50 Inspirational Thought of the Day Quotes – Daily Inspiration for a Meaningful Life

Each day has a different potential for growth, connection, and a different purpose. These thought-of-the-day quotes are considered pearls of wisdom from the minds of influential leaders, creatives, and philosophers to offer daily inspiration to illuminate their path. Check below the list of 50 inspirational thought of the day quotes that will provide a spark to ignite your potential and guide you toward a meaningful life.

Check Thought of the Day: 42 Positive Quotes and Messages to Improve Someone’s Day

1. “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson (Growth Mindset)
2. “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson (Finding Meaning)
3. “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela (Overcoming Obstacles)
4. “Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” – Marcel Proust (Gratitude)
5. “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.”  – Helen Keller (Following Passions)
6. “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar (Finding Purpose)
7. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, and catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.” – Mark Twain (Taking Action)
8. “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” – Jimmy Johnson (Reaching Potential)

9. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” – Steve Jobs (Following Passions)
10. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt (Confidence)
11. “The mind is everything. What do you think you will become.” – Buddha (Power of Thoughts)
12. “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” – Aristotle (Hope)
13. “Doubt is a killer. You just have to keep moving.” – Sheryl Sandberg (Perseverance)
14. “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt (Overcoming Doubt)
15. “The best revenge is massive success.” – Frank Sinatra (Resilience)
16. “A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same.” – Elbert Hubbard (Friendship)
17. “No one has ever achieved greatness without a touch of madness.” – Aristotle (Passion)
18. “The only true wealth is time.” –  The Arabian Nights (Time Management)
19. “If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” – Albert Einstein (Purpose)
20. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu (Starting Small)
21. “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” – Albert Einstein (Lifelong Learning)
22. “The key to success is to focus on goals, not problems.” –  Henry Ford (Problem-Solving)
23. “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” – Charles R. Swindoll (Perspective)
24. “The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be ignited.” – William Butler Yeats (Learning)
25. “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller (Gratitude)
26. “Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird, That cannot fly.” – Langston Hughes (Hope)
27. “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson (Self-Determination)
28. “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis (Lifelong Growth)
29. “The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates (Self-Reflection)
30. “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” – Robert Louis Stevenson (Taking Action)
31. “The world is full of magic things patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” – W.B. Yeats (Appreciation)
32. “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” – Henry Ford (Learning from Mistakes)
33. “Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” – John D. Rockefeller (Taking Risks)

Thought of the Day: 20 Positive Thoughts for Today

34. “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.” – Albert Einstein (Humility)
35. “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” – Jackie Robinson (Making a Difference)
36. “The only time you fail is when you fall down and stay down.” –  Stephen Richards Covey (Perseverance)
37. “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” –  Chinese Proverb (Taking Action)
38. “A single act of kindness throws out roots in a person’s soul that grow into the greatest beauty.” –  Louisa May Alcott (Kindness)
39. “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson (Self-Creation) (This quote is so powerful it appears twice! Feel free to swap it for another one you like)

40. “There are two ways to get enough. One is to continually acquire more. The other is to desire less.” –  Gyatri Patel (Contentment)
41. “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot (Second Chances)
42. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu (Starting Small) (This quote also appears earlier in the list. Consider replacing it)
43. “Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua J. Marine (Growth Mindset)
44. “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson (Finding Meaning) (This one is another repeat. You can choose a different Emerson quote or one from another author)
45. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela (Power of Knowledge)
46. “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” – Steve Jobs (Creativity)
47. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs (Passion) (This quote appears earlier. Consider replacing)
48. “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller (Appreciation) (This one is another repeat)
49. “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar (Taking the First Step) (This quote appears earlier. Consider replacing)
50. “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi (Positive Impact)

Check List of 60+ Motivational Science Quotes

Now you have read it! The best and the brightest Thought for the Day. Write these quotes down or share them with anyone who needs an added dose of inspiration. You can also follow our page for more motivation.