200 famous quotes by inspirational people to motivate and inspire you

Sometimes, all it takes is a single quote to change the way you see the world. Imagine coming across Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words: 

It’s the kind of insight that can shift perspectives, offering the motivation to tackle challenges and the inspiration to keep going.

There’s something magical about finding the perfect quote—it’s like stumbling on a hidden treasure that ignites creativity or lifts your spirits. This collection brings together inspiring thoughts from figures like Mother Teresa, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and even the fictional Arthur Morgan.

So, dive into this collection of timeless wisdom and let these words inspire your next project and brighten your day.

Table of contents

How to make famous quotes work for you every day

Have you ever come across a quote that just stops you in your tracks? One that makes you think, “Wow! that’s exactly what I needed to hear”? 

Quotes from famous people resonate with us on a personal level because they come from individuals who have faced the same struggles we face and overcome their own challenges.

Their words carry the weight of lived experiences, making them relatable and reminding us that we’re not alone in our journey.

But here’s the thing—they’re not just for reading. They can actually become powerful tools in your everyday life.  

• For personal growth: Quotes can serve as little nuggets of inspiration to keep you going when things feel tough. Stick your favorite on a Post-it and pop it on your mirror, or set it as your phone wallpaper. These small reminders can do wonders for staying motivated and focused on your goals.  
• For students or professionals: Quotes are like secret weapons in essays or presentations. They have a way of elevating your message, adding depth, and making your arguments more memorable. Need to start your essay with a bang? Open with a strong quote. Trying to drive home your point in a presentation? A quote from a well-known figure can do the trick.  
• For the creatives out there: Quotes are a goldmine for projects. Think about designing wall art, social media posts, or even personalized gifts with inspiring quotes as the centerpiece. Tools like Kittl’s Quote Generator make this easier than ever. You can customize fonts, layouts, and colors to create graphics that are as unique as the words themselves.  

Pretty nifty, right? It doesn’t matter if you’re writing, designing, or just searching for that little boost to get through the day, a good quote can be a total game-changer.

Leadership and resilience – Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill quotes

Leadership is often tested in times of great adversity, and few endured more than Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill. 

Lincoln guided a divided nation through the Civil War, battling political opposition and the moral weight of abolishing slavery, while Churchill rallied Britain through the darkest days of World War II, facing relentless bombings and the challenge of uniting a nation. 

Both Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill didn’t have it easy—just like when life throws challenges your way. 

But their words remind us that even in the toughest times, there’s strength to be found. Scroll down, and let their wisdom give you the push you need to get through the day.

Abraham Lincoln quotes

1. "The best way to predict your future is to create it."
2. "Whatever you are, be a good one."
3. "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."
4. "I am a slow walker, but I never walk back."
5. "You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today."
6. "Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."
7. "I do the very best I know how—the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end."
8. "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time."
9. "My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure."
10. "The ballot is stronger than the bullet."
11. "Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be."
12. "No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar."
13. "You cannot help people permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves."
14. "The better part of one’s life consists of their friendships."
15. "The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time."
16. "I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have."
17. "I will prepare, and someday my chance will come."
18. "Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally."
19. "I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday."
20. "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves."

Winston Churchill quotes

1. "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts."
2. "To each, there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour."
3. "If you’re going through hell, keep going."
4. "To each, their own task. Let each man or woman be judged by the tasks they set themselves to accomplish."
5. "Continuous effort—not strength or intelligence—is the key to unlocking our potential."
6. "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
7. "Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities because it is the quality that guarantees all others."
8. "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."
9. "The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty."
10. "Never give in—never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense."
11. "You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life."
12. "Success always demands a greater effort."
13. "It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time."
14. "To each, their own task. Let each man or woman be judged by the tasks they set themselves to accomplish."
15. "If we open a quarrel between past and present, we shall find that we have lost the future."
16. "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
17. "To improve is to change, so to be perfect is to change often."
18. "Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it."
19. "The price of greatness is responsibility."
20. "Out of intense complexities, intense simplicities emerge."

Compassion in action – Mother Teresa quotes

Mother Teresa’s life was a testament to the power of love and compassion. 

Born in Albania and dedicating her life to serving the poorest of the poor in India, she faced immense challenges while spreading kindness and hope. Her unwavering commitment to helping others, even in the most dire circumstances, turned her into a global symbol of selfless service. 

Mother Theresa’s wise words reflect her profound belief in the impact of small, loving actions and offer timeless guidance for bringing more empathy and purpose into our own lives.

1. "Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier."
2. "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."
3. "Peace begins with a smile."
4. "The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread."
5. "If you judge people, you have no time to love them."
6. "I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together, we can do great things."
7. "Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin."
8. "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."
9. "Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person."
10. "The greatest good is what we do for one another."
11. "If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one."
12. "Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls."
13. "Do small things with great love."
14. "It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving."
15. "Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies."
16. "A life not lived for others is not a life."
17. "We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop."
18. "If you are humble, nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are."
19. "God doesn’t require us to succeed, he only requires that you try."
20. "The more you have, the more you are occupied. The less you have, the more free you are."

Wisdom and inner strength – Ralph Waldo Emerson and Helen Keller quotes

Ralph Waldo Emerson and Helen Keller, though separated by circumstance, both championed the power of the human spirit to overcome obstacles and find meaning in life.

Emerson, a transcendentalist philosopher, urged us to trust ourselves and seek growth through self-reliance and reflection. Keller, who triumphed over the challenges of being both blind and deaf, became an icon of perseverance and courage. 

Let’s check out the words that painted their wisdom and inner strength to rise above life’s challenges.

Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes

1. "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
2. "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
3. "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be."
4. "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."
5. "Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience."
6. "Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself."
7. "Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."
8. "Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail."
9. "For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind."
10. "Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string."
11. "What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say."
12. "The only way to have a friend is to be one."
13. "The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn."
14. "An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory."
15. "Enthusiasm is the mother of effort, and without it, nothing great was ever achieved."
16. "Every artist was first an amateur."
17. "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."
18. "The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one."
19. "Do the thing you fear, and the death of fear is certain."
20. "The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common."

Helen Keller quotes

1. "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence."
2. "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
3. "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."
4. "Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it."
5. "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched—they must be felt with the heart."
6. "Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow."
7. "I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble."
8. "Your success and happiness lie in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties."
9. "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."
10. "The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision."
11. "Your success and happiness lie in you. External conditions are the accidents of life, its outer trappings."
12. "The most beautiful world is always entered through imagination."
13. "A bend in the road is not the end of the road… Unless you fail to make the turn."
14. "Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them, but do not let them master you. Let them teach you patience, sweetness, insight."
15. "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
16. "The highest result of education is tolerance."
17. "Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood."
18. "Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow."
19. "Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose."
20. "What I am looking for is not out there, it is in me."

Modern inspiration – Simone Biles and David Bowie quotes

Who says wisdom has to come from centuries past? Simone Biles and David Bowie prove that modern icons can inspire us just as much as historical figures. 

Simon Biles, a record-breaking gymnast, has shown the world what it means to push boundaries while staying true to yourself. While David Bowie, the chameleon of creativity, redefined what it means to embrace individuality. 

Their words remind us that wisdom isn’t just something you find in history books—it’s alive and ready to meet us where we are today.

Simone Biles quotes

1. "I’d rather regret the risks that didn’t work out than the chances I didn’t take at all."
2. "The most effective way to do it, is to do it."
3. "I’m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps. I’m the first Simone Biles."
4. "Practice creates confidence. Confidence empowers you."
5. "I’m my own biggest critic. I always push myself to go harder than before."
6. "A successful competition for me is always about trying to go out there and do my best."
7. "I’d rather be the best version of myself than a bad copy of someone else."
8. "It’s okay to feel nervous. It’s okay to feel pressure. But don’t let it stop you from achieving greatness."
9. "You don’t have to be perfect to be amazing."
10. "I’m not afraid to show who I am because I know I’m enough."
11. "I think it’s really important to stand up for what you believe in and stand up for what you feel right in your heart."
12. "I’d rather regret the risks that didn’t work out than the chances I didn’t take at all."
13. "I have everything I need. So, there’s no need for me to compare."
14. "It’s important to be your authentic self."
15. "We can push ourselves further. We always have more to give."
16. "It’s amazing what happens when you just put your head down and focus."
17. "It’s not about being the next Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, or Simone Biles. It’s about being the first you."
18. "Being a role model is such an honor."
19. "I was built this way for a reason, so I’m going to use it."
20. "At the end of the day, if I can say I had fun, it was a good day."

David Bowie quotes

1. "I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring."
2. "Turn and face the strange."
3. "Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming."
4. "I always had a repulsive need to be something more than human."
5. "Don’t let the little things bother you. There’s a purpose for everything."
6. "You can neither win nor lose if you don’t run the race."
7. "The truth is, of course, that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time."
8. "The moment you know you know, you know."
9. "I’m an instant star. Just add water and stir."
10. "Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been."
11. "Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming."
12. "The truth is, there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time."
13. "I don’t have to drag myself around. I like what I do."
14. "Don’t let me hear you say life’s taking you nowhere."
15. "I always had a repulsive need to be something more than human."
16. "I re-invented my image so many times that I’m in denial that I was originally an overweight Korean woman."
17. "I’m always amazed that people take what I say seriously. I don’t even take what I am seriously."
18. "The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."
19. "If it works, it’s out of date."
20. "I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring."

Fictional inspiration – Arthur Morgan quotes 

For video game enthusiasts out there, Arthur Morgan, the rugged outlaw from Red Dead Redemption 2, isn’t just a gunslinger—he’s a philosopher in a cowboy hat. 

But, can a fictional character’s wisdom, laced with grit, morality, and the weight of redemption, leave us pondering life’s big questions? We’ll let you be the judge.

1. "We’re thieves in a world that don’t want us no more."
2. "I guess I... I’m afraid."
3. "You’re a good man and a good friend."
4. "You don’t get to live a bad life and have good things happen to you."
5. "I gave you all I had."
6. "The thing is, Sadie, I really don’t want to die. But I guess I’ve got to."
7. "You have to decide. Do you want to live as a coward or die as a man?"
8. "We can’t change what’s done. We can only move on."
9. "Be loyal to what matters."
10. "You’re okay, boy."
11. "We all gotta die, but that don’t mean we gotta live like we’re dead."
12. "I tried. In the end, I failed."
13. "Nothing means more to me than this gang."
14. "I’m not afraid of dying anymore. I’m afraid of wasting my life."
15. "We’re all just trying to survive."
16. "Ain’t no shame in looking for better days."
17. "Do you have my back or am I on my own?"
18. "It’s a world full of pain, but there’s beauty in it too."
19. "There’s a fine line between right and wrong. And sometimes you just gotta choose."
20. "I guess... I’m just trying to make things right."

Universal messages –  Timeless quotes from pop culture and history’s icons

Ever had one of those moments where you’re staring at a blank screen, wondering if you should just give up and binge your favorite series instead? 

That’s when a quote hits you like a lightbulb moment. Maybe it’s Nelson Mandela reminding you that "it always seems impossible until it’s done," or Oprah Winfrey telling you to "turn your wounds into wisdom." Suddenly, you’re back in the game. 

Whether it’s Michael Jordan encouraging you to take the shot or Eleanor Roosevelt nudging you to do what’s right, these quotes are like having a pep talk from the greats—and who couldn’t use that?

Quotes from pop culture icons

1. "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." – Oscar Wilde
2. "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." – Walt Disney
3. "Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose." – Bill Gates
4. "Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life." – Steve Jobs
5. "A girl should be two things: who and what she wants." – Coco Chanel
6. "I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship." – Louisa May Alcott
7. "Do what you feel in your heart to be right—for you’ll be criticized anyway." – Eleanor Roosevelt
8. "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." – Eleanor Roosevelt
9. "I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying." – Michael Jordan
10. "When you undervalue what you do, the world will undervalue who you are." – Oprah Winfrey
11. "Don’t settle for what life gives you; make life better and build something." – Ashton Kutcher
12. "Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today." – Will Rogers
13. "If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one." – Dolly Parton
14. "I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed." – Michael Jordan
15. "When you have a dream, you’ve got to grab it and never let go." – Carol Burnett
16. "Success isn’t about how much money you make; it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives." – Michelle Obama
17. "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take." – Wayne Gretzky
18. "Fear is stupid. So are regrets." – Marilyn Monroe
19. "You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." – Maya Angelou
20. "Turn your wounds into wisdom." – Oprah Winfrey

Quotes from historical figures and cultural leaders

1. "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." – Nelson Mandela
2. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." – Martin Luther King Jr.
3. "To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart." – Eleanor Roosevelt
4. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." – Franklin D. Roosevelt
5. "Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." – Albert Einstein
6. "Give me liberty, or give me death!" – Patrick Henry
7. "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." – Albert Einstein
8. "Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly." – John F. Kennedy
9. "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." – Martin Luther King Jr.
10. "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul." – William Ernest Henley
11. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." – Franklin D. Roosevelt
12. "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." – Nelson Mandela
13. "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." – Theodore Roosevelt
14. "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves." – Sir Edmund Hillary
15. "To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." – Ralph Waldo Emerson
16. "I never dreamed about success. I worked for it." – Estée Lauder
17. "It always seems impossible until it’s done." – Nelson Mandela
18. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." – Lao Tzu
19. "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." – African Proverb
20. "Happiness depends upon ourselves." – Aristotle

Inspiration at your fingertips

From iconic leaders and modern creatives to the unforgettable words of fictional characters, this collection of 200 quotes is your go-to source for inspiration. 

Crave more daily motivations? Start your day with some good morning quotes to set a positive tone. For year-round inspiration, get yourself 365 inspirational quotes, filled with ideas to keep your creativity and motivation flowing all year long.

And if you’ve got a cool design that feels like it’s missing a little something, you can always use Kittl’s Quote Generator to find impactful, unique messages that perfectly complement your next project.

Remember, good days are like great art—they never come from subpar inspiration.