I love my collection of quotes. There’s something magical about the words of great people, who’ve been there, done that. Here are some of my favourite:

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” —Gandhi

There’s nothing like living in the moment. But it’s just as important to build your knowledge piece by piece, as if you’ll have it for the rest of your life. Read: Zen in a cup of tea

 

“Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking.” —William Butler Yeats

You won’t learn by waiting for things to fall into your lap. You have to go out and get it yourself. Read: Why Showing Up Is Not Enough

 

“Learning is not a spectator sport.” —D. Blocher

Nobody perfected their swing just by watching TV. If you want to get good, you have to be a part of the game.  Read: How running taught me the value of persistence

 

“It is wiser to find out than to suppose.” —Mark Twain

Don’t assume anything. Does ‘dihydrogen monoxide’ sounds dangerous to you? It’s a real chemical, 100% of the people who consume it die. Surprise! It’s just another name for water. Read: Why Minimalists Live Happy Lives

 

“Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.” —B. F. Skinner

You won’t remember every fact that you memorise. But you don’t learn it for that, you learn it to remember the story that it tells you. Read: 5 Ways to Strengthen Your Spirit – A Minimalist’s Guide

 

“I think, therefore I am. (Cogito, ergo sum.)” —René Descartes

Your brain’s ability to remember the past and imagine the future is what separates you from other animals, and other people. There isn’t another human being in the world with the same thoughts and memories as you. Read: How to create memories that will make you smile

“Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.” —C.S. Lewis

Sometimes things go wrong before they go right. Put it down to experience and learn from your mistakes. Read: 5 lessons learned from repeated failure

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” —Albert Einstein

It’s never too late to change your life. There’s always hope that tomorrow will be a better day, it’s up to you whether or not it turns out that way.

 

“The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as long as we live.” —Mortimer Adler

The more you put yourself out there, getting out of your comfort zone and expanding your horizons, the more your mind gets stronger over time. Read: Zen in a lotus flower

 

“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” —Abraham Lincoln

Take control of your life, don’t let others control you. Read: Minimalist Meditations — On Control

 

“The journey is the reward.” —Chinese Proverb

Often, life is not about the destination, but what you learn and do on the way there. Read: Life is the journey

 

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.” —Goethe

As children, we’re told too often that things are ‘impossible’. The truth is, if we can dream it, it’s probably doable. Think big and do big. Read: On the Shortness of Life – Part III – Desire and life goals

 

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” —Will Rogers

You literally won’t get anywhere in life by staying still. Even if you’re not sure, going somewhere is better than nowhere. If it turns out to be wrong, at least you have one more direction you know not to go towards. Read: The most important thing you need to know about completing your bucket list

“Learning is like rowing upstream, not to advance is to drop back.” —Chinese Proverb

Yes, it’s hard. But anything worth having is worth working hard for. If you’re not moving forwards, then you’re falling short of the best person you can be. Read: Live life like water

“Be a student as long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life.” —Henry L. Doherty

Never stop learning. The world is a fascinating place, with an infinite amount to learn about. To live is to learn. Read: On the Shortness of Life – Part IV – Learning

Bonus! Top 3 Inspirational Books for Students:

The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

Mindset: Changing The Way You think To Fulfil Your Potential