Quotes are all around us. Whether you get them from songs, films, philosophers, books, celebs, etc. They are an inescapable part of life, from the uplifting to the downright corny. No matter what mood you’re in, you’re bound to find a quote to apply to your situation.
There are so many quotes floating around it can be hard to narrow down your favourites. Originally this post was going to include just 5 quotes, but it turned out to be too tricky to chose!
There’s a quote from John Green that I have liked ever since I heard it, “Maybe our favourite quotations say more about us than about the stories and people we’re quoting.” And I think that’s true. I’ve explained a little what these quotes mean to me… but they will all be interpreted differently or enjoyed for different reasons by someone else. And I think that is the true beauty of quotes, that they are not bound by a single meaning.
“Though she be but little she is fierce” William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
I have never felt a quote to be so appropriate. At 5 foot 3 I am never going to be the tallest person in the room, but why should my height stop me from doing things? (Rides at the theme park aside.) Don’t let anyone underestimate you because of your height, I am sure you more than make it up for it in your personality and tenacity. I know I do.
“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” Maya Angelou
I couldn’t make a quotes post and not include Maya Angelou. When it’s a miserable day and I see a rainbow it always gives me hope and cheers me up. If you can help give someone that sort of positivity in their life, that’s not a bad thing to do.
“We are such stuff as dreams are made on.” William Shakespeare – The Tempest
(The English Lit nerd side of me is showing here with two Shakespeare quotes, but can you blame me?) This one reminds me to make the most of life while I can because, like dreams, we could find that something that we enjoy is suddenly gone. Also, I always find dreams fascinating, and to be made from the same stuff as dreams? That makes people pretty fascinating too!
“You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from” Cormac McCarthy – No Country for Old Men
We have all cursed our bad luck at times. 5 minutes late leaving the house and you get stuck in a traffic jam – but had you left on time you might have been caught up in the accident that caused the jam. I try not to worry as much if my bad luck stops me from being somewhere and doing something as it could be saving me from something worse!
“Not all that glitters is gold” JRR Tolkien – The Fellowship of the Ring
This one is worth remembering. Something might seem great on the surface but that might just be for show, not everything is as precious as it first seems. If it seems too good to be true, chances are it is. But it is worth waiting for something that is special, even if it takes longer. After all, who wants glitter if you can have gold?
“Don’t let anyone ever make you feel like you don’t deserve what you want.” Patrick Verona – 10 Things I Hate About You
10 Things I Hate About You is my all time favourite film and this quote has always stood out to me. If you want something, go for it. Why should you let anyone stop you and make you feel like you can’t have it?
“Anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.” JK Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
This quote from Harry Potter always reminds me to just go for it. I tend to second guess everything and then I’ve missed an opportunity or convinced myself that I’m not capable of doing something. However, as long as I have the courage to do something, I might as well try.
“They told me I couldn’t, that’s why I did.” Unknown
I find that it’s motivational to hear someone tell me that I won’t be able to do something. Because it gives me a stronger desire to do the thing and prove them wrong. I always think of this quote if I am struggling with something and it gives me that little extra push to achieve what I want to.
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” Winnie the Pooh
This quote means so much more to me since I moved to university. It’s horrible saying goodbye to my family, friends and boyfriend, but at the end of the day I am actually so fortunate that I have these people in my life who I don’t like to leave, and Winnie the Pooh sums it up perfectly.
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” Theodore Roosevelt
I think a lot of the time if you think something is impossible it’s partly your state of mind. As Theodore Roosevelt said, believing you can means you’re halfway there. If you have positivity about a situation and think that you can do something you’re going to find it easier to work out how to do the thing.
“The secret of getting ahead, is getting started.” Sally Berger
We have all been known to procrastinate at times and put off things, with the “oh i’ll do it tomorrow.” etc etc. But if you want to get ahead? You need to get started. So for all the procrastinators out there (myself included), turn off Netflix, close Instagram, lock your phone and take note of this advice!
“All I can do is follow my instincts because I’ll never please everyone.” Emma Watson
Emma Watson is one of my idols and this is one quote from her that I can relate to so much. I try to please everyone else constantly even if I end up doing something that I don’t want to do. This never works and someone always ends up annoyed. But I will never be able to please everyone so I should try to do what I think is best.
“Do one thing every day that scares you.” Eleanor Roosevelt
We all get scared and have fears. Whether its talking on the phone or spiders or heights. This is a quote I have attempted to live by. Try doing small things that scare you, like talking in class or looking out of a window at a great height. Trying to do something regularly that scares you, proves that you can do it despite your fears. It makes you a stronger person for it. And who knows, it could even help you overcome your fear.
“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” Susan Sontag
Anyone who knows me will know that I want nothing more than to travel. Unfortunately I have never been abroad, in fact the furthest away I’ve been from home is Edinburgh. But it is my desire to travel the world and go exploring. So I can relate to Susan Sontag. I haven’t even been anywhere. But I can assure you, it’s on my list…
“You got this.” Unknown
Because you do.
Let me know in the comments below any quotes that are special to you.
Katharyn Daniels 