Samuel Johnson was a scholar whose Dictionary of the English Language was an astounding work with far-reaching far reaching effects on Modern English. This quote reminds us that humanity’s greatest achievements weren’t built in minutes or days, but in years, decades and centuries.

15. KEEP TRYING.

Dale Carnegie was a writer and self-improvement guru whose How To Win Friends And Influence People is among the best selling books of all time. This quote reminds us that the path to success isn’t linear and that whatever you’re looking for might be just around the next corner.

16. NEVER GIVE UP.

Winston Churchill was a politician and writer whose courage and persistence was pivotal to Allied victory in the Second World War. This quote reminds us that a growth mindset isn’t just about What we do about failure, but also How we go about doing it.

17. ONE MORE TIME.

Thomas Edison was a businessman and quite possibly America’s greatest inventor. His secret? Dogged persistence. “I haven’t failed.” he once observed in his pursuit of the lightbulb, “I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

18. LEARN LIKE YOU’LL LIVE FOREVER.

Carol Dweck is a psychology professor who has done more than anyone to popularise the importance of mindset. This quote perfectly captures the traits of a growth mindset and the attitude needed to chase excellence in any field.

19. BE AN OPTIMIST.

Brian Tracy is one of today’s most powerful motivational speakers and self-development authors (Still curious? Check out this summary of his excellent book, Eat That Frog!). This quote perfectly captures Brian’s growth-oriented philosophy and the qualities of an ever-improving optimist.

20. WHERE THERE’S A WILL, FIND A WAY.

Hannibal was a Carthaginian general who is considered as one of the greatest military strategists in history. Though his conquests threatened the very foundations of modern Europe, his brilliance and persistence are unquestionable.

21. LOVE THE PROCESS.

Nick Bollettieri, the legendary coach of many of modern tennis’s greatest players. His secret? Let go of outcomes, enjoy the process, see your mistakes as valuable miss-takes and take action where others would flounder – a textbook example of growth mindset to finish.

EVEN MORE GROWTH MINDSET QUOTES ABOUT PERSEVERANCE

Are you feeling inspired yet? If the above growth mindset quotes weren’t enough, here are some more quotes on perseverance, resilience, and persistence that will train your mindset to keep growing.

22. START WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE.

All these quotes about the growth mindset are really about changing one small but major thing: your attitude. British War-time Prime Minister Winston Churchill was right to note that your attitude has a huge impact on how you face life. Having the right one makes it easier for you to grow and adapt.

23. USE OBSTACLES TO PROPEL YOU FORWARD.

English Children’s Book Author Enid Blyton‘s advice on how to face obstacles is clear. The best persistence quotes remind you to use obstacles to your advantage, not as excuses that hinder your growth.

24. OVERCOMING FEAR MEANS GROWTH.

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a renowned American poet and philosopher. This quote is about pushing boundaries, as real growth means overcoming things that we once feared.

25. DON’T BASE YOUR WORTH ON OTHER PEOPLE’S OPINION.

Vernon Howard was an American spiritual teacher who explained mysticism in a simple way. This quote explains that there is strength in realizing that other people’s opinions of you are irrelevant.

26. HAVE A POSITIVE MINDSET.

Theodore Roosevelt was the 25th President of the United States and is considered one of the greatest of all. This quote emphasizes the power of believing in yourself. Adopt a positive mindset and set out to accomplish your goals.

27. CHALLENGES ARE USEFUL.

Joshua J. Marine is an author primarily known for this quote. It’s one of the best quotes about growth mindset, as it reminds us that challenges make life interesting and meaningful.

28. OUR IDOLS ARE PEOPLE TOO.

Carol Dweck is a professor of Psychology at Stanford University. This quote talks about our tendency to put our idols on pedestals and forgetting the fact that we all are capable of doing great things.

29. WORK FOR YOUR DREAMS.

John C. Maxwell is a pastor, author, and inspirational speaker whose forte is talking about leadership. This quote stresses the fact that dreams remain in your head until you do something about it. A growth mindset is active, and shouldn’t just stay in the mind.

30. IT WILL BECOME EASIER.

Thomas Fuller was a prolific author, churchman, and historian. This quote exemplifies the value of “practice makes perfect”. Keep at it even if it is difficult because with enough experience, it will come naturally to you.

31. GET READY TO ACHIEVE.

Carol Dweck is such a prolific psychology professor that we are featuring her a second time in this list of quotes about growth mindset. This quote points out what you need in order to achieve more - focus, effort, planning, and allies.

32. EVERYONE IS TALENTED.

Kermit the Frog is a beloved Muppet and is known for quite a few quotes. This one about talent explains that just because you haven’t found something you are good at, it doesn’t mean you’re not good at something. Everyone is special, and you just have to find your own place in the sun.

33. PERSEVERANCE IS UNBEATABLE.

Babe Ruth is an American professional baseball player who is best known for his stint in the New York Yankees. This quote states that a person with perseverance is unbeatable because you’re only beaten when you stop trying.

34. FRUITFUL PATHS ARE NEVER EASY.

Frank A. Clark was an American politician who served the United States for 50 years. This growth mindset quote explains that taking the path of least resistance is not ideal, as difficulties mean more opportunities for growth.

35. THE REAL PROBLEM IS YOUR ATTITUDE.

Captain Jack Sparrow is the beloved protagonist of the Pirates of the Caribbean series. He is known for his quick wit and daring attitude. This quote highlights the fact that sometimes, the real issue is not the problem itself but how you approach it.

36. DON’T MAKE QUITTING A HABIT.

Michael Jordan is a prolific basketball superstar. He led the Chicago Bulls to win six championships. This quote speaks a lot about his work ethic - quitting is not a habit you want to acquire.

37. CHOOSE SUCCESS.

Stephen Curry plays for the Golden State Warriors and has won them three NBA championships. This quote explains that you don’t succeed accidentally. You chose to do the work and take the steps necessary to succeed.

38. MASTERY ENTAILS HARD WORK.

Michelangelo was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet during the Renaissance. This quote clarifies that mastery and hard work go hand in hand. You become immortalized in history because you do the work, every day, and you keep at it until you master it.

39. NO SHORTCUTS TO SUCCESS.

Zig Ziglar was an American author and motivational speaker. This quote explains that there are no shortcuts to success. Do your work and take the stairs to reach the top.

40. DON’T BE AFRAID TO BE WRONG.

Joseph Chilton Pearce was an American author specializing in child development. This quote explains that the fear of being wrong is often a detriment to real growth. Let go and allow yourself to be wrong if you learn from it.

41. SHIPS ARE MEANT TO SAIL THROUGH STORMS.

Louisa May Alcott is the author of the well-known novel Little Women. This quote explains that storms are not something to be afraid of. They are chances to learn and grow once you survive it.

Arthur Worsley

Arthur is a thinker and writer who helps people who want more from their lives learn to be more productive, find more balance and live life more meaningfully. Want to know more? Take this 2-minute quiz to discover your Productivity Quotient (PQ) and learn how to get BIG things done. Take the Quiz →