Lifestyle

187 Positive Quotes for Work Inspiration in 2024

by: Ashley Reut

Published on Dec 16th 2024

Whether it’s been a long couple of years or just a long day, sometimes positive quotes for work can really boost your mood and motivation levels. Apart from giving you a little extra excitement to start the day or finish a project, these positive quotes for work can encourage you (or your employees) to see things in a different light.

Consider starting your meetings with a positive quote for work rather than ice breaker questions and see how that goes. While success stories are inspiring, sometimes you just need short, concise positive quotes for work to peek at on your desk or mirror to remind you to keep going. Take a few from this list and sprinkle them around the office.

Short Inspirational Work Quotes

They say that success is a result of discipline, not motivation, but it never hurts to have both. An article on Medium even featured a story on the importance of building discipline, not waiting for motivation to strike. And it’s true, these positive quotes for work will only get you so far. But they could be just the thing that reminds you to do hard things, even when you don’t feel like it.

Looking for a positive quote for the work day? Whether you’re losing steam on a long, grueling project or just looking to start the week strong, sometimes all it takes is a few encouraging words. These short inspirational work quotes are perfect to peek at on your bathroom mirror as you get ready or pinned on your desk or planner.

1. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs

2. “Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.” – Chris Grosser

3. “Great things never come from comfort zones.” – Anonymous

4. “Do something today that your future self will thank you for.” – Anonymous

5. “Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson

6. “Don’t wait for opportunity. Create it.” – Anonymous

7. “Work hard in silence, let your success be your noise.” – Frank Ocean

8. “Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” – John F. Kennedy

9. “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn

10. “Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” – John D. Rockefeller

11. “Success is a journey, not a destination.” – Arthur Ashe

12. “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln

13. “Opportunities don't happen. You create them.” – Chris Grosser

14. “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vidal Sassoon

15. “Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves.” – Dale Carnegie

16. “Dream big. Start small. Act now.” – Robin Sharma

17. “The road to success is always under construction.” – Lily Tomlin

18. “You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Christopher Columbus

19. “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe

20. “What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.” – Ralph Marston

21. “Hard work is a two-way street. You get back exactly what you put in.” – Anonymous

22. “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” – Gary Player

23. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu

24. “You are capable of more than you know.” – Glinda, The Wizard of Oz

25. “It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” – Lou Holtz

26. “The only way to fail is not to try.” – Anonymous

27. “Don’t count the days, make the days count.” – Muhammad Ali

28. “Don’t limit your challenges. Challenge your limits.” – Anonymous

29. “Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.” – Napoleon Hill

30. “There’s no substitute for hard work.” – Thomas Edison

31. “Greatness is earned. It’s not given.” – Anonymous

32. “Do something today that your future self will thank you for.” – Anonymous

Motivational Quotes for Work Success

If you’re starting a new business or looking to crush your sales goals, all it takes is a few motivational quotes for work success to get you fired up. Hearing or reading these words from people who have accomplished so much in both business and sports is enough to make you want to give it your all.

33. “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier

34. “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar

35. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela

36. “The harder you work for something, the greater you’ll feel when you achieve it.” – Anonymous

37. “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” – Henry David Thoreau

38. “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney

39. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln

40. “The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do.” – Unknown

41. “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

42. “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein

43. “Success is not for the chosen few, but for the few who choose it.” – Anonymous

44. “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill

45. “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” – C.S. Lewis

46. “If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.” – Thomas Jefferson

47. “Success doesn't come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently.” – Marie Forleo

48. “If you are not willing to risk the usual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.” – Jim Rohn

49. “The road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same.” – Colin R. Davis

50. “Don't stop when you're tired. Stop when you're done.” – Anonymous

51. “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” – Booker T. Washington

52. “The key to success is to focus on goals, not obstacles.” – Anonymous

53. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius

54. “Challenges are what make life interesting. Overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua J. Marine

55. “Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” – Walter Elliot

56. “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X

57. “Action is the foundational key to all success.” – Pablo Picasso

58. “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi

59. “There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you.” – Derek Jeter

60. “You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.” – Michael Phelps

61. “What you’re thinking is what you’re becoming.” – Muhammad Ali

62. “The only way to succeed is to not worry about failure.” – LeBron James

63. “Winning means you’re willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else.” – Vince Lombardi

64. “Everything is a mental game. You have to have the right mindset, or you won’t succeed.” – Kerri Walsh Jennings

65. “Success is a choice. It’s not something you wait for, it’s something you create.” – Carmelo Anthony

66. “The only way to be the best is to work harder than the best.” – Kobe Bryant

Inspirational Work Quotes for Employees

They say the true mark of a good leader lies in their ability to inspire and bring about action from their team. These inspirational quotes for work for employees will have your squad feeling confident and bold, ready to make the most of the day each and every day.

67. “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” – Tim Notke

68. “The future depends on what we do in the present.” – Mahatma Gandhi

69. “Believe you can and you're halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

70. “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain

71. “Small daily improvements over time lead to stunning results.” – Robin Sharma

72. “Success is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” – Colin Powell

73. “Don’t limit your challenges. Challenge your limits.” – Anonymous

74. “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” – Zig Ziglar

75. “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.

76. “Don’t be busy, be productive.” – Anonymous

77. “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” – Maya Angelou

78. “Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.” – Richard Branson

79. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb

80. “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” – Booker T. Washington

81. “In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can.” – Nikos Kazantzakis

82. “You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them.” – Michael Jordan

83. “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

84. “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden

85. “Don’t be afraid of pressure. Pressure is what you need to perform.” – Serena Williams

86. “I’m a big believer in taking your opportunities when they come.” – Usain Bolt

87. “Set your goals high, and don’t stop until you get there.” – Bo Jackson

88. “The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment.” – Tony Robbins

89. “Talent is never enough. With few exceptions, the best players are the hardest workers.” – Magic Johnson

90. “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

91. “When employees are happy, they are your very best asset.” – Sir Richard Branson

92. “To win in the marketplace, you must first win in the workplace.” – Doug Conant

93. “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” – Henry Ford

94. “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” – Albert Einstein

95. “The harder you work for something, the greater you’ll feel when you achieve it.” – Anonymous

96. “If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not making decisions.” – Catherine Cook

97. “Great things never come from comfort zones.” – Anonymous

98. “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” – Confucius

Happy Work Quotes

Long days at the office, even a home office, can have you feeling bleh. These happy positive quotes for work are like a ray of sunshine each and every time you read them. Start your day with new inspirational quotes for work in your planner or calendar, or proudly display the one that really hits home in a frame on your desk.

99. “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.” – Albert Schweitzer

100. “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot

101. “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis

102. “You don’t have to be perfect to be amazing.” – Anonymous

103. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” – Steve Jobs

104. “Everything you can imagine is real.” – Pablo Picasso

105. “Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” – George Addair

106. “A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.” – Nelson Mandela

107. “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

108. “The best motivation always comes from within.” – Michael Johnson

109. “The only difference between a good day and a bad day is your attitude.” – Jeffery Gittomer

110. “Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen.” – Conan O'Brien

111. “When you enjoy what you do, it doesn’t feel like work.” – Anonymous

112. “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” – Aristotle

113. “Work hard, stay positive, and get up early. It’s the best part of the day.” – George Allen

114. “Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect.” – Anonymous

115. “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” – Steve Martin

116. “Find joy in the journey.” – Anonymous

117. “Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.” – Jim Rohn

118. “A day without laughter is a day wasted.” – Charlie Chaplin

119. “Work to become, not to acquire.” – Elbert Hubbard

120. “Make each day your masterpiece.” – John Wooden

121. “The joy of work comes from the pride you feel when you complete something that makes a difference.” – Anonymous

122. “A job well done is its own reward.” – Anonymous

123. “Take pride in how far you’ve come, and have faith in how far you can go.” – Christian Larson

124. “The key to happiness is not in doing what you love, but in loving what you do.” – Anonymous

125. “Don’t just make a living, make a life.” – Anonymous

126. “A good day at work is when you make a difference in someone’s life.” – Anonymous

127. “Success is finding satisfaction in giving a little more than you take.” – Christopher Reeve

128. “Make it your goal to create work you’re proud of.” – Anonymous

129. “A positive attitude will lead to positive outcomes.” – Anonymous

130. “Take pride in your work and never forget why you started.” – Anonymous

131. “Happiness is not the goal of work; it’s the by-product.” – Anonymous

132. “The happiest people are those who are too busy to notice whether they’re happy or not.” – Anonymous

Powerful Motivational Quotes for Success

When you’ve got mountains to move, you need some seriously powerful motivational quotes for success to remind you that you are capable. It’s natural for motivation or even confidence to wane at times, but it’s important to get back on track quickly if you have big goals, and these motivational quotes for work success are ideal for boosting your day when you check your phone, computer or daily planner.

133. “Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.” – George S. Patton

134. “Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently.” – Marie Forleo

135. “Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don't recognize them.” – Ann Landers

136. “Take the risk or lose the chance.” – Anonymous

137. “Hard work pays off later, laziness pays off now.” – Anonymous

138. “The harder you work for something, the greater you’ll feel when you achieve it.” – Anonymous

139. “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney

140. “If you want to achieve greatness, stop asking for permission.” – Anonymous

141. “The key to success is to start before you are ready.” – Marie Forleo

142. “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” – Alice Walker

143. “If you don’t build your dream, someone else will hire you to help them build theirs.” – Dhirubhai Ambani

144. “Don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.” – Roy T. Bennett

145. “The best revenge is massive success.” – Frank Sinatra

146. “The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory.” – Les Brown

147. “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” – C.S. Lewis

148. “I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” – Estée Lauder

149. “Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.” – Calvin Coolidge

150. “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” – Pelé

151. “You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it.” – Lionel Messi

152. “I don’t count the days. I make the days count.” – Muhammad Ali

153. “To be a champion, you have to believe in yourself when no one else will.” – Sugar Ray Robinson

154. “When you have a dream, you’ve got to grab it and never let go.” – Carol Burnett

155. “Don’t let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice.” – Steve Jobs

156. “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” – Bobby Unser

157. “If you aren’t going all the way, why go at all?” – Joe Namath

158. “If you are not willing to risk the usual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.” – Jim Rohn

159. “You can never quit. Winners never quit, and quitters never win.” – Ted Turner

160. “The difference between winning and losing is most often not quitting.” – Walt Disney

161. “Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe.” – Oprah Winfrey

162. “The secret of success is constancy to purpose.” – Benjamin Disraeli

163. “Success is a state of mind. If you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success.” – Joyce Brothers

Funny Positive Quotes for Work

What’s the point of life if we can’t share a laugh every now and then? These funny but positive quotes for work are relatable and even inspiring. It helps to know you’re not alone and to look for the sunshine even on a tough day at the office.

164. “The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph!” – Marvin Phillips

165. “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb

166. “Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill

167. “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” – Jimmy Johnson

168. “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” – Confucius

169. “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” – Mark Twain

170. “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” – Will Rogers

171. “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” – Dolly Parton

172. “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” – Henry David Thoreau

173. “Life is too short to be working on things you don’t care about.” – Unknown

174. “I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.” – Douglas Adams

175. “Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?” – Edgar Bergen

176. “A day without laughter is a day wasted… unless you’re at work, then it’s a mental health break.” – Anonymous

177. “The only time to be positive you’re on the right path is when you’re on a treadmill.” – Anonymous

178. “Behind every successful person is a substantial amount of coffee.” – Unknown

179. “The key to success is to start before you’re ready, and finish after the deadline.” – Anonymous

180. “Work hard so you can enjoy your weekend, or at least enjoy the thought of your weekend during work hours.” – Anonymous

181. “Just remember, when you feel like quitting, you’re only two cups of coffee away from a breakthrough.” – Anonymous

182. “Success is 99% failure.” – Soichiro Honda

183. “I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work — most of which involve coffee spills.” – Anonymous

184. “Success is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure. And also making sure you don’t skip lunch.” – Anonymous

185. “Success is a journey, not a destination… unless you’re traveling to the Bahamas.” – Anonymous

186. “They say success comes with hard work, but I’m starting to think a little bit of luck and a lot of coffee are involved.” – Anonymous

187. “Success is like a cat: If you chase it, it runs away. If you ignore it, it might come to you, but mostly it’ll sleep on your couch.” – Anonymous

A few words can really make all the difference in your day one way or another, so aim to keep your spirits high with some of these positive quotes for work inspiration. Along with some powerful mantras, you only need to hear or read these words a few times before you really believe them. Skip the typical would you rather questions at group meetings and ditch the ice breaker games and instead focus on getting your team to feel confident in themselves and ready to meet their goals.

For even more fun ideas to get motivated at work, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!

by: Ashley Reut