Motivational and Inspirational Quotes

I've been collecting Motivational and Inspirational Quotes for a little while now. I like to write them down in notebooks, on the back of till receipts, old envelopes and anything else I had handy at the time I came across them. I like to collect quotes that speak to me personally, some of them hit me right at home. Others I like to keep because they simply make me smile.

From great philosophers to comedians, these inspirational quotes have been drawn from a wealth of sources. They have been a tonic in my life over the years and have helped to pick me up when I was feeling less than enthused.

If you have read my Wizzley 'Flight Of Fancy', you will probably see why these quotes are particularly special and meaningful to me.

Laughter is the best form of medicine, and I really enjoy reading funny inspirational quotes. Keeping your sense of humour can be ever so difficult when you are experiencing trying times, but I truly believe that when you can smile again, things can seem less painful.

Most motivational and inspirational quotes have been derived from personal experience. They are signposts that tell you that someone has been able to do this, or accomplish that. And if one human being has done so, then the potential for others is available too.

These inspirational gems are snippets of philosophy, wit and wisdom which, when taken to heart and acted upon, can lead you to think and act in a more positive way.

While there are many 'pearls of wisdom' that have inspired and motivated me, here is a small selection of my very favourites. I hope that you enjoy them too.

I am thankful that thus far today I have not had any unkind thoughts or said any harsh words or done anything that I regret. However, now I need to get out of bed and so things may become more difficult.

~ Sylvia Boorstein ~

All fear is the fear that unhappiness will happen.

~ Bruce Di Marsico ~

Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.

~ Samuel Butler ~

Minds are like parachutes. They only function when they are open.

~ James Dewar ~

You cannot be brave if you've only had wonderful things happen to you.

~ Mary Tyler Moore ~

When embarking on a journey, never consult someone who has never left home.

~ Rumi ~

To be yourself in a world that is doing its best day & night to make you like everybody else is the hardest battle any human being can fight.

~ e.e. cummings ~

Instead of seeing the rug being pulled from under us, we can learn to dance on a shifting carpet.

~ Thomas F. Crum ~

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.

~ Douglas Adams ~

Do the thing you are afraid to do, and the death of fear is certain.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.

~ Woody Allen ~

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

~ Jack Handley ~

Go ahead and play the blues if it'll make you happy.

~ Homer Simpson ~

All dreams appear impossible until someone makes them happen.

~ Barry Neil Kaufman ~

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

~ Goethe ~

Don't ask what the world needs - ask what makes you come alive and go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

~ Howard Thurman ~

Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple, learn to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.

~ John Steinbeck ~

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

~ Mark Twain ~

They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them for yourself.

~ Andy Warhol ~

December is the toughest month of the year. Others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, October, August and February.

~ Mark Twain ~

If you wait, all that happens is that you get older.

~ Mario Andretti ~

Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason.

~ Jerry Seinfeld ~

Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps.

~ Emo Phillips ~

My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between I occupy myself as best I can.

~ Cary Grant ~