Aug. 5, 2024, 2:47 a.m.
In the quest for inspiration and direction, few things provide as much impetus as a well-crafted plan or an insightful quote. Whether you seek guidance for personal growth, professional endeavors, or simply a nugget of wisdom to carry you through the day, thoughtfully chosen words can serve as powerful catalysts. Here, we’ve curated an exceptional collection of the top 53 plans and quotes to elevate your mindset and fortify your journey. Delve into this treasure trove of inspiration designed to spark motivation, clarity, and purpose in every facet of your life.
1. “Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.” - Allen Saunders
2. “In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” - Dwight D. Eisenhower
3. “The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley.” - Robert Burns
4. “Ester asked why people are sad."That’s simple," says the old man. "They are the prisoners of their personal history. Everyone believes that the main aim in life is to follow a plan. They never ask if that plan is theirs or if it was created by another person. They accumulate experiences, memories, things, other people's ideas, and it is more than they can possibly cope with. And that is why they forget their dreams.” - Paulo Coelho
5. “The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it.” - J.M. Barrie
6. “All human plans [are] subject to ruthless revision by Nature, or Fate, or whatever one preferred to call the powers behind the Universe.” - Arthur C. Clarke
7. “Do you ever want to talk away from your life?... Do you ever think this life is not exactly what you had planned? Do you ever crave something, anything that could wake you up?” - Elizabeth Flock
8. “I believe good plans are the best way to maximize fun, avoid disaster, and possibly, save the world. I spend a lot of my time making them.” - Katherine Hannigan
9. “Book your life choices in advance the same way you would book flights, car rentals, hotels, and excursions. Figure out early on in your career whether you intend to be financially independent or marry a rich man, join the ranks of the professional elite or be the stay-at- home type, postpone having children or find part-time employment. Then fasten your seat belt and sit tight as you watch your trajectory veer off course.” - Veronique Vienne
10. “And then what are your plans?” Annwyl frowned. “My plans?” “Yes. Your plans. You take your brother’s head, your troops are waiting. What is the next thing that you do?”Annwyl just stared at him. He realized in that instant that the girl had no plans. None. No grand schemes of controlling the world. No plots to destroy any other empires. Not even the plan to have a celebratory dinner.“Annwyl, you’ll be queen. You’ll have to do something.” “But I don’t want to be queen.” Her body shook with panic, and he could hear it in her voice. “You take his head, you’ll have little choice.”“What the hell am I supposed to do as queen?” “Well . .you could try ruling.” “That sounds awfully complicated.” - G.A. Aiken
11. “I had this whole plan when I graduated high school: I was going to go to college, date a few guys, and then meet THE guy at the end of my freshman year, maybe at the beginning of my sophomore year. We'd be engaged by graduation and married the next year. And then, after some traveling, we'd start our family. Four kids, three years apart. I wanted to be done by the time I was 35.” - Rainbow Rowell
12. “You have had a dream for so many years. Let today be the day you make a plan for it. Just think about how much more likely you are to hit your target when you finally aim at it.” - Steve Maraboli
13. “I love stupid plans.” - Megan Whalen Turner
14. “As time went on, we learned to arm ourselves in our different ways. Some of us with real guns, some of us with more ephemeral weapons, an idea or improbable plan or some sort of formulation about how best to move through the world. An idea that will let us be. Protect us and keep us safe. But a weapon nonetheless.” - COLSON WHITEHEAD
15. “He does have surprising, secret purposes. I open a Bible, and His plans, startling, lie there barefaced. It’s hard to believe it, when I read it, and I have to come back to it many times, feel long across those words, make sure they are real. His love letter forever silences any doubts: “His secret purpose framed from the very beginning [is] to bring us to our full glory” (1 Corinthians 2:7 NEB).” - Ann Voskamp
16. “It was amazing how you could get so far from where you'd planned, and yet find it was exactly were you needed to be.” - Sarah Dessen
17. “Nonsense," said Graff. "Ender always has plans within plans.” - Orson Scott Card
18. “On reflection,’ Crake said to Frey, as they huddled behind an upturned table, ‘this wasn’t one of your better plans.” - Chris Wooding
19. “First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination.” - Napoleon Hill
20. “Plans are invitation to disappointment.” - Derek Landy
21. “When a man plans, a woman laughs.” - David Wong
22. “Announcing your plans is a good way to hear god laugh” - David Milch
23. “Sophie: "Right. So no plans at all, then?"Jenna: "Other than rocking in the fetal position for a while?” - Rachel Hawkins
24. “That is a terrible plan.""Hiccup's plans are always t-terrible.""Hey! You're still here, aren't you?” - Cressida Cowell
25. “I had a neat stock of fixed opinions, but they dropped away one by one; and the further I get the less sure I am. I doubt if I have anything more for my present rule of life than following inclinations which do me and nobody else any harm, and actually give pleasure to those I love best. There, gentlemen, since you wanted to know how I was getting on, I have told you. Much good may it do you! I cannot explain further here. I perceive there is something wrong somewhere in our social formulas: what it is can only be discovered by men or women with greater insight than mine--if, indeed, they ever discover it-- at least in our time. 'For who knoweth what is good for man in this life?--and who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?” - Thomas Hardy
26. “Make New Year's goals. Dig within, and discover what you would like to have happen in your life this year. This helps you do your part. It is an affirmation that you're interested in fully living life in the year to come. Goals give us direction. They put a powerful force into play on a universal, conscious, and subconscious level. Goals give our life direction.What would you like to have happen in your life this year? What would you like to do, to accomplish? What good would you like to attract into your life? What particular areas of growth would you like to have happen to you? What blocks, or character defects, would you like to have removed?What would you like to attain? Little things and big things? Where would you like to go? What would you like to have happen in friendship and love? What would you like to have happen in your family life?What problems would you like to see solved? What decisions would you like to make? What would you like to happen in your career?Write it down. Take a piece of paper, a few hours of your time, and write it all down - as an affirmation of you, your life, and your ability to choose. Then let it go. The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals.” - Melody Beattie
27. “Don't let your plans or goals become more important than yourself, or the ones you care about! :)” - José N. Harris
28. “Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential.” - Winston Churchill
29. “The day drags along, you make thousands of plans, you imagine every possible conversation, you promise to change your behavior in certain ways–and you feel more and more anxious until your loved one arrives. But by then, you don't know what to say. The hours of waiting have been transformed into tension, the tension has become fear, and the fear makes you embarrassed about showing affection.” - Paulo Coelho
30. “It's strange how a plan can unfold sometimes—an umbrella shooting up at the touch of a button and extending out in all directions quickly, effortlessly.” - Elissa Janine Hoole
31. “Attacking a provincial lord in his manor house, surrounded by guards...Honestly, Kell, I'd nearly forgotten how foolhardy you can be."Foolhardy?" Kelsier asked with a laugh. "that wasn't foolhardy - that was just a small diversion. You should see some of the things I'm planning to do!Dockson stood for a moment then he laughed too. "By the Lord Ruler, it's good to have you back, kell! I'm afraid I've grown rather boring during the last few years""We'll fix that" Kelsier promised.” - Brandon Sanderson
32. “No plan survives first contact with the enemy. What matters is how quickly the leader is able to adapt.” - Tim Harford
33. “Edward: You know what the difference is between a dream and a goal? he used to say to me. A plan.” - Jodi Picoult
34. “When ours are interrupted, his are not. His plans are proceeding exactly as scheduled, moving us always (including those minutes or hours or years which seem most useless or wasted or unendurable).” - Elisabeth Elliot
35. “That's a horrible plan.""Yes, but I have chosen to ignore that.” - Christopher Moore
36. “Introspective souls are often tormented by their passionate visions. This is because visionaries see what shall be and wake up to what is. However, if you couldn't see a glimpse of the city lights while stranded in the forest, how would you ever know to walk in that direction? Sometimes, your vision can't be put into action, until you gather the learning experiences, along your journey first.” - Shannon L. Alder
37. “I try not to make plans. God always laughs at your plans. I’m going to keep the door open, and keep the page blank, and see what gets painted upon it.” - Tom Hiddleston
38. “What's your dream and to what corner of the missions world will it take you?” - Eleanor Roat
39. “Reyna looked at Percy without much hope. “You do have a plan?”Percy wanted to step forward bravely and say, No, I don’t!” - Rick Riordan
40. “But saying stuff, even if it's good, isn't enough. Dad never did anything, he just talked about it. Even I knew you needed plans.” - Glenda Millard
41. “And thus Charles found himself wandering around a hotel, trailing federal agents as he held a cardboard coffee cup holder in each hand, instead of out killing misbehaving werewolves.” - Patricia Briggs
42. “Every morning I called Aeroflot to ask about my suitcase. "Oh, it's you," sighed the clerk. "Yes, I have your request right here. Address: Yasnaya Polyana, Tolstoy's house. When we find the suitcase we will send it to you. In the meantime, are you familiar with our Russian phrase *resignation of the soul*?” - Elif Batuman
43. “... the lofty mind of man can be imprisoned by the artifices of its own making.” - E.A. Bucchianeri
44. “Life never obeys our plans, I'm afraid.” - Barbara Kloss
45. “Merciful Father.... I have squandered my days with plans of many things.This was not among them. But at this moment, I beg only, to live the next few minutes well.For all we ought to have thought and have not thought... All we ought to have said and have not said. All we ought to have done and have not done. I pray thee, God for forgiveness.” - Ahmed Ibn Fadlan
46. “Courage doesn’t happen when you have all the answers. It happens when you are ready to face the questions you have been avoiding your whole life.” - Shannon L. Alder
47. “There is nothing more satisfying than having plans.” - Lalita Tademy
48. “Oh, by the way, you left out one step in the plan.""What step was that?""The one where we pray this works, Admiral.” - Jack Campbell
49. “TELL THE WORLD WHAT YOU INTEND TO DO, BUT FIRST SHOW IT.This is the equivalent of saying "deeds, and not words, are what count most.” - Napoleon Hill
50. “Plans never go as planned, ever; that’s just how life is. People spend way too much time dreaming about a future they should be having more nightmares warning them against. But that doesn't mean you should let those bad dreams scare you away; all those nightmares want is respect. If you give them that, they’ll give you the space you need. Unless, of course, they’re the type of nightmares that have an appetite, then you’re fucked.” - Dave Matthes
51. “You don't have to be strong to survive a bad situation; you simply need a plan.” - Shannon L. Alder
52. “What are you waiting for? How long will you keep waiting? Don’t sit back and wait for life to happen to you. Have a plan and take the needed steps to create what you want.” - Steve Maraboli
53. “Every relationship that has hit a crossroads has asked, “What is it that you want from me?” - Shannon L. Alder