What are inspirational quotes? If you take a moment to look at it, quotes are just words uttered or written by another person. The ones that really resonate usually contain a truth or piece of wisdom that inspires or touches us. Quotes can come from famous people, anonymous people, friends, colleagues, or members of your family.

Inspirational stories and movies can show us what is possible in our lives. They can remind us of the capacity and potential we have as humans. Inspirational quotes can do the same but in less time. While it may only take seconds to read a quote, some can stick with you for days if not years.

Here are three ways you can use inspirational quotes in your life:

To Inspire and Motivate

We all have off days where we wonder if things will work out. If you need to be uplifted or reminded of your potential, read a quote. You likely find the words were just what you needed in that moment.

You can also use a quote in your classroom or workplace to inspire and motivate others. You could post your favorite daily quote on a bulletin or white board, tweet it to your employees, or discuss it.

To Solve a Challenge

Think of a challenge you are having. Then turn to your favorite collection of quotes. If it's a print version, open to a page that feels right, close your eyes, and point your finger at a quote. If it's online, just cursor down and stop when it feels right.

Whichever quote your cursor or finger points at can provide a clue or insight to your challenge. Try the quote on and see if it resonates as a possible solution to your challenge or if it sparks some ideas for solutions.

Self Development

Choose a quote that embodies a quality you wish to integrate in your life. Read the quote and think about or journal about how you could live this quote in your life. Consider what your life could be like if you were living this quote. Read the quote every day and take daily actions that align your life with the message in the quote. Keep track of the results and serendipitous surprises in your life.

Start your own quote collection. Every time you read or hear a quote that really rings true for you, write it down. You never know when those quotes will come in handy.

Inspirational Quotes

You only have one life, and if it is not going in the direction you want it to, now is the time to make changes. - Joyce Meyer

Success isn't easy, and that's a good thing - at least in business. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it and your competition would be outrageous! - David Fairweather

Never let your past decisions determine your future outcome. - Mark Dudley

Our character is not defined in the good times, but in the hard times. - Paul Brodie

Words can inspire, thoughts can provoke, but only action truly brings you closer to your dreams. - Brad Sugars

If you want something out of life you have to go out there and get it, because it is not just going to be given to you. - Kelvin Waites

No one can give you your goals. No one can dig for you. This is your journey. - Warren Philip Gates

Having a specific meaning and purpose in your life helps to encourage you towards living a fulfilling and inspired life. - Vic Johnson

Hold the words and intentions gently with you as you go about your day, take action as it's called for and as it feels right for you and then simply watch as life unfolds and opens up for you. - Cat O'Connor

I'll never forget the advice my father gave me as I prepared to go outside and play one day: "There are good and bad kids in this place, so make sure you pick the right ones." - Sonny West

Inspiration is a message from your unconscious wisdom telling you to go out there and be the fullest, most positive expression of you who you REALLY are. - Paul Dalton

Success is inevitable if you keep moving. The only thing that matters is that you keep going. The only way to truly fail at a marathon is to stop taking the next step. - Tim Grahl

Determine what motivates you and you can find your path to love, happiness and influence and that which you seek to make your life complete. - Louis Howard

Quitters never win. Winners never quit! - Dr. Irene C. Kassorla

Everyone has the potential to live a fulfilling life. The difference lies in how we look at things. - Vishal Pandey

There's no such thing as lack of time, only lack of focus. We can all do the things we really want to do. - Robyn Pearce

In the business world, you might remember leaders who inspired you to develop your own skills and possibly to take chances. - Michael A. Pitcher

Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision. - Peter F Drucker

Life without purpose is meaningless. - Amy Torres

It is life's principle and you have to accept it as it comes; nothing happens when nothing is done. - Israelmore Ayivor

Being confident with what you do drives you to achieve your goals, work at your best and overcome any challenges that come your way. - Matt Morris

Some people dream of success, while other people get up every morning and make it happen. - Wayne Huizenga

Whether in athletics, business, government, or in the context of one's own family, the best leaders inspire others to harness their utmost potential to benefit the common good. - Peter Tormey

Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in. - Bill Bradley

Goals allow you to take control. Instead of living life by chance, you live by choice. - Kam Knight

If you've set goals and you want to achieve them, you have to think positively and achieving those goals will be a lot easier. - Becca Earl

The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. - Steve Jobs

Remember to focus on goals that are within your control. - Tony Dungy

The truly rich are those who enjoy what they have. - Yiddish Proverb

You gotta stay hungry! Stay focused! And you better have heart! The heart of a champion! - Eric Thomas

Whether you think you can or think you can't you're right. - Henry Ford

Instead of letting your hardships and failures discourage or exhaust you, let them inspire you. - Michelle Obama

Failure is success in progress. - Albert Einstein

It always seems impossible until it's done. - Nelson Mandela

You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life. - Zig Ziglar

Every person is a book, each year a chapter. - Mark Twain

You cannot let a fear of failure or a fear of comparison or a fear of judgment stop you from doing what's going to make you great. - Charlie Day

Your worth consists in what you are and not in what you have. - Thomas Edison

Don't focus on regrets; find your inspiration in what you can do now. - Catherine Pulsifer

Although we cannot intentionally change many aspects of ourselves or our world, we can exert some power over the courses of our own lives. - James O. Prochaska

You are who you are, and nothing can change that. You're beautiful just as you are. - Karen Flaherty

Yes, indeed, one word of encouragement can change the world. - Debbie Macomber

The talents we each have been blessed with can only be developed if we use them fully to benefit the lives of others as well as our own. - Karen Casey

The trials in our lives are valuable lessons and those lessons can be used to avoid similar situations in the future or even help someone else. - Neviesh Perry

Forgiveness is for YOU, not the other person. Holding a grudge weighs down your spirit and can make you become a person you don't want to be. - Joanna C Smith

We make decisions based on what we think we know. It wasn't too long ago that the majority of people believed the world was flat. - Simon Sinek

Giving back to society and community enriches our lives, making it a double blessing. - Kellie Sullivan 

Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you. -Walt Whitman 

Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow’s reality. - Malala Yousafzai

All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination. - Earl Nightingale 

The power of imagination makes us infinite. - John Muir 

Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud. - Maya Angelou 

I believe that if one always looked at the skies, one would end up with wings. - Gustave Flaubert

Light tomorrow with today. - Elizabeth Barrett Browning 

I arise full of eagerness and energy, knowing well what achievement lies ahead of me. - Zane Grey 

When the sun is shining I can do anything; no mountain is too high, no trouble too difficult to overcome. - Wilma Rudolph 

Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present. - Jim Rohn 

In a gentle way, you can shake the world. - Mahatma Gandhi

Each day provides its own gifts. - Marcus Aurelius