New Week Quotes to Keep You Motivated

As soon as you make it to Friday, it seems like Monday rolls right back around. You dive directly into another 40 hours of answering emails, attempting to appease clients and gulping subpar coffee. It can be difficult to stay motivated in the midst of the daily hustle. You might even forget why you went into your field in the first place. That’s where new week quotes come in handy.

Sometimes, the philosophy of “mind over matter” is a particularly helpful one. When you encounter another Monday and feel ill-equipped to make it through the week, turn to one of these new week quotes for inspiration.

1. “Don’t count the days; make the days count.” – Muhammad Ali

No one knew the sweet feeling of victory or the bitter taste of defeat quite like legendary boxer Muhammad Ali. Despite the fact that he didn’t win every match, Ali recognized that he was still a winner when he approached every day as an opportunity to change the world for the better. That’s why Muhammad Ali’s personal mantra leads this list of new week quotes.

2. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

President Theodore Roosevelt didn’t let his childhood, which was plagued with illness, keep him from achieving his ultimate goal of leading the nation. He believed he could attain any goal he set his mind to — and you can, too.

3. “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal. Nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong attitude.” – Thomas Jefferson

Likewise, Founding Father Thomas Jefferson knew that the difference between a positive and a negative attitude could be the difference between conquering a goal and buckling under the pressure. Despite his massive responsibilities to the nation, Jefferson remained optimistic.

4. “Keep your face to the sunshine and you can never see the shadow.” – Helen Keller

Just the fact that Helen Keller could speak a motivational quote is an inspiration in itself. It was Keller’s perseverance and sunny disposition that allowed her to eventually learn to speak, and both aspects of her personality shine through in this uplifting quote.

5. “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style” – Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou reached millions of people with her poetry, essays and other written works before she passed away in 2014. This soundbite should help remind you that this week is your chance to find your passion and be kind to others, just as Angelou always strived to do.

6. “Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing must be attained.” – Marie Curie

Famed scientist Marie Curie didn’t pull any punches. She recognized that life could be dreary at times, but she also knew that every day had a purpose, and she lived to fulfill that purpose. Can you say the same for yourself today?

7. “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford

Another fan of the mind-over-matter approach, automotive mogul Henry Ford always operated under the belief that he could achieve any goal he created. His professional success indicates that he was onto something.

8. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, dream, discover.” – Mark Twain

Mark Twain was a free spirit, and his well-known quote reflects that. Do you still seek to dream and discover on a daily basis?

9. “I would rather die of passion than of boredom.” – Vincent van Gogh

Van Gogh was driven by a passion for his art, and innate passion probably drove you to pursue your vocation, too. Try to remember what landed you in your current position and reignite that passion at the beginning of this workweek.

10. “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank

Anne Frank had every reason to lament the state of the world, yet she found hope in every new morning. Her optimistic approach might just help put things in perspective for you this week.

Now that you have a few new nuggets of wisdom to inspire you, it’s time to get to work. Jot down your favorite quote and hang it in your cubicle to remind yourself what you’re working for when the Monday morning blues hit!