100 Encouraging Quotes to Lift Your Spirits and Keep You Going
- The Finest List Maker
- 2 days ago
- 10 min read
Feeling discouraged? Sometimes all it takes is a few uplifting words to spark hope and motivation. Encouraging quotes have a special way of touching our hearts, reminding us of our strength, and pushing us forward. In this article, we’ve gathered 100 of the best encouraging quotes to help lift your spirits and keep you going. These quotes are grouped into ten inspiring categories, from timeless wisdom to movie lines and even children’s books. Each quote carries a dose of positivity and warmth.
No matter what challenges you face, let these words be a light on your path. Take a deep breath and allow the power of encouragement to fill you up. You might just find the inspiration you need in the next line you read!
Table of Contents: 100 Encouraging Quotes
Famous Encouraging Quotes That Never Fade
Short Encouraging Quotes That Say So Much
Inspirational Quotes to Motivate and Empower
Encouraging Quotes for Tough Times
Bible Verses for Strength and Encouragement
Encouraging Quotes from Movies
Quotes About Friendship and Support
Encouraging Quotes from Historical Figures
Uplifting Quotes from Children’s Books
Poetry Quotes About Resilience and Hope
How to Use Encouraging Quotes in Your Life
Encouraging Quotes – Frequently Asked Questions
Famous Encouraging Quotes That Never Fade
Certain encouraging quotes are so timeless that they’re passed down through generations. These famous lines have never lost their shine, inspiring people over and over:
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” — Theodore Roosevelt
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” — Nelson Mandela
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you.” — Walt Whitman
“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” — Sam Levenson
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” — Wayne Gretzky
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
“Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible’!” — Audrey Hepburn
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” — C.S. Lewis
Short Encouraging Quotes That Say So Much
A few powerful words can sometimes say more than a long speech. Here are short but mighty encouraging quotes that pack a punch:
“Never give up.” — Unknown
“This too shall pass.” — Proverb
“Yes we can.” — Barack Obama
“Keep moving forward.” — Walt Disney
“Carpe diem.” — Horace
“You got this.” — Unknown
“Stay strong.” — Unknown
“One day at a time.” — Unknown
“You are enough.” — Unknown
“We will fail when we fail to try.” — Rosa Parks
Inspirational Quotes to Motivate and Empower
Sometimes we need a boost of motivation to believe in ourselves and take action. These inspirational quotes are all about empowerment and determination:
“Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” — Christian D. Larson
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” — John D. Rockefeller
“You cannot expect victory and plan for defeat.” — Joel Osteen
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.” — Maya Angelou
“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” — Ayn Rand
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs
“Turn your wounds into wisdom.” — Oprah Winfrey
“You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” — Marcus Aurelius
“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving a new one!” — Dolly Parton
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” — Walt Disney
Encouraging Quotes for Tough Times
When life gets hard, the right words can remind us to stay strong and hopeful. These quotes encourage resilience and perseverance through the toughest times:
“Tough times never last, but tough people do.” — Robert H. Schuller
“The only way out is through.” — Robert Frost
“That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” — Friedrich Nietzsche
“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
“When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt
“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” — Winston Churchill
“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” — Helen Keller
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” — Confucius
“Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” — Harriet Beecher Stowe
“Fall seven times, stand up eight.” — Japanese Proverb
Bible Verses for Strength and Encouragement
The Bible offers many verses that provide comfort, strength, and encouragement. Here are ten uplifting scriptures to give you hope and courage:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13
“Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9
“Fear not, for I am with you… I will strengthen you, I will help you.” — Isaiah 41:10
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future.’” — Jeremiah 29:11
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles… they will run and not grow weary.” — Isaiah 40:31
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” — Psalm 46:1
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.” — Romans 8:28
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” — Psalm 23:4
“Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” — Psalm 55:22
Encouraging Quotes from Movies
Films often give us memorable lines that lift us up. These movie quotes remind us of courage, hope, and believing in ourselves, just like our favorite characters:
“After all, tomorrow is another day!” — Scarlett O’Hara, Gone with the Wind
“It’s not about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” — Rocky Balboa, Rocky
“Why do we fall, sir? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.” — Alfred Pennyworth, Batman Begins
“Oh yes, the past can hurt. But you can either run from it, or learn from it.” — Rafiki, The Lion King
“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” — Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
“Just keep swimming.” — Dory, Finding Nemo
“The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.” — Emperor of China, Mulan
“There’s some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.” — Samwise Gamgee, The Lord of the Rings
“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.” — John Keating, Dead Poets Society
“Everything is possible, even the impossible.” — Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins Returns
Quotes About Friendship and Support
Encouragement often comes from friends and loved ones. These quotes celebrate the power of friendship, support, and lifting each other up:
“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” — Booker T. Washington
“Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.” — Helen Keller
“We rise by lifting others.” — Robert Ingersoll
“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” — Walter Winchell
“Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.” — Oprah Winfrey
“I get by with a little help from my friends.” — The Beatles (song lyric)
“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of another.” — Charles Dickens
“Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you; spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” — Amy Poehler
“A friend is what the heart needs all the time.” — Henry Van Dyke
“A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.” — Jim Morrison
Encouraging Quotes from Historical Figures
Great leaders, thinkers, and historical figures have given us words of wisdom that still encourage us today. Here are some inspiring quotes from notable figures in history:
“I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.” — Abraham Lincoln
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” — Mark Twain
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” — Albert Einstein
“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” — Bruce Lee
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi
“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” — Mother Teresa
“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us.” — Alexander Graham Bell
“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” — Henry Ford
“Energy and persistence conquer all things.” — Benjamin Franklin
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.” — Henry David Thoreau
Uplifting Quotes from Children’s Books
Children’s literature is filled with gentle wisdom and hope. These quotes from beloved children’s books will warm your heart and encourage the child within:
“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” — A.A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh)
“You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!” — Dr. Seuss
“What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (The Little Prince)
“Courage, dear heart.” — C.S. Lewis (The Voyage of the Dawn Treader)
“Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts… Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.” — Shel Silverstein
“Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” — L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables)
“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.” — J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan)
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” — Aesop
“It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.” — Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland)
“Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” — Roald Dahl
10. Poetry Quotes About Resilience and Hope
Poets have a beautiful way of capturing resilience and hope in words. These poetic lines remind us to stay hopeful, brave, and unbowed by life’s challenges:
“Still I rise.” — Maya Angelou
“I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” — William Ernest Henley
“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” — Langston Hughes
“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul.” — Emily Dickinson
“The wound is the place where the light enters you.” — Rumi
“Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” — Dylan Thomas
“Light tomorrow with today.” — Elizabeth Barrett Browning
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” — William Shakespeare
“For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” — Amanda Gorman
“If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?” — Percy Bysshe Shelley
How to Use Encouraging Quotes in Your Life
Encouraging quotes aren’t just meant to be read once – you can make them a part of your daily life. Here are some practical ideas on how to do that:
Journal with Quotes: Write down a favorite quote in your journal each day or week. Reflect on why it speaks to you and how it applies to what you’re going through. Over time, you’ll have pages of inspiration to look back on.
Daily Affirmations: Pick a short encouraging quote and use it as a morning affirmation. For example, say “I am the captain of my soul” to yourself in the mirror. Repeating an empowering quote can boost your confidence and mindset for the day.
Share with Others: Spread the positivity! Send an uplifting quote to a friend who needs encouragement, or share a quote on social media. You never know who might need those words at that moment.
Visual Reminders: Incorporate quotes into your environment. You can put sticky notes with quotes on your mirror, make a phone wallpaper with a inspiring quote, or frame a beautiful quote on your desk. Seeing encouraging words throughout your day will keep your spirits lifted.
By using these quotes actively, you turn words into positive habits that shape your outlook. Whether you’re journaling your thoughts or offering a kind word to someone else, each quote becomes a tool for a more hopeful, motivated life.
Encouraging Quotes – Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are encouraging quotes and why are they helpful?
A: Encouraging quotes are positive, uplifting sayings often spoken or written by wise individuals (famous leaders, authors, characters, etc.). They usually carry messages of hope, strength, courage, or comfort. These quotes are helpful because they can shift your mindset quickly – reading just a sentence or two of insight can remind you that you’re not alone and that others have overcome similar challenges. In moments when you feel down or stuck, an encouraging quote acts like a quick dose of inspiration to keep you going.
Q: How can I find the right quote when I need motivation?
A: Start by thinking about what kind of encouragement you need. Are you looking for courage to face a fear, comfort during a tough day, or motivation to reach a goal? Once you know that, you can search within categories (like the ones above) that match your situation. You might also keep a collection of your favorite quotes handy – maybe in a notebook or a notes app on your phone. That way, when you need a boost, you can quickly find a quote that resonates with you personally. Often, the “right” quote is one that gives you an immediate sense of relief, determination, or hope when you read it.
Q: How do I use encouraging quotes without forgetting them?
A: The key is to encounter the quotes regularly. You could pick one quote each week to focus on and write it on a card where you’ll see it often. Some people set phone reminders with a favorite quote or use a widget that displays daily quotes. Another idea is to memorize quotes that really speak to you – repeat them to yourself during tough moments like a mantra. By writing, reciting, or seeing the quotes frequently, they’ll stick in your mind. Over time, you’ll find that these encouraging words come back to you naturally whenever you need them, almost like an old friend giving you advice.
Remember: Encouragement is everywhere – in the wisdom of those who came before us, in the lines of our favorite books and movies, and even in simple words from a friend. Whenever you need a little lift, return to these quotes. Let them remind you of your own strength and the hope that tomorrow holds. Keep them close, and keep going! You’ve got this.
