Motivational Stories

There has been a lot of chatter lately about how the rich can use their resources to solve all the world’s problems, specifically things like world hunger. However, can the rich really solve these problems? Sure they have billions of dollars, far more than I have ever seen as I sit here with hundreds in my bank account, trying to pay my bills and take care of my family like everyone else. It is so easy to wish that some random billionaire would donate billions to stop world hunger, or randomly deposit money in my account. My sister said the other day that all her money troubles would be solved if we just “ate the rich.” But would they really? “If a person is poor and thinks rich people are bad, they will never be rich. To envy the rich is to cause yourself to never achieve riches. Poor people often despise rich people and blame rich people, and this is one of many reasons why they remain poor all their life.”   ― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, The Wealth Reference Guide: An America...

Many of these  Self Reliance  quotes demonstrate the predominant elements of Transcendentalism: nonconformity, self-reliance, free thought, confidence, and the importance of nature. Self Reliance , an essay written by Ralph Waldo Emerson in 1841, is about the importance of following one’s own thoughts and intuitions, instead of pursuing public norms. Emerson, a transcendentalist poet, author, and philosopher uses several transcendentalist themes to urge his readers to follow their individual will, instead of conforming to social expectations. Another theme that Emerson speaks about is “being misunderstood.” This is aligned with several of the transcendentalist themes, such as free thought, confidence, and nonconformity. The quotes about being misunderstood posit that it might not be a bad thing at all. What does Emerson mean though when he speaks about this idea of self-reliance? Keep reading through the list of Self Reliance quotes for a better understanding of the term...

If you’re a fan of action films, you’ll enjoy reading these Taken quotes. Taken  is a series of English-language French action films.  Taken  premiered in 2008,  Taken 2  in 2012, and  Taken 3  in 2014. All three films star Liam Neeson as Bryan Mills, a retired CIA operative. The dialogue of all three films is primarily English, and these  Taken  quotes from the movies are also in English. They are predominantly from Bryan Mills, although there are some great conversations between him and the other characters. In the first movie, Bryan Mills’ daughter Kim is kidnapped by a human trafficking ring. In the second film, the father of the man Mills killed in the first movie plans to take Mills and his family. Bryan is framed for the murder of his ex-wife in the last installment of the franchise. The first film received mixed reviews from critics, but audiences loved it and it was a commercial success. The series grossed a combined $929,451,01...

These Les Miserables quotes will remind you about just how much the human spirit can overcome. Les Miserables , a novel by Victor Hugo, has been adapted into several stage versions and films. It is affectionately called  Les Mis  by fans, but actually had several other titles including  The Miserables, The Wretched, The Miserable Ones, The Poor Ones, The Wretched Poor, The Victims, and The Dispossessed.  It is often referred to as one of the greatest novels of the 19th Century. The novel begins in 1815 and culminates in the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris. The story follows the lives and interactions of several characters, all of who have become beloved to readers around the world, especially the hardships ex-convict Jean Valjean encounters and his experience of redemption. The novel examines the nature of law and grace, which is why so many of the Les Miserables quotes are about the human soul, God, and faith. The novel also expands upon the history of France and ...

You might have heard the saying that the only things in life that are certain are death and taxes. However, what are you really wondering when you ask “What can we know for certain?” Surely, it isn’t just about paying your tax bill, or knowing that life on earth is limited. Do we even know that for certain? It might be true at this moment, but who knows what kind of medical advances or sci-fi movie-worthy gadgets of the future could do to the human lifespan? We go through life with a series of projections, predictions, and assumptions thinking we know things for certain, only for them to be wrong. This can leave us shaken and floundering with what to do next. Let’s look at the argument for both sides, before trying to answer the question. The argument for knowing things for certain People who think there are things we can know for certain will use a series of arguments based on logic and deductive reasoning. One of the most popular arguments I have seen is that 1+1=2. We know tha...

Despite being told the benefits of working out on a near-daily basis ( thanks, Facebook ) it is still a HUGE challenge for most of us to even begin. We know that working out helps with weight loss, muscle building, and improved mental and cardiovascular health. Life’s daily challenges ( and stress) not only limit our motivation to exercise but also our physical ability to make it to the gym or maintain a regular training schedule. Maintaining both our work and social lives is incredibly important ( trying to live without food and friends is not a particularly enticing prospect ). However, I would like to argue that maybe those needs shouldn’t be prioritized above our health ALL the time. So with that in mind, we are going to touch on some of the biggest workout challenges people experience when trying to exercise regularly. These tips will help you overcome them through smart planning and minor lifestyle changes. So, what are the two of the biggest workout challenges and how can ...

Discover the secrets to overcoming challenges as you pursue your hopes and dreams. Dreams are like precious gems and should always be protected. Never stop believing in your dreams . Pursuing your dream motivates you to stay up late at night or wake up early in the morning. It causes you to travel the world to see sites you have never seen. It is the driving force to conquer your fears of the unknown. You must believe in your dream. Keep it ever in front of you. If you lose sight of your dream, a big part of your life also will be lost. Chasing your dream requires a belief in yourself. It needs you to be the type of person who is comfortable blazing his or her own trail in life. Dream chasers that succeed are seen as brilliant visionaries. Those that fail are regarded as fools that need to get their heads out of the clouds. Overcoming challenges as you chase your dreams As a born dreamer, I began chasing my dreams when I was 12 years old. Getting my dream motorcycle at age 1...

The phrase “stuck in a rut” can mean different things to people. For some, it might mean you are bored with doing a certain task or activity consistently. For others, the rut might seem much deeper and more fundamental, like life is constantly handing you the same type of mud to wade through. The origin of the phrase stuck in a rut illustrates exactly what this feels like. ‘Stuck in a rut’ refers to a wagon wheel getting stuck in deep channels that previous wooden wheels left in soft ground. Picture it–you are riding around in your horse-drawn wagon trying to go the way the people ahead of you did. It’s the same way the wagons that came before them went. Your wagon is bogged down with everything you own, and when you hit one of these ruts, you can’t move out of it because they are too deep and everything is too heavy. You are forced to remain on this fixed path. Granted we do not traverse around the world in wagons now, so it might be a little less obvious when you are stuck in a...

These Madara quotes will have you pondering the duality of life and the meaning of peace. What makes a good villain? The best characters are complex, hard to understand, and follow motives that are both good and evil. The villain, Madara Uchiha, from  Naruto  is one such character. In the  Naruto  lore, Madara was one of the legendary founders of Konohagakure, a village of peace. Madara founded Konohagakure with his childhood friend and clan rival, Hashirama Senju. However, when the two couldn’t agree on how to keep the peace they fought for leadership, and Madara was killed. Fortunately for him, Madara had the ability to rewrite his death and he came back, hiding until he could enact his revenge. Because he is a villain, many of these Madara quotes are bleak. However, they offer an interesting commentary on the duality of life, power, war, and peace that we can apply to real life, as well. Don’t forget to also check out these Naruto quotes about life, succes...