Inspiration

This site is dedicated to GFC's selection of momentous and motivational quotes by people from all walks of life. Whatever our culture, values and beliefs; there will always be quotes that connect with our emotions, feelings and idealogies. While some quotes may reflect our perspectives, strengthen our sense of self-reassurance; others may motivate us to change our perception for the better. It’s all about enhancing our inner energy and increasing our emotional intellgence. We hope you enjoy reading the following quotes belonging to some of the world’s most influential and inspiring people. All persons are mentioned in alphabetical order:

“I AM A SLOWER WALKER, BUT I NEVER WALK BACK”
“WHEN YOU REACH THE END OF YOUR ROPE, TIE A KNOT AND HANG ON”
“NEARLY ALL MEN CAN STAND ADVERSITY, BUT IF YOU WANT TO TEST A MAN’S CHARACTER, GIVE HIM POWER”

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ABRAHAM LINCOLN ( 1809 – 1865 )

16th President of the United States, saviour of the Union and emancipator of enslaved people

“NEVER HATE YOUR ENEMIES, IT AFFECTS YOUR JUDGEMENT”
“IT’S EASY TO FOOL THE EYE BUT IT’S HARD TO FOOL THE HEART”
“EITHER WE HEAL NOW AS A TEAM OR WE WILL DIE LATER AS INDIVIDUALS”

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AL PACINO ( 1940 – Present )

Italian-American iconic actor, versatile performer, filmmaker

“LIFE IS LIKE RIDING A BICYCLE. TO KEEP YOUR BALANCE YOU MUST KEEP MOVING”
“THE IMPORTANT THING IS NOT TO STOP QUESTIONING. CURIOSITY HAS ITS OWN REASON FOR EXISTENCE”
“I SPEAK TO EVERYONE IN THE SAME WAY, WHETHER HE IS THE GARBAGE MAN OR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY”

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ALBERT EINSTEIN ( 1879 – 1955 )

World renouned German-born Scientist and pioneering theoretical physicist

“IN WHATEVER YOU DO, STRIVE TO BE THE BEST AT IT”
“IF YOU DON’T HAVE AMBITION, YOU SHOULDN’T BE ALIVE”
“WHEN YOU HAVE MADE IT IN LIFE, YOU MUST GIVE BACK TO THOSE WHO MADE YOU”

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ALIKO DANGOTE ( 1957 – Present )

Nigerian billionaire businessman, founder and chairman of Dangote Group

“I AM THE PROPERTY OF MY BUSINESS, NOT THE REVERSE”
“THE CUSTOMER HAS ALWAYS DRIVEN THE BUSINESS MODEL”
“WE CANNOT LIMIT OURSELVES TO CONTINUING ON THE PATH WE HAVE ALREADY OPENED”

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AMANCIO ORTEGA ( 1936 – Present )

Spanish business tycoon, founder and former chairman of Inditex Fashion Group

“GIVE ME A PLACE TO STAND ON AND I WILL MOVE THE EARTH”
“BE SILENT UNLESS YOU CAN SAY SOMETHING THAT IS MORE USEFUL THAN YOUR SILENCE”
“MAN HAS ALWAYS LEARNED FROM THE PAST. AFTER ALL, YOU CAN’T LEARN HISTORY IN REVERSE”

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ARCHIMEDES ( 287 – 212 BC )

Born in Syracuse, Italy, one of mankind’s most influential physicist and mathematician

“MY MORAL HERITAGE IS SCIENCE AND REASON”
“EVERYTHING WE SEE IN THE WORLD IS THE CREATIVE WORK OF WOMEN”
“A GOOD TEACHER IS LIKE A CANDLE, IT CONSUMES ITSELF TO LIGHT THE WAY FOR OTHERS”

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ATATURK ( 1881 – 1938 )

Father, Founder and First President of the Republic of Turkey

“SOME PEOPLE FEEL THE RAIN, OTHERS JUST GET WET”
“TRUE FRIENDS ARE LIKE STARS; YOU CAN ONLY RECOGNIZE THEM WHEN IT’S DARK AROUND YOU”
“YOU NEVER KNOW HOW STRONG YOU ARE UNTIL BEING STRONG IS THE ONLY CHOICE YOU HAVE”

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BOB MARLEY ( 1945 – 1981 )

World famous Jamaican reggae artist, songwriter, musician

“THREE THINGS CANNOT HIDE FOR LONG: THE MOON, THE SUN AND THE TRUTH”
“EVERY MORNING WE ARE BORN AGAIN. WHAT WE DO TODAY IS WHAT MATTERS MOST”
“YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO FIND YOUR PURPOSE AND GIVE YOUR WHOLE HEART AND SOUL TO IT”

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BUDDHA GAUTAMA ( 563 – 483 BC )

Founder of Buddhism, religious leader, spiritual teacher, philosopher, mendicant, meditator

“RICHES DON’T MAKE A MAN RICH, THEY ONLY MAKE HIM BUSIER”
“NOTHING THAT RESULTS IN HUMAN PROGRESS IS ACHIEVED WITH UNANIMOUS CONSENT”
“YOU CAN NEVER CROSS THE OCEAN UNLESS YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE SHORE”

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CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS ( 1451 – 1506 )

Genoa, Italy-born legendary explorer, navigator, coloniser

“HE WHO KNOWS ALL THE ANSWERS HAS NOT BEEN ASKED ALL THE QUESTIONS”
“THE MAN WHO MOVES A MOUNTAIN BEGINS BY CARRYING AWAY SMALL STONES”
“OUR GREATEST GLORY IS NOT IN NEVER FALLING, BUT IN RISING EVERY TIME WE FALL”

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CONFUCIUS ( 551 – 479 BC )

Great Chinese thinker, founder of Confucianism, philosopher, politician

“IF YOU DON’T TRUST THE PILOT, DON’T GO”
“DON’T ASPIRE TO MAKE A LIVING, ASPIRE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE”
“YOU PRAY FOR RAIN, YOU GOT TO DEAL WITH THE MUD TOO. THAT’S A PART OF IT”

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DENZEL WASHINGTON ( 1954 – Present )

African-American Legendary Actor, Director, and Producer

“THINK BIG, THINK FAST, THINK AHEAD. IDEAS ARE NO ONE’S MONOPOLY”
“IF YOU’RE BORN POOR IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT BUT IF YOU DIE POOR IT’S YOUR FAULT”
“IF YOU DO DON’T BUILD YOUR DREAM, SOMEONE ELSE WILL HIRE YOU TO HELP THEM BUILD THEIRS”

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DHIRUBHAI AMBANI ( 1932 – 2002 )

Junagadh-born Indian industrial giant, founder of Reliance Industries

“IF THE TIMES AREN’T RIPE, YOU HAVE TO RIPEN THE TIMES”
“NO ONE WILL DO FOR YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR YOURSELF”
“PROGRESS COMES FROM CARING MORE ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE THAN ABOUT WHO GETS THE CREDIT”

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DOROTHY HEIGHT ( 1912 – 2010 )

African-American civil rights leader, known as the Godmother of the women's movement

“IF YOUR DREAMS DO NOT SCARE YOU, THEY ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH”
“LEADERSHIP IS NEVER GIVEN ON A SILVER PLATE, ONE HAS TO EARN IT”
“FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL JUDGE US NOT BY WHAT WE SAY, BUT WHAT WE DO”

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ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF ( 1938 – Present )

24th President of Liberia, world’s first elected black female president

“WE BUILD TOO MANY WALLS AND NOT ENOUGH BRIDGES”
“WHAT WE KNOW IS A DROP, WHAT WE DON’T KNOW IS AN OCEAN”
“TACT IS THE ART OF MAKING A POINT WITHOUT MAKING AN ENEMY”

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ISAAC NEWTON ( 1643 – 1727 )

Great English scientist, mathematician, physicist, astronomer, theologian, author

“I DON’T WANT TO BE LIKED. I WANT TO BE RESPECTED”
“YOU NEED THE RIGHT PEOPLE WITH YOU, NOT THE BEST PEOPLE”
“IF YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT MINDSET, YOU WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT OUTCOME”

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JACK MA ( 1964 – Present )

Chinese business magnate, philanthropist, co-founder and former chairman of Alibaba Group

“CUSTOMER IS THE KING AND I AM THE SERVANT”
“IT’S NOT AN EXPERIMENT IF YOU KNOW IT’S GOING TO WORK”
“YOU DON’T CHOOSE YOUR PASSIONS, YOUR PASSIONS CHOOSE YOU”

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JEFF BEZOS ( 1964 – Present )

American internet icon, industrialist, media proprietor, investor, founder, CEO and president of Amazon

“NO ONE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO VIOLENTLY TRAMPLE ON THE LAW”
“THERE IS NO GREATNESS WHERE SIMPLICITY, GOODNESS AND TRUTH ARE ABSENT\"
“EVERYONE THINKS OF CHANGING THE WORLD, BUT NO THINKS OF CHANGING HIMSELF\"

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LEO TOLSTOY ( 1828 – 1910 )

World reputed Russian writer; one of the greatest authors of all time

“AN EYE FOR EYE ONLY ENDS UP MAKING THE WHOLE WORLD BLIND”
“I CANNOT CONCEIVE OF A GREATER LOSS THAN THE LOSS OF ONE’S SELF RESPECT”
“FIRST THEY IGNORE YOU, THEN THEY LAUGH AT YOU, THEN THEY FIGHT YOU, THEN YOU WIN”

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MAHATMA GANDHI ( 1869 – 1948 )

Father of the Republic of India, political and spiritual leader, lawyer, social activist, writer

“EDUCATION IS THE PASSPORT TO THE FUTURE”
“IF YOU HAVE NO CRITICS YOU’LL LIKELY HAVE NO SUCCESS”
“A MAN WHO STANDS FOR NOTHING WILL FALL FOR ANYTHING”

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MALCOLM X ( 1925 – 1965 )

African American leader in the civil rights movement, Muslim minister, supporter of black nationalism

“NOTHING IN LIFE IS TO BE FEARED; IT IS ONLY TO BE UNDERSTOOD”
“I WAS TAUGHT THAT THE WAY OF PROGRESS WAS NEITHER SWIFT NOR EASY”
“ONE NEVER NOTICES WHAT HAS BEEN DONE; ONE CAN ONLY SEE WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE”

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MARIE CURIE ( 1867 – 1934 )

Polish-French physicist and chemist; first person and only woman to win the Nobel Prize twice

“NOTHING WILL WORK UNLESS YOU DO”
“I\'VE LEARNED THAT MAKING A LIVING IS NOT THE SAME THING AS MAKING A LIFE”
“HATE, IT HAS CAUSED A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD, BUT IT HAS NOT SOLVED ONE YET”

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MAYA ANGELOU ( 1928 – 2014 )

African-American legendary author, poet, actress, civil rights activist

“CHALLENGE YOURSELF; IT’S THE ONLY PATH WHICH LEADS TO GROWTH”
“HOW DO WE CHANGE THE WORLD? ONE RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS AT A TIME”
“NEVER LET PRIDE BE YOUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE. LET YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS SPEAK FOR YOU”

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MORGAN FREEMAN ( 1937 – Present )

World star American actor, director, producer and voice-over narrator

“THERE IS NO KEY TO HAPPINESS; THE DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN”
“THE WORLD IS FULL OF GOOD PEOPLE. IF YOU CAN’T FIND ONE, BE ONE”
“SOME PEOPLE COME IN OUR LIFE AS BLESSINGS. SOME COME IN YOUR LIFE AS LESSONS”

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MOTHER TERESA ( 1910 – 1997 )

Noble Peace Prize winner Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun, missionary and humanitarian

“I DON’T CARE HOW SMALL THE RING IS, I’LL FIGHT THAT CHUMP IN A TELEPHONE BOOTH”
“IT ISN’T THE MOUNTAINS AHEAD TO CLIMB THAT WEAR YOU OUT, ITS THE PEBBLE IN YOUR SHOES”
“A MAN WHO VIEWS THE WORLD THE SAME AT 50 AS HE DID AT 20 HAS WASTED 30 YEARS OF HIS LIFE”

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MUHAMMAD ALI ( 1942 – 2016 )

The greatest boxer of all time, philanthropist, social activist

“THE WORD IMPOSSIBLE IS NOT IN MY DICTIONARY”
“GREAT AMBITION IS THE PASSION OF A GREAT CHARACTER”
“UNTIL YOU SPREAD YOUR WINGS, YOU’LL HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAR YOU CAN FLY”

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NAPOLEON ( 1769 – 1821 )

First emperor of France, one of the greatest military commanders of all time

“YOU DON’T BECOME WHAT YOU WANT, YOU BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE”
“SURROUND YOURSELF ONLY WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE YOU HIGHER”
“WHEN YOU UNDERVALUE WHAT YOU DO, THE WORLD WILL UNDERVALUE WHO YOU ARE”

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OPRAH WINFREY ( 1954 – Present )

World’s most viewed American talk show host, philanthropist, actress, producer, media executive, author

“THERE IS NO BEAUTY BETTER THAN INTELLECT”
“THERE IS NOTHING HEAVIER IN THE SCALES THAN GOOD CHARACTER”
“THE STRONGEST AMONG YOU ARE THE ONE WHO CONTROLS HIS ANGER”

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PROPHET MUHAMMAD PBUH ( 570 – 632 CE )

Messenger of God, founder of Islam, social reformer, diplomat, merchant, philosopher, orator

“WORK IS THE RENT YOU PAY FOR THE ROOM YOU OCCUPY ON EARTH”
“WHEN LIFE SEEMS HARD, THE COURAGEOUS DO NOT LIE DOWN AND ACCEPT DEFEAT”
“LET US NOT TAKE OURSELVES TOO SERIOUSLY, NONE OF US HAS A MONOPOLY ON WISDOM”

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QUEEN ELIZABETH II ( 1926 – 2022)

Queen of the United Kingdom; most loved and longest-reigning monarch in British history

“RESPECT IS HOW TO TREAT EVERYONE, NOT JUST THOSE YOU WANT TO IMPRESS”

“THE BRAVE MAY NOT LIVE FOREVER – BUT THE CAUTIOUS DO NOT LIVE AT ALL”

“BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES ARE LIKE BUSES; THERE’S ALWAYS ANOTHER ONE COMING”

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SIR RICHARD ( 1950 - Present )

A British billionaire, entrepreneur, commercial astronaut and business magnate

“NOTHING IS TO BE PREFERRED BEFORE JUSTICE”
“IT IS NOT LIVING THAT MATTERS, BUT LIVING RIGHTFULLY”
“SOMETIMES YOU PUT WALLS UP NOT TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT BUT TO SEE WHO CARES ENOUGH TO BREAK THEM DOWN”

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SOCRATES ( 470 – 399 BC )

Ancient Greek scholar, teacher and philosopher; one of the founders of Western philosophy

“SOMETIMES LIFE HITS YOU IN THE HEAD WITH A BRICK. DON’T LOSE FAITH”
“I DON’T CARE ABOUT BEING RIGHT. I CARE ABOUT SUCCESS AND DOING THE RIGHT THING”
“I’M ACTUALLY AS PROUD OF MANY OF THE THINGS WE HAVEN’T DONE AS THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE”

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STEVE JOBS ( 1955 – 2011 )

American pioneer of the personal computer revolution, former chairman of Apple, industrial designer, investor

“WRONG DOES NOT CEASE TO BE WRONG BECAUSE THE MAJORITY SHARE IN IT”
“SUCCESS IS NOT FINAL, FAILURE IS NOT FATAL, IT IS THE COURAGE TO CONTINUE THAT COUNTS”
“THE PESSIMIST SEES DIFFICULTY IN EVERY OPPORTUNITY, THE OPTIMIST SEES OPPORTUNITY IN EVERY DIFFICULTY”

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WINSTON CHURCHILL ( 1874 – 1965 )

Legendary British statesman, inspirational military leader, writer