Can you explain what a motto is—the kind you might be asked about in a job interview? A motto refers to words you keep in mind on a daily basis, using them as a guide for your actions and thinking.
When you’re struggling with relationships or on the verge of giving up, having a conviction engraved in your heart makes it easier to find your own solution.
So this time, we’ll introduce short but cool quotes that make great personal mottos.
The words of great figures, athletes, and other notable people who have overcome many hardships in life are sure to shine a light on your own journey.
- You might even find your motto—short phrases that leave a lasting impression.
- Engrave positive words in your heart! Short quotes recommended as mottos
- Recommended as life tips! A collection of short, memorable quotes from great figures
- A collection of quotes to make your motto—brief words from great figures that can change your life
- Remember these when you're unsure at work: short, powerful quotes and sayings that hit home.
- Short quotes that resonate with the heart. Words that reach you effortlessly.
- Words from famous people that I’d like to adopt as my motto. Inspiring quotes that convey the power of words.
- If you know them, they might become beacons that light your life’s path: a collection of memorable quotes.
- Short maxims by great figures that you’ll want to etch into your heart and remember
- Short yet inspiring and reassuring quotes from great figures and famous people
- Short quotes that reach your heart in an instant. Words to encourage you right now.
- Keep your favorite words close. A short collection of quotes that comfort the heart.
- That one line is sure to jolt you! Short but cool words
Could this be a life compass? Short but cool quotes I’d like to make my motto (1–10)
It’s never too late to become the person you wanted to be.George Eliot
George Eliot, a prominent Victorian author known for works rich in psychological insight and realism.
Her famous quote, “It is never too late to be what you might have been,” carries a message that reminds us of ideals we were about to give up on.
As we grow older, we tend to let go of our dreams and ideals.
However, she teaches us that if we truly desire it and put in the effort, we can become the person we wanted to be at any time.
This is a recommended quote for those who need the courage to take the first step.
Let those who wish to leave, leave.NEW!Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great, monarch of the Kingdom of Macedon, one of the empires of ancient Greece.
Often called one of the most successful military commanders in history, Alexander the Great left behind numerous famous sayings.
Among them, this short yet resolute quote was addressed to the many soldiers who were exhausted by the long campaign.
It conveys the meaning: let those who wish to leave, leave; even if our numbers are few, we will continue the campaign with those who still have the will to fight.
Your happiness in life depends on the quality of your thoughts.NEW!Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, one of the Five Good Emperors and the 16th Roman emperor.
He is also known for leaving behind his work Meditations, and can be regarded as a model of a philosopher-king who preferred learning over war.
He was also a thinker within Stoic philosophy.
The happiness of life changes according to the quality of one’s own thoughts.
Controlling the mind and emotions through thought also affects how we ultimately interpret things.
In other words, a single way of thinking can make you happy—or unhappy.
Once you’ve chosen a path, never give up.Katharine Hepburn
Katherine Hepburn, an American actor also known for winning four Oscars.
Her famous quote, “Once you choose a path, never give up,” conveys the way of life of someone who achieved great things.
Whether the choice was entirely your own or not, the message of pressing forward on the path you’ve chosen expresses a resolve that can serve as a guide for living in any era.
It’s an energizing quote that also makes a great personal motto.
Even if you’re knocked down 99 times, all you need is to stand up the 100th time.Vincent van Gogh
As a painter representing the Post-Impressionists, the Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh is still beloved around the world for his works today.
The quote, “Even if you’re knocked down 99 times, it’s enough to stand up the 100th,” evokes the dramatic life he led.
The message—that you haven’t lost unless you think you have, and that if you can smile in the end, you’ve won—can be a salvation for those on the verge of breaking.
It’s a maxim that, if adopted as a personal motto, will surely strengthen the heart.
I want to turn both the reality of the good and the reality of the bad into nourishment for what comes next.Naoko Takahashi
Former track and field athlete Naoko Takahashi, known as the gold medalist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the first woman in Japanese sports to receive the People’s Honor Award.
Her famous quote, “I want to turn both the reality of good things and the reality of bad things into nourishment for what comes next,” is quintessential Takahashi, whose radiant smile stood out even through the rigors of competitive life.
If we can turn everything that happens to us into power, we should be able to keep growing.
It’s a positive saying that encourages viewing both the good and the bad in a constructive light.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life.Charles Dederich
Charles Dederich, founder of Synanon, an organization established in the United States to help people with drug addiction.
The famous quote, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life,” is a message that looks to the future rather than the past.
The idea that every day is full of opportunities to be reborn carries particular weight precisely because it comes from Dederich, who dedicated himself to supporting people struggling with addiction.
Thanks to its positivity, it’s a great quote to adopt as a personal motto.