It’s not always easy to keep going. Whether you’re entering the fifth month of a seemingly endless job search, stuck in a role that no longer excites you, or just having an abnormally slow Monday morning, we’re sure you’ve had that moment when you lean back in your chair and think, “I can’t do this anymore.”
In times like these, 45 motivational quotes can help you keep going. Next time you’re tempted to give up, pull up this list and remind yourself to persist—bookmark it on your phone so you can refer to it whenever and wherever you need.
Motivational quotes for work
It's not every day that we feel completely satisfied with our work. Maybe you received bad feedback, or made a mistake you can't stop thinking about. Or perhaps you're feeling uncertain about your future at your current company. But a motivational quote can help you feel a little better or keep you going.
1. “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” —Winston Churchill
2. “If you fell down yesterday, stand up today.” —H. G. Wells
3. “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” —Will Rogers
4. “Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work in hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” —Alexander Graham Bell
5. “Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it.” —Oprah Winfrey
Powerful motivational quotes
Sometimes all we need is to hear advice or a phrase of encouragement to help us shift our perspective about where we are and what's out there for us. Here are some powerful motivational quotes that will do exactly that for you.
6. “The only one who can tell you ‘you can’t win’ is you, and you don’t have to listen.” —Jessica Ennis
7. “All dreams are within reach. All you have to do is keep moving towards them.” —Viola Davis
8. “It is only when we take chances that our lives improve. The initial and the most difficult risk we need to take is to become honest.” —Walter Anderson
9. “When you change your thoughts, remember to also change your world.” —Norman Vincent Peale
10. “Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work.” —H. L. Hunt
Motivational quotes for success
Wanting more out of life and envisioning a bright, successful future is easy. But getting up and actually chasing your dreams can be hard—especially on those days when you're feeling down and drained. These quotes will give you the motivation and determination boost you need.
11. “A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.” —George S. Patton
12. “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” —Henry David Thoreau
13. “If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” —Steve Jobs
14. “The only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.” —Michelle Obama
15. “Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Monday motivation quotes
Monday must be one of the least favorite days for the working class. When you're feeling down, the mere idea of getting up and going to work can be dreadful. But with some words of encouragement, you might find the willpower to get through the day.
16. “Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.” —Dalai Lama
17. “Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.” —Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“Vitality shows not only in the ability to persist but in the ability to start over.” —F. Scott Fitzgerald
18. “Step by step and the thing is done.” —Charles Atlas
19. “Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment, full effort is full victory.” —Mahatma Gandhi
20. “Motivation will almost always beat mere talent.” —Norman Ralph Augustine
Motivational quotes for students
If, on top of your other obligations in life, you're also a student, exhaustion and overwhelm can make you so tired that you feel like giving up completely. However, we all know the importance of education, especially for those who want a white-collar job.
21. “Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” —Anthony J. D’Angelo
22. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” —Nelson Mandela
23. “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” —Malcolm X
24. “Learning is not attained by chance; it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.” —Abigail Adams
25. “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” —Benjamin Franklin
Read this next: How to (and How Not to) List Education on Your Resume
Short motivational quotes
These quotes are short and sweet, but still powerful enough to bring motivation back to your body and mind.
26. “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” —George Eliot
27. “It always seems impossible until it's done” —Nelson Mandela
28. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” —Confucius
29. “It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” —Herman Melville
30. “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” —Arthur Ashe
Best motivational quotes for self-esteem
If what's bringing you down is not feeling your best self, here are some quotes on self-esteem and attitude to help you keep your head high.
31. “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
32. “Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears.” —Marcus Aurelius
33. “Excellence is not a skill, it's an attitude.” —Ralph Marston
34. “Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined.” —Toni Morrison
35. “Your self-worth is determined by you. You don’t have to depend on someone telling you who you are.” —Beyoncé
Motivation quotes for embracing failure
We all fail at least once in life, but people often struggle to overcome the disappointment that comes with failure. However, learning from your mistakes and moving forward is key to achieving whatever professional, educational, or financial goal you have.
36. “Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” —Dale Carnegie
37. “Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.” —Mia Hamm
38. “Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.” —Richard Branson
39. “Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.” —Truman Capote
40. “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.” —Michael Jordan
Friday motivational quotes
It's the end of the weekend, and you have two choices: spend it mindlessly scrolling TikTok in bed or use it to live life and plan a successful work week. Here are some positive motivational quotes to put you in the right mindset.
41. “Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.” —Wayne Dyer
42. “Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster.” —Theodore Roosevelt
43. “Change your life today. Don't gamble on the future, act now, without delay.” —Simone de Beauvoir
44. “We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.” —Joseph Campbell
45. “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” —H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Still feeling down? Maybe what you really need is some fresh air in a new environment. Browse 400,000+ open jobs on The Muse and find the best fit for you »
Amanda Cardoso contributed to the latest version of this article.