Inspirational Quotes on Getting Better

Improving yourself isn't easy, but you're not alone

Yoga by the beach
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Somebody once said, "The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement." We can always make room in our lives to get better, whether that means improving our health, our finances or our personal relationships. Even if we think things are perfect, there's likely a small area or two where we could put in a little extra work.

That's not to say that self-improvement is always easy: It's not. But sometimes the words of others who have been through similar struggles can give us the inspiration to carry on and change our lives for the better.

Here are some famous and inspiring quotes about improving and getting better.

Quotes on Self-Improvement from Writers

Those with a talent for expressing themselves in words frequently offer insights the rest of us might not think of. But any writer who's ever worked with an editor knows all about the need to constantly improve and strive to be better.

"Any activity becomes creative when the doer cares about doing it right, or better."
— John Updike

"Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself."
William Faulkner

"Don't be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves." — Dale Carnegie

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined."
— Henry David Thoreau

"There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self."
— Aldous Huxley

More Quotes About Getting Better

Of course, sometimes inspiration comes from philosophers, business people, and entertainers. No one really has a lock on the self-improvement gig. But it's up to you to decide how to apply these quotes in your life.

"The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence."
Confucius

"Become addicted to constant and never-ending self-improvement."
—Anthony J. D'Angelo

"Before everything else; getting ready is the secret of success. Don't find fault. Find a remedy."
Henry Ford

"Don't start living tomorrow, tomorrow never arrives. Start working on your dreams and ambitions today." — Unknown Author

"Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better."
— Emile Coue

"Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious."
— Stephen Hawking

"God has entrusted me with myself."
— Epictetus

"Good, better, best; never let it rest till your good is better and your better is best."
— Unknown Author

"Believe in yourself. Have faith in your abilities. Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy."
— Norman Vincent Peale

"Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."
— Lao Tzu