40 Inspirational Quotes on Overcoming Challenges

Author, Entrepreneur, Podcast & TV Host

We all have those days when the challenges we’re facing seem insurmountable, when we’re not sure how to move forward or find motivation. These days may surprise us, or small challenges may build up over time and turn into bigger challenges. Whatever the case, sometimes we just need some words of wisdom or some overcoming challenges quotes to give us that extra push we need to keep going.

From Rumi and Ghandi, to Barack Obama and Eleanor Roosevelt, we’ve gathered together 41 overcoming challenges quotes to help you on your journey. When you find yourself doubting your ability to overcome the difficulties in life that you’re facing, look to one or two of these quotes to remind you that you are capable of overcoming any challenge.

Overcoming Challenges Quotes

“All the energy in the universe is evenly present in all places at the same time. We don’t get energy, we release energy. And the triggering mechanism to release energy is desire. When you have a strong desire to do something, you will always have the energy to do it.” —Bob Proctor

“A one-talented man who decides upon a definite object accomplishes more than a ten-talented man who scatters his energies and never knows exactly what he will do.” —Orison Swett Marden, from Pushing to the Front

“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.” —Thomas Jefferson

Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” –Calvin Coolidge

“The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; to be kind, but not weak; to be bold, but not a bully; to be thoughtful, but not lazy; to be humble, but not timid; to be proud, but not arrogant; to have humor, but without folly.” —Jim Rohn

“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.” —Barack Obama

“Your fate has not been written until you pick up a pen.” —Dean Bokhari

“When times are good, be grateful, and when times are tough, be graceful.” —Dustin Poirier

“Take one step in the direction of your dreams and watch the Universe perform miracles to help you.” —Alexandra Domelle

“Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not.” —Bobby Kennedy

“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” —Eleanor Roosevelt

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” —Aristotle

“If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing.” —Benjamin Franklin

“Everything will be okay in the end. If it isn’t okay, it isn’t the end.” —Paulo Coelho

“Don’t just visualize success at the end. Visualize the process. Don’t just picture yourself winning. Picture the steps it takes to get there.” —Dean Bokhari

“He who sweats more in training bleeds less in war.” —Greek Proverb

“There’s never enough time to do everything, but there’s always enough time to do the most important thing.” —Dean Bokhari

“Don’t be afraid to do something you’re not qualified to do.” —Dan Carlin

“A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do.” —Bob Dylan

“People will forget what you said and did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” —Maya Angelou

“Energy and persistence conquer all things.” —Benjamin Franklin

“Focus equals reality to the individual, even if it’s not reality in actuality.” —Anonymous

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

“Haters are like crickets. You can hear all the noise they make, but you can’t see them…Then, right when you walk by them, they’re quiet.” —Dean Bokhari

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” —Theodore Roosevelt

“We cannot be sure of having something to live for unless we are willing to die for it.” ―Ernesto Guevara

“This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I love. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no ‘brief candle’ to me. It is sort of a splendid torch which I have a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it over to future generations.” —George Bernard Shaw

“Accept the presence of thorns, but let the rose inspire you.” —Steve Pavlina

“As you start to walk out on the way, the way appears.” —Rumi

“With enough courage, you can do without a reputation.” —Clark Gable

“Sometimes you’ve got to experience the ugly inside yourself to discover the beauty inside yourself.” —Dean Bokhari

“No one can make me feel inferior without my consent.” —Eleanor Roosevelt

“Leaders think and talk about the solutions. Followers think and talk about the problems.” —Brian Tracy

“No one can take your self respect if you do not give it to them,” —Ghandi

“Success is something you attract by the person you become.” —Jim Rohn

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” —John Adams

“A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.” –George Patton

“Life grants nothing to us mortals without hard work.” –Horace

“They who lack talent expect things to happen without effort. They ascribe failure to a lack of inspiration or ability, or to misfortune, rather than to insufficient application. At the core of every true talent, there is an awareness of the difficulties inherent in any achievement, and the confidence that by persistence and patience something worthwhile will be realized. Thus talent is a species of vigor.” –Eric Hoffer

“Too many of us wait to do the perfect thing, with the result we do nothing. The way to get ahead is to start now. While many of us are waiting until conditions are ‘just right’ before we go ahead, others are stumbling along, fortunately ignorant of the dangers that beset them. By the time we are, in our superior wisdom, decided to make a start, we discover that those who have gone fearlessly on before, have, in their blundering way, traveled a considerable distance. If you start now, you will know a lot next year that you don’t know now, and that you will not know next year, if you wait.” –The William Feather Magazine

Final Thoughts

We all have bad days, weeks, and even months. We all feel helpless and lost at times^[1]. However, those are the times when it’s most important to look closely at your skills and talents and push forward past the hard times in order to find a life you can be proud of. Use the above overcoming challenges quotes to motivate you to keep going and never give up.