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If you’ve ever turned to motivational quotes for inspiration, you probably know how often the same classics pop up from icons like Oprah Winfrey, Albert Einstein, and Eleanor Roosevelt. While those words of wisdom are undeniably powerful, sometimes you need something fresh, a quote that catches you off guard and reignites your drive in a new way. That’s why I combed through my book list to find rare motivational quotes that go beyond the usual sayings from Winston Churchill, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford. These are the unique insights from voices less commonly quoted but equally impactful—words that might be the stepping stone to help you push past your comfort zone and toward your biggest goals. If you’re ready to get motivated with fresh wisdom, keep reading for these hidden gems!
1. “Your deepest moments of happiness don’t come from doing easy things; they come from realizing your potential and overcoming your own limiting beliefs about yourself.” – Scott Young, Ultralearning
2. “So if you can just complete something—merely complete it!—you’re already miles ahead of the pack, right there.” – Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic
3. “If you’re not uncomfortable, then you’re probably stuck at an “acceptable level.”” – Cal Newport, So Good They Can’t Ignore You
4. “Success is more than reaching our goals—it’s living our values. There’s no higher value than aspiring to be better tomorrow than we are today.” – Adam Grant, Hidden Potential
5. “If you are stuck, if you are struggling to figure out a clear vision for the life you want, then all I care about is that you make little goals for yourself to start building momentum and that you create time and space every day to think, to daydream, to look around, to be present in the world, to let inspiration and ideas in. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, at least give it a chance to find you.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger, Be Useful
6. “What I’m saying is, if you’re going to do it, do it. Not just because going all in might be the thing that guarantees your success, but because not going all in will absolutely guarantee that you fall short.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger, Be Useful
7. “It’s no harder to think big than it is to think small. The only hard part is giving yourself permission to think that way.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger, Be Useful
8. “But more importantly, I have a rule: no complaining about a situation unless you’re prepared to do something to make it better. If you see a problem and you don’t come to the table with a potential solution, I don’t want to hear your whining about how bad it is. It couldn’t be that bad if it hasn’t motivated you to try to fix it.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger, Be Useful
9. “Success is actually a short race—a sprint fueled by discipline just long enough for habit to kick in and take over.” – Gary Keller, The One Thing
10. “You don’t need to be a disciplined person to be successful. In fact, you can become successful with less discipline than you think, for one simple reason: success is about doing the right thing, not about doing everything right.” – Gary Keller, The One Thing
11. “The trick to success is to choose the right habit and bring just enough discipline to establish it.” – Gary Keller, The One Thing
12. “To experience extraordinary results, be a maker in the morning and a manager in the afternoon.” – Gary Keller, The One Thing
13. “The people who achieve extraordinary results don’t achieve them by working more hours. They achieve them by getting more done in the hours they work.” – Gary Keller, The One Thing
14. “Put yourself together, and your world falls into place.” – Gary Keller, The One Thing
15. “No one succeeds alone and no one fails alone. Pay attention to the people around you.” – Gary Keller, The One Thing
16. “Badass people are grown from turbulent life experiences, grit, blood, sweat, tears, and hard-core forgiveness of the highest caliber.” – Vishen Lakhiani, The 6 Phase Meditation Methos
17. “You don’t need to figure out how you’ll get “there.” Focus on feeling peaceful, then the rest will follow.” – Gabrielle Bernstein, Happy Days
18. “What is rare is not raw talent, skill, or even confidence, but humility, diligence, and self-awareness.” – Ryan Holiday, Ego Its The Enemy
19. “Success requires a full 100 percent of our effort, and talk flitters part of that effort away before we can use it.” – Ryan Holiday, Ego Its The Enemy
20. “Clear the path for the people above you and you will eventually create a path for yourself.” – Ryan Holiday, Ego Its The Enemy
21. “Greatness comes from humble beginnings; it comes from grunt work. It means you’re the least important person in the room—until you change that with results.” – Ryan Holiday, Ego Its The Enemy
22. “Make use of what’s around you. Don’t let stubbornness make a bad situation worse.” – Ryan Holiday, Ego Its The Enemy
At the end of the day, motivation can be hard to come by, especially when you’re surrounded by the same favorite quotes from figures like Maya Angelou and Steve Jobs. But every once in a while, discovering an unexpected quote can be all it takes to reignite your energy. Whether you were inspired by a lesser-known insight from Arnold Schwarzenegger or a hidden gem from Ryan Holiday, remember that the most important thing is to keep pushing toward your own dreamsand goals. Take these rare quotes with you as tools for transformation—and may they inspire you to build the life you’ve always envisioned.
