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55 Life-Changing Quotes You Won’t Forget

Reading the right quote could change your life. Here are some life-changing quotes that you'll never forget.

Inspirational Quotes Speaker Collage Featuring Bill Nye, Princess Diana, Maya Angelou And Barack Obama
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Life-changing quotes for an inspirational mood boost

Sometimes we all could use a little extra pick-me-up. Saying that life can be challenging would be an understatement. But it’s important to remember that life has its ups and downs and we need to keep pushing forward. Much like our “life is short” quotes, strength quotes, uplifting quotes, graduation quotes, and quotes about change, these life-changing quotes will inspire you to see things from a new perspective. And that may just be the nudge you need to make it through.
"At any given moment, you have the power to say: this is not how the story is going to end."—Christine Mason Miller, author.
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“At any given moment, you have the power to say: this is not how the story is going to end.” —Christine Mason Miller, author. Make sure to check out the funniest quotes of all time for some laughs.

"Do what is right, not what is easy nor what is popular."—Roy T. Bennett, author. 
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“Do what is right, not what is easy nor what is popular.” —Roy T. Bennett, author. These powerful kindness quotes will stay with you.

"If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."—Toni Morrison, author
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“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” —Toni Morrison, author. If you like these life-changing quotes, you’ll also enjoy reading through these inspirational quotes for mornings.

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."—Arthur Ashe, American tennis player
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“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” —Arthur Ashe, American tennis player. These success quotes will motivate you to cross everything off your to-do list.

"By changing nothing, nothing changes."—Tony Robbins, author, and philanthropist
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“By changing nothing, nothing changes.” —Tony Robbins, author and philanthropist. Life-changing quotes inspire people to dream big, much like these thought-provoking quotes.

"You can, you should, and if you're brave enough to start, you will."—Stephen King, author
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“You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will.” —Stephen King, author. Read through these family quotes that will hit close to home.

"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for."—John A. Shedd, author, and professor. 
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“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” —John A. Shedd, author and professor. Need a smile? Here are some happy quotes you won’t stop reading.

"Fear is forward. No one is afraid of yesterday."—Renata Adler, author, journalist, and film critic
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“Fear is forward. No one is afraid of yesterday.” —Renata Adler, author, journalist, and film critic. Some of the most life-changing quotes are also in your favorite movies like these famous movie quotes.

"For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness."—Ralph Waldo Emerson, author.
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“For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson, author. These relationship quotes can help you get through any breakup.

 "There is nothing brilliant or outstanding in my record, except perhaps this one thing. I do the things I believe ought to be done. And when I make up my mind to do a thing, I act."—Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. President.
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“There is nothing brilliant or outstanding in my record, except perhaps this one thing. I do the things I believe ought to be done. And when I make up my mind to do a thing, I act.” —Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. president. Not all presidential words of wisdom are as serious as this life-changing quote. Take these funny president quotes, for example.

"The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision."—Helen Keller, author
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“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” —Helen Keller, author

"If you're serious about changing your life, you'll find a way. If you're not, you'll find an excuse."—Jen Sincero, author 
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“If you’re serious about changing your life, you’ll find a way. If you’re not, you’ll find an excuse.” —Jen Sincero, author. Check out more of the best quotes from famous people you certainly won’t forget.

"We build too many walls and not enough bridges."—Isaac Newton, mathematician.
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“We build too many walls and not enough bridges.” —Isaac Newton, mathematician. These funny birthday quotes are perfect for cards.

Eleanor Roosevelt Do One Thing Quote
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“Do one thing every day that scares you.” —Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady. This is one of the life-changing quotes that really sticks with you. So do these uplifting quotes that will stay with you.

Nelson Mandela Quote
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“There is no passion to be found playing small—in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” —Nelson Mandela, philanthropist and former President of South Africa. Next, check out these inspiring happiness quotes to brighten your day.

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."—Oscar Wilde, author
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“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” —Oscar Wilde, author. You definitely won’t forget these wise St. Patrick’s Day quotes you’ll want to share all year round.

"Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day, someone might do the same for you."—Diana, Princess of Wales
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“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day, someone might do the same for you.” —Diana, Princess of Wales

"Step out of the history that is holding you back. Step into the new story you are willing to create."—Oprah Winfrey, philanthropist, and talk show host
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“Step out of the history that is holding you back. Step into the new story you are willing to create.” —Oprah Winfrey, philanthropist and talk show host. 

"The most beautiful and profound way to change yourself is to accept yourself completely, as imperfect as you are."—Maxime Lagacé, Canadian hockey player 
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“The most beautiful and profound way to change yourself is to accept yourself completely, as imperfect as you are.” —Maxime Lagacé, Canadian hockey player. Sounds like a great self-love quote.

"Your big opportunity may be right where you are standing right now."—Napoleon Hill, author 
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“Your big opportunity may be right where you are standing right now.” —Napoleon Hill, author 

"You must have long-term goals to keep you from being frustrated by short-term failures."—Charles C. Noble, American engineer
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“You must have long-term goals to keep you from being frustrated by short-term failures.” —Charles C. Noble, American engineer

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."—James Baldwin, author
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“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” —James Baldwin, author. James Baldwin quotes definitely provide some solid life-changing quote entries!

"There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind."—C.S. Lewis, author 
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“There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” —C.S. Lewis, author 

Bill Nye Quote
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“Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t.” —Bill Nye, the Science Guy, TV presenter and engineer

"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." —Walt Disney, entrepreneur
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“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” —Walt Disney, entrepreneur

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people's thinking." —Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple
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“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.” —Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple. These loneliness quotes will make you feel seen.

"If you set your goals ridiculously high and it's a failure, you will fail above everyone else's success." —James Cameron, filmmaker
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“If you set your goals ridiculously high and it’s a failure, you will fail above everyone else’s success.” —James Cameron, filmmaker
"You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated." —Maya Angelou, poet.
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“You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated.” —Maya Angelou, poet. Read through these other quotable quotes from Maya Angelou.

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." —Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States
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“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” —Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." —Thomas A. Edison, inventor
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“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” —Thomas A. Edison, inventor

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." —Dr. Seuss, author
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“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” —Dr. Seuss, author

"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile." —Albert Einstein, physicist 
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“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” —Albert Einstein, physicist 

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined." —Henry David Thoreau, philosopher 
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“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.” —Henry David Thoreau, philosopher 

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." —Robert Frost, poet
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“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.” —Robert Frost, poet

"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one."—Elbert Hubbard, writer, and philosopher.
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“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.” —Elbert Hubbard, writer and philosopher

Bikram Choudhury Quote
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“Never too old, never too bad, never too late, never too sick to start from scratch once again.” —Bikram Choudhury, yoga guru

Mother Teresa Stone Quote
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“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” —Mother Teresa, saint

John Eliot Realistic Quote
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“As soon as anyone starts telling you to be ‘realistic,’ cross that person off your invitation list.” —John Eliot, missionary

Cs Lewis Move Forward Quote
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“Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.” —C.S. Lewis. Here are more great quotes about moving on.

Dostoyevsky Quote
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“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” —Fyodor Dostoyevsky, novelist

Oscar Wilde Living Quote
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“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” —Oscar Wilde

Heny Van Dyke Use What You Possess Quote
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“Use what talents you possess, the woods will be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” —Henry van Dyke, author. If this doesn’t inspire some extra confidence, I don’t know what will.

Barack Obama Losing Quote
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“If you run you stand a chance of losing, but if you don’t run you’ve already lost.” —Barack Obama, former President of the United States

Stephen Chbosky Quote
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“Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn’t stop for anybody.” —Stephen Chbosky, novelist. You should probably read some “miss you” quotes if this one hits home.

Mae West You Only Live Once Quote
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“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” —Mae West, actress

Marcus Aurelius Quote
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“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.” —Marcus Aurelius, former Roman emperor

Terry Pratchett Quote
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“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” —Terry Pratchett, author. Try some of these loyalty quotes that will build honesty and trust.

Soren Kierkegaard Life Quote
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“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” —Søren Kierkegaard, Danish theologian

Lao Tzu Life Quote
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“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” —Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher

Rosseau Absolute Silence Quote
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“Absolute silence leads to sadness. It is the image of death.” —Jean-Jacques Rousseau, philosopher

Joshua J Marine Quote
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“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” —Joshua J. Marine, author. Time to show some gratitude for the hard things.

Gandhi My Life Quote
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“My life is my message.” —Mahatma Gandhi, lawyer

Jd Salinger Glass Cases Quote
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“Certain things, they should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone.” —J.D. Salinger, author

Winston Churchill Quote
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“No one ever finds life worth living—one has to make it worth living.” —Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Karen Lamb A Year From Now Quote
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“A year from now you will wish you had started today.” —Karen Lamb, illustrator. Now that you know these life-changing quotes, check out the 111 most inspiring quotes about life.

Emily DiNuzzo
Emily DiNuzzo is a former staff writer at Reader’s Digest. There’s a 90% chance Emily is drinking tea right now, but when she’s not writing about food and health with a cuppa by her side, you can find her lifting at the gym, listening to murder mystery podcasts and liking one too many astrology memes.