31 famous book quotes about life that will inspire you to be brave and live life to the fullest

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Clara Ki Lu
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  • From Samwise Gamgee in The Two Towers to Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, characters in novels are a treasure trove of wisdom and insight
  • Here is a list of inspirational quotes from children’s novels, young adult fiction, classic stories and more that will help you find joy in tough times
Clara Ki Lu |
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In The Twin Towers, Samwise Gamgee gives Frodo Baggins some advice to live by when their mission seems impossible. Photo: Warner Bros Entertainment

Literature has given us beautiful worlds to escape into, characters to love, and words that leave a mark on our lives. When we’re feeling lost, alone, uncertain or sad, we can always rely on our paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindles to find solace and regain motivation. From classic authors like J.R.R. Tolkien to recent young adult writes such as John Green, there is a book for everyone.

When the storms of life come, it’s nice to be reminded that there is light at the end of the tunnel. For those in need of a little pick-me-up, we’ve put together a list of inspirational book quotes to lift you back into good spirits!

1. “There is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.”

– J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Two Towers

2. “It’s no use going back to yesterday because I was a different person then.”

– Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

3. “Becoming fearless isn’t the point. That’s impossible. It’s learning how to control your fear, and how to be free from it.”

– Veronica Roth’s Divergent

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4. “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

– J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

5. “People aren’t born good or bad. Maybe they’re born with tendencies either way, but it’s the way you live your life that matters.”

– Cassandra Clare’s City of Glass

6. “I am not pretty. I am not beautiful. I am as radiant as the sun.”

– Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games

Katniss Everdeen puts everything on the line for what she believes to be right. Photo: AP/Lionsgate/Murray Close

7. “When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.”

– R.J. Palacio’s Wonder

8. “Names are not important. It’s what lies inside of you that matters.”

– Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass

9. “I know you aren’t perfect. But it’s a person’s imperfections that make them perfect for someone else.”

– Stephanie Perkins’ Lola and the Boy Next Door

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10. “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”

– J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

11. “If my life is going to mean anything, I have to live it myself.”

– Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

12. “‘Why did you do all this for me?’ he asked. ‘I don’t deserve it. I’ve never done anything for you.’ ‘You have been my friend,’ replied Charlotte. ‘That in itself is a tremendous thing.’”

– E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web

In E.B. White’s classic children’s book, a kind spider saves the life of a pig. Photo: Shutterstock/Jeff Whyte

13. “But it didn’t break me. Nothing can break me unless I let it.”

– Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl

14. “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.”

– H. Jackson Brown, Jr’s P.S. I Love You

15. “The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.”

– Chuck Palahniuk’s Diary

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16. “Be yourself and people will like you.”

– Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid

17. “I used to dream about escaping my ordinary life, but my life was never ordinary. I had simply failed to notice how extraordinary it was.”

– Ransom Riggs’ Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

18. “Happiness can be found in even the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

– J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and his friends struggle in a seemingly impossible fight against Voldemort. Photo: Murray Close

19. “Anything worth dying for … is certainly worth living for.”

– Joseph Heller’s Catch 22

20. “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

– Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist

21. “Some infinities are bigger than other infinities.”

– John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars

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22. “Everything is possible. The impossible just takes longer.”

– Dan Brown’s Digital Fortress

23. “Destiny isn’t a path that any cat follows blindly. It is always a matter of choice, and sometimes the heart speaks loudest.”

– Erin Hunter and Dan Jolley’s Warriors Sign of the Moon

24. “A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours.”

“Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things-a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty.”

– John Grogan’s Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog

In this touching memoir, John Grogan writes about how his dog has made an impact on his life. Photo: SCMPOST

25. “Peering at life through a window can ultimately abstract us from our actions and limit any meaningful confrontation with their consequences.”

– Edward Snowden’s Permanent Record

26. “There is only one sin and that is theft ... when you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to the truth.”

– Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner

27. “You only get one life. It’s actually your duty to live it as fully as possible.”

– Jojo Moyes’ Me Before You

28. “The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.”

– Sylvia Plath’s The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

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29. “It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.”

– André Gide’s Autumn Leaves

30. “The only limits for tomorrow are the doubts we have today.”

– Pittacus Lore’s The Power of Six

31. “Forgiveness condones nothing, but it does cast off the chains of anger, judgment, resentment, denial, and pain that choke growth.”

“In this way, it allows for life, for freedom. So that’s what’s at stake when it comes to forgiveness: freedom. With this freedom, we can feel better, be better, and choose better next time.”

– Michele Harper’s The Beauty in Breaking

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