Throughout history, we have been impacted by thousands upon thousands of influential figures who have moved and inspired us through leadership, activism, innovation, and art. Though many of these figures have long passed, we can still learn from their wise words and notions on life, love, happiness, and success. Next time you’re seeking guidance, look to these famous words of advice from some of our most treasured historical figures. We can always afford to integrate some more wisdom into our lives!
“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” -Mother Teresa
Let’s face it, it’s so easy to think negatively toward others and make snap judgments about those who are different than us. Though these judgments may be internalized and therefore have no effect on the subject of the criticism, they’re still creating attitudes of intolerance and hostility within ourselves. Mother Teresa believes that when we relinquish our feelings of judgment, we become beacons of love. Wouldn’t the world be a much brighter place if we were to exercise universal love?
“The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” -Malcolm X
It is not enough to wish for a brighter future—Malcolm X states that we must take charge of the present and act according to how we want to see the world in the coming years. We cannot expect changes to be made through wishful thinking alone, rather, we must take action in order to impact the world around us.
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” -Henry David Thoreau
Though we often view our goals and aspirations as nothing more than pipe dreams and therefore hesitate to pursue them, Henry David Thoreau urges us to make our dreams realities despite our fears. After all, how can we succeed in life without the belief that we can do so? With Thoreau’s advice, we can find the encouragement to strive for our ultimate happiness.
“Creativity is intelligence having fun.” Albert Einstein
In a world where math and science are highly regarded as the most profitable fields in society and artistic career paths are looked down upon, it’s easy to feel discouraged from pursuing our beloved creative outlets. Theoretical physicist Albert Einstein, however, makes the insightful point that creativity is not a useless skill, but rather draws upon intellect. So the next time you decide to paint a picture, write a story, or take an artsy photograph, give yourself a pat on the back!
“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” John F. Kennedy
Have you ever held yourself back out of fear of failing? John F. Kennedy says that we will never accomplish anything if we don’t take risks and give it a shot. After all, every success story starts out with someone who dared to try!
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” -Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou makes a fantastic point that if we’re opposed to something, there’s more we can do than sit and complain. If we have the power to take action and change something that doesn’t sit right with us, then we should absolutely do it. However, some situations simply cannot be remedied, and this is when we must change our mindset toward the circumstances and try to think positively. We have the power to change things, whether that be the situation or our attitudes toward them.
"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." -Mae West
Finally, we’ll leave you with this quote, short and sweet, by actress Mae West. Live your life in a way that you can’t help but smile when looking back on it. That’s what it’s all about. 😊
We hope one of these famous quotes spoke to you! Do you feel inspired yet?
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