"MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES FOR TEENS"
SUBMITTED BY TEENS



"Focus on all good aspects of life.
For each moment in which you are negative,
Your life is wasted."
Copyright © 2000 Brittney Lynne Allen



"Listen to the mustn'ts child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn't haves, the impossibles, the wont's.Listen to the never have's, then listen close to me. Anything can happen child. Anything can be."
Shel Silverstein --- Submitted by C.J., Age 16 --- Maryland



"We cannot control our beginning or our end,
But we can control our in between."
Copyright © 2000 Jackie Larsen



"Success in not a gift, it is something to be achieved."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Giselle A., Age 14 --- New Jersey



"Being able to accept yourself and all the stuff happening around you:
That's almost half the battle won in life."
Copyright © 2000 Tan Ying Lin



"Trust is something to be earned, not given away."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Lindsay A., Age 15 --- New York



"Just be you,and you shall will never regret!"
Tait Akapito --- Submitted by Fetepun Seni F., Age 18 --- Chuuk.FSM, Micronesia



"There are stories that you can tell from your life and know that they hurt then and know that they still hurtnow. It's good to have memories and never forget those stories, but stop telling stories that make you hurt, tellthe ones that make you smile!"
Copyright © 2000 Theresa Repko



"The strongest muscle needed to be an athlete is your HEART."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Brandy H., Age 17 --- Louisiana



"If you don't know me, don't judge me."
Tupac Shakur --- Submitted by Alexa V., Age 13 --- California



Guardian Angel

What is the name of your Angel?
The one beside you there.
Oh yes, you have a guardian angel.
One that will always care.

You may not think it's true,
Because of what you've done to some,
Or what they have done to you.

You say that you're not special,
Or you've been through too much.
To believe you've had a guardian
Is going to be tough.

But your angel will always be there
Helping to get by.
And believe me when I say to you,
One day you'll learn to fly.

Because when it's time to fall in love
She will show you what to do.
So now you know how, to get through the hurt and the pain.
Can you please tell me your Angel's name?
Copyright © 2000 Consuela Dotson



"The greatest happiness that you can have
Is knowing that you do not necessarily require happiness."
William Saroyan --- Submitted by Crystal B., Age 15 --- Missouri



"It takes years to build trust in someone and only seconds to break it."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Stephanie F., Age 16 --- Florida



"Live in the reality of today, not of the past.
For today is a gift and the past is a memory.
So live your life to the fullest --- TODAY!"
Copyright © 2000 Kristi Carter



"Life is easy looking to the future, we get somewhere faster than the past. We can't change our past from ourmistakes, but we can prevent from making the same mistakes from the past. By improving our attitudes toward life,making life less stressful, and our future will be better for us. Our future is more important than ourpast and we need to realize our past is gone and future is here. We can keep on trying go back to the pastbut, it is hard to go back. Also we need to accept our mistakes and just carry the mistakes behind our mind. Weneed to move on to our life and realize mistakes are mistakes."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Tara H., Age 18 --- Ohio



"If I try to be like him, who will be like me?"
Author Unknown --- Submitted by C.R., Age 18 --- Florida



"If you do not live for the betterment of yourself,
Live for the betterment of those who value life more."
Copyright © 2000 Dylan Jordan



"If you're living a bad life, life is nothing but a dead end road.
But you can always learn from your failures
And get going somewhere again."
Copyright © 2000 Brent McCracken



"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.
If you can dream it, you can become it."
William Arthur Ward --- Submitted by Carol R., Age 15 --- Texas



"We say that we cannot predict our final hour,
But we think that hour is years away.
We don't always realize that each afternoon is so certain,
And has every hour filled in advance."
Amie B., Age 15 --- Pennsylvania



"We judge ourselves by our motives, and others by their actions."
Dwight Morrow --- Submitted by Carol R., Age 15 --- Texas



"I may be silent,
But I am thinking.
I may not talk,
But don't mistake me for a wall."
Tsuboi Shigeji --- Submitted by Rhae L., Age 16 --- Georgia



"There are no limits as to what you can do.
The only limits you have are the ones that lie in your head."
Lester Levenson --- Submitted by Will L., Age 18 --- United Kingdom



"Excuses pave the road to failure."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Celly H., Age 14 --- Illinois



"God helps us face the music even when we don't like the tune."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Tyler M., Age 16 --- New Jersey



"When you are determined you will succeed.
When you are distracted you might succeed.
What is the point?
Succeeding."
Copyright © 2000 Amber Rakush



Dare
Responsiblity
Excellence
Action
Motivation
Sacrifice
Copyright © 2000 Bre Coffey



"Would you rather lie on your deathbed knowing you have tried and failed, than to regret not having tried at all? Time and tide waits for no man, you never know when you are going to die. So, if you have any dreams, do not have any doubts, and go for it now!"
Copyright © 2000 Tay Xiaohan



"From time to time I will get back to the shadow I have left behind. Not to be like that black thing again... but to remind myself that I have to change and keep moving."
Copyright © 2000 Stephanie G. Lim



"Real beauty is having the courage to be yourself."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Tina S., Age 16 --- Minnesota



"They say that if you fly too close to the sun, you will fall back to the earth, but that's only with glued on wings.Grow your own, and you can keep on flying."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Cindy A., Age 16 --- Virginia



"We all come to a point in our lives where we must move on
And it may be a tough thing to do.
But in the long run, it will all work out for the best."
Ashley J., Age 16 --- Alabama



"Don't be in a bad mood just because somebody ticked you off. You never know when God is going to take you from your loved ones, so just believe in your dreams and live life to the fullest!!"
Copyright © 2000 Amanda Hayes



"Pride does not speak of what she has,
She observes what she sees."
Copyright © 2000 Latossha M.Joseph



"The road less traveled is the one most fear,
But is the one the successful choose to take."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Derrick F., Age 17 --- California



"Life is short, enjoy every moment of it before it's too late."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Emilie G., Age 12 --- Ontario, Canada



BELIEVE

Believe in yourself, what you think, what you feel.
Believe in the truth, in the good, the ideal.
Believe that your dreams can someday become real.
Forever and always,
Believe

Believe in yourself and what you can do.
Believe in the goals that you strive to pursue.
Believe in the friends who believe in you too.
Forever and always,
Believe.
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Sarah S., Age 15 --- Iowa



"No excuses.
Find a way."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Zach T., Age 15 --- Hawaii



"Life should not be measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of moments that simply take your breath away."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Mark A., Age 16 --- Florida



"When one God dwells in all living beings,
Then why do you hate others?
Why do you frown at others?
Why do you become indignant towards others?
Why do you use harsh words?
Why do you try to rule and domineer over others?
Why do you exploit folly?
Is this not sheer ignorance?
Get wisdom and rest in peace."
Sivananda --- Submitted by Taylor A., Age 16 --- Massachusetts



"The best glimpse of heaven if often the way into hell.
Live out loud and outside."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Aaron S., Age 15 --- Nevada



"A lot of things will hurt if you let them, don't let them."
Theoren Fleury --- Submitted by James C., Age 16 --- Ontario, Canada



"Bridges are over some rivers that aren't really there."
Gene Brown --- Submitted by Mackenzie S., Age 15 --- Texas



"The unexpected always happens and often does."
Winston Churchill --- Submitted by Tan Ying L., Age 15 --- Singapore



"When you think you can't,
Just pretend like you can,
And do it anyways!"
J.S., Age 17 --- Idaho



"Your best revenge is personal success!"
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Talia G., Age 18 --- Vermont



"There's no right or wrong, only many shades of opinion."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Katie M., Age 16 --- Ohio



"In a life surrounded by pain and darkness,
There is always that one light that will guide you through it!"
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Joe J., Age 17 --- Illinois



"Keep sight of your dreams because right behind the highest star,
You will find them."
Copyright © 2000 Kimberly McKelvy



"Talent is overrated.
Hard work achieves success."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by J.O., Age 17 --- New York



"Your focus determines your reality!"
From Star Wars Episode One --- Submitted by Dee T., Age 16 --- Alberta, Canada



"Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others.
It is because we are different that each of us is special.
Don't set your goals by what other people deem important.
Only you know what is best for you.

Don't let your life slip through your fingers
By living in the past or for the future.
By living your life one day at a time,
You live ALL the days of your life.

Don't forget that a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.
Don't run through life so fast that you forget
Not only where you have already been,
But also where you are going."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Amy B., Age 16 --- New Hampshire



"Don't overlook the people you think will always be there,
For those are the ones you'll miss the most when they're gone."
Amy G., Age 17 --- Connecticut



"You only live once.......need I say more?"
Copyright © 2000 Brian Titaro



"Never, Never, Never Quit!"
Winston Churchill --- Submitted by N.P., Age 15 --- Ohio
--- Submitted by J.P., Age 17 --- California (In loving memory of Anthony Sanchez)




"Uniqueness is the key to life."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Jessica B., Age 14 --- Kentucky



"If you just found out that there is no tomorrow,
What would you do different today?
Live by this question every day of your life."
Copyright © 2000 Ryan Ernst



"It's better to lose your pride with someone you love
Rather than lose that someone you love with your useless pride."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Xiaohan Z., Age 15 --- Singapore



"Life is an endless journey!
Follow your own yellow brick road and you will succeed!"
Copyright © 2000 Mugunthan Sivapalan



"If you're afraid to go somewhere,
Because you're afraid of what you'll have to face,
Then you're going to be afraid of everything, eventually."
Copyright © 2000 Andrea Fischlowitz



"A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory."
Arthur Golden



"Taking risks, opportunities, and reaching for your dreams
Are all combinations to open the locker to success, in the long run."
Copyright © 2000 Carolyn Carriere



"Don't listen to what they are saying,
Listen to why they are saying it."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by M.U., Age 12 --- Nova Scotia, Canada



"Regret is one of the most useless feelings.
Don't dwell on what was, but endure and venture on toward what will be."
Christen B., Age 16 --- Indiana



"At times you have to give up the battle you are currently fighting
To prepare for the next one."
Amy G., Age 16 --- New Hampshire



"Happiness is a Swedish Sunset; it is there for all,
But most of us look the other way and lose it."
Mark Twain --- Submitted by Julie M., Age 15 --- Michigan



"Live life.
Give thanks.
Love will conquer all!"
Copyright © 2000 Ramsay Taplin



"Whenever in doubt, visualize and conquer!"
Copyright © 2000 Melanie Saint



You're never too busy to listen;
Never to hurried to care.
You're always so eager,
To offer your help;
Always so willing to share.

When there's someone beside you,
Lending a hand,
Offering words that say
"I understand",
It's usually the truest of friends.

When there's someone you turn to day after day,
For the sunshine and laughter,
That they bring your way,
It's usually the warmest of friends.

And when someone takes time,
To share a warm smile,
Reminisce about things
And chat for a while,
It's usually the dearest of friends.
Lisa S., Age 18 --- Pennsylvania (Thank you Kara)



"I learned this in high school that it doesn't matter what other people think of you because you know who you are and you're the only one that matters. And sooner or later we will be in circumstances where people will realize that acting the way you do because of what others say is dumb. Sooner or later someone will like us for being us."
Nolan Harper --- Submitted by Nathanael S., Age 18 --- Utah



"Be original... losers love company."
M. P., Age 16 --- New York



"Don't do things just to please other people,
Because at the end of the day,
It won't be them staring back at you in the mirror."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Chella L., Age 13 --- Michigan



"If you don't take care of your body, where are you going to live?"
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Valerie M., Age 16 --- Nevada



"Courage isn't the absence of fear,
It's what is done in the presence of fear."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Bryan T., Age 18 --- Ontario, Canada



"Some things might not work out right now,
But someday, whatever it is, just might happen."
Ashley J., Age 16 --- Alabama



"The world today is saying that all teens are bad. But we are not all bad. Let us all rally together and prove the world wrong. Let's prove those who are saying that the way that we dress and the way that we act isn't because we think we're tough, but that we like to express ourself in our own different ways. So let us rally together and prove the whole world wrong."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by L.K., Age 15 --- Iowa



"Happy people learn that happiness, like sweat, is a by-product of activity.
You can only achieve happiness if you are too busy living your life to notice whether you are happy or not."
Frank Pittman III, MD --- Submitted by Crystal B., Age 15 --- Missouri



"Hold your head up, hold it high.
You are who you are, no reason to hide."
Becki B., Age 15 --- Pennsylvania



"Crying is God's way of telling you that you are full.
I will always be there to back you up."
Wayne Vredenburg --- Submitted by K.C.Z., Age 16 --- Michigan



"No matter how frustrating or painful something seems,
You will always be able to find something good in your experiences."
Copyright © 2000 Lauren Pears



"Don't ever give up - for your perseverance will allow you to achieve things that were never before possible, if you'll never accept anything less than the best."
Megan S., Age 15 --- Maryland



"I guess we will have to let life turn its own pages when it is ready...because right now, the end of the book isunwritten."
Copyright © 2000 Chantal J. Moshakos



"It's not your performance during the game.
It's whether or not you have enough left to finish."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Adam D., Age 15 --- Illinois



"Treasure your life and appreciate all that has happened.
You never know when the day might be your last.
Treasure your loved ones and all the moments that you've spent together.
You never know when their days might be their last."
Copyright © 2000 Tan Ying Lin



"Some people make the world special... just by being in it."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Mindy D., Age 17 --- Nebraska



"Family and friends don't determine who you are... YOU do."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Diane D., Age 17 --- California



"It is not what happens to you in life,
It is how you handle it."
Lou Holtz --- Submitted by Paul P., Age 17 --- Ohio



"Life is like a board game; not always fair, not always how you want it,
Just hang in there for those perfect moments."
Copyright © 2000 Chelsea Chapkin



"Our greatest battles are those with our own minds."
Jameson Frank --- Submitted by Crystal B., Age 15 --- Missouri



"It doesn't matter what you say to help a friend,
It's how you listen."
Copyright © 2000 Andrea Fischlowitz



"Throughout Life:

There will always be someone better, smarter, or faster than you.
But also you will always be better, smarter, or faster than someone else.
So find your own niche, a comfortable spot to be yourself.
Find something to be passionate about and become as best you can be at it.
Only then will you be happy, because in a world
Where someone is always better and someone is always worse,
Being the best YOU possible is all that counts."
Told to me by my Mom, Mary Ann --- Submitted by Carrie M., Age 17 --- California



"Look Closer...

Few people actually see what's going on, likewise few people actually listen to what is being said. There'sso much more than what is on the surface. It's what you don't see, and it's what you haven't heard, that is sobeautiful and what makes mankind so innocent at times. Listen to what's not being said, and you'll learnsomething worth more than words."
Kelli G., Age 17 --- Massachusetts



"Optimists believe that we are living in the best of worlds.
Pessimists fear that this is true."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by K.J., Age 14 --- Iowa



"Nobody can sympathize for you until they know what you've gone through,
And they won't know, until you tell them."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Heather R., Age 17 --- Pennsylvania



Everyday you look at me,
But I don't think you really see.

When you look in my eyes they seem empty and cold,
You obviously can't see it, but there's so much to be told.

You base who I am by what you see,
But what do my looks really tell about me?

Can you tell that I'm independent and smart?
Can you tell that I finish what I start?

Can you tell that I have a mind of my own?
Can you tell that I wish I weren't alone?

I know you can't no matter what you say,
Maybe you should look again someday.

Next time you decide to look at me,
You should try to really see.
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Marie B., Age 14 --- California



"There are certain things that you can change. Only change what you can and don't fight to extend that ability so muchthat you can no longer do what you could've done to begin with."
Copyright © 2000 Tiffani Johnson



"Forget the times of your distress, but never forget what they taught you."
Herbert Gasser --- Submitted by Michelle B., Age 17 --- Louisiana



"Don't fear the fear, make the fear fear you."
Copyright © 2000 Atul Chowdhary



"Life is but a journey which you must travel.
Learn from your mistakes,
Listen to the wise
And love those who surround you."
Esketta --- Submitted by Skye C., Age 17 --- New South Wales, Australia



"I once said I couldn't. I screamed it. I yelled it. I told everyone.
Then... One day someone said, "I know you can't".
Then I did it to prove them wrong."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Shana K., Age 15 --- Ohio



"Many are the eyes that look,
But few are the eyes that truly see."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Andrew C., Age 15 --- Georgia



"Learning is the key to success."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Jessica L., Age 18 --- Italy



"The forest is magnificent, yet it contains no perfect trees."
Gye Fram --- Submitted by Cara C., Age 13 --- Arizona



"Our brightest blazes of gladness
Are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks."
Samuel Johnson --- Submitted by Rhea T., Age 17 --- British Columbia, Canada



"If you don't want something bad enough to risk losing it,
Then you don't want it bad enough."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Rebecca R., Age 16 --- California



"I can't has yet to accomplished anything;
"I'll try" has performed wonders."
George Bernard Shaw --- Submitted by Lisa S., Age 18 --- Pennsylvania



"Sometimes I wish I was a little kid again;
Skinned knees are easier to fix than broken hearts."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Alexandrea C., Age 13 --- Missouri



"When in doubt, don't."
Saul W. Gellerman --- Submitted by Erin C., Age 16 --- Nebraska



"It is all right letting yourself go,
As long as you can get yourself back."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Gloria B., Age 16 --- Florida



"An eraser cannot erase the past, but it can renew the future."
Copyright © 2000 Sean McKeown



"I believe that bad things happen so that good things can replace them."
Brendan Lee --- Submitted by Alison R., Age 16 --- Alberta, Canada



"In this theater of man's life,
it is reserved only for God and Angels to be lookers on."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Kevin R., Age 17 --- Eastern Cape, South Africa



"Bad days are only bad because you have good days to compare them to."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by K.U., Age 16 --- Washington



"Follow your bliss. Find where it is and don't be afraid to follow it."
Joseph Campbell --- Submitted by Megan S., Age 17 --- New York



"A real friend walks in when the rest of the world walks out."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Alexandra W., Age 17 --- Illinois



"Repetition is the mother of learning."
Coach Mike Bair --- Submitted by Trent S., Age 18 --- Utah



"No one can understand how I'm feeling, they're MY feelings and only I can understand. I'm asking youplease...don't hate me for what I'm feeling, because you don't know how much it hurts!"
Copyright © 2000 Katie Leis



"I wasn't brave, I was scared.
If you're not scared, then it's not brave."
From the movie 'Bounce" --- Submitted by Kara D., Age 15 --- Massachusetts