10 Book Quotes That Will Spark Your Productivity
Books are a great source of information, but book quotes also can be a great source of inspiration when it comes to sparking your productivity. If you need a little extra motivation, be sure to check out these 10 book quotes that will spark your productivity.
1. “But to be well and use strength to get more out of life is, surely, the greatest fun in the world.” (Virginia Woolf, A Writer’s Diary)
Virginia Woolf spent her life trying her best to be happy and productive. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn’t, but she always wanted to be her best. Book quotes like these remind us to work towards being strong and feeling well enough to do the things we want to accomplish. The goals we set for ourselves might seem unattainable, but that’s a secondary thought. We should be concerned about our health, both mental and physical before we turn to work because our minds and bodies will help get us where we want to go.
2. “For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, ‘It might have been’.” (John Greenleaf Whittier, Maud Muller)
Book quotes have the effect of inspiring through their poetry. This quote from poet John Greenleaf Whittier reminds us that we need to act now and do the things we need to do before it’s too later. Don’t let time slip by! Procrastinating often means we are going to have regrets later. Regret is not a good feeling, and it’s often pretty easy to avoid if you follow your gut and get things done! You never want to say “it might have been,” you want to say, “I have done it.”
3.“An artist’s only concern is to shoot for some kind of perfection, and on his own terms, not anyone else’s.” (JD Salinger, Raise High The Roofbeam Carpenters & Seymour an Introduction)
If you’re a creator, or if you’re someone that strives for perfection, these are one of the book quotes that is for you. Remember that success is only based on your own terms. Don’t compare yourself to others or you’ll start basing your progress on the progress of others. If you don’t think you’ve accomplished as much as you wanted to by this point in your life, remind yourself that there is always time to do better. Give yourself time to relax and have the confidence to switch of jealousy and competition, especially through limiting your social media time.
4. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” (Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!)
This quote is the perfect motivation to just try your best! Whatever it is you want, you can accomplish (hopefully). Take this quote as more of an affirmation. Have hope that what you do that can get you where you want to be.
5. “Don’t wait to be sure. Move, move, move.” (Miranda July, No One Belongs Here More Than You).
Miranda July has many great book quotes. Just get it done, Miranda July tells us in this one! If you’re second guessing yourself all the time, the chances are you’re not going to be able to accomplish a whole lot. Trust yourself, and move. Whatever movement means to you, do it, whether it’s applying for a job you’ve been eyeing or simply getting out of bed in the morning.
6. “A certain type of perfection can only be realized through a limitless accumulation of the imperfect.” (Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore)
A lot of the times, our procrastination comes from the fact that we don’t think we can do a good enough job on the task at hand. That’s our little anxieties telling us that we aren’t good enough. But guess what, you are good enough! And you’re not perfect. Your imperfections make you even more unique and fascinating. Book quotes like these remind us that we shouldn’t be afraid to fail. Even though it’s scary, the anxiety will always pass.
7. “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” (Arundhati Roy, The God Of Small Things)
Sometimes life sucks. You can’t get anything done, and when you do get something done it’s not good. It’s just not good. But this book quote from Arundhati Roy reminds us that there is tomorrow. Productivity is not always about succeeding or being happy and positive all the time; it’s about failure and learning from those failures. Things will always be building you up and breaking you down, but that just makes you even more ready for whatever radical change you need to embrace tomorrow.
8. “Do stuff. Be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration’s shove or society’s kiss on your forehead.” (Susan Sontag)
This is not really a book quote, but it’s Susan Sontag and she’s a writer! Another excuse for procrastination is, “I’m just not inspired.” Sontag reminds us that we don’t always need inspiration from others or the approval of society to jump into producing or acting out something great. Endeavor with passion, and the more you do the more you will be inclined to do because you will have more questions and you will want to provide answers to those questions. Don’t look outwards for motivation, it’s all inside of you. All you have to do is dig deep and find it.
9. “We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.” (If This Isn’t Nice, What Is?: Advice for the Young)
Besides Slaughterhouse Five and other gems, Vonnegut really blessed us with his advice on how to grow as young people with this book quote. Take risks! Often, the best products are made when risks are taken. Products are limited to the imagination. Whatever it is you want to produce, risks are usually involved if it’s going to be great. Risk-taking doesn’t mean blindly jumping into projects; Vonnegut insinuates that by risk-taking we actually adapt to tough situations, hence the wings. We’ll never know about our wings if we don’t try to fly!
10. “Everything in the world began with a yes. One molecule said yes to another molecule and life was born.” (The Hour of the Star)
You might have not heard of Clarice Lispector, but if you read one thing by her it should be this book. This is the book quote is The Hour of the Star’s opening line. Say yes. Say no when you have to, but to gain and regain and profit, you need to affirm. Affirmation often sparks creation. Procrastination is another way we say no. To breed life into our life, we need to say yes to things and forces, whatever they may be, that drives us to create.
