Inspirational Quotes | Famous Sayings and Proverbs of Inspiration

“Hope is the dream of a waking man.” -  Aristotle

“In art the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can inspire.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Inspiration never arrived when you were searching for it.” - Lisa Alther

“Motivation is everything.  You can do the work of two people, but you can't be two people.  Instead, you have to inspire the next guy down the line and get him to inspire his people.” - Lee Iacocca

“Set Your Goals High Enough To Inspire You And Low Enough To Encourage You.” -  unknown

More Inspirational quotes

Inspirational quotations have an amazing ability to inspire and motivate human beings to reach for their full potential.  The power of reading inspirational quotes in your daily life can actually change how your mind and body feels, giving you a higher sense of meaning and purpose in life. Explore this collection of inspirational sayings and quotations and find passages that speak to you and inspire your own mind.

“The energy of the mind is the essence of life.” -  Aristotle

“    Men and women, inspired by faith in man’s dignity, goaded by conviction in man’s responsibility, labored that this land might be a better home for those who followed them.  Because every American generation attacked its problems with fresh vigor, we have peopled a continent, subdued its prairies and wilderness, tamed its rivers and devoted its resources to the betterment of those who dwell in it.” - General Dwight David Eisenhower

“ If the new-found ideal solution to an issue is inspired of God, it will often not make sense to some persons upon whom we have occasionally relied for approval — persons who are sometimes well meaning, but not inspired.    The Apostle Paul wrote, "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man."  1 Corinthians 2:14,15” - Loyd J. Ericson

“ Love is the only bow on life's dark cloud.  It is the Morning and the Evening Star.  It shines upon the cradle of the babe, and sheds its radiance upon the quiet tomb.  It is the Mother of Art, inspirer of poet, patriot, and philosopher.  It is the air and light of every heart, builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every hearth.  It was the first dream of immortality.  It fills the world with melody, for music is the voice of Love.  Love is the magician, the enchanter, that changes worthless things to joy, and makes right royal kings of common clay.  It is the perfume of the wondrous flower—the heart—and without that sacred passion, . . . we are less than beasts; but with it, earth and heaven are gods.” - Robert Green Ingersoll

“ Trained and inspired leadership is needed in the troubled world of today. We live in uncertainty and fear.  The times call for thinking and straight thinking — one of the goals of true education.   Unfortunately, the world so clamors for action that men and women devote little time to thinking.   Many believe in second-hand thinking.   They find it easier to ascertain and adopt the thoughts of others than to think for themselves.” - James F. Byrnes

“ When one chooses to be directed by his conscientious decisions — thinking and acting according to his divinely inspired ideals — he will be acting for himself with thoughts, words and actions that satisfy his conscience.  When unbalanced, a person is likely to become controlled by friends, fashions, public opinion, popular individuals or ideas, carnal lusts of the flesh, or by other externals such as money and things.” - Loyd J. Ericson

“[The imagination] . . . inspires an audacious mental habit.  We are as elastic as the gas of gunpowder, and . . . a word dropped in conversation, sets free our fancy, and instantly our heads are bathed with galaxies, and our feet tread the floor of the Pit.” - Marsilio Ficino

“A dress makes no sense unless it inspires men to want to take it off you.” - Francois Sagan

“A good style must have an air of novelty, at the same time concealing its art.” -  Aristotle

“A good style must, first of all, be clear. It must . . . be appropriate.” -  Aristotle

“A great city is not to be confounded with a populous one.” -  Aristotle

“A love of flowers would beget early rising, industry, habits of close observation, and  of reading.  It would incline the mind to notice natural phenomena, and to reason  upon them.  It would occupy the mind with pure thoughts, and inspire a sweet and gentle enthusiasm; maintain simplicity of taste; and . . .  unfold in the heart an enlarged, unstraightened, ardent piety.” - Henry Ward Beecher

“A PERSONAL CREED I would be a friend to the friendless and find joy in ministering to the needs of the poor.   I would visit the sick and afflicted and inspire in them a desire for faith to be healed.   I would teach the truth to the understanding and blessing of all mankind.  I would seek out the erring one and try to win him back to a righteous and a happy life.  I would not seek to force people to live up to my ideals, but rather love them into doing the thing that is right.  I would live with the masses and help to solve their problems that their earth life may be happy.  I would avoid the publicity of high positions and discourage flattery of thoughtless friends.   I would not knowingly wound the feeling of any, not even one who may have wronged me, but would seek to do him good and make him my friend.   I would overcome the tendency to selfishness and jealousy and rejoice in the successes of all the children of my Heavenly Father.   I would not be an enemy to any living soul.   Knowing that the Redeemer of mankind has offered to the world the only plan that will fully develop us and make us happy here and hereafter, I feel it not only a duty, but also a blessed privilege to disseminate the truth.” - George Albert Smith

“A sovereign’s great example forms a people; the public breast is noble or vile as he inspires it.” - David Mallet

“A tragedy is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself . . . with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of such emotions.” -  Aristotle

“A writer should get as much education as possible, but just going to school is not enough; if it were, all owners of doctorates would be inspired writers.” - Gwendolyn Brooks

“Abraham Lincoln truly inspired me.  It wasn't just the freeing of the slaves, he kept the Union         together.   Some people even forget that today.  What I think inspired me was the fact that in spite of being the President of the United States he retained a certain down-to-earth quality.  He never got to be a big shot, and he cared about people.” - George Herbert Walker Bush

“Adlai Stevenson, himself a notable speaker, often reminisced about his last meeting with Churchill.   I asked him on whom or what he had based his oratorical style. Churchill replied, “It was an American statesman who inspired me and taught me how to use every note of the human voice like an organ.”  Winston then to my amazement started to quote long excerpts from Bourke Cockran’s speeches of 60 years before. “He was my model,” Churchill said. “I learned from him how to hold thousands in thrall.”” - Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill

“Adlai Stevenson, himself a notable speaker, often reminisced about his last meeting with Churchill.   I asked him on whom or what he had based his oratorical style. Churchill replied, “It was an American statesman who inspired me and taught me how to use every note of the human voice like an organ.”  Winston then to my amazement started to quote long excerpts from Bourke Cockran’s speeches of 60 years before. “He was my model,” Churchill said. “I learned from him how to hold thousands in thrall.”” - William Bourke Cockran

“Adlai Stevenson, himself a notable speaker, often reminisced about his last meeting with Churchill.   I asked him on whom or what he had based his oratorical style. Churchill replied, “It was an American statesman who inspired me and taught me how to use every note of the human voice like an organ.”  Winston then to my amazement started to quote long excerpts from Bourke Cockran’s speeches of 60 years before. “He was my model,” Churchill said. “I learned from him how to hold thousands in thrall.”” - Adlai Ewing Stevenson

“All love is sweet,          Given or returned. Common as light is love,          And its familiar voice wearies not ever.          . . . . . .          They who inspire it most are fortunate,          As I am now; but those who feel it most          Are happier still.” - Percy Bysshe Shelley