13 Life Quotes to Live By: Little Reminders for Surviving (and Thriving) in This Wild Mess Called Life

Let’s be honest—quotes about life don’t come with an instruction manual for a happy life . We’re all out here just winging it, trying to figure things out as we go.

Some days we need a little extra encouragement to find one’s courage, , and that’s where these inspirational quotes totally work their magic.

We’ve gathered some of our favorite quotes that help us laugh, inspire great things, and keep us grounded. Grab your coffee, settle in, and let’s soak up some beautiful life words to live by together!

1) “All our dreams can come true – if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

Okay, let’s all agree—Walt Disney really knew what he was talking about, much like other great minds in history . Can we get a little “yes, queen!” for this quote?

Dreams are awesome, but they don’t just pop out of thin air. We have to put in some serious effort for success (with coffee, probably).

Sometimes, chasing our dreams feels super scary. Honestly, it’s normal to be afraid and doubt ourselves, challenging one’s definition of bravery .

But having courage means showing up anyway, messy bun and all, and learning how to overcome our fears . We don’t need a perfect plan, just a little boldness and a lot of heart, as a human being .

Let’s be real, we’re not out here chasing castles, but we must stand firm in our reality. and fairy tales every day. Sometimes, it’s just dreaming about five whole minutes alone in the bathroom or drinking a hot cup of coffee before it turns cold.

Still counts! So, if Walt says our dreams can come true, who are we to argue?

We all deserve to go after what we want—even if it’s something small today. Don’t let fear boss you around; instead, let’s practice virtue consistently. ; instead, learn to overcome it .

We’ve got this progress ! If you want a little extra inspo, check out more life quotes to live by.

2) “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” – Mae West

We all see this quote everywhere, but it hits different on those extra messy days, right? Mae West really nailed it—this is the permission slip we need sometimes.

We only get one go at this life, but honestly, if we do the stuff that matters to us, one reality is totally enough because if we die tomorrow, we want to be proud .

Think about it. When we stop overthinking and start actually living, little moments feel bigger.

Maybe today “doing it right” means letting the laundry wait while we cuddle on the couch. Or maybe it’s saying yes to pizza for breakfast just because we can.

We’re not here to be perfect; we’re here to embrace all the virtues—hot mess and all . We’re here to do OUR best—hot mess and all.

If we can laugh, love, and make memories (even if some are a little embarrassing), then we’re doing it right. As Mae put it, once is enough! You can read her exact quote here.

3) “Love the life you live. Live the life you love.” – Bob Marley

Okay, let’s be real—parenting is wild. Some days we’re crushing it and other days, we’re lucky if our coffee is still hot at noon.

Bob Marley totally gets us with this one! When he said, “Love the life you live, as henry david thoreau wisely said . Live the life you love,” it’s like he was cheering us on from the world sidelines.

We all want to feel good about where we are, even if there are Goldfish crumbs everywhere. It’s a solid reminder to look at the good stuff and laugh off the messy bits.

Life isn’t picture-perfect, and neither are we; it’s all about our attitude towards the imperfections . And honestly, that spirit is what makes our stories worth sharing, much like steve jobs emphasized .

We don’t have to wait for “someday” to live our best life. We can choose to find little moments of happiness right now—even if that’s just five minutes alone in the bathroom.

Want more Bob Marley wisdom? Check out his famous quote here.

4) “Life is short, live it. Love is rare, grab it. Anger is bad, dump it. Fear is awful, face it. Memories are sweet, cherish it.” – Unknown

This quote kind of slaps, right? We’re always getting caught up in the day-to-day chaos, but seriously, life is short.

Let’s jump in and actually live it, not just watch from the sidelines. Love is one of those wild, rare things—grab it when you can, even in the face of life’s greatest pains !

Whether that’s hugging our kids extra tight or actually texting our bestie back, let’s not miss out on all the good stuff. Anger? Ugh, no thank you.

We all lose it sometimes (hello, spilled juice on the sofa), but let’s try to dump that bad energy as much as possible. Imagine the mental closet space we’d free up!

Fear is honestly the worst, but facing it feels like a little personal win. We’ve all braved something scary before and survived.

And memories? Gosh, they’re the sweetest—let’s hold onto those like our favorite pair of stretchy pants; memories are what we live forever .

You can find this saying cited on this quote page.

5) “The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” – Oprah Winfrey

Pause everything. Oprah just dropped the truth bomb of a lifetime.

Living the life of our dreams? That’s not only scary—it’s seriously brave. And guess what? It’s an adventure in three words .

Not like a trip-without-kids kind of adventure (don’t we wish?), but a real, heart-thumping, go-for-it leap. We get one life, so why not chase those dreams with messy hair, wild kids, and all the chaos in tow?

We’re not just surviving carpool. We’re showing our kids that it’s okay to reach for the stars—mainly while stepping over LEGO bricks.

Oprah’s quote reminds us that the big adventure is living honestly, much like henry ford’s principles .

It means showing up, even when the laundry isn’t done and dinner is cereal. We can be tired, still dreaming, and still chasing that version of life we want.

It’s about courage, not perfection. So here’s to dreaming big and living even bigger.

Find more inspiration in this breakdown of Oprah’s quote if you need an extra confidence boost to begin .

6) “If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life is made up of.” – Bruce Lee

Let’s get real for a second. Bruce Lee totally nailed it with this one.

Time is literally the ingredient that makes up our lives, and wow, it goes faster than our coffee disappears on a Monday morning, am I right?

We get stuck in the cycle—school runs, laundry mountains, and all the messy stuff in between. It’s easy to forget that every goofy dance party in the kitchen or random car karaoke is using up precious life-minutes.

But, guess what? Those moments are seriously worth it.

Instead of stressing over perfection or counting the dust bunnies, let’s show up for the little things that matter, along with other virtue we may overlook .

Why waste our minutes worrying about things we won’t remember next week? We can choose to spend our time making memories and belly-laughing with our favorite people.

Trust us, we’ve never regretted a day spent being present, even if it meant repeating “let it go” for the millionth time. Bruce Lee would probably give us a high five for taking a break to soak up the good stuff—every chance we get.

If you want to read more, check out this Bruce Lee quote about life and time.

7) “Life is a stage and you get only one performance. Make it a good one.” – Unknown

Okay, so apparently, we all have one shot at this wild ride called life. No pressure, right?

It’s like we’ve walked out on a stage, no script, and the audience is just… everyone we’ve ever met and will meet. But honestly, that’s kind of exciting!

We get to decide how we want our story to go. Do we want to play it safe or throw some confetti and dance even when there’s no music?

Sometimes, we totally bomb a scene. We say something weird, spill coffee on our shirt, or ugly cry in Target.

Oh well! The next act is a chance to try again, and no one is nailing it 24/7.

Let’s just promise to be ourselves, learn as we go, and have some fun out there. There are no perfect performances—just doing our best and keeping it real.

8) “Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about.” – Marilyn Monroe

Let’s be real, some days smile power just feels… out of reach after many defeats . But then Marilyn Monroe swoops in with her iconic line to remind us—hey, life actually is pretty amazing if we let ourselves see it.

We can all use this wisdom, especially when the day is going sideways and coffee spills down our shirts. A smile doesn’t magically fix the chaos, but it can seriously help us get through the mess.

Whether it’s happy kid giggles or our morning playlist, we can always find at least one little thing that’s worth a smile. So let’s be those people who laugh at the weird, find joy in the tiny wins, and pass on good vibes.

Marilyn said it best—there really is so much to smile about! If you need extra inspiration, her famous words are shared all over the place, like in this list of Marilyn Monroe’s smile quotes.

9) “The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.” – Bertrand Russell

Let’s be real, life can get messy. But Bertrand Russell reminds us that if we lead with love and sprinkle in some good old wisdom, like a wise man would say we’re already winning.

Honestly, it’s kind of like being a parent—we love hard and do our best with what we know (even if what we know is mostly from late-night Googling).

We can’t have just one or the other. Imagine trying to parent with only love but no know-how, learning from hard knocks .

Oops, sudden glitter explosion in the kitchen! Or only having knowledge and forgetting the hugs and silly dance parties.

No thanks. Russell says it perfectly: the sweet spot is a mix of the two.

Like making a snack plate—a little bit of everything makes it way better. If you want to dive deeper, check out more about Bertrand Russell’s thoughts on creating the good life.

10) “The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.” – Henry Miller

Let’s talk about what this even means for our wild, crazy lives and how every new day is a fresh start . Henry Miller seriously nailed it with this one.

He’s telling us life is not about just existing or going through the motions. We actually get to enjoy every moment—even the messes we face as we try to succeed (and let’s be real, there are plenty of those).

It’s about being aware of the tiny magic in an ordinary Tuesday, much like what michael jordan would inspire us to see . The laughing fits at dinner.

The tired eyes and the extra cup of coffee. We don’t have to do it perfectly.

We just get to be—joyful, silly, chill, or a little wild, whatever works for us that day. Like Henry Miller suggests, awareness comes in all vibes.

Sometimes we’re zen, sometimes a hot mess, but it all counts. Honestly, this quote reminds us to soak it up and not to miss the good stuff in all of our chaos.

Looking for more inspiration? Read about Henry Miller’s take on living life right here.

11) “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon

Okay, can we talk about how true this is? We’re all out here juggling schedules, making to-do lists, and running from one thing to the next—meanwhile, real life just sneaks right on by!

Sometimes it feels like we blink and our babies are suddenly not babies anymore. This quote is like a little nudge from the universe, reminding us of billie jean king’s wisdom. (or maybe from John Lennon himself!) reminding us to slow down.

Life isn’t just those big events or the stuff we carefully planned. It’s the spilled Cheerios on the floor, the random dance parties in the kitchen, and the hugs that seem to come out of nowhere.

Let’s be honest, our plans usually go sideways anyway. It’s okay to laugh when things don’t turn out perfect—that’s where the messy, unscripted beauty of parenting lives.

If you want to see what other people are saying about this quote, check out this Reddit discussion about John Lennon’s words. So let’s give ourselves permission to be present, soak up the chaos, and remember that as life shrinks, we can still make memories right in the middle of our plans!

12) “You choose the life you live.” – Unknown

Let’s be real, we all have those days where we wish someone else would just swoop in and handle it all for us, giving us a break . But nope, the universe is busy, and it’s up to us to decide what we do next.

This quote is a gentle nudge that our choices matter—even if today’s big decision is just whether to eat that last slice of pizza or not. Honestly, it’s kind of freeing when we realize we’re the ones driving the car (even if we sometimes want to pull over and nap).

We all mess up, we all second-guess ourselves, and nobody has it all figured out. But hey, we get to steer our own lives, bumps and all.

That’s pretty cool, even if it feels wild and unpredictable some days. If we’re not loving how things are going, it’s okay to shake things up!

We don’t need permission to try something new or to hit reset. As Kim Kiyosaki says, “You choose the life you live and can start paving your path today . If you don’t like it, it’s on you to change it because no one else is going to do it for you.”

We’ve got this!

13) “Dare to be.” – Various

Okay, so how many times have we felt a little scared to step up and try something totally new? Probably a million.

“Dare to be” is like our gentle little nudge to quit worrying about what everyone else thinks and step out of your comfort zone. and just show up as ourselves. We don’t have to be anyone other than who we are—messy, imperfect, and totally one of a kind.

Let’s give ourselves permission to chase the things we want, even if they feel big or a little weird. We’re all about boosting each other, so if we see a mama friend doubting herself, we remind her, “Dare to be!”

It’s not about being the loudest or the boldest. It’s about being real, being us, and letting our true colors shine—sparkles, flaws, sweatpants and all.

Looking for more uplifting life quotes? Check out this fun list of quotes to live by for a daily reminder that we’re all in this together.

How Life Quotes Can Change Your Mindset

Let’s be real—life isn’t always smooth sailing, and our thoughts can spin around like a toddler on a sugar rush. Sometimes a well-timed quote can help us chill out, shift our focus, and see things in a fresh (and maybe even hopeful) way.

Embracing Challenges with a Positive Spin

When life throws those wild curveballs, it’s normal to feel like hiding—maybe under a pile of laundry or trying to avoid our mistakes . Honestly, who hasn’t wanted to disappear for a minute?

But here’s the thing: quotes about change, like “Embrace each challenge in your life as an opportunity for self-transformation,” remind us there’s a chance to grow even when things get tough. Suddenly, a rough day doesn’t seem quite so intimidating, and maybe it’s even an open door to something better.

Instead of seeing struggles as failures, we can flip the script. Why not treat them as learning moments, even if they’re messy and awkward?

Sometimes, a few favorite lines from motivational life quotes give us a much-needed pep talk. They’re like tiny cheerleaders on our phones, reminding us we’ve totally got this—even if it feels impossible right now.

Letting Go of Perfection: Why It’s Totally Overrated

Let’s be real for a second. Perfection is that unicorn we’re all chasing but never actually see.

Most quotes about living fully tell us it’s okay to mess up and just be human. When we repeat them, it helps us chill out and stop sweating every little thing.

We don’t need to get it right all the time to succeed . Honestly, perfection is kind of boring anyway.

Letting go of perfection gives us room to laugh at our mistakes instead of hiding them. Raise your hand if you’ve ever burned dinner while “adulting”—both of mine are up.

It’s freeing to realize our “flaws” are just part of being alive. If you need a boost, uplifting life quotes remind us we’re not alone.

Confidence grows when we embrace our weird, wild, and wonderfully imperfect selves.

Making Life Quotes Actually Work For You

It’s one thing to find a life quote that hits you right in the feels, but living those three words? That’s where things actually start to shift . Living out those words? That’s where things actually start to shift, even if it’s messy and unscripted.

Turning Words Into Real-Life Action

So, we print out a cool quote and stick it on the fridge—now what? The real magic starts when we match those words with tiny, real steps.

Let’s say we love the quote, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” How does that show up outside of a Pinterest board?

Maybe it’s putting our phone down and actually listening to our kids talk about their Minecraft kingdom, or just realizing we gotta dance through life . Or eating that ice cream cone on the porch instead of scrolling Instagram.

Here’s what usually helps:

• Pick one quote each month.
• Write it somewhere we’ll see it (bathroom mirrors are classic).
• Each week, brainstorm one small thing we can do to live it.
• Mess up? Forget? Who cares—try again!

A little progress still counts when we write down our goal . If you want more ideas for putting quotes into action, check out these tips at Inspire Captions.

Sharing The Vibes: Getting Loved Ones Involved

Quotes are way more fun when we bring our people along for the ride. Sometimes, they’re even more useful that way.

We can turn a family dinner into a guessing game. Someone reads a quote, and the rest of us try to guess who it sounds like—hilarious and surprisingly revealing.

Or maybe we put a favorite quote of the week on the fridge. Then we challenge each other to spot it in real life—it’s like a scavenger hunt, but for words.

I love texting little quotes to our bestie group chat for a midday pep talk. Our partners can get in on the fun too—just slap a sticky note quote on their coffee mug for a surprise boost.

If you’re hunting for a bunch of catchy, inspiring lines to pass along, check out this list of quotes to live by. Turning these words into a shared family joke or a group challenge? That’s what keeps things fun and real, honestly.