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It's true: words have power. They have the power to cause harm — or to brighten someone's day and give them the positivity they didn't know they needed. Words can also open people's minds and change the way they think. They can empower those who hear them to chase their dreams and live their best lives. All that to say, while it's important to be thoughtful about the words you put out into the world, so too is it important to be thoughtful about the words you take in. And if you're looking for something to inspire, uplift, or motivate you, these quotes about life are just the ticket. Whether you're searching for quotes about change to help you weather a storm in your life, or you're hoping to find words of encouragement that will motivate you to keep pushing toward your goals, the empowering words in these quotes may help you shift the way you see the world and give you the extra push you need. These are the quotes that you'll repeat to yourself over and over when the going gets tough; the quotes you'll pass on to your friends when you know they need an uplift; and the quotes you'll jot down on a Post-It and stick on your mirror so you can be reminded of them every morning. So read on, and get ready to change your life for the better.
— Additional reporting by Lauren Harano and Naomi Parris
Quote:
"Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace." - Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Lesson to learn:
Being angry at someone hurts only you. Let go of your anger, not for the other person, but for yourself. Remember, forgiving doesn't mean forgetting. Forgiving means accepting that it happened.
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Quote:
"Most people do not listen with the intent to understand. Most people listen with the intent to reply." - Stephen R. Covey
Lesson to learn:
Ask yourself if you're truly listening to others or if you're being distracted by your own chatter. Sometimes, listening means staying silent to give others a chance to talk, soaking it in, then perhaps responding — if your response is truly needed.
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Quote:
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou
Lesson to learn:
We may not remember the details, but we'll always remember the impact a person had on us.
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Quote:
"A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for." - William G.T. Shedd
Lesson to learn:
We can be safe and comfortable at home, but the point of life is to experience adventure and live it to the fullest.
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Quote:
"I don't count my sit-ups. I only start counting when it starts hurting. That is when I start counting, because then it really counts. That's what makes you a champion." - Muhammad Ali
Lesson to learn:
The victories only truly count when they take the most effort. Push yourself by celebrating the ones that made you work for it.
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Quote:
"If an egg is broken by an outside force, life ends. If broken by an inside force, life begins. Great things always begin from the inside." - Jim Kwik
Lesson to learn:
Real change can only come from within.
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Quote:
"The fool didn't know it was possible, so he did it."
Lesson to learn:
Don't be bound by limits you impose on yourself. Anything is possible.
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Quote:
"No one is busy in this world. It's all about priorities."
Lesson to learn:
If you truly value something — be it relationships, friendships, or something else — you'll likely find a way to make time for it. If you aren't, ask yourself how you can show up, even if it's imperfectly.
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Quote:
"The time you enjoy wasting is not time wasted."
Lesson to learn:
Don't beat yourself up over activities that are generally not what society considers to be worthwhile. If you're enjoying yourself and if it's making you happy, the time is well spent.
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Quote:
"The truth is that airports have seen more sincere kisses than the wedding halls, and the walls of hospitals have heard more prayers than the walls of a church."
Lesson to learn:
Don't forget that love and faith happens in small moments, too. Treasure those moments.
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Quote:
"And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it." - Steve Jobs
Lesson to learn:
The secret to accomplishing great things at work is to love what you do. Keep taking the steps that will get you closer to a career you love.
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Quote:
"Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift; that's why it's called a present." - Bil Keane
Lesson to learn:
Live in the present and don't let the past and future trip you up.
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Quote:
"You might have more talent than me, you might be smarter than me, you might be sexier than me, you might be all of those things you got it on me in nine categories. But if we get on the treadmill together, there are two things: You're getting off first, or I'm going to die. It's really that simple, right?" - Will Smith
Lesson to learn:
Someone else may be better than you in some ways, perhaps because they are naturally gifted, but perseverance and hard work can always win out over talent.
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Quote:
"Imagine there is a bank account that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to used during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course? Each of us has such a bank, its name is time. Every morning, it credits you 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off at a lost, whatever of this you failed to invest to a good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no over draft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no drawing against 'tomorrow.' You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, and health. The clock is running. Make the most of today."
Lesson to learn:
Make the most of the time you have, because you can never get it back.
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Quote:
"Never complain about what your parents couldn't give you. It was probably all they had."
Lesson to learn:
A parent's love for their child has no boundaries. Appreciate what they did for you, because they probably gave you all they could.
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Quote:
"The only failure in your 20s is inaction. The rest is trial and error."
Lesson to learn:
Your 20s is a time for experimentation. By not trying, you are failing. Enjoy taking risks while you're young!
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Quote:
"No one can hurt you without your permission."
Lesson to learn:
People can only hurt you if you let them.
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Quote:
"You never know the truth. You know 'a' truth."
Lesson to learn:
There isn't necessarily one truth — the truth can mean so many different things from different perspectives. There's always another side to a story.
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Quote:
"We judge ourselves by our intentions. And others by their actions." - Stephen R. Covey
Lesson to learn:
Remember that you may not be seeing the full picture before you judge others. Their intentions may not match their actions.
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Quote:
"No matter how great the talent or efforts, some things just take time. You can't produce a baby in one month by getting nine women pregnant." - Warren Buffett
Lesson to learn:
Have patience. Sometimes, you can't rush things.
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Quote:
"The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just have to find the ones that are worth hurting for." - Bob Marley
Lesson to learn:
We're all human, so we're all going to make mistakes.
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Quote:
"If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything." - Mark Twain
Lesson to learn:
Lies and exaggerations can catch up with you, so a good policy to live by is to tell the truth. Then you'll never have to worry about slipping up.
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Quote:
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." - Robert Frost
Lesson to learn:
Regardless of whether something good or bad happens to you, you can take comfort in the fact that life goes on.
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Quote:
"Be the person your dog thinks you are." - J.W. Stephens
Lesson to learn:
Your dog thinks the world of you. He thinks of you as someone who deserves love, affection, and loyalty. And he sees you for who you are and loves you unconditionally. See yourself through your dog's eyes. Try to be what he thinks you are to the rest of the world — imagine what the difference you can make to the world.
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Quote:
"For every minute you are angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Lesson to learn:
The time and energy you spend on being angry you can spend on something that will better you, like happiness. Let go of your anger and grudges.
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Quote:
"I know for sure what we dwell on is who we become." - Oprah Winfrey
Lesson to learn:
Be careful of what you often think about. If it's something negative, you can become a negative person. On the other hand, if it's something positive, you'll become more positive. Try to think on the bright side of things when you can.
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Quote:
"He who asks a question remains a fool for five minutes. He who does not ask remains a fool forever." - Chinese Proverb
Lesson to learn:
If you don't ask questions, you're not going to find out what the answer is. Don't be afraid of asking them, because people will appreciate your curiosity.
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Quote:
"But better to get hurt by the truth than comforted with a lie." - Khaled Hosseini
Lesson to learn:
You may be hurt by the truth, but it's better than living with a lie. Use this approach with your loved ones: it's generally better to tell them the truth than to lie to them to make them feel better. Being a good friend sometimes means telling your friends what they need to hear rather than what they want to hear.
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Quote:
"Death ends a life, not a relationship." - Mitch Albom
Lesson to learn:
Mourn the death of a life, but know that the person will always live on in your heart. You have lost only him or her in the physical sense, but your loved ones will always be with you.
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Quote:
"Do I not destroy my enemies by making them my friends?" - Abraham Lincoln
Lesson to learn:
By battling your enemy, you are hurting yourself and your enemy. By making him your friend, he will no longer be your enemy. Peace wins over war every time.
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Quote:
"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength." - Corrie Ten Boom
Lesson to learn:
Worrying is not going to help you resolve anything — it only depletes your internal resources.
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Quote:
"Luck is the residue of design." - John Milton
Lesson to learn:
Many things don't happen by chance. You can work to make your own luck with smart planning and effort.
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Quote:
"Think of the most attractive person you know. Even that person, at some point, has had raging diarrhea."
Lesson to learn:
Nobody's perfect — even Jennifer Lawrence has had raging diarrhea. Probably.
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