The most powerful quotes use memorable phrases and help create a vivid portrait in the reader’s mind. These top quotes were chosen as the most powerful because they are all-powerful reminders of the most important things that affect productivity and happiness.
Top 10 Most Powerful Quotes
#1. “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
- Confucius
#2. “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
- Michael Jordan
#3. “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”
- Eleanor Roosevelt
#4. “The difference between where you are today and where you’ll be five years from now will be found in the quality of books you’ve read.”
- Jim Rohn
#5. “Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, first make sure that you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes.”
- Sigmund Freud
#6. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
- Steve Jobs
#7. “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
- Albert Einstein
#8. “You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it. So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can because that’s where you will find success, on the other side of failure.”
- Thomas Watson
#9. “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
- Calvin Coolidge
#10. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
- Mahatma (M.K.) Gandhi
Let’s take a closer look at these comments, who the writers were, and how it relates to most people.
#1. “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
Confucius - Philosopher, poet, politician, and teacher during around 580-479 BC.
Life can be as simple or as complicated as we make it. Several activities individuals do, such as gambling, cheating on a spouse, or stealing, complicate their lives.
#2. “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Michael Jordan - Widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time.
You don’t have to win all the time to be successful. Every successful person has failed many times in their life. Failure is part of our learning to become better individuals and is a major part of success. While failure is typically an individual occasion, success is a much longer process.
#3. “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”
Eleanor Roosevelt - Diplomat and human rights activist.
Have you ever been with people who constantly talk about others? Have you ever been with people who discuss events? Have you ever been with people who discuss new ideas? People probably have more fun discussing others, but you don’t enhance yourself in any significant way. When you discuss ideas with others, you are investing in yourself as you gain new knowledge that will likely help you in your future.
#4 “The difference between where you are today and where you’ll be five years from now will be found in the quality of books you’ve read.”
Jim Rohn - Entrepreneur, author, motivational speaker, and mentor to Tony Robbins.
We have all heard that knowledge is power. What you may not have heard is that the quality of the knowledge is also very important. If you read poorly written books about starting your own business that had factual errors, you would not be as prepared to start your business compared to others that read similar but well-written and factual business books. Investing in yourself is the best investment you can make, and you can invest in yourself by reading books.
#5. “Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, first make sure that you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes.”
Sigmund Freud - Neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis (a clinical method for treating mental disorders by dealing in-part with the unconscious mind).
People who associate with more optimistic people are more likely to be happier in life. If you are surrounded by people who always put you down, you are more likely to develop low self-esteem. Try to surround yourself with people who will encourage you in your endeavors. Yes, it is difficult to find new friends, and it is also difficult to reduce the time you spend with a friend even if they are toxic to you. However, if you don’t make the hard decisions, you will likely continue to be depressed and have low self-esteem.
#6. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
Steve Jobs - Co-founder and Chief executive officer of Apple Inc.
The average life expectancy worldwide (from birth) is 72 years. That’s 26,298 days, which is 631,152 hours. Some people may live fewer days while others may live more days, but no one ever lived more than 122 years and 164 days. Importantly, no one knows how long we will live, so we don’t know how much time we have left. Are you living someone else’s life? Are you doing what others want you to do? Did your parents want you to get married by 30, but you don’t want to? Stop living your life to please other people’s wants. Try to follow your dreams and passion. Steve Jobs died at 56 and wished he had more time.
#7. “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
Albert Einstein - Theoretical physicist. Widely considered to be the best physicist of all time.
Some people procrastinate because they don’t believe in themselves. One of the smartest people whoever lived thinks that everyone is a genius, but not in all areas. A genius at swimming may not be a good runner. A genius at running may be a disappAsointing swimmer. If you are doing a job that you are not good at, you may think that you are not a good worker, while it may be that the current job you are doing is not suited for your “genius.” Determine what your greatest strengths are and try to do jobs that utilize these strengths.
#8. “You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it. So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can because that’s where you will find success, on the other side of failure.”
Thomas Watson - Preacher and author of 18 books.
As Michael Jordan said, failure is an important part of success. Thomas Watson adds that we should not worry about making mistakes because these mistakes help us find success, that is if we learn from the mistakes. So, next time you think you can’t do a task, ask yourself, “Am I going to make mistakes, and am I going to learn from these mistakes?” If the answers to these questions are yes, then what are you waiting for? Jump at the opportunity to enhance yourself.
#9. “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
Calvin Coolidge – Lawyer and politician (former President of the US).
The smartest people in a class don’t always do the best in that class. In most cases, hard work beats talent, especially if the talented student does not put in the hard work. Similarly, the smartest person in a group of friends doesn’t always become the most successful. Persistence and a strong work ethic are the keys.
#10. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
Mahatma (M.K.) Gandhi - Lawyer and peace advocate.
Knowledge is power. Invest in yourself by learning regularly. When you are 30, don’t wait until you are 65 to enjoy your life, and when you are 65, don’t stop learning.
Use these powerful quotes to help you, your friends and your family elevate their productivity and happiness. Remember, work hard, don’t stop learning, but enjoy life now, don’t wait until you think you are “wealthy” or retired.
Written by Aldrin V. Gomes, PhD, FCVS, FAHA