17 Inspirational Quotes to Keep You Motivated During Your Toughest Times

Life isn't always easy.

Things will be fine and dandy one moment, and in an instant, everything will come crumbling down.

For those times, we offer some inspiring quotes that will motivate you to keep moving forward.

Scroll below for some uplifting words of wisdom:

Because these times will only make you stronger:

"The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials."

—Chinese Proverb

 

Because failure is inevitable, but it's important you grow from your failures:

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail."

—Nelson Mandela

 

Because no one else is in charge of your life except you:

"Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice."

—Wayne Dyer

(via Shutterstock)

 

Because you must always seek the light:

"But we can't live in the light all of the time. You have to take whatever light you can hold into the dark with you."

—Libba Bray

 

Because you will get there:

"It doesn't matter how slow you go, as long as you don't stop."

—Confucius

 

Because there is always hope:

"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all."

—Dale Carnegie

 

Because you're not going to be amazing at everything you do:

"To succeed, you have to do something and be very bad at it for a while. You have to look bad before you can look really good."

—Barbara DeAngelis

 

Because you must rise from these dark times like a phoenix from the ashes:

"You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it."

—Maya Angelou

(via Shutterstock)

 

Because your mental health is so important:

"Taking care of yourself makes you stronger for everyone in your life… including you."

—Kelly Rudolph

 

Because you have nowhere to go but up:

"Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life."

—J.K. Rowling

 

Because you need to know your limits:

"Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they're supposed to help you discover who you are."

—Bernice Johnson Reagon

 

Because it's okay to ask for help:

"The only way we will survive is by being kind. The only way we can get by in this world is through the help we receive from others. No one can do it alone, no matter how great the machines are."

—Amy Poehler

 

Because you must use this time as a springboard for success:

"The art of life is not controlling what happens to us, but using what happens to us."

—Gloria Steinem

(via Shutterstock)

 

Because you will survive:

"I'm still surviving, but bring it on."

—Carrie Fisher

 

Because you matter:

"If you don't believe your life has purpose, you're lying to yourself. The universe doesn't make mistakes. Every person in this room is powerful. Every life in this room is meaningful."

—Jenna McDougall

 

Because you are you and no one can take that away from you:

"Don't stress about other people's expectations. Be proud of what you're doing."

—Lynn Gunn

 

Because you got this:

"You were given this life because you are strong enough to live it."

—Ain Eineziz

 

Need a little more motivation? Checking out THESE sunset pics might do the trick.