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152 Life Quotes to Bring Inspiration and Positivity to Your Day

Refocus and recharge with these short, deep and powerful sayings.

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Calvin Chan Wai Meng

With all of its ups and downs, the journey of life is one that is not easily summed up in words. But luckily for you, our list of inspirational life quotes is filled with powerful sayings and musings from famous people from all walks of life who have found a way to whittle down the unique lived experiences that make us who we are into a few sentences and phrases.

On this list you will find beautiful and short quotes that reflect on the things that mean most in life, including sayings about family and incredible messages about friendships. You’ll also find deep and even sometimes sad quotes that will help you to put life into perspective. Happy quotes that will encourage you to find the beauty in life's most mundane moments are also included. Whether you’re looking for positive quotes to inspire you to move forward, quotes that give you peace or wise words that will help you navigate a significant life change or transition, we have it all spelled out right here.

So, go ahead and dive right into these notable quotes about life. You may even uncover your next Monday motivation or self-care mantra.

1

Zhuangzi

life quotes
Good Housekeeping

"Life comes from the earth and life returns to the earth."

2

William Osler

life quotes
Good Housekeeping

"We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from life."

3

William Hazlitt

life quotes
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"The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and to endure very much."

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4

Wayne Dyer

life quotes
Good Housekeeping

"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."

5

Vincent Van Gogh

life quotes
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"For the great doesn't happen through impulse alone, and is a succession of little things that are brought together."

6

Vince Lombardi

life quotes
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"Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."

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7

Vernon Howard

life quotes
Good Housekeeping

"You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need."

8

Theodore Roosevelt

life quotes
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"Believe you can and you're halfway there."

9

T.S. Eliot

life quotes
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"To do the useful thing, to say the courageous thing, to contemplate the beautiful thing: that is enough for one man's life."

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10

Sydney J. Harris

life quotes
Good Housekeeping

"When I hear somebody sigh, 'Life is hard,' I am always tempted to ask, 'Compared to what?'"

11

Stephen Jay Gould

life quotes
Good Housekeeping

"We pass through this world but once."

12

Stephen Covey

life quotes
Good Housekeeping

"Live out of your imagination, not your history."

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13

Søren Kierkegaard

life quotes
Good Housekeeping

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."

14

Sai Baba

life quotes
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"Life is a song - sing it. Life is a game - play it. Life is a challenge - meet it. Life is a dream - realize it. Life is a sacrifice - offer it. Life is love - enjoy."

15

Roy T. Bennett

life quotes
Good Housekeeping

"Accept yourself, love yourself, and keep moving forward. If you want to fly, you have to give up what weighs you down."

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16

Roy. T. Bennett

life quotes
Good Housekeeping

"Don't waste your time in anger, regrets, worries, and grudges. Life is too short to be unhappy."

17

Rose Kennedy

life quotes
Good Housekeeping

"Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments."

18

Robert Louis Stevenson

life quotes
Good Housekeeping

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant."

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19

Robert Frost

life quotes
Good Housekeeping

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on."

20

Rick Riordan

life quotes
Good Housekeeping

"If my life is going to mean anything, I have to live it myself."

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