10 Quotes That Inspire and Why

People are often seeking inspiration, and that is why most of us have a favorite quote. For my book Tales of People Who Get It, one of the questions that I asked 34 successful people was, “What is your favorite quotation and why?” I have included 10 of the responses. Chris Widener’s Favorite Quote and Why “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirit who neither enjoy or suffer much because, they live in the gray twilight that knows not neither victory nor defeat.” Teddy Roosevelt I really like this quote because it reminds me that it’s better to try and fail than it is to never try. You are a better person if you are willing to take risks and do your best even though you may fail sometimes. Claire Hoy’s Favorite Quotes and Why One is “Worrying about something is like paying interest on a debt you don’t even know if you owe.” Mark Twain “It ain't over till it's over.” Yogi Berra I view both these quotes as great life lessons. In Mark Twain’s case he is saying that if you are going around and worrying and fretting how badly something is going to turn out, almost all the time it never turns out as badly as you perceived. In Berra’s case, if you don’t throw up your hands when things go wrong, but think it isn’t over and that you still have a chance, anything is possible. For me bankruptcy wasn’t the end of the world, it looked bad but I got through it. George Fraser’s Favorite Quote and Why “First things first, second things never.” George Fraser This is a quote that I made up and I always tell people because I believe in it. Whatever you have to do, break it down into steps and work on the first step. Your only focus is on that first step until it’s completed. You have to have the discipline to focus on the thing that is in front of you. The second step now becomes your next first step so there is never a second step because you are focused on one thing at a time. If your goal is to write a book, what steps do you have to take to make that goal a reality? Do only one thing at a time because you can only walk down one road at a time, so walk down that road. FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS! George Fraser Jim Rohn’s Favorite Quote and Why "Nothing can resist a human will that will stake even its existence on the extent of its purpose." Benjamin Disraeli This simply means do it or die. I love this quote because it challenges the human spirit to ultimate possibility – give it all you’ve got. Become all you were designed to become. We all need challenges. John Gardner’s Favorite Quote and Why I do not have a favorite quote. Instead, I often think of a story told of President Harry Truman. He was frustrated by the advice he received from his council of economic advisors. Invariably they related to him all the possibilities. In exasperation Truman demanded, “Bring me a good one-armed economist. I'm fed up with being told that on one hand …., but that on the other …….” Truman wanted to put an end to the fact-finding and get on with decision-making. I can relate to Truman’s frustration. Purdy Crawford’s Favorite Quote and Why “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you.” From the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling I like this quote because it teaches you not to panic and to stay in control when bad things happen. Don’t be impulsive and think that you have to do something. Sit in a room for a while and be quiet and let the world go by while you think about things. Stephanie MacKendrick’s Favorite Quote and Why “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Meade I like that quotation because it says that change can happen from every one of us, from small groups. It doesn’t have to be a big project, a big organization with a big mission or mandate. We can all contribute to changing. Suzanne Gibson’s Favorite Quote and Why “What stirs the mind or touches the heart, will undoubtedly move the feet.” Donald Murphy’s I feel an affinity to the quote because I feel overwhelmed by all that’s going on in the world, and I often wonder what can I do as one person. This quote tells me that if we can inspire others and feed their hearts and stimulate their minds we can motivate action for positive change. Maria Nemeth’s Favorite Quote and Why “Miracles rest not so much upon healing power coming suddenly near us from afar, but upon our perceptions being made finer, so that for the moment our eyes can see and our ears can hear what has been there around us always.” Willa Cather This is a wonderful quote about miracles. People think that miracles are things that happen to us suddenly from on high. I like this quote because it’s hopeful, it says that I do not have to do anything extraordinary. All I need to do is wake up and see what’s been here waiting for me all the time. It’s already here and all is well. I think that everyone is looking for that sense that all is well.