Over the years, I’ve racked up quite a number of inspiring quotes from a ton of different times and places. Today, I thought it’d be fun to start a new series that documents these quotes, and why I like them so much. Here are 5 of my all-time favourites!

To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.

Elbert Hubbard

If you aspire to create anything that matters in this world, you’re going to need to get comfortable with the idea of criticism. Turns out we humans can be really judgy, biased creatures, often only too happy to try and thrust our opinions on artists and creators like someone handing out flyers on a street corner.

If you’re reading this as an artist or creator, know that there are going to be people who don’t get you, who try to knock you down. That means you’re doing something worth noticing. Keep going!

If you’re reading this as an armchair critic, kindly move on to the next quote in this list.

Any jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a good carpenter to build one.

Sam Rayburn

It’s so easy to criticize, especially from the comfort, safety and anonymity of your desk chair. Trolls are a dime a dozen, and I’ve got no patience for them. Anyone who adds any value to this world is way too busy with their own stuff to bother trying to knock down the work someone else is doing.

Remember that the next time you get ready to fire off a nasty comment toward someone else.

If you hear a voice within you say ‘You cannot paint,” then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.

Vincent Van Gogh

Alright, that’s enough shade for one article. I love this quote because of the possibilities it inspires. Never mind other people criticizing our work; so often we are our own worst critics. That little voice in our head stops us dead in our tracks when we think about trying something new.

Here’s a little secret: any discipline that takes time to master (which is most things worth doing in this world) means you’re going to suck at the start. Everyone does. It’s part of the process!

The next time you hear that little voice in your head say “You can’t do that,” just respond back by thinking to yourself “No, I just haven’t done it yet.” Then go do it. You’d be amazed at how quickly that inner critic goes quiet on you.

I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.

Stephen Covey

My sensei has a version of this quote that I’ve loved since the first time I heard it: “When looking outside fails, look in.”

There are two types of people in this world: those who look to blame outside forces when things go wrong; and those who look at how they can change their own situation. Don’t get me wrong; things are going to happen to you in life that are beyond your control.

How you react to them, on the other hand, is entirely up to you. Will you wallow in self-pity and wish things were different? Or will you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and make a decision as to what you’ll do next?

Do or do not; there is no try.

Yoda

No list of inspirational quotes would be complete without quoting the Jedi sage, Yoda. When he’s teaching Luke Skywalker to use the Force, he tells the young adept to focus, and use it to lift his ship out of a swamp. Luke says “I’ll try,” to which Yoda responds with this fantastic quote.

Basically, Yoda was saying that you can’t half-ass something and expect a fulsome result. You either put your all into whatever it is you’re doing, or simply don’t do it at all. There is no “try,” no halfway between these two things.

You don’t “try to make room in your calendar,” or “try to start running next week.” You either do it, or you don’t, plain and simple.

Wrapping it Up

These are some of my favourite quotes – eventually I’m going to pull together the full list and make a piece of art out of all of them for the house. You’ve probably heard of at least a few of them, but it’s nice to be reminded of them. Stay tuned for more in the future!