Do you have trouble remembering powerful quotes? Here are the 10 most powerful quotes that are 50 characters (with spaces) or less. These quotes are easy to remember.
Top 10 Most Powerful Short Quotes
#1. “Whatever you do, do it well.” – Walt Disney
#2. “What we think, we become.” – Buddha
#3. “Never regret anything that made you smile.” – Mark Twain
#4. “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” – Steve Martin
#5. “Doubt kills more dreams than failures ever will.” – Suzy Kassem
#6. “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” – Maya Angelou
#7. “There is no substitute for hard work.” – Thomas Edison
#8. “Happiness depends upon ourselves.” – Aristotle
#9. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
#10. “If you want to lift yourself, lift up someone else.” – Booker T. Washington
Who are these people that said these quotes, and why these quotes are timeless?
#1. “Whatever you do, do it well.” – Walt Disney
We should try to do anything we do well. In general, if you do good work for people, they are more likely to do good work for you. If that does not convince you, think about the following benefits of doing things well: you develop confidence, you don’t have to do it over, or you may get rewarded for a job well done.
Walt Disney was an animator, entrepreneur, writer, and film producer. His biggest contribution to everyone may have been his vision of the happiest place on earth coming true with the creation of Walt Disney World.
#2. “What we think, we become.” – Buddha
If you do not think about something, you cannot invent it. If you don’t think you can become an engineer, you are less likely to become one. If you believe you can accomplish something, you have a greater chance of achieving it. Believe in yourself and your ability to succeed, and you will succeed.
Buddha was a religious leader, teacher, and founder of Buddhism who lived in India during the 6th to 5th century BC.
#3. “Never regret anything that made you smile.” – Mark Twain
Most people underestimate the power of a smile. I think of smiling as a superpower. When you smile, you exercise 4-36 muscles that cause the release of feel-good hormones that improve your well-being. Hence, when you smile, you become healthier and happier. We should all try to smile more often. In general, people who smile and laugh more are happier with life.
We could add to this quote: Don’t regret anything that made you laugh.
Mark Twain is Samuel Langhorne Clemens' pen name, who was a lecturer, writer, entrepreneur, and publisher. One of his books, the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, was called the “Great American Novel.” He is considered one of the greatest writers of all time.
#4. “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” – Steve Martin
If you want to work at the best companies, you generally must be good at what you do. At any stage of your career, your goal should be to be the best you can be in your area of expertise so that everyone will notice your abilities. If you are very good at any skill, people interested in that skill will notice you.
Steve Martin is an actor, comedian, musician, producer, and writer who has earned five Grammy Awards.
#5. “Doubt kills more dreams than failures ever will.” – Suzy Kassem
Many people give up before they start because of self-doubt. Did you ever plan to become a better cook or run a marathon? Maybe you never got started on learning how to cook new meals or running shorter distances in preparation for the marathon. Maybe you cooked a meal for friends, and it was disappointing, or you started running and realized “I can’t run a marathon.” When the difficulties are realized, the self-doubt prevents further action. If you don’t give in to self-doubt and start cooking regularly or running regularly, you would realize the only thing preventing you from achieving your goals is you.
Suzy Kassem is a poet, writer, and philosopher. She is recognized as an evolutionary thinker that builds bridges between Western and Eastern cultures.
#6. “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” – Maya Angelou
To be truly happy, we need to have gratitude and help others. By practicing kindness in our lives, we can bring joy to many other lives. What better way to help others than to help people when they are down? Be that person who helps someone having a horrible day smile, or someone who helps people who just want the company of others. Sometimes just being willing to listen and comfort others helps them validate their concerns and can lift them up from major self-doubt.
Maya Angelou was an author, poet, civil rights activist, and the first African American woman to be featured on US quarters. Her poem “Still I Rise” is one of the most famous poems ever.
#7. “There is no substitute for hard work.” – Thomas Edison
It does not matter how talented you are; if you don’t learn and do the work, you will not do as well as less talented individuals that work hard. We can’t pay someone to become smarter or to learn life experiences for us. Work hard, and you will become luckier in life. Remember, we feel happier when our success is earned by our hard work.
Thomas Edison was an inventor and businessman who held over 1090 patents. He invented the phonograph and the incandescent light bulb.
#8. “Happiness depends upon ourselves.” – Aristotle
You determine your own happiness; not your mom, dad, friends, how big your house is, or the car you drive. While wealth up to a certain amount influences our contentment, happiness is determined mainly by us. Many people chase happiness, not realizing happiness is complex and not just about having their dream job or having children. An important part of happiness is realizing that we determine our own happiness and having a “happiness mindset.” It is not easy to develop a “happiness mindset,” but when you do develop this habit, you will have a much happier life.
Aristotle was an inventor, the first genuine scientist in history. He made groundbreaking contributions to all fields of philosophy and science, including inventing new fields such as formal logic.
#9. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
If you or someone on your behalf don’t apply for an award, you can’t win that award. If you don’t take a shot at a goal, you can’t score. If you don’t take a chance, you can’t win. So, when you get your chance, take it. When you are given the opportunity to do something important, give it your best effort, no matter how difficult. If you fail at something, you learn from your mistakes. If you succeed, you become more self-confident and will attempt more challenging tasks.
Wayne Gretzky is a former ice hockey player nicknamed “The Great One.” He is considered the most famous ice hockey player of all time.
#10. “If you want to lift yourself, lift up someone else.” – Booker T. Washington
Helping others is a critical aspect of having happiness. Have you ever played soccer or American football? When you are part of a team, you have to play your part for the team to be successful. As part of a team, when you help your teammates, you help yourself. Even when you are not part of a team, when you help someone in need, you are helping yourself also. Studies have shown that helping others is one of the most powerful ways to improve our satisfaction with life. Unfortunately, some politicians spend a lot of time and money trying to get us to think that they are great when they should be trying to lift those who don’t think highly of themselves.
Booker T. Washington, an educator and reformer, was born into slavery but became one of the most influential African Americans in the history of the US. He started a university now called Tuskegee University and was respected for his determination to change things for other African Americans.
Learn and use these short quotes regularly to change your life to what you want and deserve.
Written by Aldrin V. Gomes, PhD, FCVS, FAHA
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