Best Inspirational Movie Quotes of All Time

Inspiration to do good in life, to peruse passion, or sometimes, even to go on with life, can come from anywhere. Movies have always been a very big source of inspiration for all of us. We often watch Netflix or Amazon Prime (accompanied by ice cream) when we are feeling low. And there is nothing wrong with that. It’s okay to watch a good movie that inspires you when you need that gentle push.

To illustrate how positively some movies can impact our lives, below are some of our favorite movies:

“Oh yes, the past can hurt. But you can either run from it, or learn from it.”

– Rafiki, from The Lion King

The Lion King is one of the best Disney movies. This line by Rafiki is so profound, and something that all of us can learn from. We often carry our pasts with us, in the present and in the future. This burden wears us down, we lose our zest for life. We spend so much time ensuring that we never feel how we did in the past that we run from vulnerable situations. All we really need to do is accept the situation and learn from it.

“Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?”

– from What a Girl Wants

We are all different and are born to be so.

“You can’t live your life for other people. You’ve got to do what’s right for you, even if it hurts some people you love.”

– from The Notebook

And if the people you truly love, love you back, they will understand. They may not be able to accept or change, but deep down there somewhere in their hearts, they will understand. You are meant to live truly, freely, vicariously. You are not meant to live a half-life, hiding a part of your soul.

”We are who we choose to be.”

– Green Goblin, from Spider-Man

We really are. Situations don’t make us who we are, we choose to become someone in each situation. Viktor Frankl, a survivor of the Holocaust, author, and founder of Logotherapy went through unbearable situations. But in each one, he had a choice to become who he wanted to be.

”My momma always said, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.”“

– from Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is a wonderful movie for a lot of reasons. This is quote is one of those reasons. When we look at life like a box of chocolates, we invite new experiences into our lives. We keep curiosity and wonder alive. It keeps us from becoming resentful and bitter. It also creates a positive feedback loop. When we expect new, good things (like flavors of chocolate) in our life, we get to live new experiences and good things in our life. Not knowing what's coming keeps us grounded in now and expecting something good keeps us happy and hopeful in difficult times.

“Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something, not even me. Alright? You dream, you gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you you can’t do it. If you want something, go get it. Period.”

– Chris Gardner, from The Pursuit of Happynes

If only we were all given this advice as children. Such inspiring words from the movie. You can be whoever you want to be in life. If you are focused, passionate and hardworking, you got it.

“You cannot live your life to please others. The choice must be yours.”

– White Queen, from Alice in Wonderland

How many things do you do in a day only to please others? Making yourself happy is the first step to making others happy.

“Our lives are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss.“

– from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Missing an opportunity is okay. Yes, it shapes our lives, sometimes in good ways that are not always apparent.

”Great men are not born great, they grow great.“

– Mario Puzo, from The Godfather

We often think that we have to be wired a certain way when we are born to be great and achieve something. Most people who do great things in life are not born so. They decide every day to become so.

“Only if you find peace within yourself will you find true connection with others.”

– from Before Sunrise

Being happy with ourselves is the greatest internal battle. When we win that battle, we know that everything else will fall in place. We will no longer feel the need to hide pieces of ourselves from others. We then have the ability to be truly vulnerable and real with people.

“I know what I have to do now, I’ve got to keep breathing because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?”

– From Cast Away

If you are in a difficult situation in life and the “box of chocolates” quote from Forrest Gump does not work for you, try this one. Just keep breathing. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

“There should be no boundaries to human endeavor. We are all different. However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there’s life, there is hope.”

– Stephen Hawking, The Theory of Everything

Stephen Hawking changed everything — single-handedly. We admire him and what he has achieved in his lifetime. He is a true example o=f what’s possible if you put your mind to it. Don’t let the situation define you. You can define the situation. This life — however it is, make the most of it. Hope for the best. Keep on going.

“Why do we fall sir? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.”

– Alfred, Batman Begins

We love this quote from Batman, we also love Alfred’s character in it. He peppers Batman with much-needed inspiration throughout the movie. But this quote is the best of all. We fall so we can learn to pick ourselves up.

“It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.”

– Tyler Durden, Fight Club

If you are empty, you have nothing left, it’s okay. It’s a gift. It’s a blank canvas. A fresh start. It’s a choice, what will you do now? As Louise Hay says in her quote, “The thoughts we choose to think are the tools we use to paint the canvas of our lives”.

“It is not our abilities that show what we truly are… it is our choices.”

– Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

The Harry Potter book series is filled with wisdom and life lessons. Narrated in a way that children and adults both understand. This one in particular is a beautiful quote. Our choices define who we are. Not our abilities.

“The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.“

– From Moulin Rouge

A very simple quote, but so vulnerable and deep. Choose love. Just love. It’s painful, hurtful, and hard. But it's a choice we make.

“Do, or do not. There is no “‘try'”.

– Yoda, Star Wars

There are so many Yoda quotes that are so good. We picked this one because its short and simple.

“Every man dies, not every man really lives.”

– Braveheart

We are all going to die. Someday. But how many of us will truly live while we are alive?

“Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”

– Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society

Dead Poets Society has many inspiring quotes. This one is particularly inspiring because it calls our attention to the present and also gives hope and confidence to do something extraordinary. It also reminds us of the famous Ram Dass Quote, “Be here now!”. Be here and seize the opportunities you have at the moment.

”Get busy living, or get busy dying.”

– Andy Dufresne, The Shawshank Redemption

The Shaw Shank Redemption is a class movie. With every second that we live, we are getting closer to dying. Either we can continue to fear death or we can live right now, today.

“Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear.”

– President Snow, The Hunger Games

Sometimes, inspiration comes from villains and so-called evil characters. Here, President Snow in The Hunger Games talks about hope being more powerful than fear. While he says this to dominate people and keep them in check, he is not wrong. Hope always wins over fear.

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

– Gandalf, Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

We all are here for a limited time in our lives, we don’t even know how much time we have. All that is left to do is to decide how we want to spend the time we have? What would you do today if this was the last day of your life?

“What we do in life echoes in eternity.”

– Maximus, Gladiator

We are a spark in this large universe, small, insignificant, and here for a moment in the universe’s lifespan. But even a spark can light a fire that burns for a lifetime. Everything we choose to do has an impact for years to come. We can’t see it just yet, but it does.

“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

– Neil Armstrong, First Man

While Neil Armstrong really took a small step that was a giant leap, it's true for all of us as well. Our seeming insignificant lives are what keeps the world going. Take the small steps. Don‘t stop.

”The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming.”

— Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight

When things are particularly dark and dreadful remember this quote. It’s the darkest right before dawn. There is no end in sight but know, believe that dawn is on its way.

”The world is your oyster it's up to you to find the pearls.“

– Chris Gardener, Pursuit of Happyness

It really is. Find your pearls. Real pearls or the pearls of wisdom.

“The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.”

- Mulan

This is absolutely true. Adversity shapes us, molds us, brings out the best in us. When we experience trying times, we see a side of ourselves that we never knew existed.

“You'll have bad times, but it'll always wake you up to the good stuff you weren't paying attention to.”

— Sean, Goodwill Hunting

This quote from Goodwill Hunting is also similar to the one from Mulan. We are so blessed. We have so much. Even when we lose everything we have so much to be grateful for. As you go through tough times, be grateful for everything you have. If you don’t know how to practice gratitude, read our post on Gratitude Practices.

“You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!”

— Rocky

The Rocky movies are also filled with inspiration, many athletes watch clips of Rocky before a big race or sporting event. And for good reason. This quote is inspiring in good times as well as bad times. To win, sometimes all you can do is to keep moving. Keep hitting, keep getting up.

“Sometimes, it's the very people who no one imagines anything of who do the things no one can imagine.”

— Christopher Morcom, The Imitation Game

So, dear reader, if you feel like you can’t do something, especially something bold that will make a difference, then this one is for you. You can make a difference, you are making a difference.

This is an evolving list. We keep adding new movies every now and then. What are your favorite movie quotes of all time? Let us know in the comments and we will add them to our collection.