It’s easy to get stuck. Whether it’s a new project, a challenging skill, or simply stepping outside a well-worn routine, the thought of trying can often feel heavier than the act itself. Yet, the wisdom embedded in inspirational quotes about trying offers a powerful lever to shift our perspective, igniting the courage and persistence needed to dare and grow. These aren't just feel-good platitudes; they're concentrated doses of human experience, distilled into words that can recalibrate our mindset from hesitation to action.
At a Glance: What You’ll Discover
- Unlocking Motivation: How psychological principles make quotes about trying genuinely effective.
- Courage to Begin: Overcoming the initial inertia and embracing the unknown.
- The Power of Persistence: Sustaining effort even when the path is unclear.
- Reframing Failure: Seeing setbacks as essential steps, not stopping points.
- Actionable Strategies: Practical ways to integrate these insights into your daily life and work.
- Common Hurdles: Addressing misconceptions about trying and motivation.
The Psychological Fuel: Why "Trying" Quotes Resonate
At our core, humans are built with a blend of innate curiosity and a natural aversion to risk. This tension is where inspirational quotes about trying find their leverage. They speak to our inherent drive to explore, learn, and grow, while simultaneously offering a reassuring nudge past the fear of the unknown.
Psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck’s research on the "growth mindset" offers a compelling framework here. When we believe our abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work (a growth mindset), rather than being fixed, we are far more likely to embrace challenges and persist in the face of setbacks. Quotes that encourage trying directly foster this mindset, reminding us that effort is paramount. The American Psychological Association notes that framing change and new endeavors positively can significantly reduce stress and boost adaptability, making us more resilient. Likewise, Harvard Business Review highlights how motivational language can genuinely improve morale and employee engagement, extending this impact into professional settings. Think of figures like Brené Brown and Tony Robbins, whose insights into vulnerability and transformation often hinge on the courage to simply try.
Daring to Begin: Overcoming the Inertia of the Unknown
The first step is often the hardest, not because of its complexity, but because of its sheer unfamiliarity. We face a blank canvas, an unopened door, or an unclimbed mountain. This is where the call to courage becomes essential.
- Embrace Experimentation: Ralph Waldo Emerson’s timeless wisdom, "All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better," frees us from the pressure of perfection. It reframes attempts as data collection, making every 'try' a valuable learning opportunity. This perspective encourages us to view our endeavors not as pass/fail tests, but as iterative explorations.
- Question the Cost of Inaction: Vincent van Gogh's poignant question, “What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” forces us to confront the true cost of hesitation: a life unlived, potentials unexplored. This isn't about shaming, but about highlighting the profound enrichment that comes from daring.
- Follow Your Curiosity: Walt Disney, a master of innovation, understood that “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” Curiosity is a powerful internal compass, often a more reliable guide than certainty. When we allow ourselves to be led by curiosity, the fear of trying diminishes, replaced by a genuine desire to discover.
- Redefine Your Boundaries: Neale Donald Walsch famously said, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” This isn't a harsh directive, but an invitation to recognize that true growth rarely happens within the familiar. It’s a call to gently push against what feels safe, recognizing that discomfort is often a sign of progress. Eleanor Roosevelt echoes this with, “Do one thing every day that scares you.” This isn't about reckless abandon, but about building a daily habit of confronting small fears, thereby expanding your capacity for bigger ones.
- Grow Through Discomfort: Brian Tracy reminds us, “You can only grow if you're willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” This quote normalizes the initial awkwardness, making it an anticipated part of the growth process rather than a signal to stop. Accepting this feeling means you're on the right track.
- Just Go For It: Michelle Obama’s empowering advice, "Just try new things. Don't be afraid. Step out of your comfort zones and soar, all right?" combines encouragement with a straightforward directive. It cuts through overthinking, urging us to take the leap. And perhaps the most concise call to action comes from Wayne Gretzky: "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” This is a stark, practical reminder that inaction guarantees failure.
To dive deeper into embracing change and the broader spectrum of famous quotes that inspire new beginnings, explore our comprehensive guide: Famous quotes about embracing change.
The Unwavering Effort: The Power of Persistence
Trying isn't a one-and-done event; it's a continuous process. Once you’ve dared to begin, the next challenge is to keep going, especially when results aren't immediate or the path gets tough. This is where inspirational quotes about persistence illuminate the path.
- The Only True Loss is Quitting: Mike Ditka's blunt observation, "You're never a loser until you quit trying," reframes failure. It implies that as long as effort is maintained, the possibility of success remains open. This perspective empowers you to view every setback as temporary, not definitive.
- Embrace Being Wrong: Roy T. Bennett wisely stated, "To learn something new, you need to try new things and not be afraid to be wrong.” Fear of error often paralyzes effort. This quote liberates us, confirming that mistakes are not only permissible but essential for learning and refinement.
- Target and Persevere: Napoleon Hill’s directive, “Set your target and keep trying until you reach it,” emphasizes the importance of focused, sustained effort. It’s about having a clear goal and the determination to pursue it relentlessly. This isn't blind persistence, but rather an informed, directed drive.
- Driven by Love and Inspiration: Ella Fitzgerald's beautiful insight, "Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong," connects persistence to passion. When your efforts are fueled by genuine interest and deep-seated inspiration, the resilience required to keep trying comes more naturally.
- Beyond Effort: Knowing How to Try: W. Edwards Deming offers a crucial nuance: "It is not enough to do your best; you must know what to do, and then do your best." This isn't about undermining effort, but about making it effective. It encourages reflection, learning, and strategic adjustment alongside sheer willpower. Trying effectively means iterating and refining your approach.
- The Simplicity of Sincere Effort: H. Jackson Brown Jr. brings it back to basics: “Life doesn’t require that we be the best, only that we try our best.” This quote removes the burden of perfection, allowing us to engage fully without the crushing pressure of always having to be number one. Our value isn't tied to the outcome, but to the integrity of our effort.
Embracing the Stumble: Failure as a Stepping Stone
No journey of trying is without its detours, missteps, or outright falls. How we interpret these moments is crucial. Inspirational quotes about trying often shine brightest when they transform our understanding of failure, turning it from a terminal event into a critical component of success.
- The Nearness of Success: Thomas A. Edison, whose inventions famously required thousands of attempts, noted, "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." This powerful observation serves as a cautionary tale against premature surrender, suggesting that breakthroughs often lie just beyond the point of perceived impossibility.
- Failure is Not Fatal: Winston Churchill, a leader through immense adversity, gifted us two profound perspectives: "Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm" and "Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." These quotes underscore that failure is a part of the process, not the end. The key is maintaining morale and continuing the effort.
- The Doom of Inaction: Beverly Sills put it starkly: “You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try.” This quote highlights that the worst outcome isn't necessarily failure, but the regret of never having made the attempt at all. The potential disappointment of a try pales in comparison to the certainty of regret from inaction.
- Worse Than Any Failure: Nikki Giovanni’s perspective, “The unwillingness to try is worse than any failure,” reinforces this sentiment. It emphasizes that a failure to act represents a greater loss of potential and opportunity than any unsuccessful attempt.
- Proof of Progress: Gavin Newsom offers a contemporary view: “Failure isn’t something to be embarrassed about; it’s just proof that you’re pushing your limits, trying new things, daring to innovate.” This quote rebrands failure as a badge of honor, a sign that you are truly engaged in growth and exploration, rather than resting in complacency.
- Greatness Through Great Failure: Robert F. Kennedy’s powerful statement, “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly,” connects ambition with the acceptance of significant risk. It suggests that monumental achievements are often preceded by bold, and sometimes unsuccessful, ventures.
Applying Inspiration: A Practical Playbook
Knowing these quotes is one thing; making them a part of your mindset and daily actions is another. Here’s how to put inspirational quotes about trying into practice, whether for personal growth or professional development.
Personal Growth & Resilience
- Your Daily Mantra: Pick one quote that resonates most with your current challenge. Write it down. Say it aloud. Put it on a sticky note where you’ll see it. This repeated exposure can subtly shift your internal dialogue. For instance, facing a new hobby, you might adopt "All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better."
- Journaling Prompts: Use a quote as a starting point for reflection. "What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" can prompt a journal entry about missed opportunities or fears holding you back.
- Visual Reminders: Change your phone or computer background, or even create a small piece of art with a chosen quote. A visual cue like "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone" can be a powerful daily nudge.
- "One Scary Thing" Challenge: Inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt, commit to doing one small thing each day that pushes your comfort zone. It could be striking up a conversation with a stranger, trying a new food, or speaking up in a meeting.
Professional Development & Team Motivation
In a professional setting, leveraging these quotes can cultivate a growth mindset, encourage innovation, and boost team morale.
- "Quote of the Week" Program: Start weekly emails or daily Slack messages with a relevant quote. For a team struggling with a new process, "Failure isn’t something to be embarrassed about; it’s just proof that you’re pushing your limits," can normalize the learning curve.
- Intranet & Bulletin Boards: Display quotes prominently in shared digital spaces or physical areas. A rotating display keeps the inspiration fresh.
- Meeting Openers: Begin team meetings with a quote and a brief discussion. "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take" can spark a conversation about initiative and calculated risks in project development.
- Integration into Performance Reviews & Recognition: Frame feedback around quotes. Instead of "You failed at X," try, "Your attempt at X showed great courage, reminding us that 'only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.'" Use quotes in employee recognition programs to celebrate effort and learning.
- Innovation Challenges: When launching a new initiative, use quotes like "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths" to inspire creative thinking and break down fear of the unknown.
Case Snippet: The Startup Pivot
A small tech startup was struggling to gain traction with its initial product. Morale was low, and the team was hesitant to try a radical pivot, fearing another failure. The CEO began sharing Winston Churchill's "Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm" in daily stand-ups, alongside Gavin Newsom's "Failure isn’t something to be embarrassed about; it’s just proof that you’re pushing your limits..." This subtle but consistent reinforcement helped reframe their past setbacks not as failures, but as necessary data points. They embraced the pivot, learning from their earlier attempts, and eventually found their niche, attributing a significant part of their renewed courage to the change in perspective fostered by these daily inspirations.
Quick Answers: Common Questions About Trying
Q: Are inspirational quotes just feel-good platitudes that don't actually help?
A: Not at all. While some might use them superficially, their power lies in their psychological resonance. As Dr. Carol Dweck's work on growth mindset demonstrates, specific messages can genuinely shift how we perceive challenges and our capacity to overcome them. They're not magic, but they are powerful tools for reframing our internal narrative.
Q: How do I pick the "right" quote for my situation?
A: The "right" quote is the one that sparks a genuine feeling of recognition or motivation within you. It should resonate with your current challenge, fear, or aspiration. Don't overthink it; trust your intuition. If a quote about persistence speaks to you when you feel like giving up, that's the one.
Q: What if I try and fail? Doesn't that just make things worse?
A: Failure is rarely worse than inaction. As Beverly Sills said, “You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try.” Trying, even if unsuccessful, provides invaluable learning, builds resilience, and eliminates the regret of "what if." It demonstrates courage and a willingness to grow, qualities far more valuable than the avoidance of temporary discomfort.
Q: How can I encourage others to try new things without sounding preachy?
A: Lead by example. Share your own experiences of trying, failing, and learning. Instead of just reciting a quote, tell a short story about how it helped you. Create environments where trying is celebrated and failure is seen as a learning opportunity, as exemplified by "Failure isn’t something to be embarrassed about; it’s just proof that you’re pushing your limits."
Daring Forward: Your Next Step
The journey of growth and innovation is inherently one of trying. It demands courage to initiate, persistence to continue, and the wisdom to learn from every stumble. These inspirational quotes about trying aren't just words; they are calls to action, invitations to a richer, more expansive life.
Your Quick Start Guide to Trying More:
- Identify Your Barrier: What's one thing you're hesitant to try right now? (e.g., learning a new software, speaking up more, a new hobby).
- Find Your Champion Quote: Scan the quotes above and pick one that directly addresses your barrier or inspires the courage you need.
- If you're scared to start: "All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better."
- If you're worried about giving up: "You're never a loser until you quit trying."
- If you fear mistakes: "Failure isn’t something to be embarrassed about; it’s just proof that you’re pushing your limits..."
- Take One Small Action: Break down your "thing" into the smallest possible first step. Don't aim for completion, aim for initiation. (e.g., instead of "learn software," try "watch one 5-minute tutorial video").
- Reflect and Re-inspire: After your small action, reflect on what you learned or how you felt. If needed, find another quote to fuel your next step.
Remember, the goal isn't to succeed perfectly every time, but to simply keep trying. That act, in itself, is a profound success.