Encouraging Quotes For Every Occasion

It has been said that encouragement is the key to unlocking a person's potential. When someone is encouraged, they feel empowered to take on whatever challenge lies ahead of them. Encouragement motivates people to reach for their dreams and achieve their goals. It can be the difference between success and failure. That is why it is so important to find ways to encourage the people in your life. 

 One of the best ways to encourage someone is to write them a handwritten letter or card. In today's fast-paced world, it is all too easy to forget the power of a personal touch. A handwritten note takes time and effort, and it shows that you care about the person enough to take the time to sit down and write to them. When you include an encouraging quote in your letter or card, you are giving the recipient a positive message that they can carry with them throughout the day.

Encouraging Quotes: Why Encouragement is So Positive

Try to imagine a moment in your life where you felt like you were about to give up on something and a well-timed word of encouragement pulled you back from the brink. Maybe you went on to succeed, or maybe you didn't. What you didn't do though, was quit. 

 That's the power of encouragement. 

 When we are feeling down, or like we can't go on, a kind word from someone else can be the light that guides us back to the path of success. Encouragement is such a positive force because it gives us hope. It helps us see that we are not alone and that somebody else believes in us. It is the fuel that propels us forward when we feel like we can't go on. 

 When it comes to encouragement, words are only part of the picture. Sometimes, the simple act of taking the time to listen to us can be just as encouraging as a kind word. If you know someone who is going through a difficult time, take the time to listen to them. Let them know that you are there for them.

Tips for Making Your Encouraging Quotes Cards More Effective

When you sit down to write an encouraging letter or card, there are a few things you can do to make sure your message has the maximum impact. 

 Think about what the person is going through and what they need to hear. It might be a good idea to re-read any previous letters or cards you have received from them so you can get an idea of their current situation. 

 Be specific in your praise. Instead of simply saying "Great job!" or "You're doing a great job," try to be specific about what you are praising the person for. For example, "I'm so proud of how hard you've been working on your project" or "I can tell that you put a lot of thought into your presentation." 

 Use positive language. Avoid using words like "don't" or "can't." Instead, focus on what the person can do. For example, "You can do it!" or "I know you'll make an excellent presentation." 

 Be sincere. Choose your words carefully and make sure that they are coming from a place of genuine sincerity. The recipient will be able to tell if you are just trying to flatter them or if you truly believe in what you are saying. When including encouraging quotes, choose words that reflect the content of your heart. It's perfectly fine to use others' words as long as they're speaking your truth. 

 Be personal. In addition to including a quote, take the time to write a personal message that is tailored to the recipient. This will show that you are thinking about them as an individual and not just sending them a generic card. In other words, including encouraging quotes as well as encouragement of your own.

Encouraging Quotes By Occasion

Here you'll find encouraging quotes for numerous occasions. In many cases, quotes are useful across multiple categories. If you don't see something you like in one area, look elsewhere.

For a Difficult Time

When someone's having a rough go of things, a few encouraging quotes or a heartfelt "you can do it!" can make the difference between being defeated and finding a way through. 

 "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." — Ralph Waldo Emerson 

 “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” — Albert Einstein 

 "Most of us, swimming against the tides of trouble the world knows nothing about, need only a bit of praise or encouragement – and we will make the goal." — Jerome Fleishman 

 "The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." - Alan Watts 

 “Belief creates the actual fact.” — William James 

 "The hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of our lives. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end." - Unknown 

 “Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.” — Winston Churchill 

 "We  generate fear while we sit. We overcome them by action." — Dr. Henry Link 

 “I tell myself, ‘You've been through so much, you've endured so much, time will allow me to heal, and soon this will be just another memory that made me the strong woman, athlete, and mother I am today.”‘ — Serena Williams 

 “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” — Robert F. Kennedy

For a New Beginning

Inspirational quotes are always welcome at the start of something new, especially if that thing is scary. When we know others are cheering us on, it can be easier to face our new future with courage. 

 “I just want you to know that if you are out there and you are being really hard on yourself right now for something that has happened … it's normal. That is what is going to happen to you in life. No one gets through unscathed. We are all going to have a few scratches on us. Please be kind to yourselves and stand up for yourself, please.” — Taylor Swift 

 "Every morning we are born again. What we do today matters most." — Unknown 

 “Be courageous. Challenge orthodoxy. Stand up for what you believe in. When you are in your rocking chair talking to your grandchildren many years from now, be sure you have a good story to tell.” — Amal Clooney 

 “I think it's possible to ordinary people to choose to be extraordinary.” — Elon Musk 

 "Today's the day! Today, anything is possible!" — Unknown 

 “Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.” — Dalai Lama 

 "Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye." — Helen Keller

For a Birthday

Sometimes a little inspiration is nice when the weight of another calendar is weighing you down. 

 "A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip." — Unknown 

 "The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." — Oprah Winfrey 

 "The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power." — Unknown 

 "Your birthday is a special time to celebrate the gift of 'you' to the world." — Unknown

For an Anniversary

If you know someone celebrating an anniversary, give them a little "way to go!" for doing the work to keep the relationship healthy. 

 "The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." — Audrey Hepburn 

 "A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person." — Mignon McLaughlin 

 "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." — Helen Keller 

 "The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family." — Thomas Jefferson

For a Graduation

Graduations are always exciting times full of bright possibilities. A poignant inspirational quote can help set the tone for positive things to come. Help your graduate create enduring change. 

 "Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the best." — John D. Rockefeller 

 "Life has got all those twists and turns. You’ve got to hold on tight and off you go." — Nicole Kidman 

 “People tell you the world looks a certain way. Parents tell you how to think. Schools tell you how to think. TV. Religion. And then at a certain point, if you're lucky, you realize you can make up your own mind. Nobody sets the rules but you. You can design your own life.” — Carrie Ann Moss 

 "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." — Eleanor Roosevelt 

 "Your time is limited, don't waste it living someone else's life." — Steve Jobs

For a New Job

If a friend, family member, or coworker is braving a new company, let them know you're thinking of them with these encouraging quotes. 

 "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." — Steve Jobs 

 “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” — Helen Keller 

 "You define your own life. Don't let other people write your script." — Oprah Winfrey 

 “Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” — Harriet Beecher Stowe 

 "If you can dream it, you can do it." — Walt Disney 

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

 "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." — Winston Churchill

For a Promotion

Maybe your recipient is staying with the same company but moving up. Give them the "attaboy" they need to do their best. 

 "Good job! You're doing a great job!" — Unknown 

 "Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow's reality." — Malala Yousafzai 

 "You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honorably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give." — E.O. Wilson 

 “Don't give up. Don't lose hope. Don't sell out.” — Christopher Reeve 

 “I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.” — Georgia O'Keeffe 

 "So be a mirror reflecting yourself back, and remembering the times you thought all of this was too hard and that you’d never make it through. Remember the times you could have pressed quit – but you hit continue." — Unknown

For a New Baby

A new baby is a big responsibility. Let your friends know they have what it takes to be great parents. 

 "A baby is born with a need to be loved and never outgrows it." — Frank A. Clark 

 "There is no finer investment for any community than putting milk into babies." — Winston Churchill 

 "Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward.” — Victor Kiam 

 "Babies are such a nice way to start people." — Don Herold 

 “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them—that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” — Lao Tzu

For a New Home

Buying a new house can be a daunting process. Send encouraging quotes to let your loved ones know you're right behind them. 

 "Home is where our story begins." — Unknown 

 "A house is made of walls and beams, a home is built with love and dreams." — Unknown 

 “The moral of my story is the sun always comes out after the storm. Being optimistic and surrounding yourself with positive loving people is for me, living life on the sunny side of the street.” — Janice Dean 

 "Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts." — Oliver Wendell Holmes 

 "You make a choice: continue living your life feeling muddled in this abyss of self-misunderstanding, or you find your identity independent of it. You draw your own box." — Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

For a New School Year

Each year, school changes for students everywhere. Give them the courage they need to face each day. 

 "You are never too old to set new goals or to dream a new dream." — C.S. Lewis 

 “Don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle.” — Jon Acuff 

 "Today is the first day of the rest of your life." — Unknown 

 "Believe you can and you're halfway there." — Theodore Roosevelt 

 "The best way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." — Walt Disney 

 "It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you. Always." — Oprah Winfrey 

 “He who refuses to embrace a unique opportunity loses the prize as surely as if he had failed.” — William James 

  “Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.” — Benjamin Franklin 

 "When life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up." — Les Brown

For a New Relationship

Entering a new relationship is usually equal parts exhilarating and terrifying. Let them know you're thinking about them. 

 "Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies." — Aristotle 

 "A friends loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." — Proverbs 17:17 

 “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” ― Michael Altshuler 

 "The heart wants what it wants. There's no logic to these things. You meet someone and you fall in love and that's that." — Woody Allen 

 "You do not find the happy life. You make it." — Camilla Eyring Kimball 

 "Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you." — Walt Whitman

Let Simply Noted Send Your Encouraging Quotes

No matter what the occasion, these 68 encouraging quotes will help show your support and care for others. And when you don't have time to send a handwritten note yourself, rely on Simply Noted, in seconds you can have our automated handwriting machines create exceptional handwritten notes and letters filled with your chosen encouraging quotes. So don't be afraid to encourage those around you - it might just be the best thing you ever do!