Whether you need inspiration in the workplace, during a job search, or in your daily life, determination is key to success. Determination fuels the journey toward achieving goals, embodying resilience, persistence, and unwavering willpower. It is a crucial skill for accomplishing both personal and professional objectives, helping you persevere through challenges no matter what life or your boss throws your way.
Here are some powerful quotes on determination from books, successful women, world leaders, and the workplace. These 50 quotes will empower you to stay motivated, overcome obstacles, and continue striving toward greatness so you won’t give up during your journey. Channel your inner strength and use these quotes for an extra push when needed.
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The most inspiring determination quotes from books
1. "You don't forget the face of the person who was your last hope."
—“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins
2. "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."
—“The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho
3. "But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated."
—“The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
4. "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. I know I can."
—“The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper
5. "I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship."
—“Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott
6. "There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me."
—“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
7. "I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am."
—“The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath
8. “I've done my best, and I begin to understand what is meant by 'the joy of strife'. Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing.”
—“Anne of Green Gables” by L.M. Montgomery
9. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
—“Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss
10. "I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing."
—“Moby Dick” by Herman Melville
The best determination quotes from world leaders
11. "You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it."
—Margaret Thatcher, Former Prime Minister United Kingdom
12. "If you are going through hell, keep going."
—Winston Churchill, Former Prime Minister United Kingdom
13. "The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something."
—Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States
14. "If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward."
—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights activist
15. “When people are determined, they can overcome anything.”
—Nelson Mandela, South African anti-apartheid activist and politician
16. "Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life."
—Golda Meir, Former Prime Minister of Israel
17. "You must do the things you think you cannot do."
—Eleanor Roosevelt, Former First Lady of the United States
18. “The courageous do not lie down and accept defeat. Instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future.”
—Queen Elizabeth II, Former Queen of the United Kingdom
19. “Determination, with an optimistic attitude is the key to success.”
—14th Dalai Lama, spiritual leader
20. “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”
—Mahatma Gandhi, activist
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Most inspiring determination quotes from famous women
21. "The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.”
—Amelia Earhart, aviator
22. “Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.”
—Oprah Winfrey, journalist, host, author, producer
23. “I have as much muscle as any man, and can do as much work as any man.”
—Sojourner Truth, abolitionist
24. “You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it’s right.”
—Rosa Parks, civil rights activist
25. “You have to believe in yourself when no one else does.”
—Serena Williams, Former tennis Pro
26. “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”
—Maya Angelou, author, poet and civil rights activist
27. “It’s not about being perfect. It’s not about where you get yourself in the end. There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice.”
—Michelle Obama, Former First Lady of the United States
28. "I don't like to gamble, but if there's one thing I'm willing to bet on, it's myself."
—Beyonce, music artist
29. "No matter who you are, no matter what you did, no matter where you’ve come from, you can always change, become a better version of yourself."
—Madonna, music artist
30. "Women have always been the strong ones of the world.”
—Coco Chanel, French fashion designer
Determination quotes for the workplace
31. "Don't waste your energy trying to change opinions...do your thing, and don't care if they like it."
—Tina Fey, actress
32. “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’”
—Muhammad Ali, professional boxer
33. “I’m not going to limit myself just because people won’t accept the fact that I can do something else.”
—Dolly Parton, singer and songwriter
34. “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”
—Walt Disney, animator, film producer, and entrepreneur
35. “If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.”
—Steve Jobs, Former CEO of Apple
36. “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.”
—Beverly Sills, opera singer
37. "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.”
—Michael Jordan, Former NBA Basketball Player
38. “Research indicates that workers have three prime needs: interesting work, recognition for doing a good job, and being let in on things that are going on in the company.”
—Zig Zagler, motivational speaker
39. “The nice thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side.”
—Margaret Carty, Former Executive Director of Maryland Library Association
40. “My daily challenge to myself is to be part of the solution, to be a joyful warrior in the battle to come.”
—Kamala Harris, 49th Vice President of the United States
Read more: 32 Powerful & Empowering Michelle Obama Quotes
Determination quotes for your job search
41. “Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
—A.A. Milne (from Winnie the Pooh)
42. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
—Confucius, Chinese philosopher
43. “If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.”
—Milton Berle, comedian
44. "You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort, but you cannot choose both."
—Brene Brown, author and podcast host
45. “I don’t want you to be comfortable right now; I want you to be uncomfortable. Growth takes place outside of your comfort zone.”
—Dawn Staley, women’s basketball coach
46. “When someone tells me “no,” it doesn't mean I can't do it, it simply means I can't do it with them.”
—Karen E. Quinones Miller, journalist
47. "If you don’t see a clear path for what you want, sometimes you have to make it yourself."
—Mindy Kaling, actress
48. “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, “I’m possible!”
—Audrey Hepburn, actress
49. “Ignore the glass ceiling and do your work. If you’re focusing on the glass ceiling, focusing on what you don’t have, focusing on the limitations, then you will be limited.”
—Ava DuVernay, filmmaker
50. "Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."
—Harriett Beecher Stowe, author and abolitionist
