We all sometimes benefit from a dose of inspiration. However, finding age-appropriate motivational quotes for kids can be a struggle.
To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of inspirational quotes for kids. They cover the most common life events and situations kids face.
Famous Inspirational Quotes for Kids
You may have heard some of these kids’ inspirational quotes many times over the years, but that doesn’t make them any less valuable today.
Consider printing out some of these quotes to hang up in the room of a child who needs a motivational lift.
“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”
“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.”
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
“The people who are crazy enough to believe they can change the world are the ones who do.”
“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why we call it ‘The Present.’”
“If you can dream it, you can do it.”
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
“People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.”
“The tougher the fight, the more important the mental attitude.”
“Never let the fear of striking out stop you from playing the game.”
“I think it’s possible for ordinary people to choose to be extraordinary.”
“No one is perfect – that’s why pencils have erasers.”
“If my mind can conceive it, if my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it.”
Inspirational Quotes for Kids in School
If your child is having trouble with motivation at school, share one of these helpful quotes. They speak of the importance of education but also address the fact that not everyone learns in the same way.
“The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.”
“I don’t love studying. I hate studying. I like learning. Learning is beautiful.”
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
“What makes a child gifted and talented may not always be good grades in school, but a different way of looking at the world and learning.”
“My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors.”
“Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.”
“You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing and falling over.”
“Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good.”
“Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.”
“Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.”
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body”
“The kids who ask WHY are the ones who are going to change the world.”
“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”
Daily Inspirational Quotes for Kids
These kids’ inspirational quotes not only offer sage, timeless advice but also provide a positive point of departure for the day.
Write out one of these inspirational quotes for kids and tuck it into your child’s lunchbox. It may be just the thing to give them a lift during a difficult day.
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”
“When one door of happiness closes, another opens.”
“Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do.”
“The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential … these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.”
“One day, the people that don’t even believe in you will tell everyone how they met you.”
“You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will.”
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”
“The future rewards those who press on. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to complain. I’m going to press on.”
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
“I’ve missed more than 9000 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.”
“When adversity strikes, that’s when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded and press on.”
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
“Learn from yesterday. Live for today. Hope for tomorrow.”
“It’s always too soon to quit.”
“The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent.”
Quotes for Kids About Kindness
Children understand kindness, but they can have difficulty appreciating how their actions impact other people’s happiness.
These quotes explain how kindness impacts the world around us and give concrete examples of how to practice kindness.
“If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.”
“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
“Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping them up.”
“You will never have a completely bad day if you show kindness at least once.”
“Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen.”
“You can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!”
“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.”
“Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.”
“Be kind to unkind people. They need it the most.”
“I think probably kindness is my number one attribute in a human being. I’ll put it before any of the things like courage or bravery or generosity or anything else.”
“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
Inspirational Quotes About Good Behavior
Sometimes, it’s difficult to find the words to explain to children why good behavior is important.
These inspirational quotes about good behavior are short, clear, and simple to understand, so they are easy for even the youngest kids to take on board.
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
“Be silly, be honest, be kind.”
“Kindness and politeness are not overrated at all. They’re underused.”
“The time is always right to do what is right.”
“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”
“Just imagine how different the world could be if we all spoke to everyone with respect and kindness.”
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
“You are always responsible for how you act, no matter how you feel.”
“If you want to change attitudes, start with a change in behavior.”
“Politeness is a sign of dignity, not subservience.”
“Behavior is the mirror in which everyone shows their true image.”
“If you attach to the negative behavior of others, it brings you down to their level.”
“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies but just as much to stand up to our friends.”
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Inspirational Quotes for Kids Who Are Sick
When you have a sick child or a child with a disability, it’s important to keep their spirits up.
These quotes for sick kids will motivate them when they are feeling down and reassure them that illness and disability are normal.
“If you’re going through hell, keep going.”
“With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.”
“Tough times never last but tough people do.”
“Mr. T. been to chemo, Mr. T been to radiation, hair fall out … but he’s back. Now I can give hope when I go to the hospital, see the sick kids with cancer, tell them, don’t quit.”
“I always had a special diet. I’m diabetic, so it’s a lifestyle for me anyway just to stay healthy and not end up in the hospital.”
“As I got older, my life became a whirlwind of homework and responsibilities. The hospital became my retreat, a place to gather my thoughts and focus on my health. The nurses are my friends as well as my caretakers. The doctors are my parents as well as my physicians.”
“Resting is not laziness, it’s medicine!”
“You either get bitter or you get better. It’s that simple. You either take what has been dealt to you and allow it to make you a better person, or you allow it to tear you down. The choice does not belong to fate, it belongs to you.”
“I keep my heart and my soul and my spirit open to miracles.”
“The truth is we’re all a little bit broken. We must learn to love the broken pieces of ourselves — be gentle and empathetic with ourselves and others.”
“If opening your eyes, or getting out of bed, or holding a spoon, or combing your hair is the daunting Mount Everest you climb today, that is okay.”
“Sometimes you will be in control of your illness, and other times you’ll sink into despair, and that’s OK! Freak out, forgive yourself, and try again tomorrow.”
“Healing takes courage, and we all have courage, even if we have to dig a little to find it.”
“We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.”
“Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.”
Motivational Bible Quotes for Kids
If Christian faith plays an important role in your family, motivational quotes for kids from the Bible may be what you are looking for.
From verses that celebrate the glory of God to quotes to guide your child through difficult times, you’ll find them all here.
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
“This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
“But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
“Whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”
“I praise you God, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”
“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will never perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
“When I am afraid, I will trust in you.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Inspirational Quotes for Tweens
Being a tween is confusing. You’re not quite a little one anymore, but you’re not even grown enough to be a teenager.
Motivational quotes for tweens will help to reassure them they are not alone or unusual in their confusion.
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
“Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts. ”
“Always keep a positive mindset; it will improve your outlook on the world.”
“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
“Change the world by being yourself.”
“Be so good they can’t ignore you.”
“Wanting to be someone else is a waste of who you are.”
“If the whole world was blind, how many people would you impress?”
“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.”
“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.”
“Don’t become so focused on status that you aren’t also nice to other people because that’s the kind of popularity that pays off for decades to come.”
“Just because something feels scary doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. Fear does not equal danger.”
“I am the greatest. I said that before I knew I was.”
“Make sure your worst enemy doesn’t live between your own two ears.”
Inspirational Dr. Seuss Quotes For Kids
Most of us are familiar with Dr. Seuss’s books, but not everyone recognizes the child-focused wisdom in many of them.
If you want to inspire your child, try doing it through the whimsy of a Dr. Seuss quote.
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
“Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.”
“You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!”
“I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead, and some come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready, you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!”
“A person’s a person, no matter how small.”
“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!”
“So be sure when you step, step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you’ll move mountains.”
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
“If you keep your eyes open enough, oh, the stuff you will learn. Oh, the most wonderful stuff.”
“So, on beyond Z! It’s high time you were shown. That you really don’t know. All there is to be known. There’s no limit to how much you’ll know, depending how far beyond zebra you go.”
“With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.”
“Today I shall behave as if this is the day I will be remembered.”
Inspirational Quotes For Kids In Sports
Being a child athlete can be tough. Motivating a child athlete without destroying their joy for their sport can be tougher.
These inspirational quotes for kids in sports will motivate them without hurting their love for their sport.
“It doesn’t matter what your background is or where you came from. If you have dreams and goals, that’s all that matters.”
“If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you’ll never change the outcome.”
“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.”
“Scientists have proven that it’s impossible to long jump 30 feet, but I don’t listen to that kind of talk. Thoughts like that have a way of sinking into your feet.”
“It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.”
“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”
“I can accept failure; everyone fails at something. But I cannot accept not trying.”
“Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.”
“I am building a fire, and every day I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match.”
“The skill to win is important, but the will to win is vital.”
“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”
“Winners must have two things – definite goals and a burning desire to achieve them.”
“Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement.”
“The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.”
“If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win.”
“One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than 50 preaching it.”
The Final Word On Inspirational Words
Hopefully, you have found something on this list that will not only inspire your child but maybe also inspire you.
Remember, you are their first source of inspiration — and they are always watching your actions, not just listening to your words.
Write these quotes on sticky notes, enlarge, print, and hang them on your wall. Memorize them and hold them close to your heart. But most of all, inspire your children with them.
