200+ Best Quotes of All Time 2026

Words have extraordinary power—they inspire us during difficult times, motivate us to pursue our dreams, comfort us when we feel lost, and celebrate with us during moments of joy. The best quotes of all time distill profound wisdom, hard-won lessons, and universal truths into memorable phrases that resonate across generations. Whether you’re searching for inspiring quotes to fuel your ambition, famous quotes from history’s greatest minds, or short quotes perfect for daily reminders, the right words can transform both your mindset and your space.

At CANVASDISCOUNT, we believe powerful quotes deserve to be more than text on a screen—they deserve to become part of your daily environment, displayed as beautiful wall art that inspires you every time you see it. This comprehensive collection features over 200 of the most impactful quotes across multiple categories. You’ll discover not just the words themselves, but creative ways to display them as art that enhances your everyday life.

Inspiring Quotes That Fuel Your Ambition and Dreams

When you need motivation to tackle challenges, pursue goals, or simply get through tough days, these inspiring quotes provide the encouragement and perspective that keep you moving forward. The most powerful inspiring quotes don’t just sound nice—they create genuine emotional and mental shifts that propel you toward action.

Quotes About Possibility and Potential

• "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." —Steve Jobs

• "Believe you can and you’re halfway there." —Theodore Roosevelt

• "Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life." —Steve Jobs

• "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." —Eleanor Roosevelt

• "Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear." —George Addair

• "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." —Winston Churchill

• "The only impossible journey is the one you never begin." —Tony Robbins

• "Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going." —Sam Levenson

• "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." —C.S. Lewis

• "Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." —William James

• "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." —Arthur Ashe

• "The secret of getting ahead is getting started." —Mark Twain

• "Dream big and dare to fail." —Norman Vaughan

Quotes About Personal Growth

• "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." —Ralph Waldo Emerson

• "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." —Charles R. Swindoll

• "The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." —Nelson Mandela

• "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." —Confucius

• "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." —Ralph Waldo Emerson

• "You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." —Zig Ziglar

• "The only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today." —Franklin D. Roosevelt

• "Change your thoughts and you change your world." —Norman Vincent Peale

• "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." —Mahatma Gandhi

• "Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right." —Henry Ford

• "The best way to predict the future is to create it." —Peter Drucker

• "If you can dream it, you can do it." —Walt Disney

These inspiring quotes work beautifully on canvas prints for home offices, where daily motivation matters most. For typography-focused designs, display inspiring quotes in oversized formats (24x36" or larger) where bold letters become striking art pieces. Many successful professionals credit inspiring quotes displayed prominently in their workspace as key factors in maintaining motivation during challenging projects.

Famous Quotes from History’s Greatest Minds

Famous quotes endure because they capture timeless truths expressed by remarkable individuals whose lives, achievements, or wisdom earned them places in history. When you display famous quotes in your space, you’re surrounding yourself with voices that have shaped human thought and progress.

From Leaders and Visionaries

• "In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years." —Abraham Lincoln

• "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." —Franklin D. Roosevelt

• "I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear." —Rosa Parks

• "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." —Martin Luther King Jr.

• "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." —Theodore Roosevelt

• "Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country." —John F. Kennedy

• "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." —Martin Luther King Jr.

• "I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples." —Mother Teresa

• "Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge." —Simon Sinek

• "In diversity there is beauty and there is strength." —Maya Angelou

From Writers and Philosophers

• "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." —Oscar Wilde

• "We accept the love we think we deserve." —Stephen Chbosky

• "Not all those who wander are lost." —J.R.R. Tolkien

• "The unexamined life is not worth living." —Socrates

• "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." —Aristotle

• "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." —Mae West

• "To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." —Oscar Wilde

• "It is our choices, far more than our abilities, that show what we truly are." —J.K. Rowling

• "In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on." —Robert Frost

• "One must always be careful of books, and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us." —J.R.R. Tolkien

From Scientists and Innovators

• "Imagination is more important than knowledge." —Albert Einstein

• "The important thing is not to stop questioning." —Albert Einstein

• "Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life." —Immanuel Kant

• "Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere." —Albert Einstein

• "I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work." —Thomas Edison

• "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." —Michelangelo

• "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." —Benjamin Franklin

• "The measure of intelligence is the ability to change." —Albert Einstein

• "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." —Steve Jobs

• "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." —Albert Einstein

These famous quotes carry weight not just because of what they say, but because of who said them. Displaying famous quotes on canvas prints connects your space to wisdom that has guided humanity for decades or centuries. Famous quotes from historical figures create conversation starters and add intellectual depth to any room.

Short Quotes Perfect for Minimalist Design

Sometimes the most powerful messages come in the briefest packages. These short quotes deliver maximum impact with minimal words, making them ideal for typography-focused canvas designs where simplicity speaks volumes. Short quotes excel in modern design because they create clean visual statements without overwhelming the space.

One to Five Word Quotes

• "Be the change."

• "Choose joy daily."

• "Dream without fear."

• "Love wins always."

• "Create your own sunshine."

• "Stay curious, stay humble."

• "Embrace the journey."

• "Live with intention."

• "Breathe, believe, receive."

• "Less perfection, more authenticity."

• "Begin."

• "Do the work."

• "Keep going."

• "Start now."

• "Be here."

Powerful Brief Sayings

• "This too shall pass."

• "Everything you need is already within you."

• "Growth happens outside your comfort zone."

• "Your vibe attracts your tribe."

• "Progress over perfection."

• "Do what you love, love what you do."

• "Comparison is the thief of joy."

• "Be present, not perfect."

• "Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations."

• "Stars can’t shine without darkness."

• "Fall seven times, stand up eight."

• "Small steps every day."

• "You are enough."

• "Make it happen."

• "Choose courage over comfort."

Short quotes shine on large canvas prints where bold, oversized typography becomes the art itself. For minimalist interiors, display short quotes in formats of 24x36" or larger where the letters themselves become the visual focal point. Classic black text on white or cream canvas creates a sophisticated, timeless statement that works in any space.

Positive Quotes About Life That Uplift Your Spirit

When you want to cultivate optimism and gratitude, these positive quotes about life remind you to focus on beauty, possibility, and joy—even during challenging times. The practice of reading positive quotes about life daily can genuinely improve your mood, resilience, and overall outlook.

Quotes About Gratitude and Appreciation

• "Gratitude turns what we have into enough." —Anonymous

• "Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things." —Robert Brault

• "The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts." —Marcus Aurelius

• "Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated." —Confucius

• "The purpose of our lives is to be happy." —Dalai Lama

• "Today is a gift—open it with gratitude."

• "Joy is not in things; it is in us." —Richard Wagner

• "The most wasted of days is one without laughter." —E.E. Cummings

• "Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions." —Dalai Lama

• "Count your blessings, not your problems."

Quotes About Mindset and Optimism

• "Positive anything is better than negative nothing." —Elbert Hubbard

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

• "The only way to have a good day is to decide to have one." —Anonymous

• "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present." —Eleanor Roosevelt

• "Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain." —Vivian Greene

• "Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise." —Victor Hugo

• "The sun himself is weak when he first rises, and gathers strength and courage as the day gets on." —Charles Dickens

• "Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude." —Zig Ziglar

• "Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results." —Willie Nelson

• "Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day." —Alice Morse Earle

These positive quotes about life work wonderfully in living rooms, bedrooms, or anywhere you want to create an uplifting atmosphere. Many people create “gratitude walls” featuring multiple positive quotes about life on a gallery-style arrangement of canvas prints, establishing spaces dedicated to appreciation and joy.

Quotes to Live By: Wisdom for Daily Navigation

Certain quotes transcend inspiration to become life philosophies—guiding principles that shape decisions, relationships, and personal growth. These quotes to live by offer wisdom worth revisiting daily, serving as moral compasses and personal mission statements.

Quotes About Integrity and Character

• "Be the person your dog thinks you are." —Anonymous

• "Character is how you treat those who can do nothing for you." —Anonymous

• "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." —Chinese Proverb

• "How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours." —Wayne Dyer

• "You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." —C.S. Lewis

• "A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." —Albert Einstein

• "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act but a habit." —Aristotle

• "It is not length of life, but depth of life." —Ralph Waldo Emerson

• "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." —Mahatma Gandhi

Quotes About Purpose and Meaning

• "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." —Mark Twain

• "Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it." —Howard Thurman

• "The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away." —Pablo Picasso

• "He who has a why to live can bear almost any how." —Friedrich Nietzsche

• "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." —Ralph Waldo Emerson

• "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." —Martin Luther King Jr.

• "The purpose of life is a life of purpose." —Robert Byrne

• "What you do today can improve all your tomorrows." —Ralph Marston

• "Wherever you are, be all there." —Jim Elliot

Michael Jordan Quotes and Other Sports Legends

Athletes often express profound truths about effort, failure, and perseverance that apply far beyond sports. These inspirational quotes from sports figures motivate anyone facing challenges, proving that inspiring quotes can come from any field of excellence.

Michael Jordan on Success and Failure

• "I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." —Michael Jordan

• "Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it." —Michael Jordan

• "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." —Michael Jordan

• "If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. But obstacles don’t have to stop you." —Michael Jordan

• "I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying." —Michael Jordan

• "The key to success is failure." —Michael Jordan

• "Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen." —Michael Jordan

From Other Sports Greats

• "It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up." —Vince Lombardi

• "The only one who can tell you ‘you can’t win’ is you and you don’t have to listen." —Jessica Ennis-Hill

• "Champions keep playing until they get it right." —Billie Jean King

• "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard." —Tim Notke

• "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take." —Wayne Gretzky

• "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." —Muhammad Ali

• "Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men." —Muhammad Ali

• "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." —John Wooden

These athletic quotes work exceptionally well in home gyms, fitness areas, or anywhere you need reminders about persistence and effort. Display Michael Jordan quotes and sports legends’ wisdom on metal prints for a high-impact look that matches the energy of workout spaces.

Funny Quotes That Add Levity to Life

Life shouldn’t be taken too seriously all the time. These funny quotes bring humor, perspective, and lighthearted wisdom to everyday challenges and absurdities. They remind us not to take ourselves too seriously while still delivering actual wisdom wrapped in wit.

Witty Observations About Life

• "I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious." —Michael Scott (The Office)

• "I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me." —Fred Allen

• "Age is of no importance unless you’re a cheese." —Billie Burke

• "I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific." —Lily Tomlin

• "Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it most never use it." —Anonymous

• "I’m on a seafood diet. I see food, and I eat it." —Anonymous

• "I used to think I was indecisive, but now I’m not so sure." —Anonymous

• "The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat." —Lily Tomlin

• "Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes." —Jim Carrey

• "I am not lazy. I am on energy-saving mode." —Anonymous

Humorous Wisdom

• "If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito." —Dalai Lama

• "Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy." —Benjamin Franklin

• "I can resist everything except temptation." —Oscar Wilde

• "Life is short. Smile while you still have teeth." —Anonymous

• "I’m not arguing, I’m just explaining why I’m right." —Anonymous

• "My bed is a magical place where I suddenly remember everything I forgot to do." —Anonymous

• "The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office." —Robert Frost

• "People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day." —A.A. Milne

• "A day without laughter is a day wasted." —Charlie Chaplin

• "The road to success is always under construction." —Lily Tomlin

These funny quotes work wonderfully in casual spaces like kitchens, family rooms, or personal offices where a sense of humor is appreciated. Display them on canvas prints for the kitchen or bathroom where a smile first thing in the morning sets a great tone for the day.

Love, Friendship, and Family Quotes

The relationships we build define our lives. These quotes celebrate the bonds that matter most—romantic love, deep friendships, and family connections that give life its deepest meaning.

Love and Romance

• "In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine." —Maya Angelou

• "The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." —Audrey Hepburn

• "You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." —Dr. Seuss

• "Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies." —Aristotle

• "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." —Lao Tzu

• "The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more." —The Notebook

• "Where there is love, there is life." —Mahatma Gandhi

• "Love is not about how many days, months, or years you have been together. It’s about how much you love each other every single day." —Anonymous

Friendship

• "A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you." —Elbert Hubbard

• "True friends are never apart, maybe in distance but never in heart." —Anonymous

• "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was only one.’" —C.S. Lewis

• "A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." —Walter Winchell

• "Surround yourself only with people who are going to lift you higher." —Oprah Winfrey

• "Good friends are like stars. You don’t always see them, but you know they’re always there." —Anonymous

• "The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it." —Hubert H. Humphrey

Family

• "Family is not an important thing. It’s everything." —Michael J. Fox

• "The love of a family is life’s greatest blessing." —Anonymous

• "Home is wherever my bunch of crazies are." —Anonymous

• "Family is a life jacket in the stormy sea of life." —J.K. Rowling

• "The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life." —Richard Bach

• "In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together." —Friedrich Nietzsche

• "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in." —Robert Frost

Quotes from American Icons

American culture has produced some of the most powerful voices in modern history—civil rights leaders, entertainers, athletes, and entrepreneurs whose words carry the energy of a nation built on reinvention, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of something better. These quotes from American icons are woven into the national fabric.

Trailblazers and Civil Rights Voices

• "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed." —Martin Luther King Jr.

• "The time is always right to do what is right." —Martin Luther King Jr.

• "I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own." —Audre Lorde

• "You are your best thing." —Toni Morrison

• "I know why the caged bird sings." —Maya Angelou

• "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." —Maya Angelou

• "We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim." —Elie Wiesel

Entrepreneurs, Entertainers, and Modern Voices

• "The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude." —Oprah Winfrey

• "You get in life what you have the courage to ask for." —Oprah Winfrey

• "Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great." —John D. Rockefeller

• "I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work." —Thomas Edison

• "The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones that do." —Steve Jobs

• "If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun." —Katharine Hepburn

• "Well-behaved women seldom make history." —Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

• "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." —Walt Disney (after Thoreau)

Quotes by Room: Curating the Perfect Message for Every Space

The best quote for your bedroom is different from the best quote for your home gym. Where a quote lives shapes how it’s experienced. Here’s a room-by-room guide to pairing the right message with the right space—and the right canvas print format to match.

Home Office: Motivation Where It Matters

• "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." —Steve Jobs (ideal above your monitor)

• "Focus on being productive instead of busy." —Tim Ferriss

• "Done is better than perfect." —Sheryl Sandberg

• "Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out." —Robert Collier

Best format: 16x20" canvas print in your direct sightline when seated at your desk. Black text on white for maximum readability.

Bedroom: Peace, Rest, and Intention

• "The day is what you make it! So why not make it a great one?" —Steve Schulte

• "Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit." —Ralph Marston

• "Every morning you have two choices: continue to sleep with your dreams, or wake up and chase them." —Anonymous

Best format: Larger canvas (24x30" or wider) above the headboard. Soft typography, warm neutral tones—nothing too energizing that disrupts sleep.

Kitchen and Living Room: Joy and Connection

• "Life is too short for bad coffee and uninspiring walls." —Anonymous

• "Good food, good mood." —Anonymous

• "A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams." —Anonymous

Best format: 11x14" canvas prints or a gallery wall of 3–5 coordinating prints. Warmer color palettes work well—navy on cream, forest green on linen.

Home Gym: Grit and Discipline

• "Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever." —Lance Armstrong

• "Train insane or remain the same." —Anonymous

Best format: Metal prints handle gym humidity better than canvas. Bold sans-serif fonts, high contrast. 20x30" or larger so they’re visible mid-workout.

How to Transform Powerful Words Into Inspiring Wall Art

Quotes become more than just words when they’re thoughtfully displayed in your environment. Here’s how to turn inspiring quotes, famous quotes, short quotes, and positive quotes about life into beautiful, meaningful décor that enhances your daily experience.

Canvas Prints

Canvas prints offer the perfect medium for displaying quotes because they combine visual appeal with durability and versatility. Our museum-quality canvas and fade-resistant inks ensure your favorite inspiring quotes and famous quotes stay vibrant for years. For typography-focused designs, choose simple, powerful short quotes (1–10 words) and display them in oversized formats (24x36" or larger) where bold letters become striking art pieces. Longer inspiring quotes work better on medium-sized canvases (16x20") with careful typography that balances readability and aesthetics. Canvas prints work in every room: motivational inspiring quotes in home offices, positive quotes about life in bedrooms, famous quotes in living rooms, and humorous sayings in kitchens or bathrooms.

Metal Prints

For modern, sleek spaces, metal prints offer contemporary ways to display quotes with stunning visual impact. The high-gloss finish and vibrant colors create depth that makes typography pop, especially with bold sans-serif fonts and high-contrast color combinations. Metal prints work exceptionally well for short quotes where you want a statement piece—think “Create your own sunshine” in brilliant yellow on a white metal background. The durability of metal makes these prints ideal for high-traffic areas, kitchens, or even outdoor covered spaces.

Acrylic Prints

Acrylic prints provide luxurious, gallery-quality displays that make quotes appear to float off the wall with dimensional depth. The crystal-clear acrylic creates a luminous quality, particularly effective with colorful backgrounds or positive quotes about life paired with subtle background images. Choose acrylic for inspiring quotes that deserve elevated presentation, particularly those that represent your core values. The smooth, polished finish complements contemporary furniture and modern architecture while the transparency plays beautifully with natural light throughout the day.

Design Tips for Quote Wall Art

• Font Pairing: Create visual interest by pairing contrasting fonts—combine a heavy, bold sans-serif like Bebas Neue or Futura for main text with a delicate serif like Garamond for attribution. For short quotes, oversized lettering in a single striking font often works better than complex combinations. Always prioritize readability over decorative complexity.

• Color Schemes: Classic black text on white or cream backgrounds never goes out of style. For more personality, try navy blue text on soft gray, deep green on beige, or charcoal on blush pink. Consider your room’s existing colors—inspiring quotes should complement, not compete with, surrounding décor.

• Layout Principles: For quotes longer than 10 words, break lines at natural phrase endings. Center-align short quotes (under 10 words) for balanced compositions. Left-align longer inspiring quotes or famous quotes for easier reading. Always leave substantial whitespace (20–30% of canvas) around text to prevent crowding.

• Size and Placement: Match canvas size to room size and viewing distance. Large rooms can handle oversized canvases (30x40" or larger), while smaller spaces need proportional sizing (11x14" to 16x20"). Hang quote art at eye level—center point approximately 57–60 inches from the floor. For gallery walls with multiple quote canvases, maintain 2–3 inches of space between pieces.

Words That Transform Spaces and Lives

The quotes we choose to display in our homes and workspaces reveal our values, aspirations, and what we want to remember daily. Whether you’re drawn to inspiring quotes that fuel your ambitions, famous quotes that connect you to wisdom through the ages, short quotes that deliver powerful messages in minimal words, positive quotes about life that cultivate gratitude, or quotes from American icons that carry the weight of history—displaying these messages as art transforms them from fleeting thoughts into permanent companions on your life journey.

At CANVASDISCOUNT, we’ve seen how the right quote in the right place can change someone’s entire day. These aren’t just words on walls; they’re daily encounters with ideas that shape who we become. The inspiring quotes you see each morning set your mindset for the day. Famous quotes remind you of proven principles during decision-making moments. Short quotes provide quick mental resets when needed. And positive quotes about life help you maintain gratitude even during challenges.