Taking advice from old pros may be the best way to steer yourself in the right direction. These 19 life quotes will teach you how to live.
Many people, myself included, struggle with determining how to live life right. We are inundated with conflicting advice from every direction. Science versus faith. Family versus career. Liberal versus conservative. Heck, even our hearts and our minds tell us to do different things.
Direction, please!
Sometimes, all we need is advice from people who have experienced what we’re going through. All they have to do is show us the way, and we’ll take it from there. Although we know that we’re supposed to solve our own problems, it would be nice to get nudged in the right direction. Depending on the situation, that little kick of motivation is perhaps all we really need.
Whether you want to improve your relationships with loved ones, or assess your future, financial status, or the way you live life in general, here are 19 hard-hitting quotes that will be sure to motivate you to live a better life.
1. “The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket.” -Will Rogers
Instead of being an earn-a-dollar-spend-two kind of person, you need to second guess your expenses and put some of it aside for a rainy day. Simplicity is key and even well-known billionaires like Warren Buffet know the value of frugality.
Despite being worth over $57 billion, Buffet still drives a 2006 Cadillac and lives in the same home he bought more than five decades ago.
2. “Look at the sparrows; they do not know what they will do in the next moment. Let us literally live from moment to moment.” -Mahatma Gandhi
Loving life is something everyone has a right to, but most of us don’t exercise this right. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why it is so important to spend 10 hours a day at the office?
You may say that it is for the money, but your chances to earn money are limitless—whereas the chance to be satisfied only comes once. [Read: Love or career? How to balance it and make the right choic]
3. “Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” -Carl Bard
It doesn’t matter how badly things have gone for you, because no matter what, you are always offered the chance to start fresh. You may have to make some changes, but if you put your mind to it, there is no reason why you can’t rewrite your ending.
4. “Education costs money. But then, so does ignorance.” -Sir Claus Mose
Education doesn’t just encompass going to school and earning a piece of paper. You also have to educate yourself on how the world works, because once you educate yourself on what’s going on around you, you’ll have a better understanding of how and why things are the way they are.
5. “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” -Mae West
Don’t chain yourself to other people’s expectations; do what makes you happy. Be the person you were created to be, and you will find so much more satisfaction in life. Don’t be afraid to take chances and live free. [Read: How to be happy and life life to the fullest]
6. “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” -Oscar Wilde
You have no idea what a privilege it is to be alive in this varied and imaginative world of ours. Time is of the essence, and no matter how much technology has progressed, you will never get time back once it’s gone. Make the most of it and live your life doing things that make you smile.
7. “Everything you can imagine is real.” -Pablo Picasso
There is nothing you cannot do if you set your mind to it. No matter how out of reach the dream may seem, you can easily turn it into reality if you want to.
8. “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” -Mark Twain
From penning some of the most widely-read books of all time, to traveling and living around the world, Twain made sure that he did things that he could pat himself on the back for.
Even the American president at the time of Twain’s death lamented his passing. What have you done with your life? [Read: 13 happy things you need to ensure you have a happy life]
9. “When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves.” -David Orr
Many of us are unaware that Earth and humanity share an ancient bond. We have raped the planet to what many claim to be the point of no return.
However, optimistic scientists, philosophers, and ordinary folk believe that it is not too late to steer mankind’s course away from planetary destruction. Realize that the earth’s health and our survival are one and the same, and make a lifestyle change today.
10. “People will always try to stop you from doing the right thing if it is unconventional.” -Warren Buffet
Despite being worth billions of dollars, Buffet is renowned for his philanthropy. Throughout his 85 years on the planet, he has donated over $25 billion to various charities—and doesn’t intend to stop there. Many within his billionaire club may have tried to talk him out of it, but he went ahead and did the right thing, anyway.
11. “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” -Albert Einstein
Fighting fire with fire will burn the whole place down. If you have unresolved conflict with someone, the best way to solve it is to see the situation through their eyes. Perhaps then, you will find a way to resolve the conflict without engaging in any confrontation.
12. “He who knows he has enough is rich.” -Lao Tzu
Wealth isn’t determined by how much money or assets you have, but how happy you are. Take joy in the little things in life, and you will find that you’re a lot richer than you think you are.
13. “I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” -Mary Anne Radmacher
There is just something about traveling that’ll change your perspective on life. You’ll inadvertently realize that the world doesn’t revolve around you, that your belief system isn’t the one and only way, and that there is beauty in difference. [Read: 15 big reasons why you should travel at least once a year]
14. “Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey.” -Babs Hoffman
No matter how beautifully you plan your life, you will face problems along the way. Brush these potholes off as part of life and power through. Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses along the way.
15. “It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
If you’re having problems in your relationship, why not take a step back and examine the core of the problem? Couples fall out of love all the time, but more painful is that they fall out of friendship first. Keep the channels of communication open, and don’t give up on your partner.
16. “I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light.” -Hellen Keller
If you’re feeling particularly misanthropic, do something to snap out of it. Establishing solid friendships take time and effort. The less time you spend building and maintaining meaningful relationships, the lonelier you will be. [Read: 12 steps you need to take to change your life today and find your happiness]
17. “Oh, the places you’ll go.” -Dr. Seuss
Realize that life is to be lived. Don’t hold yourself back from attempting stuff that you’ve always wanted to do. There’s a big, beautiful world out there just waiting to be seen by your eyes. In short, live your life before it’s too late.
18. “Promise me you’ll always remember: you’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” -A.A. Milne
No matter how hard you have fallen from grace, never underestimate yourself. It took Thomas Edison over 10,000 tries before he got the light bulb to work, so there’s no reason why you should give up so easily.
19. “Your perspective on life comes from the cage you were held captive in.”= -Shannon L. Alder
Don’t judge people until you know what they’ve experienced. You’ll never know until you’ve walked in their shoes—and honestly, what are the odds of that happening? Take the Syrian refugee crisis, for instance.
The mass exodus of Syrians from their homeland to greener and safer pastures has critics in an ignorant frenzy. Perhaps once you witness your neighbor getting shot in the face, or experience the helplessness of losing your child at sea, you will have earned the right to judge.
[Read: 11 steps to fall in love with yourself and enjoy a much better life]
“Always live each day to the fullest, but don’t forget to keep the future in mind.” -Edmond Mbiaka. No matter how passionately the quotes above are motivating you to live your life to the fullest, don’t forget that the future is something to plan for. As long as you can balance reality and your dreams, there’s no reason why your life can’t be amazing.