10 Quotes To Keep You Going When You’re Feeling Down
If you’re looking for new inspiration when you’re feeling down, watching or reading something with inspiring quotes and moments can be just the trick. Here are some inspiring quotes that have come up for me and have brought me out of darker times. They have given me new things or outlooks to consider and kept me going, which has been especially sought during quarantine with much more time spent indoors without as much stimulation or new experiences.
1. “Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, it’s bobsled time! Cool Runnings!” – Cool Runnings
The movie Cool Runnings is about one of the first Jamaican bobsled teams to compete in the winter Olympics. They overcome prejudice and inexperience to pave the way for Jamaican athletes and others. This inspiring quote is about the phrase “cool runnings”, meaning “peace be the journey”, which they decided as what they wanted people to cheer toward them. It sums up the unity, passion, and integrity they shared in working toward their goal and growing as people.
2. “We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for the victims of our nation and for those it calls “enemy”, for no document from human hands can make these humans any less our brothers.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
This quote is from a speech during the Vietnam War roughly titled, “A Time To Break Silence”. It speaks on many levels which can be felt by any generation and in any time period. He calls for a lack of apathy, standing up for your beliefs, and fighting for and supporting your fellow human beings.
3. “We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives.” – Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison is an awe-inspiring figure who has written many influential novels, has so many inspiring quotes, and has always spoken strong beliefs of the power of words to do positive things in the world and when used to speak about important issues. This inspiring quote regards that perspective of the power and greatness of words and their exercise.
4. “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
When you feel unable to do something or unknowing this quote can really help give renewed perspective on simply being a good person in life, working for yourself and others positively. When you do what you can to make a positive impact in the world, even in the seemingly smallest ways, you are living your life well.
5. Charlotte: “I’m stuck. Does it get easier?”
Bob: “No. Yes, it gets easier. The more you know who you are and what you want, the less you let things upset you.”
Charlotte: “I just don’t know what I’m supposed to be. I tried being a writer. I tried taking pictures.”
Bob: “You’ll figure that out. I’m not worried about you. Keep writing.” – Lost in Translation
Lost in Translation is a great movie about two individuals at different points in their life thinking about the choices they have made so far and contemplating what they really want in life. These inspiring quotes are thought-provoking about how you make mistakes in life or question your choices down the road but you can’t give up hope or stop trying to figure out what you want. You have to keep working at it, trying different things. It has a nice message that these thoughts, indecision, and mistakes are experienced by all.
6. “Beware, for I am fearless and therefore powerful.” – Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Spoken to Victor Frankenstein, this is one of the inspiring quotes that speaks to not being deterred from action or goals by indecision or fear. Meet life without fear so you’re not held back unnecessarily from exciting, memorable experiences. A life well-lived is one in which you act without regret or overthinking of unknowable consequences. Don’t let indecision or fear keep you from desires and achievement.
7. “I feel alive. And the world, I’ll turn it inside out, yeah. I’m floating around in ecstasy. So, don’t stop me now” – Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen
This song speaks to one of the biggest messages of Queen which is to always seek your own happiness and never let yourself be discouraged when others try to deter you or you feel your goals are unachievable. Always push forward and stay positive. When you seek and promote positivity in your life, contentment and passion will find you.
8. Kelly: “All things considered, I guess I’m ready.”
Laura: “For what?”
Kelly: “For the rest of it.” – San Junipero
This episode of the tv show, Black Mirror is touching on many levels and these words are spoken as Kelly finally decides to join a relative virtual eternity space with Yorkie, a woman she has fallen for when visiting a place called San Junipero in this eternity. She struggles with having deep feelings for someone new in Yorkie. These altogether inspiring quotes regard her finally taking a leap of faith toward happiness by spending the afterlife with Yorkie. These inspiring words speak to the courage and hope they each develop.
9. “Ooh, baby do you know what that’s worth? Ooh, Heaven is a place on Earth. They say in Heaven, love comes first. We’ll make Heaven a place on Earth.” – Heaven Is A Place On Earth by Belinda Carlisle
As the song that plays at the end of the episode San Junipero, these already very positive, uplifting lyrics can be all the more inspiring as you see Kelly joining Yorkie. On its own, the song and this specific quoted portion speak to seeking and making your own happiness in life and the worth and positive impacts this has, making the earth a heaven for you in many ways. I also like the inspiring quotes about putting love first in your life.
10. “It was the tree the autumn fire ran through
And swept of leathern leaves but left the bark
Unscorched, unblackened even by any smoke” – Maple by Robert Frost
A poem about nature really helps give me perspective on the beauty around me and the growth, the history made possible. This quote from Maple is a great example of not losing hope after any hardship, destruction, or sadness. There can come renewal. The forests can return even after being burnt, or here already refuse to be destroyed all the way or you might see it as a refusal to be discouraged and dissuaded from success and positivity.
