130 Motivational Quotes to Inspire and Encourage

130 Motivational Quotes

Our actions follow our thoughts don’t they?! To get motivated and build momentum we have to change our thoughts. So enjoy this selection of Motivational Quotes to help get you on the right track with your thinking. I hope they give you encouragement and inspiration to achieve your goals and for you to become all that you can be!

When you are motivated, you have true passion for what you do. When your goal is in sight, taking action to move towards it will feel natural and even easy. You can achieve anything you desire if your goals are really meaningful to you. Motivated people have great attitudes, which tend to rub off on us. They also have an inner drive, bags of energy and determination.

May these motivational words give you a new-found dynamism and help you take action today!

    Motivational Quotes to Inspire You to Be Your Best

    Being your best and seeing the success is a motivator!

    There is no excuse for not trying. Barack Obama

  1. There is no excuse for not trying. Barack Obama
  2. Life is not to be absorbed through the experiences of others; instead, it is to be grasped by you with the strength of a thousand lions. Theodore W. Higgingsworth

  3. Life is not to be absorbed through the experiences of others; instead, it is to be grasped by you with the strength of a thousand lions.
    Theodore W. Higgingsworth
  4. Just doing as well as you did last time is not good enough.

  5. Just doing as well as you did last time is not good enough. Michael Jackson
  6. One of the greatest motivations for forgiveness is knowing that it's you who will be the primary beneficiary when you do it. Forgiveness is for you.
Barbara J Hunt, Forgiveness Made Easy

  7. One of the greatest motivations for forgiveness is knowing that it’s you who will be the primary beneficiary when you do it. Forgiveness is for you. Barbara J Hunt, Forgiveness Made Easy
  8. By being the best you can be, the most skilful in your endeavour and by loving yourself, your life and what you do with it, you'll happily begin every new day with a spring in your step.
Ross Wilson,  The Happy Agent

  9. By being the best you can be, the most skilful in your endeavour and by loving yourself, your life and what you do with it, you’ll happily begin every new day with a spring in your step. Ross Wilson, The Happy Agent
  10. To be your best for your career, job, home business, volunteer work or 
whatever service you provide, there must be some 'down' time.

  11. To be your best for your career, job, home business, volunteer work or whatever service you provide, there must be some ‘down’ time. Kathy Henn, Daily Inspiration
  12. I believe in the eternal possibilities for life to expand and improve. I�m convinced that anything can be better. David Mezzapelle, 10 Habits of Truly Optimistic People

  13. I believe in the eternal possibilities for life to expand and improve. I�m convinced that anything can be better. David Mezzapelle, 10 Habits of Truly Optimistic People
  14. Just try to be the best you can be; never cease trying to be the best you can be. 
  John Wooden

  15. Just try to be the best you can be; never cease trying to be the best you can be. That’s in your power. John Wooden
  16. Your story is your memory of those life experiences that made you who you are today. It consists of “the best of times and the worst of times.” Bill DeFoore, Anger: Deal With It, Heal With It, Stop It From Killing You
    A motivational quotation that we all need to remember during difficult times!
  17. If you have the right mind-set, you can be just as happy on Monday
 as you are on Friday. Joel Osteen, Every Day a Friday

  18. If you have the right mind-set, you can be just as happy on Monday as you are on Friday. Joel Osteen, Every Day a Friday
  19. Winning is important, but only the kind where every player feels that he or she is putting in the best effort. Jame Wilson, How to Be Better At Basketball in 21 days
  20. Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go. 
  Hermann Hesse

  21. Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go. Hermann Hesse
  22. People with a passion for a certain thing are most likely to put more time and effort in it than those who don’t. Barbara Geer, Am I My Sister’s Keeper?
  23. You are a work in progress; which means you get there a little at a time, not all at once. Author Unknown

  24. You are a work in progress; which means you get there a little at a time, not all at once. Author Unknown
  25. … the life we are living today is defined by the thoughts in one’s mind and the action implemented on the outside to be who we are. Alexander Chase, Positive Thinking
  26. Success, happiness, confidence and love are some important elements
 of your life. Chris Johnston

  27. Success, happiness, confidence and love are some important elements of your life. You need all of them to deal with different challenges and to increase the success and convenience of your life. Chris Johnston, Famous Quotes
  28. Possible actions and choices can be limited by fear, so be thoughtful, but also be fearless. Fran Curcio
  29. I might live for the future and the achievement of the “When I �,” but I can’t really live in any other time than now. Kirsten Wreggitt, Before I Let You Go
  30. Adversity is the catalyst that forces us to stretch.
 It propels us to find solutions to problems ... Catherine Pulsifer

  31. “Adversity is the catalyst that forces us to stretch. It propels us to find solutions to problems …” Catherine Pulsifer, Adversity An Advantage
  32. Positive attitude comes with motivation that something can be done anyway despite the prevailing circumstances. Dan Miller

  33. Positive attitude comes with motivation that something can be done anyway despite the prevailing circumstances. Dan Miller, Positive Attitude – Key to Success
    Motivational people always demonstrate a positive attitude!
  34. We all need someone or something to give us our own “I can do it” moment to keep us moving forward. Doretha Dingler, In Pink
  35. I believe that nothing in life is unimportant
    Every moment can be a beginning
    And a time for decision
    John McLeod, I Believe
  36. Always pass on what you have learned.  Yoda

  37. Always pass on what you have learned. Yoda
  38. And if you think you have it rough, then try sitting down with someone else and ask them about their life. It may give you some perspective. Jonathan Puddle, You Are The Solution to Someone’s Problem
  39. Motivation is the reason you do something. It’s a force that compels you. Motivation is your incentive and your inspiration. Erica Hudson, How To Achieve Your Goals
  40. One of the most efficient ways you can improve your life is by simply thinking in a more positive way. Robert Norman, Positive Thinking
  41. “There are those who hate to see their birthday arrive. Ah, but not I. For each year is a gift, each day is a gift. I am thankful and am grateful for this day of my birth. I find motivation within to live this year so let it begin!” Theodore W. Higginsworth
  42. Motivation can play a great rule in helping you manage your day
 by setting priorities. Frank Mullani

  43. Motivation can play a great rule in helping you manage your day by setting priorities. Frank Mullani, Discover the Magic of Motivation Now
  44. A book will come to a person when he or she is ready for its message, and often it will come in an amazing way. Gerald G.Jampolsky, Love Is Letting Go of Fear
  45. As individuals we are sometimes as nothing, but we can influence, and be influenced by, something much more significant. Simon Bell, A Kinship of Purpose
  46. see also:Best Quotes   |  Best Motivational Quotes   |   Inspirational Quotes   |   Greatness   |  Motivational Poems   |  Adversity An Advantage

    Short Motivational Quotations

    While these quotes are short they are motivating and inspiring!

    Be yourself, who else is better qualified. Frank J. Giblin

  47. Be yourself, who else is better qualified. Frank J. Giblin
  48. He said don�t be so much consumed in searching for the best ways to raise your kid that you forget to enjoy your motherhood. Vanita Vandan Singh, Motherhood Notes
  49. Our world would look very different if each of us would be passionately pursuing our life’s purpose. Munmi Sarma, The Obstacle Is You
  50. Never stop believing in yourself. <br>
When others doubt, don't you. Catherine Pulsifer

  51. Never stop believing in yourself.
    When others doubt, don’t you. Catherine Pulsifer, Believing in You
  52. Find your passion and you are halfway through achieving your purpose in life Dr. Ignatius K Otchere-Asamoah, Destined to Win
  53. Being motivated is a vital aspect in wanting to work well.
  Kate Keenan

  54. Being motivated is a vital aspect in wanting to work well. Kate Keenan, Motivate
  55. Peak performance occurs because of the demanding nature of the situation, not in spite of it. Martin Turner, Jamie Barker, What Business Can Learn From Sport Psychology
  56. Confidence is the mother of incentive.
  Greg Henry Quinn

  57. Confidence is the mother of incentive. Greg Henry Quinn
  58. In my experience, there is only one motivation, and that is desire. No reasons or principle contain it or stand against it. Jane Smiley
  59. Optimism and positivity keep your goals moving forward.
 Renil M. George

  60. Optimism and positivity keep your goals moving forward. Renil M. George, Focus
    A short motivational quotation that holds much wisdom .
  61. Where or what would life be without one’s dreams and passions expressed with vigour and fortitude? Rosy Lee Anderson
  62. Preoccupation is the most common form of failure.
 Harry Emerson Fosdick

  63. Preoccupation is the most common form of failure. Harry Emerson Fosdick, Twelve Tests of Character
  64. Encouragement is important business. Larry Crabb, Encouragement
  65. In reality, the richness of our lives is often equal to the risks we are courageous enough to take. Sue Patton Thoele
  66. Motivators are not born - they are made. 
And they are almost always self-made. Alan Loy Mcginnis

  67. Motivators are not born – they are made. And they are almost always self-made. Alan Loy Mcginnis, Bringing Out Best in People
  68. I also believe mental preparation goes hand-in-hand with setting goals and hard work. Alex Rodriguez
  69. Purpose is a complicated concept. To start with, it is about meaning and motivation. Patrick Foley, Winning at Retirement
  70. True resilience fosters well-being, an underlying sense of happiness, 
love, and peace. Rick Hanson

  71. True resilience fosters well-being, an underlying sense of happiness, love, and peace. Rick Hanson, Resilient
  72. May we all become teachers of peace, and teach in the only way possible: by example. Max Strom
  73. A big part of what makes a story enjoyable is that it is worthwhile, and to that end, meaningful. Joel Emmett, Star Wars Wisdom
  74. There are 1,440 minutes in a day, and once they�re gone, you never get them back. Kevin Kruse
  75. motivational quotes

  76. Creativity is the catalyst for brilliant accomplishments, but it is also the greatest obstacle. Scott Belsky, Making Ideas Happen
  77. Our hard work rewards us financially and builds our business skills and experience. But if internal motivation is not there, a rude awakening awaits when we realize what we’re missing: passion. Joanna Barsh, Grow Wherever You Work
  78. Leading any sort of creative pursuit requires an overhaul of how we motivate others and ourselves. Scott Belsky, Making Ideas Happen
  79. “… determination is the impetus for persistence and perseverance for taking action. Dorothy Wehunt, Rise Up to Yourself
  80. Gratitude and humility ... are critical in developing a successful mindset. 
  Paul Brodie

  81. Gratitude and humility … are critical in developing a successful mindset. Paul Brodie, Champion
  82. Whatever your past has been, you have a spotless future. Melanie Gustafson
  83. Ask not what your teammates can do for you. Ask what you can do for your teammates. Magic Johnson
  84. Retirement may be an ending, a closing, but it is also a new beginning. Catherine Pulsifer
  85. Personal freedom means choosing our own behavior; it means acting rather than reacting. Karen Casey, Each Day a New Beginning
  86. One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: 
To rise above the little things. John Burroughs

  87. One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things. John Burroughs
  88. Violence is a dark contrast to what so many of us still believe in – love. Robi Ludwig
  89. What motivates people to act kindly to family and strangers? Gerald Campbell, Kindness: The 8 Laws of Kindness
  90. see also:Short Quotes   |  Short Inspirational Quotes   |  Short Graduation Quotes   |  Short Positive   |  Positive    |  Words of Encouragement  |  Motherhood

    Motivational Words for Success

    These motivational words for success are examples and experiences of others that have found what has worked and not worked! Their determination and will to learn has brought them success.

    A lack of motivation is the number one killer of success. Philip Vang

  91. A lack of motivation is the number one killer of success. Philip Vang, Master Learning Box: You Are Smart
  92. Ambition may be the vehicle to motivate you to great success, or it may plunge you to dreadful depths. Clearly this is a matter to have under control before beginning any great transition in life. Dr Shelton Smith, Autobiography of ambition
  93. Boredom is telling you to pay attention to the world. Manoush Zomorodi, Spark
  94. Pull yourself together, go down the mountain, and don’t let the rain hold you back.
  95. Instead of seeing your introvert qualities as your biggest flaws, consider that they may actually be your biggest strengths. Holley Gerth, The Powerful Purpose of Introverts
  96. “If you don’t love something, you’re not going to go the extra mile, work the extra weekend, challenge the status quo as much.” Steve Jobs
  97. Being apprehensive about a new experience is natural and even expected, but exhilaration often follows. Dean Gualco, Making a Difference
  98. The more you succeed in seeking out the pleasant aspects of meditation, the more motivated you�ll be and the more you will look forward to practicing. Mathew Immurgut, The Mind Illuminated
  99. Passion and perseverance, it turns out, matter more than talent or intelligence when it comes to being successful. Linda Kaplan Thaler, Grit to Great
  100. ... resilient people are able to derive meaning from failure, and they
 use this knowledge to climb higher than they otherwise would.  Karen Reivich

  101. … resilient people are able to derive meaning from failure, and they use this knowledge to climb higher than they otherwise would. Karen Reivich, The Resilience Factor
  102. In increasing your motivation, it’s often helpful to clarify what you want for the future. If you know your desired outcome, that positive vision of the future can give you the energy that spurs you along on your journey to success.” James Adler
  103. Once you learn how to focus on the most important goals in your life, it becomes much easier to develop the strategies and the skills needed to accomplish them, and to see them become a reality. David James, Focus: The Key to Success
  104. Confidence is the belief that you can accomplish something successfully and that you have the resources to do it.  Rhonda Cohen, Sport Psychology
  105. “Anyone can launch a new company, but it takes patience, hard work, and commitment to make any new project a success.” Warren Philip Gates, Success and the Powerful Introvert
  106. Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities!
  Norman Vincent Peale

  107. Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy. Norman Vincent Peale
  108. Music can inspire creativity … whether it triggers a subtle tap of our foot, a clap of our hands, or a dance involving our whole body, music physically moves us. Quite simply, music is transformational. Brett Blumenthal, 52 Small Changes for the Mind
  109. Creating any habit can be exciting if you treat it with adventure and innovation. Aliya Saige, 100 Daily Blessings
  110. Without the confidence to act, few will venture down a new path, no matter how clear the road map. W. Chan Kim, Blue Ocean Shift
  111. Aversion to failure motivates us to take necessary precautions and to work harder to achieve success. By contrast, intense fear of failure often handicaps us, making us reject failure so vigorously that we cannot take the risks that are necessary for growth. Tal Ben-Shahar, Being Happy
  112. With the right attitudes and a bit of practice, we can learn to harness 
the power of patience in our lives... M. J. Ryan

  113. With the right attitudes and a bit of practice, we can learn to harness the power of patience in our lives… M. J. Ryan, The Power of Patience
  114. The only true measure of success is the ratio between what we might have done and what we might have been on the one hand, and the thing we have made of ourselves on the other. H. G. Wells
  115. If we were motivated by money, we would have sold the company a long time ago and ended up on a beach. Larry Page
  116. Setting goals allows you to have drive and motivation and is where a lot of your hard work will pay off. Denzel J. Wellington, Goal Setting
  117. As a coach, you have to be the first one to believe that the person you are coaching has the potential to be great. You have to be an outstanding motivating force. Brad Peterson, Coaching
  118. Remember, it is not about the absence of the fear 
but the courage to take action anyway that determines success. Madyson Taylor

  119. Remember, it is not about the absence of the fear but the courage to take action anyway that determines success. Madyson Taylor
  120. Choosing our own aims and seeking to bring them to fruition creates a sense of vitality and motivation in life. Brendon Burchard, The Motivation Manifesto
  121. Rather than make mountains out of molehills, I’ve discovered that it’s best to tackle any challenge one step at a time – even when it seems there may be one too many rocks in our backpack. Catherine DeVrye, The Gift of Nature
  122. see also:Success Quotes   |  Successful    |  Life    |  Success Poem   |  Poems about Life   |  Meditation

    Funny Motivational Quotes To Make You Smile

    While these are funny they are also motivational and we can all use a smile!

    As you ramble through life, whatever be your goal; keep your eye upon the doughnut, and not upon the hole. 
 Irish Saying

  123. As you ramble through life, whatever be your goal; keep your eye upon the doughnut, and not upon the hole. Irish Saying
  124. Our work as citizens is a lot like housework: It never ends. We can either wring our hands in despair or use them to roll up our shirtsleeves and try to find new ways to make a difference. Pat Schroeder
  125. The reason why people give up so fast is because they tend to look at how far they still have to go, instead of how far they have come. Nicky Gumbel
  126. Like the first crocus stubbornly blooming amidst the winter snow, may you be blessed with determination. Joanne Kaattari, Sister Soups
  127. Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven't planted. 
 David Bly

  128. Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven’t planted. David Bly
  129. Over the years, I have discovered that there are two groups of people: those who are ready to work for change and those who want a quick fix. Ben Bernstein, Stressed Out!
  130. If you’re ever feeling unmotivated, just put on your tennis shoes and tie them up. Doing this sets you into motion! Gabi Garcia, Lazy Ninja
  131. None of us gets up in the morning and says, “You know, today I really want to do worse than I did yesterday!” Joel Osteen, Daily Readings from Become a Better You
  132. Much like yawning, no one can withstand the sight or sound of another's laughter without succumbing to the impulse himself.
  Clayton Geoffreys

  133. Much like yawning, no one can withstand the sight or sound of another’s laughter without succumbing to the impulse himself. Clayton Geoffreys, How to be Witty
  134. If there is a day you have eaten until you were full; if there is a time of joy you can recall; if you have escaped even once the clutches of death; if you can remember one or all of the above, then you have something to be grateful for. Iyanla Vanzant, Until Today!
  135. see also:Funny Quotes  |  Funny Quotes about Life  |  Cute   |  Cute Life Quotes  |  Smile   |  Irish Quotes and Sayings  |  Funny Poems  |  

    Famous Motivational Quotes

    Let these motivational words from these famous people encourage you! Their success and how they think can benefit us all!

  136. It’s not how much you have that makes people look up to you, it’s who you are. Elvis Presley
  137. True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. C. S. Lewis
  138. To watch the corn grow, or the blossoms set; to draw hard breath over the plough or spade; to read, to think, to love, to pray, are the things that make men happy. John Ruskin
  139. famous inspiring quote from  Albert Einstein

  140. Albert Einstein
  141. Sometimes it’s wiser to be right in silence. Maya Angelou, The Heart of a Woman
  142. Do things that make you happy within the confines of the legal system. Elllen DeGeneres
  143. You can’t just sit around. Don’t expect anybody to come and hand you anything. It doesn’t work that way. Michelle Obama
  144. That pleasure which is at once the most pure, the most elevating and the most intense, is derived, I maintain, from the contemplation of the beautiful. Edgar Allan Poe
  145. motivational quote from Confucius

  146.  Confucius
  147. Trust turns rejection, abandonment, disappointment, and loneliness into motivations rather than a deterrents. Iyanla Vanzant, Trust: Mastering the Four Essential Trusts
  148. May your choices reflect your hopes not your fears. Nelson Mandela
  149. The question is not, ‘Do you have a problem?’ The question is, ‘Does the problem have you?’ Joel Osteen
  150. encouraging quote from Oprah Winfrey

  151. Oprah Winfrey
  152. Time and money spent in helping people to do more for themselves is far better than mere giving. Henry Ford
  153. People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily. Zig Ziglar
  154. Enthusiasm is the dynamic motivator that keeps one persistently working toward his goal. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, Enthusiasm Makes the Difference
  155. When people have that kind of motivation, when obstacles are not a factor, when only the dream matters, they MAKE things happen.
    Les Brown
  156. We realized that motivation (inspiration to action) is like a fire: the flames will be extinguished unless the fire is refueled. W. Clement Stone
  157. motivating quote by  Tony  Robbins

  158.  Tony Robbins
  159. “Failing is a judgment that we humans place on a given action. Rather than judgment, substitute this attitude: You cannot fail, you can only produce results.” Wayne Dyer, Wisdom of the Ages
  160. “There’s only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give it everything. I do, and I demand that my players do.” Vince Lombardi
  161. Selling is the art of planting in the mind of another a motive that will induce favorable action. Napoleon Hill, Selling You!
  162. Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together. George Eliot
  163. inspirational quote by Brian Tracy

  164. Brian Tracy, Goals!
  165. If we can understand more about dogs, what motivates them, what their values are, how they learn and why they do what they do, then this greater understanding will help us form a more enjoyable relationship with them. John Fisher, Think Dog 
  166. I’m interested in making a path instead of following a trail. Michael Jackson
  167. People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome. George Orwell
  168. persuasive quotes by  Denis Waitley

  169.  Denis Waitley
  170. The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be. Ralph Waldo Emerson
  171. see also:Famous Quotes   |  Famous Quotes about Life   |  Famous Love    |  Dog Quotes

We hope you have enjoyed this collection of motivational quotations. Share them with others who could use some motivation. But always remember the best motivation we can have comes from within ourselves!

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