Words hold a lot of power. Maybe you’re looking for some inspiration to get you through a stressful work week, or maybe you want to send your friends a little encouragement. Perhaps you need some motivation to finish that application, apply for that promotion, or even just set yourself up for success in all areas of your life. Some short inspirational quotes can help.
My grandparents always had a way of simplifying life's complexities with their wisdom. Two quotes of theirs that always stood out were, "keep looking up" and "do good." These simple yet profound words have guided me through various challenges and triumphs. Anytime I was feeling overwhelmed by work or even in my personal life, my grandmother would gently remind me to focus on something else and "keep looking up." It was a nudge for me to stay positive and stay focused on the bigger picture. Similarly, my grandfather’s constant advice to "do good" has been a moral compass, reminding me to do my best in everything I attempt, and to act with kindness and integrity in every situation.
Inspired by their wisdom, here are 50 short but powerful quotes to keep you motivated and uplifted on your journey. Whether you need a boost for mental health, work, strength, or embracing who you are, these quotes are here to provide that extra bit of encouragement. Each one reflects the essence of my grandparents' timeless advice, helping you stay positive, strive for excellence, and navigate life's journey with grace and resilience.
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Short inspirational quotes for mental health
1. "And still, I rise.”
—Maya Angelou, author, poet and civil rights activist
2. "You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop."
—Rumi, poet
3. “ Deep breathing is our nervous system’s love language."
—Dr. Lauren Fogel Mersy, psychologist
4. "Self-care is how you take your power back."
—Lalah Delia, author
5. Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.”
—Brene Brown, author and podcast host
6. “The best way out is always through.”
—Robert Frost, poet
7. “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.”
—Margaret Thatcher, Former Prime Minister United Kingdom
8. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights activist
9. "No need to hurry, no need to sparkle, no need to be anybody but oneself."
—Virginia Woolf, author
10. "This too shall pass."
—Persian Proverb
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Short inspirational quotes for work
11. “I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.”
—Estée Lauder, cosmetic businesswoman
12. “Goal setting is the secret to a compelling future.”
—Tony Robbins, author and coach
13. "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
—Eleanor Roosevelt, Former First Lady of the United States
14. “The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it.”
—Roseanne Barr, comedian and actress
15. "The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time."
—Thomas Edison, inventor
16. "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."
—Wayne Gretzky, former professional hockey player
17. “Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.”
—Oprah Winfrey, journalist, host, author, producer
18. "The harder I work, the luckier I get."
—Samuel Goldwyn, film producer
19. "Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going."
—Sam Levenson, writer, television host, journalist
20. "You are never too small to make a difference."
—Greta Thunberg, activist
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Short inspirational quotes by famous women
21. "I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger."
—Serena Williams, former tennis Pro
22. "Power's not given to you. You have to take it."
—Beyonce, music artist
23. "I was smart enough to go through any door that opened."
—Joan Rivers, comedian, actress, and television host
24. "I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done."
—Lucille Ball, actress, producer, and comedian
25. "If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one."
—Dolly Parton, singer and songwriter
26. "I choose to make the rest of my life the best of my life."
—Louise Hay, motivational speaker and author
27. "If you can't go straight ahead, you go around the corner."
—Cher, singer and actress
28. “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.”
—Beverly Sills, opera singer
29. “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.”
—Michelle Obama, Former First Lady of the United States
30. “If you prioritize yourself, you are going to save yourself.”
—"We're Going to Need More Wine" by Gabrielle Union
Short inspirational quotes about strength
31. "You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice."
—Bob Marley, singer
32. “All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me.”
—Walt Disney, animator, film producer, and entrepreneur
33. “If we are strong, our strength will speak for itself. If we are weak, words will be of no help.”
—John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States
34. “Life shrinks or expands according to one’s courage.”
—Anaïs Nin, author
35. "It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light."
—Aristotle, philosopher
36. "Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim."
—Nora Ephron, author and journalist
37. "Courage is grace under pressure.”
—Ernest Hemingway, author
38. "What makes you different or weird, that's your strength."
—Meryl Streep, actress
39. "Try to look at your weakness and convert it into your strength. That's success."
—Zig Zagler, motivational speaker
Short inspirational quotes about embracing who you are
40. “A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.”
—Coco Chanel, French fashion designer
41. “It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.”
—Herman Melville, poet
42. "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be."
—Ralph Waldo Emerson, poet and abolitionist
43. “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
—Oscar Wilde, playwright
44. “Never dull your shine for somebody else.”
—Tyra Banks, model, actress, producer
45. “You change the world by being yourself.”
—Yoko Ono, activist
46. "Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."
—J.M. Barrie, creator of Peter Pan
47. “No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else.”
—Buckminster Fuller, architect and philosopher
48. “You, being yourself, unknowingly inspire others to be themselves.”
—Mooji, spiritual teacher
49. “You don't need to be like her. You're already everything.”
—Mikki Daughtry, screenwriter
