Famous Quotes - Wisdom, Success, and Love

Wisdom & Life

"I know that I know nothing."

- Socrates

Ancient Greek philosopher

"When you know a thing, to hold that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it — this is knowledge."

- Confucius

Ancient Chinese thinker

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning."

- Albert Einstein

Physicist

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do."

- Mark Twain

American author

"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life."

- Steve Jobs

Apple co-founder

Challenge & Success

"I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work."

- Thomas Edison

Inventor

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."

- Winston Churchill

Former British Prime Minister

"I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. I have failed over and over and over again in my life — and that is why I succeed."

- Michael Jordan

Basketball player

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

- Nelson Mandela

Former President of South Africa

"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood."

- Marie Curie

Physicist and chemist

Love & Relationships

"What is essential is invisible to the eye."

- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Author of The Little Prince

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."

- Lao Tzu

Ancient Chinese philosopher

"Be the change that you wish to see in the world."

- Mahatma Gandhi

Indian independence leader

"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind."

- William Shakespeare

English playwright

Why do great quotes transcend time and borders?

A truly great quote isn't confined to a particular era or culture — it captures a truth about life that anyone can relate to. Words left behind by philosophers, scientists, artists, and political leaders across many fields still resonate deeply today.

A Note

Some widely known quotes have unclear original sources or exact wording, or have been paraphrased and reworded over time. The quotes on this page are presented in the form most commonly cited.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see these quotes in their original language?

This page presents quotes translated for an English-speaking audience. If you need the exact original wording, we recommend checking each figure's own writings or a trusted quotation source separately.

Do you have other general-knowledge content too?

Yes, check out Earth's Rotation and Revolution Facts and World Coffee Culture, among other content.