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Inspirational Quotes by Theme (A-Z)
In the posts below, you’ll find hundreds of inspirational and motivational quotes organized by theme (e.g., growth mindset, time).
Inspirational Quotes by Life Area
Not sure what you’re looking for? You can also get inspirational quotes (as well as book recommendations, book summaries and articles) for each of TAoL‘s 8 areas of life…
- Health & Vitality - Master physical wellness;
- Thoughts & Emotions - Master mental wellness;
- Family & Friends - Build better relationships;
- Love & Partnership - Love and be loved;
- Growth & Learning - Get smart, faster;
- Productivity & Performance - Do more, better;
- Business & Career - Become an effective executive; and
- Wealth & Lifestyle - Free yourself.
Or dive right in to some of my favourite inspirational quotes of all time by scrolling below…
My TOP 40 Inspirational Quotes
These inspirational quotes come from The Art of Living's growing central library of thoughts, anecdotes, notes, and inspirational quotes.
Here are my top 40 inspirational quotes of all time...
1. "Nothing is impossible. The word itself says “I’m possible!”" - Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn was a British actress and humanitarian, recognised as both a film and fashion icon.
This quote reminds us that "impossible" is just a label for things we just don't know how to do yet.
Related Posts:2. "Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow’s reality." - Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist for female education and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. She is also the world's youngest Nobel Prize laureate, and second Pakistani to ever receive a Nobel Prize.
Related Posts:3. "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." - Mae West
Mae West was an American stage and film actress, playwright, screenwriter, singer, and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned over seven decades.
Related Posts:4. "If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way." - Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesman and leader in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968.
Related Posts:5. "Believe you can and you’re halfway there." - Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt overcame was a sickly childhood to embrace a famously active lifestyle and the 26th presidency of the United States.
Related Posts:6. "For every reason it’s not possible, there are hundreds of people who have faced the same circumstances and succeeded." - Jack Canfield
Jack Canfield is an American author, motivational speaker,[3] corporate trainer, and entrepreneur. He is the co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, which has more than 250 titles and 500 million copies in print in over 40 languages.
Related Posts:7. "It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up." - Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi was an American football coach best known for leading the Green Pay Packers to three straight and five total NFL Championships in seven years, in addition to winning the first two Super Bowls at the conclusion of the 1966 and 1967 NFL seasons.
Related Posts:8. "Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions." - Dalai Lama XIV
Dalai Lama XIV is the 14th incarnation of the Dalai Lama, a practicing member of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism and is influential as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the world's most famous Buddhist monk, and the leader of the exiled Tibetan government in India.
Related Posts:9. "The best way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." - Walt Disney
Walt Disney was an American entrepreneur, animator, writer, voice actor, and film producer who holds the record for most Academy Awards earned and nominations by an individual, having won 22 Oscars from 59 nominations.
Related Posts:10. "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." - C. S. Lewis
C. S. Lewis was a British writer and lay theologian. He held academic positions in English literature at both Oxford University (Magdalen College, 1925–1954) and Cambridge University (Magdalene College, 1954–1963).
Related Posts:11. "The “Success-type” personality is composed of: S-ense of direction U-nderstanding C-ourage C-harity E-steem S-elf-Confidence S-elf-Acceptance." - Maxwell Maltz
Maxwell Maltz was an American cosmetic surgeon and author of the best-selling and highly influential Psycho-Cybernetics (1960).
Related Posts:12. "Self-control is strength; Right Thought is mastery; Calmness is power. Say unto your heart, “Peace, be still!”" - James Allen
James Allen was a British philosophical writer known for his inspirational books and poetry and as a pioneer of the self-help movement.
Related Posts:13. "You are the master of your destiny. You can influence, direct and control your own environment. You can make your life what you want it to be." - Napoleon Hill
Napoleon Hill was an American self-help author. He is best known for his book Think and Grow Rich (1937), which is among the 10 best-selling self-help books of all time.
Related Posts:14. "Set your mind on a definite goal and observe how quickly the world stands aside to let you pass." - Napoleon Hill
"Set your mind on a definite goal and observe how quickly the world stands aside to let you pass."
- Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow RichNapoleon Hill was an American self-help author. He is best known for his book Think and Grow Rich (1937), which is among the 10 best-selling self-help books of all time.
Related Posts:15. "A quitter never wins and a winner never quits." - Napoleon Hill
Napoleon Hill was an American self-help author. He is best known for his book Think and Grow Rich (1937), which is among the 10 best-selling self-help books of all time.
Related Posts:16. "Every adversity, every failure, every heartbreak, carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit." - Napoleon Hill
Napoleon Hill was an American self-help author. He is best known for his book Think and Grow Rich (1937), which is among the 10 best-selling self-help books of all time.
Related Posts:17. "Action cures fear." - David J. Schwartz
David J. Schwartz was an American motivational writer and coach, best known for authoring The Magic of Thinking Big in 1959.
Related Posts:18. "Where there is a will, there is a way." - David J. Schwartz
David J. Schwartz was an American motivational writer and coach, best known for authoring The Magic of Thinking Big in 1959.
Related Posts:19. "Those who believe they can move mountains, do. Those who believe they can't, cannot." - David J. Schwartz
"Those who believe they can move mountains, do. Those who believe they can't, cannot."
- David J. Schwartz, The Magic of Thinking BigDavid J. Schwartz was an American motivational writer and coach, best known for authoring The Magic of Thinking Big in 1959.
Related Posts:20. "The best possible way to prepare for tomorrow is to concentrate with all your intelligence, all your enthusiasm, on doing today's work superbly today. That is the only possible way you can prepare for the future." - Dale Carnegie
Dale Carnegie was an American writer and lecturer and a developer of courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking, and interpersonal skills.
Related Posts:21. "No matter what happens, always be yourself... Nothing can bring you peace but yourself." - Dale Carnegie
"No matter what happens, always be yourself... Nothing can bring you peace but yourself."
- Dale Carnegie, How to Stop Worrying and Start LivingDale Carnegie was an American writer and lecturer and a developer of courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking, and interpersonal skills.
Related Posts:22. "Two men looked out from prison bars, One saw the mud, the other saw stars." - Dale Carnegie
"Two men looked out from prison bars, One saw the mud, the other saw stars."
- Dale Carnegie, How to Stop Worrying and Start LivingDale Carnegie was an American writer and lecturer and a developer of courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking, and interpersonal skills.
Related Posts:23. "If you don't give anything don't expect anything. Success is not coming to you. You must come to it." - Marva Collins
Marva Collins was an American educator best known for founding Westside Preparatory School.
This quote is a reminder that the only person responsible for your life is you. If you want to succeed, apply yourself.
Related Posts:24. "Do all the work you can do, every day, and do each piece of work in a perfectly successful manner; put the power of success, and the purpose to get rich, into everything that you do." - Wallace D. Wattles
Wallace D. Wattles was an American New Thought writer whose writing has been widely quoted and remains in print in the New Thought and self-help movements.
Related Posts:25. "Your diamonds are not in far distant mountains or in yonder seas; they are in your own backyard, if you but dig for them." - Russell H. Conwell
Russell H. Conwell was an American Baptist minister, lawyer, and writer best known for founding Temple University and his inspirational lecture, Acres of Diamonds.
Related Posts:26. "The Four Agreements are: 1. Be impeccable with your word; 2. Don’t take anything personally; 3. Don’t make assumptions; and 4. Always do your best." - Miguel Ruiz
Miguel Ruiz is a Mexican author of Toltec spiritualist and neoshamanistic texts.
Related Posts:27. "God is life. God is life in action. The best way to say, "I love you, God," is to live your life doing your best. The best way to say, "Thank you, God," is by letting go of the past and living in the present moment, right here and now. Whatever life takes away from you, let it go. When you surrender and let go of the past, you allow yourself to be fully alive in the moment. Letting go of the past means you can enjoy the dream that is happening right now." - Miguel Ruiz
Miguel Ruiz is a Mexican author of Toltec spiritualist and neoshamanistic texts.
Related Posts:28. "Creativity is intelligence having fun." -
Related Posts:29. "We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated." - Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was an American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist whose writing career spanned over 50 years.
Related Posts:30. "Live as if you were living already for the second time and as if you had acted the first time as wrongly as you are about to act now!" - Viktor E. Frankl
Viktor E. Frankl (26 March 1905 – 2 September 1997) was an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, author, and Holocaust survivor best known for his book Man's Search for Meaning.
Related Posts:31. "It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting." - Paulo Coelho
"It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting."
- Paulo Coelho, The AlchemistPaulo Coelho is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist whose novel, The Alchemist, has sold more than 150 million copies worldwide and is the all-time best-selling book by a Brazilian writer.
Related Posts:32. "There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure." - Paulo Coelho
"There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure."
- Paulo Coelho, The AlchemistPaulo Coelho is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist whose novel, The Alchemist, has sold more than 150 million copies worldwide and is the all-time best-selling book by a Brazilian writer.
Related Posts:33. "The secret of life is to fall seven times and to get up eight times." - Paulo Coelho
"The secret of life is to fall seven times and to get up eight times."
- Paulo Coelho, The AlchemistPaulo Coelho is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist whose novel, The Alchemist, has sold more than 150 million copies worldwide and is the all-time best-selling book by a Brazilian writer.
Related Posts:34. "Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity." - Paulo Coelho
Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist whose novel, The Alchemist, has sold more than 150 million copies worldwide and is the all-time best-selling book by a Brazilian writer.
Related Posts:35. "For love, we will climb mountains, cross seas, traverse desert sands, and endure untold hardships. Without love, mountains become unclimbable, seas uncrossable, deserts unbearable, and hardships our lot in life." - Gary Chapman
Gary Chapman (born January 10, 1938) is an American author and radio talk show host best known for his best selling book, The 5 Love Languages, and its follow up series.
Related Posts:36. "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King Jr.
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
- Martin Luther King Jr.Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesman and leader in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968.
Related Posts:37. "In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity." - Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu was a Chinese general, military strategist, writer, and philosopher who lived in the Eastern Zhou period of ancient China and is credited as the author of the highly influential The Art of War.
Related Posts:38. "I don't stop when I'm tired. I stop when I'm done." - David Goggins
David Goggins is an American ultramarathon runner, ultra-distance cyclist, triathlete, public speaker, and author - best known for his memoir Can't Hurt Me.
Related Posts:39. "Your "I CAN" is more important than your IQ." - Robin Sharma
Robin Sharma is a Canadian writer, best known for his The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari book series.
Related Posts:40. "The purpose of life is a life of purpose." - Robin Sharma
Robin Sharma is a Canadian writer, best known for his The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari book series.
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