If you are a student who needs a lot of motivation in order to succeed in life, you need to read these short quotes for students given by some of the greatest people in the world. When you start reading inspirational quotes, you will find a change in yourself and confidence that comes from nowhere and will push you toward success. Let’s see some of the best inspirational quotes for students in this article.

Short Quotes For Students

1. “We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope”

Who said it: Martin Luther King Jr.

Explanation: This quote is one of the short inspirational quotes for students that emphasizes what we think is infinite is actually finite and what we think is finite is infinite. To be precise, we all may have disappointments in life, which is normal. But what makes them worse is thinking that these are forever. The ability to cope with obstacles and move forward with life is important for succeeding in your goals. It encourages positivity despite the challenges.

How it helps students: It teaches students to face the challenges in their academic journey and to maintain a positive outlook on their goals and future endeavors.

2. “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”

Who said it: Albert Einstein

Explanation: This quote emphasizes the importance of taking risks and learning from failure. Great scientists have made mistakes which were the ones that led to success. So making mistakes in finding something great is quite normal and we don’t have to worry about these mistakes. Error is seen as a natural part of curriculum design and innovation.

How it helps students: It encourages students to embrace the trial-and-error approach to learning, fostering creativity and growth without fear of failure.

3. “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”

Who said it: B.B. King

Explanation: Have you seen the movie “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind”?! It talks about a young boy who innovates a windmill prototype and builds one to bring water to his village. During the drought and famine, when everything is taken away, what can’t be taken is our knowledge and education. Knowledge is a lifelong possession that stays with a person forever. This quote emphasizes the sustainability and personal empowerment of education.

How it helps students: It encourages students to value their education, recognizing that the knowledge they acquire is worth keeping and can never be lost.

4. “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”

Who said it: Zig Ziglar

Explanation: You can’t expect success in the first attempt itself. Can you?! It is okay to make mistakes when you start and it is completely fine when you don’t know when you start. The most important thing in achieving success is taking initiative, consistently working hard, and learning everything in the journey.

How it helps students: Motivates students to take the first steps towards their goals, regardless of their current skills or achievements.

5. “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”

Who said it: Thomas Edison

Explanation: In today’s world, where everything is competitive, what students need to have is patience. If you are a student preparing for an exam, a sports event, or anything, what takes you to success is the ability to not give up. Consistent hard work and overcoming failures is the key to success. The quote suggests to students that failure itself is not missing out, but giving up trying harder.

How it helps students: This quote is one of the short inspirational quotes for students that instills a sense of perseverance in students and encourages them to keep striving for success despite obstacles.

6. “If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut.”

Who said it: Albert Einstein

Explanation: This is one of the best short inspirational quotes for students which is mathematical and humorous as well. It says that success is a combination of hard work, enjoying what you do, and a positive attitude. Einstein made it simple for students who are looking for something that is humorously motivational!

How it helps students: It provides a formula for students to balance work and play while being mindful of their communication, aiding in personal and professional development.

7. “The only thing standing between you and outrageous success is continuous progress you need discipline.”

Who said it: Dan Waldschmidt

Explanation: Remember the story of the rabbit and the tortoise? What made the tortoise win the race? Well, it was the discipline and consistent effort. Though you are fast and talented, what you need to achieve success is the discipline.

How it helps students: Emphasize the importance of discipline in students’ daily practices for long-term success.

8. “Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.”

Who said it: Stephen King

Explanation: Talent alone is not enough for success, it has to be accompanied by hard work and dedication. You can also relate this quote “Hard work beats Talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” What makes you work hard is the discipline. So, it is a combination that takes every student to success.

How it helps students: It encourages students to work hard and not rely solely on their natural abilities.

9. “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”

Who said it: Martin Luther King Jr.

Explanation: This quote emphasizes the importance of doing little things with great dedication and hard work. It shows that greatness is not just about great accomplishments but about the quality and impact of our actions, no matter how big.

How it helps students: This quote can encourage students to focus on the value of small, consistent efforts. It teaches them that everything they do if done right, contributes to their growth and can lead to important results.

10. “Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.” 

Who said it: Madam C.J. Walker

Explanation: This quote is one of the short inspirational quotes for students that encourages them to take initiative and create their own opportunities rather than passively waiting. If you keep working hard and become a master of a certain aspect, then it is obvious that people come to you for opportunities. And that is how you create chances for yourself!

How it helps students: It encourages students to be active in pursuit of their goals, creating opportunities through networking, learning, and effort, rather than waiting for an opportunity to come to them.

11. “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”

Who said it: Michael Altshuler

Explanation: This quote acknowledges that although time passes quickly, you can have control over it. This is possible by how you make use of your time. You have 24 hours of time with you and if you still worry that you don’t have time, it feels like time is flying. It is we who have to make time for ourselves so that time waits for us.

How it helps students: It encourages students to manage their time management, manage their time wisely, and remember that they have the power to direct their lives toward their goals.

12. “Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.”

Who said it: Helen Keller.

Explanation: Imagine a girl who became deaf and blind at 19 months can achieve great things, why can’t others?! This quote encourages self-esteem and confidence. It’s about facing life’s challenges with dignity and allowing yourself not to be defeated by circumstances.

How it helps students: It is indeed one of the short inspirational quotes for students that encourages students to approach their studies and life with confidence, stand up for their beliefs, and face challenges head-on.

13. “The best way to predict your future is to create it.”

Who said it: Abraham Lincoln

Explanation: This quote tells us that it is we who have to participate in shaping our destiny. It is better to do so rather than passively waiting for the outcome. It is true because life doesn’t give us all the opportunities to succeed, it is we who have to create them and work hard to have a bright future.

How it helps students: Encourages students to take control of their future through their actions and decisions, and emphasizes the power of proactive behavior. You can use these quotes for speech to inspire more people.

14. “You have to dream before your dreams can come true.”

Who said it: APJ Abdul Kalam

Explanation: This quote makes us realize how important it is to have dreams. When you have no dreams about your life, it means that there is no vision or ambition. Moreover, dreams are not just that come during sleep, they are the ones that don’t make us sleep and run towards our goal.

How it helps students: It inspires students to dream big and work to make those dreams come true, reinforcing the value of ambition and vision. APJ Abdul Kalam has published many books for students to succeed in life. These are the best books from Indian authors to read for students that teach you more lessons.

15. “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” 

Who said it: Jim Rohn

Explanation: This is one of the short inspirational quotes for students that illustrates the difference between the original motivation to get started and the consistent behaviors that keep trying and succeeding. You can learn more by just reading his best books to read for beginners that tell more about life.

How it helps students: It teaches students the importance of good habits in order to keep improving and achieve long-term goals.