Life can be challenging, and sometimes all it takes is a few uplifting words to spark motivation and renew our spirit. Whether you’re facing obstacles or simply need a boost, these 126 carefully selected encouragement quotes offer inspiration and hope. Let these powerful messages remind you of your strength, resilience, and the endless possibilities ahead.
1. “Instruction does much, but encouragement everything."(Letter to A.F. Oeser, Nov. 9, 1768)” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
2. “I think that little by little I'll be able to solve my problems and survive.” - Frida Kahlo
3. “Feelings follow actions.” - Roxanne Henke
4. “Yelling at living things does tend to kill the spirit in them. Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts...” - Robert Fulghum
5. “The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight,but they, while their companions slept,were toiling upward in the night.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
6. “There are moments when troubles enter our lives and we can do nothing to avoid them.But they are there for a reason. Only when we have overcome them will we understand why they were there.” - Paulo Coelho
7. “Don't let the muggles get you down.” - J.K. Rowling
8. “Thankfully, persistence is a great substitute for talent.” - Steve Martin
9. “This day will never come again and anyone who fails to eat and drink and taste and smell it will never have it offered to him again in all eternity. The sun will never shine as it does today...But you must play your part and sing a song, one of your best. ” - Hermann Hesse
10. “It's just that in the Deep South, women learn at a young age that when the world is falling apart around you, it's time to take down the drapes and make a new dress.” - Karen Moning
11. “Remember, man does not live on bread alone: sometimes he needs a little buttering up.” - John C. Maxwell
12. “But God is the God of the waves and the billows, and they are still His when they come over us; and again and again we have proved that the overwhelming thing does not overwhelm. Once more by His interposition deliverance came. We were cast down, but not destroyed.” - Amy Carmichael
13. “Your conscience is the measure of the honesty of your selfishness.Listen to it carefully.” - Richard Bach
14. “So Encourage Each Other and Build Each Other Up-Positive Connections.” - Anonymous
15. “What had happened was this. When still young, I had gotten the idea from somewhere that I might be able to write... Maybe the deadly notion came from liking to read so much. Maybe I was in love with the image of being a writer. Whatever. It had been a really bad idea. Because I couldn't write, at least not by the bluntly and frequently expressed standards of anyone in a position to offer any encouragement and feedback.” - Paul Di Filippo
16. “Turn lemons into lemonaid” - Kevin Cronin
17. “A man does not have to be an angel to be a saint.” - Albert Schweitzer
18. “You cannot expect victory and plan for defeat.” - Joel Osteen
19. “And after and for a long time to come he'd have reason to evoke the recollection of [the strangers'] smiles and to reflect upon the good will which provoked them for it had power to protect and to confer honor and to strengthen resolve and it had the power to heal men and to bring them to safety long after all other resources were exhausted.” - Cormac McCarthy
20. “Encouragement requires empathy and seeing the world from your spouse's perspective. We must first learn what is important to our spouse. Only then can we give encouragement. With verbal encouragement, we are trying to communicate, "I know. I care. I am with you. How can I help?" We are trying to show that we believe in him and in his abilities. We are giving credit and praise.” - Gary Chapman
21. “Fight on, brave knights! Man dies, but glory lives! Fight on; death is better than defeat! Fight on brave knights! for bright eyes behold your deeds!” - Walter Scott
22. “Come friends, it's not too late to seek a newer world.” - Alfred Lord Tennyson
23. “Years and years ago, I read a great interview with Jam and Lewis, the R&B producers, in which they described what it was like to be members of Prince's band. They'd sit down, and Prince would tell them what he wanted them to play, and they'd explain that they couldn't--they weren't quick enough, or good enough. And Prince would push them and push them until they mastered it, and then just when they were feeling pleased with themselves for accomplishing something they didn't know they had the capacity for, he'd tell them the dance steps he needed to accompany the music.This story has stuck with me, I think, because it seems like an encapsulation of the very best and most exciting kind of creative process.” - Nick Hornby
24. “ Begin again as often as you need to in order to stay on track spiritually...” - Elizabeth Funderbirk
25. “Right!""Right!""You can get there!""I can get there!""You're a natural at counting to two!""I'm a nat'ral at counting to two!""If you can count to two, you can count to anything!""If I can count to two, I can count to anything!""And then the world is your mollusc!""My mollusc! What's a mollusc?” - Terry Pratchett
26. “God is never a God of discouragement. When you have a discouraging spirit or train of thought in your mind, you can be sure it is not from God. He sometimes brings pain to his children-conviction over sin, or repentance over fallenness, or challenges that scare us, or visions of his holiness that overwhelm us. But God never brings discouragement.” - John Ortberg
27. “I don't know where to start," one [writing student] will wail. Start with your childhood, I tell them. Plug your nose and jump in, and write down all your memories as truthfully as you can. Flannery O' Connor said that anyone who has survived childhood has enough material to write for the rest of his or her life. Maybe your childhood was grim and horrible, but grim and horrible is Okay if it is well done. Don't worry about doing it well yet, though. Just get it down.” - Anne Lamott
28. “Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report written on birds that he'd had three months to write, which was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books about birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him put his arm around my brother's shoulder, and said, "Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.” - Anne Lamott
29. “Observation enrich your capacity to think. Solababe” - Sola Ogunseitan
30. “He is your Father, and His role is to protect you; He will comfort you and guide you. He will feed you; He will carry you when you are weak. He will seek you out when you go astray; He will help you in times of trouble. He will not let your enemies go unpunished; He will cherish you like a father cherishes his daughter. When you fall, He will pick you up; when you don’t understand, He will always understand. When you feel like life is weighing you down, He will lift you up. When you feel like giving up, He will encourage you to keep going. When you are sad, He will lighten your spirits. When you need advice, His line is open 24-7. When you feel unsafe, He will be your safety; when you are worried, He will be an ear to your concerns. When you feel burdened, offer your burden to Him and He will take it. Where you have been burnt, He will make you beautiful; where you hurt, He will heal. Whenever you feel lonely, He will always be with you. Where others have not supported you, He will support you. When you feel discouraged, He will be your encouragement. Where you don’t know, He will tell you when the time is right. When you feel unloved, remember that He has always loved you. You see limitations; God sees opportunities. You see faults; God sees growth. You see problems; God sees solutions. You see limitations; God sees possibilities. You see life; God sees eternity.” - Corallie Buchanan
31. “For a permanent solution to easing tension and soothe the rough waters of the world that cause people to go to drugs, drinking, gambling, pornography, overeating, or anything that will give them some temporary relief, you can’t beat the support and encouragement of a friend.” - Jonathan Anthony Burkett
32. “You need to be buried deep in the dirt before you can find your bloom.” - Roz Inga
33. “The presence of a noble nature, generous in its wishes, ardent in its charity, changes the lights for us: we begin to see things again in their larger, quieter masses, and to believe that we too can be seen and judged in the wholeness of our character.” - George Eliot
34. “If you make art, people will talk about it. Some of the things they say will be nice, some won’t. You’ll already have made that art, and when they’re talking about the last thing you did, you should already be making the next thing.If bad reviews (of whatever kind) upset you, just don’t read them. It’s not like you’ve signed an agreement with the person buying the book to exchange your book for their opinion.Do whatever you have to do to keep making art. I know people who love bad reviews, because it means they’ve made something happen and made people talk; I know people who have never read any of their reviews. It’s their call. You get on with making art.” - Neil Gaiman
35. “Cultivate an optimistic mind, use your imagination, always consider alternatives, and dare to believe that you can make possible what others think is impossible.” - Rodolfo Costa
36. “You can get a thousand no's from people, and only one "yes" from God.” - Tyler Perry
37. “A library is a good place to go when you feel unhappy, for there, in a book, you may find encouragement and comfort. A library is a good place to go when you feel bewildered or undecided, for there, in a book, you may have your question answered. Books are good company, in sad times and happy times, for books are people - people who have managed to stay alive by hiding between the covers of a book."[Letters of Note; Troy (MI, USA) Public Library, 1971]” - E.B. White
38. “Stones and sticks are thrown only at fruit-bearing trees.” - Sumi
39. “90% of learning comes through encouragement.” - Kevin Thoman
40. “Elevate your inside game. A negative attitude is below the horizon...a place for lonesome hearts.” - T.F. Hodge
41. “The value of routine; trusting your swing.” - Lorii Myers
42. “As Charles Stewart Parnell called out during the Irish rent strike campaign in 1879 and 1880:It is no use relying on the Government . . . . You must only rely upon your own determination . . . . Help yourselves by standing together . . . strengthen those amongst yourselves who are weak . . . , band yourselves together, organize yourselves . . . and you must win . . . When you have made this question ripe for settlement,then and not till then will it be settled.” - Gene Sharp
43. “Just pick a goal and stick to it―no big complicated secret.” - Richelle Goodrich
44. “Love is something worth suffering for...” - Scott Hahn
45. “At the root of all misery is unfulfilled desire.” - Scott Hahn
46. “[God] disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness.” - Scott Hahn
47. “If you complain to someone, you assume that it's someone who really cares about you.” - Scott Hahn
48. “Relatives share the same bloodline, but FAMILY shares your successes, pains, ambitions, celebrations, failures, values, love and so much more. I realize that many friends have become Family and some relatives just are not. (Analogy: Blood scatters everywhere, when Family runs together...When I thought I needed "Blood" to survive, I realized that what I really needed was "Family"!)” - Gaye Miller 2012
49. “A pure heart does not demean the spirit of an individual, it, instead, compels the individual to examine his spirit.” - Criss Jami
50. “With a hint of good judgment, to fear nothing, not failure or suffering or even death, indicates that you value life the most. You live to the extreme; you push limits; you spend your time building legacies. Those do not die.” - Criss Jami
51. “An encouraged person will eventually get his drive from encouragement; he becomes more dependent. A person that never really receives encouragement learns to move out of spite; he becomes more independent.” - Criss Jami
52. “Pride and power fall when the person falls, but discoveries of truth form legacies that can be built upon for generations.” - Criss Jami
53. “Your nature is not the problem. The problem is that you have become alienated from your nature -- from your power source.” - Laurie Helgoe
54. “The Congresswoman was depressed by the fact that a woman of her standing could no longer count on making it to the rest room "in time" during the extensive rehabilitation that followed her shooting. Her husband, commander of a space shuttle crew, encouraged her by identifying with her limitation. Even revered astronauts, he revealed, have bodily limits and have to rely on Huggies during extended launch exercises.” - Gabrielle Giffords
55. “When you want to encourage a greater sense of responsibility in others (and yourself), emphasize the anticipation of accomplishment, not the penalties for failure.” - Roger Crawford
56. “For the rest of his life, Oliver Twist remembers a single word of blessing spoken to him by another child because this word stood out so strikingly from the consistent discouragement around him.” - Charles Dickens
57. “You got up off the bathroom floor. That’s a start. Now, just stay off the floor. After all—aside from winning the lottery—all any of us can ever really hope for is more days spent standing tall than spent in pieces on the floor.” - Sarah Spann
58. “Do not sit still; start moving now. In the beginning, you may not go in the direction you want, but as long as you are moving, you are creating alternatives and possibilities.” - Rodolfo Costa
59. “In life, we make the best decisions we can with the information we have on hand.” - Agnes Kamara-umunna
60. “Night never had the last word. The dawn is always invincible.” - Hugh B. Brown
61. “Encouragement from any source is like a drop of rain upon a parched desert. Thanks to all the many others who rained on me when I needed it, and even when I foolishly thought I didn't.(acknowledgements in The P.U.R.E.)” - Claire Gillian
62. “Anybody with leisure can do that who is willing to begin where everything ought to be begun--that is, at the beginning. Nothing worth calling good can or ever will be started full grown. The essential of any good is life, and the very body of created life, and essential to it, being its self operant, is growth. The larger start you make, the less room you leave for life to extend itself. You fill with the dead matter of your construction the places where assimilation ought to have its perfect work, building by a life-process, self-extending, and subserving the whole. Small beginnings with slow growings have time to root themselves thoroughly--I do not mean in place nor yet in social regard, but in wisdom. Such even prosper by failures, for their failures are not too great to be rectified without injury to the original idea.” - George MacDonald
63. “...it’s just another one of those things I don’t understand: everyone impresses upon you how unique you are, encouraging you to cultivate your individuality while at the same time trying to squish you and everyone else into the same ridiculous mould. It’s an artist’s right to rebel against the world’s stupidity.” - E.A. Bucchianeri
64. “Not in order to justify, but simply in order to explain my lack of consistency, I say: Look at my present life and then at my former life, and you will see that I do attempt to carry them out. It is true that I have not fulfilled one thousandth part of them [Christian precepts], and I am ashamed of this, but I have failed to fulfill them not because I did not wish to, but because I was unable to. Teach me how to escape from the net of temptations that surrounds me, help me and I will fulfill them; even without help I wish and hope to fulfill them.Attack me, I do this myself, but attack me rather than the path I follow and which I point out to anyone who asks me where I think it lies. If I know the way home and am walking along it drunkenly, is it any less the right way because I am staggering from side to side! If it is not the right way, then show me another way; but if I stagger and lose the way, you must help me, you must keep me on the true path, just as I am ready to support you. Do not mislead me, do not be glad that I have got lost, do not shout out joyfully: “Look at him! He said he was going home, but there he is crawling into a bog!” No, do not gloat, but give me your help and support.” - Leo Tolstoy
65. “Their words of encouragement were just what I needed. I was doing a great job, and I appreciated their cheers.I felt a dormlike camaraderie in the burn unit, since each of us knew the challenges we were facing like no one else could, and therefore how meaningful each triumph was.” - Stephanie Nielson
66. “If we are not allowed to deal with small problems, we will be destroyed by slightly larger ones. When we come to understand this, we live our lives not avoiding problems, but welcoming them them as challenges that will strengthen us so that we can be victorious in the future.” - Jim Stovall
67. “Before you can be effective in communication with ANYONE else, you must know who YOU are. It begins with you. Believe me when I say, I don't need anyone's approval in this classroom ... I'm great company for myself. Me, myself, and I ... we laugh a lot. (Said on the first week of class each phase, somewhat rewording each time, but the gist is always there).” - Dacia Wilkinson
68. “Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he can and should be.” - Stephen R. Covey
69. “Gentleness towards self and others makes life a little lighter.” - Deborah Day
70. “Renewal requires opening yourself up to new ways of thinking and feeling” - Deborah Day
71. “Connecting with those you know love, like and appreciate you restores the spirit and give you energy to keep moving forward in this life.” - Deborah Day
72. “The best foundation for relationships to grow, flourish, and succeed is a deep-rooted friendship.” - Jonathan Anthony Burkett
73. “The harder you fall, the heavier your heart; the heavier your heart, the stronger you climb; the stronger you climb, the higher your pedestal.” - Criss Jami
74. “On Lee as commander: "He had a cheerful dignity and could praise them (his men) without seeming to court their favor.” - Shelby Foote
75. “But I've bought a big bat.I'm all ready, you see.Now my troubles are goingTo have troubles with me!” - Dr. Seuss
76. “Do you consider yourself a blessing or just another person?” - Jonathan Anthony Burkett
77. “Josiah became King of Judah at the age of eight. Joan of Arc led the French Army at nineteen. King Tut led all of Egypt at age nine. Age isn't everything you think it is. Your heart and your spirit speak more than a simple candle count on your birthday cake. ~Tony (Exposing ELE)” - Rebecca Gober
78. “Remember: It costs nothing to encourage an artist, and the potential benefits are staggering. A pat on the back to an artist now could one day result in your favorite film, or the cartoon you love to get stoned watching, or the song that saves your life. Discourage an artist, you get absolutely nothing in return, ever.” - Kevin Smith
79. “When we encourage othersWith no personal motives,We raise high, very high,Humanity's progress-standard.” - Sri Chinmoy
80. “Always be true to yourself and follow your dreams!” - LaDonna M. Cook
81. “This Christmas mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love, and then speak it again.” - Howard W. Hunter
82. “To turn the tide of materialism in the Christian community, we desperately need bold models of kingdom-centered living. Despite our need to do it in a way that doesn't glorify people, we must hear each other's stories about giving or else our people will not learn to give.” - Randy Alcorn
83. “Who do you spend time with? Criticizers or encouragers? Surround yourself with those who believe in you. Your life is too important for anything less.” - Steve Goodier
84. “Unless we learn how to humbly tell each other our giving stories, our churches will not learn to give.” - Randy Alcorn
85. “If you always attach positive emotions to the things you want, and never attach negative emotions to the things you don't, then that which you desire most will invariably come your way.” - Matt D. Miller
86. “There is no lifeguard on duty. We each swim at our own risk during this short journey." ~ Lisa Fantino/Amalfi Blue” - Lisa Fantino
87. “You may not be the smartest, richest or best looking person but you're probably not the dumbest, ugliest or poorest either.” - Rob Liano
88. “The pursuit of joy in God is not optional. It is not an “extra” that a person might grow into after he comes to faith. It is not simply a way to “enhance” your walk with the Lord. Until your heart has hit upon this pursuit, your “faith” cannot please God. It is not saving faith. Saving faith is the confidence that if you sell all you have and forsake all sinful pleasures, the hidden treasure of holy joy will satisfy your deepest desires. Saving faith is the heartfelt conviction not only that Christ is reliable, but also that He is desirable. It is the confidence that He will come through with His promises and that what He promises is more to be desired than all the world.” - John Piper
89. “Destroy what you have become and become what you did destroy/” - Muhammed Bhikha
90. “Know yourself fearlessly (even quietly) for all the things you are.” - Aberjhani
91. “Sometimes our work as caregivers is not for the faint of heart. But, you will never know what you are made of until you step into the fire. Step bravely!” - Deborah A. Beasley
92. “Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, then it's not the end.” - Ed Sheeran
93. “A little knee time first thing in the day keeps u standing all day!” - Evinda Lepins
94. “To fight discouragement, remind yourself of the basics: I can write.I have the opportunity to do so. I love what I write. Now smile and be thankful.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
95. “This obsession is a curious thing. Sometimes wonder about the merits of devoting so much of myself to a singular climbing objective. Much of the time it beats me down, leaves me hanging my head in despair. But then there are the moments that bring me to life. When excitement wells up inside my chest in a way that doesn’t happen in every day life. Today my fingertips were cracked and bleeding. I made no progress despite great conditions. Now I am on the ground and can hardly contain my excitement to get back on the wall. It’s a crazy rollercoaster and I owe my family and partners a great deal for encouraging me through it all.” - Tommy Caldwell
96. “I write because I'm free,because I can,because I will. I write because I must,because I'm breathing,because I'd go crazy otherwise,because it's who I am.I write to make a statement,to share my thoughts,to discover myself,to express my ideas.But most of all, I write for future generations.I write for love. I write to inspire.I write to encourage. I write for me.” - Nadège Richards
97. “There's no heaven on earth. God would have to guide her through the problems.” - Jennifer Hudson Taylor
98. “God uses people to help others. I only pray my faith is strong enough to get me through what I have to face.” - Jennifer Hudson Taylor
99. “I was angry at God until I came to understand that it isn't God's fault when people mistreat me. I still have my doubts at times, but I try to remember that God has given them the same free will that He's given me.” - Jennifer Hudson Taylor
100. “If we keep our heads down, either out of defeat or loss or shame or tiredness... whatever the reason, we are going to miss the beautiful sun (and Son) that is right there in front of us, shining its warmth on our faces and our souls!” - Mary Beth Chapman
101. “Sometimes we have to inspire and encourage ourselves, through our personal narrative. And we start with what we know.” - Deborah L. Parker
102. “I have been so very, very fortunate in my life. I've met or been in contact with several of my childhood heroes. I've interacted with people all over this planet, and even though I couldn't possibly hope to remember all their names, I remember a photograph, a poem, a sound, a joke, kind words of encouragement. All is not lost.” - Wayne Gerard Trotman
103. “I think you'll be a great teacher," said Gary. That's his role in my life: blind encourager and ambassador of false senses of security.” - Matthew Norman
104. “It's faith that will take you through and determination that will drive you.” - Jonathan Anthony Burkett
105. “The greatest joys in life are found not only in what we do and feel, but also in our quiet hopes and labors for others.” - Bryant McGill
106. “I don't need encouraging. I do well enough on my own.” - R.L. Mathewson
107. “Never take the first brick out of the wall unless you know it is meant to fall” - Bathsheba Dailey
108. “God has ALREADY given you the strength you need, it's up to you to recognize that you were BORN a conqueror!” - Yvonne Pierre
109. “You have to lift a person up before you can really put them in their place.” - Criss Jami
110. “Never judge yourself so harshly that you never arise from the ashes of life.” - Shawntel Jefferson
111. “We listened, as all boys in their better moods will listen (ay, and men too for the matter of that), to a man whom we felt to be, with all his heart and soul and strength, striving against whatever was mean and unmanly and unrighteous in our little world. It was not the cold, clear voice of one giving advice and warning from serene heights to those who were struggling and sinning below, but the warm, living voice of one who was fighting for us and by our sides, and calling on us to help him and ourselves and one another.” - Thomas Hughes
112. “May our eyes focus rightly on Christ ... before the need to please others, before church, and before the busyness of Christian life. Those things will surely have their place, but they will be most valuable if put in their proper position.” - Traci LaRussa
113. “It's one thing to give out excellent advice, but quite another to personally swallow it.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
114. “There is one type of gambling which should always be encouraged. It is betting on goodness. When a person has wronged you, be good to him. If he adds insult to injury, double the bet. And keep on doubling it. You will surely win!” - Dada J.P. Vaswani
115. “Sometimes life is hard. Things go wrong—in life and in love and in business and in friendship and in health and in all the other ways that life can go wrong. And when things get tough, this is what you should do: make good art. . . . Someone on the internet thinks what you’re doing is stupid or evil or it’s all been done before: make good art. Probably things will work out somehow, eventually time will take the sting away, and it doesn’t even matter. Do what only you can do best: make good art.” - Neil Gaiman
116. “If all we ever offer is blanket praise without any meaning behind it, kids will always seek approval because they'll never feel satisfied. If we offer genuine encouragement for their accomplishments, they won't need our approval; they'll approve of themselves.” - Kelly Bartlett
117. “Walk away from gossip and verbal defamation. Speak only the good you know of other people and encourage others to do the same.” - Steve Maraboli
118. “How does knowing 'things could be worse' than what I already deem awful make me feel any better? You mean I could sink even lower? Oh joy!” - Richelle E. Goodrich
119. “Cry if you must. Scream. Get it all out of your system, and then we'll have fun. It won't last forever, but it will keep you busy for tonight.” - Jamie McGuire
120. “In a world full of cynics, critics, and competitors, we get to choose instead to be cheerleaders for others.” - Shelley Hendrix
121. “Your heart is who you are, all else follows. Guard your heart, Thomas. Guard your heart.” - Liam Perrin
122. “Let the change begin with your choices this very moment.” - Bryant McGill
123. “We can change the world one thought at a time, one child at a time, one family at a time, one community at a time, one city, one state and one country at a time.” - Bryant McGill
124. “We give up our power to the very people who took it away from us in the first place.” - Patti Digh
125. “Encourage yourself, believe in yourself, and love yourself. Never doubt who you are.” - Stephanie Lahart
126. “I wrote in my journal about how good I felt when I was not living under Ed’s control. Then, when I really felt like giving up, I read these pages and realized that I was striving for in recovery was a real possibility. I thought about these experiences and used them as encouragement to keep moving forward. Even one minute of freedom was proof that I was getting better. At first, these times were few and far between. Now, these moments are connected; they are my life” - Jenni Schaefer
