Quotations about encouragement: spurs to personal growth

Why didn’t I do that before? Have you ever asked yourself that question? It happens when you finally find the courage to start again after a failure or begin a new project that initially seemed beyond you. And the answer to this question is often: because I didn’t have the courage.

Some people are born brave, while others (the majority of us) must constantly overcome our own fears. So we’ve put together a selection of the best motivational phrases that will inspire you to find the courage you need in work and in life.

Quotations for finding the courage to start something new

“Goal setting is the most important aspect of all improvement and personal development plans.” Paul J. Meyer, writer.

“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today” H. Jackson Brown Jr., writer.

“Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance.” Bruce Barton, American politician.

“I make decisions. They might not be perfect, but it’s better to make imperfect decisions than to be constantly looking for perfect decisions that will never be found.” Charles De Gaulle, soldier, politician and writer.

“The winds and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.” Edward Gibbon, historian, writer and politician.

“Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.” Demosthenes, politician.

“Three things cannot be retrieved: the arrow once sped from the bow; the word spoken in haste; the missed opportunity.” Ali the Lion, Caliph of Islam.

“Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” George Adair, property developer.

“The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.” Oprah Winfrey, television presenter and writer.

“Some people dream of success, while other people get up every morning and make it happen.” Wayne Huizenga, businessman and entrepreneur.

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” George Bernard Shaw, writer.

“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” Earl Nightingale, radio speaker and author.

“A year from now you may wish you had started today.” Karen Lamb, author.

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Nelson Mandela, politician and activist.

“Today’s accomplishments were yesterday’s impossibilities.” Robert H. Schuller, motivational speaker.

“Risk more than others think safe. Dream more than others think is practical.” Howard Schultz, entrepreneur and  Starbucks CEO.

Quotations to pick you up after failure

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” Michael Jordan, president of the Charlotte Hornets and former basketball player

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again.Fail again. Fail better.”Samuel Beckett, playwright

“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill, former prime minister of the United Kingdom.

“Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.” Roger Crawford, motivational speaker and tennis player.

“Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.” Richard Branson, entrepreneur and Virgin Group founder.

“Don’t worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.” Jack Canfield, author and entrepreneur.

“Fall down seven times, get up eight.” Japanese proverb.

“Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over.” Francis Scott Fitzgerald, writer.

“Forget past mistakes. Forget failures. Forget everything except what you’re going to do now and do it. Today is your lucky day.” William C. Durant, entrepreneur.

“Failure is only the opportunity more intelligently to begin again.” Henry Ford, entrepreneur.

“If thou art a man, admire those who attempt great things, even though they fail.” Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger, philosopher.

“Our business in life is not to succeed, but to continue to fail in good spirits.” Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson, writer.

“Most of us are not ready to face failure, which is why we are not able to fulfil our destiny.” Sergio Bambarén, writer.

Stop making excuses, putting things off and saying “I don’t have time”. Pluck up some courage and do it now. Afterwards, you’ll wonder: why didn’t I do it sooner?