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Quotes about motivation and goals

230 quotes from 178 people

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What chiefly diverts the men of democracies from lofty ambition is not the scantiness of their fortunes, but the vehemence of the exertions they daily make to improve them.
Alexis de Tocqueville1805–1859Democracy in America, Volume II (1840), Book Three, Chapter XIX.
- Democracy
If you want to accomplish something in the world, idealism is not enough — you need to choose a method that works to achieve the goal. In other words, you need to be pragmatic.
Richard Stallmanborn 1953Copyleft: Pragmatic Idealism (1998)
When you get into a tight place, and everything goes against you till it seems as if you could n’t hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that ‘s just the place and time that the tide ‘ll turn.
Harriet Beecher Stowe1811–1896Oldtown Folks (1869), Ch. 39
- Hope
I operate from a place of delusion-that’s what the Fame is all about… I want people to walk around delusional about how great they can be⁠—and then to fight so hard for it every day that the lie becomes the truth.
Lady Gagaborn 1986“The Rise of Lady Gaga” by Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone (11 June 2009), pp. 57-61
- Truth & Lies
The Force is within you. Force yourself.
Harrison Fordborn 1942Barbara Walters interview (March 1997)
- Comedy
We don’t want to tell our dreams. We want to show them.
Cristiano Ronaldoborn 1985Twitter post (8 February 2012)
So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality. What we really want seems impossibly out of reach and ridiculous to expect, so we never dare to ask the universe for it.
Jim Carreyborn 19622014 Maharishi University graduation ceremony
- Fear
I’ve always believed that you should never, ever give up and you should always keep fighting even when there’s only a slightest chance.
Michael Schumacherborn 1969“Schumacher applauds ‘super-performance’”, Reuters (22 October 2007)
Sometimes you need to feel the pain and sting of defeat to activate the real passion and purpose that God predestined inside of you.
Chadwick Boseman1976–2020Howard University Commencement Speech (2018)
- Failure
Sometimes you need to get knocked down before you can really figure out what your fight is and how you need to fight it.
Chadwick Boseman1976–2020Howard University Commencement Speech (2018)
- Failure
I had a purpose before everybody had an opinion.
Jalen Hurtsborn 1998During a press conference with the media in build up to Super Bowl LVII (February 9, 2023).
You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.
Steve Jobs1955–2011Stanford University commencement address (12 June 2005)
- Advice
Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that all was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, and make it possible.
T. E. Lawrence1888–1935Seven Pillars of Wisdom, introductory chapter (1922 Oxford text)
The great rule of life is to have no schemes but one unalterable purpose.
Sri Aurobindo1872–1950India’s Rebirth, 22 February 1908
There is no more powerful motivation than to feel we’re being used in the creation of a world where love has healed all wounds.
Marianne Williamsonborn 1952A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of “A Course in Miracles” (1992), Ch. 7: Work, §9: Sales to Service
- Love