It’s time once again to reflect on another year gone by. In addition to contemplating the personal milestones, global events, and pop culture moments that occurred in 2023, we’d like to take a moment to highlight the inspiration that fueled us throughout the year.
These words came from great writers, scientists, inventors, performers, and more. Although they were first spoken or written as long as hundreds of years ago, their timeless relevance helped us through tough days, brought smiles to our faces, and reminded us we’re not alone.
We’re honored and grateful to have spent this year providing encouraging thoughts and insights, and we can’t wait to spend next year doing the same. Without further ado, here are our top 23 most inspiring quotes of 2023.
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it for anyone else.Charles Dickens
When Charles Dickens was 12 years old, he went to work in a shoe polish factory while his father was relegated to debtor’s prison. The experience stirred his lifelong zeal to expose the social and economic plights of the lower class in 19th-century London. Read more…
Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.Albert Einstein
Born in Germany in 1879, physicist Albert Einstein was a curious, independent thinker from an early age. Read more…
The older I get, the more I want to be authentically myself.Julianne Moore
Best known for her roles in films such as “Still Alice” and “Boogie Nights,” Academy Award-winning actress Julianne Moore has also authored bestselling children’s books about self-acceptance. Read more…
What is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads?Albert Camus
In French philosopher Albert Camus’s lyrical essay “The Desert,” written in 1938, he discusses what makes people happy. Read more…
What a lovely surprise to finally discover how unlonely being alone can be.Ellen Burstyn
Ellen Burstyn is an American actor known for her charm and versatility; she has appeared in dozens of films, including "Requiem for a Dream," "The Exorcist," and "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore." Read more…
The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it.Eckhart Tolle
Spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle is best known for his teachings on mindfulness, consciousness, and the nature of the self. His work emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment. Read more…
In three words I can sum up everything I've learned in life: It goes on.Robert Frost
On his 80th birthday, Robert Frost was asked, “In all your years and all your travels, what do you think is the most important thing you’ve learned about life?” Read more…
You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.Maya Angelou
Life is filled with circumstances beyond our control. But while we can’t always prevent what happens to us, we do have power over how we respond to those events, including the especially challenging or difficult ones. Read more…
The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone.Mitch Albom
The complexity and impermanence of human life are common themes in writer Mitch Albom’s work. In Albom’s novel “The Five People We Meet In Heaven,” the protagonist Eddie feels unsatisfied. Read more…
It is so easy to give, so exquisitely rewarding.John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck was a master of the moral philosophizing that defined his work. In this line from his travel journal “The Log From the Sea of Cortez,” he illustrated the simple joy of giving to others — whether it be time, or gifts, to friends, family, or charity. Read more…
"Enough" is a feast.Buddhist proverb
This Buddhist proverb emphasizes the idea that contentment and satisfaction come from appreciating what we already have, and not always seeking more. Read more…
You must do the thing you think you cannot do.Eleanor Roosevelt
Today, we think of Eleanor Roosevelt as a strong and fearless role model. The longest-serving First Lady of the United States, she transformed the role, taking on more leadership and political responsibility than any before her. Read more…
Deserve your dream.Octavio Paz
Octavio Paz, one of the most influential poets in the world, came from humble beginnings. He began publishing his work as a teenager and released his first poetry collection before the age of 20. Read more…
Mistakes are almost always of a sacred nature.Salvador Dalí
Salvador Dalí never lacked self-confidence. His flamboyant style and eccentricities were fundamental to his public persona, and he often declared himself the greatest artist of modern times. Read more…
Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.Fred Rogers
Mister Rogers’ wisdom always felt like a comforting, validating hug. In this quote — similar to the familiar phrase “when one door closes, another opens” — he ruminates on beginnings and endings. Read more…
Not what we have but what we enjoy constitutes our abundance.Jean Antoine Petit-Senn
Satirist and poet Jean Antoine Petit-Senn lived in Geneva during the 1800s and spent his days writing sharp satirical commentary. Read more…
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.Steve Jobs
In June 2005, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs gave the commencement speech at Stanford University. As he spoke about his own remarkable success, he also contemplated mortality. Read more…
Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.Marie Curie
Marie Curie is best known for her scientific breakthroughs in radiation and radioactivity, which won her two Nobel Prizes. Read more…
You don't luck into integrity. You work at it.Betty White
According to a poll conducted in 2011, Betty White was America’s most trusted celebrity. Perhaps this comes as no surprise: The beloved actress-comedienne never let success go to her head. Read more…
Never apologize for showing feeling, my friend.Benjamin Disraeli
Benjamin Disraeli was a towering figure of British politics during the second half of the 19th century. He served twice as prime minister of the United Kingdom, formed a close working relationship with Queen Victoria, and became a powerful voice on the global political scene. Read more…
What counts is not the things that happen, but what we do with them.Annie Ernaux
Annie Ernaux won the 2022 Nobel Prize in literature for the “courage and clinical acuity with which she uncovers the roots, estrangements, and collective restraints of personal memory.” Read more…
I have stood on a mountain of no's for one yes.B. Smith
It might be difficult to imagine the charming Barbara Elaine Smith, known professionally as B. Smith, facing rejection. But any path as ambitious as hers is bound to encounter a lot of “no’s” on the way to the top. Read more…
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.William James
A brother to author Henry James, William James was a philosopher and psychologist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He explored many different ideas in his writings and teachings but often returned to the concept of free will. Read more…
Featured image credit: Pascal Le Segretain/ Grtty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
