Quotes Deconstructed
Moving Quotes: Which types of quotes stir our emotions?
Quotes can have a powerful effect on people. We recite them to inspire, motivate, and encourage. A wise quote presented at the right time can transform a person’s perception for the better.
But why?
What is it about a quote that stirs our emotions? How is it connected to leadership?
We reviewed thousands of quotes in a quest to peek under the hood of inspiration. We identified the core elements of the design of a quote, what they speak to, and why they stick with us.
We examined the quotes that have an impact on our principle beliefs.
The ones that get shared, framed, and adopted.
Note: A quote in its general form is simply a message that is clipped and presented on behalf of its maker. You can literally quote anything that has been spoken or written. We’re not exploring that. We want to know more about quotes that resonate with a general audience.
Our goal was simple: to identify the common thread that makes them noteworthy.
Over time, we identified four categories that almost every influential quote falls under.
Then we took our research one step further. We analyzed the composition of the words used to help give a quote an extra punch.
These categories are interconnected, so many quotes can serve more than one purpose. But each distinction will help you understand what makes them so powerful.
4 Influential Quote Types
Influential quotes shape our personal journey.
We discovered that there are distinct pillars of an influential quote which shape our perspective on a given subject. The quotes that are most appreciated and most shared are the ones that we look to as we face difficulty along our journey.
We tap our favorite quotes when we need a fresh outlook on life’s obstacles. As we move through our habitual lives, quotes help inspire us to seek new ideas, execute on them, and persist when things get tough. These concepts lay the supporting groundwork for self-improvement.
Inspirational Quotes
Be yourself, be creative, be benevolent, life is beautiful.
Inspiring quotes speak to independent thought, community building, and the splendor of life. They help us appreciate who we are, what we have and what is possible. They expand our perception of the global community. They stir a desire to create.
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
To create an inspiring quote, you must scrutinize the ordinary. Examine neglected subjects that are taken for granted.
Common insights of inspirational quotes explore taking a moral high ground. Some mention the fragility of humanity, others mention its resilience. Also discussed is the interconnection of people, despite our distinctions.
Motivational Quotes
Take action, always improve, take control of your life, never stop learning.
Motivational quotes encourage us to act. They offer insights about taking the first step to begin a habit toward building something great. They embolden us to ask questions. They push us to be better.
Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.
– Will Rogers
Motivational quotes emphasize that action is better than inaction. A strong motivator is designed to empower us by shaping our perception of greatness. Improvement occurs over time, through small enhancements and self-reflection.
We have it in our power to begin the world again.
– Thomas Paine
In order to motivate others through quotes, you must identify universal truths and package them neatly. There is no growth without agitation. There is no development, without movement. No one is ever 100% ready. There is a reason why we couple strategy with tactic.
Perseverance Quotes
Push harder, focus, keep moving, greatness isn’t easy.
Once you start something, the second hardest thing is persevering through the difficulties. As we develop ourselves and our passions, we relish our milestones but loathe our challenges. Adversity has a way of overwhelming our esteem. We begin to focus on our challenges and lose sight of our goals. Endurance quotes acknowledge those difficulties and remind others that greatness requires sacrifice.
He who wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper.
– Edmund Burke
We enjoy quotes because they add pep to our personal reflections. When we become apathetic or lazy, a strong quote can knock us out of our funk. They serve to remind us of our goals and give consideration into why we work hard in the first place. We build joy and fulfillment at the expense of time and commitment. An endurance quote reminds us of the payoff from our sacrifice.
A professional is someone who does his best work when he doesn’t feel like it.
–Alistair Cooke
Perspective Quotes
Look at it this way to better appreciate. This is what’s truly important.
From our efforts, we identified that influential quotes lead us along a path. Inspiration helps us with idea creation. Motivation assists in habit formation. And Perseverance helps us survive frustration.
The first three subjects position us to conceive ideas and follow through with them. The final subject shapes our perception of everyday concepts. Quotes that offer a refreshing perspective help us to identify and prioritize the important things in life.
The best things in life aren’t things.
– Art Buchwald
We look to quotes on inspiration, motivation and perseverance when we are not sure what to do. A perspective quote helps us out when we’re not sure what to think.
Success is getting what you want. Happiness likes what you get.
– H. Jackson Brown
We are all looking out of the same building, but we are standing at different windows. A quality quote offers a glimpse through someone else’s angle.
It is difficult to be inspired without wanting to take action. It is also hard to persist without a change in perspective. Quote classifications are interconnected. Ones with great impact often touch several classifications. But, of all the subjects that frame an influential quote, we appreciate one key element. Whether it is to be stirred emotionally, spiritually, or physically; we all seek to be moved.
Quotes Anatomized
The Quote Template
We first identified that influential quotes take us on a journey. We are prompted to become better versions of ourselves or to look at something from a different angle.
Now that we’ve identified the classified subjects of influential quotes, we looked more closely at how they are designed. Wise or insightful words are not always enough to develop a message that echoes through the masses. A well designed quote will resonate whether it’s true or not (Read: Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right. -Henry Ford).
The following examples showcase the formatting of an effective quote. By applying the frameworks below, you can create quotes that are elegant, relatable, and memorable.
Redefining
“X is..”
Redefining an everyday term makes a quote memorable and relatable. It changes our perception of a common concept and provides deeper meaning to its ordinary purpose.
“Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
– Winston Churchill
“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.”
– Bruce Lee
“Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.”
– Narcotics Anonymous
Hyperbole
Using extreme language or exaggeration to intensify your message. By polarizing a concept, you force the reader to reflect on their own position.
Bold language unearths new feelings toward a subject. It can empower someone to muster up courage to take action.
“If you’re going through hell, keep going.”
–Winston Churchill
“He who never made a mistake, never made a discovery.”
–Samuel Smiles
“If you’re not a risk taker, you should get the hell out of business.”
–Ray Kroc
Simile / Analogy
A proper analogy is like a hip science teacher. Sometimes they can oversimplify for the sake of clarity but they’re rife with “a-ha!” moments. Analogy in quotes helps keep the subject relatable. Helping others find a personal connection leaves a lasting impact.
“If you’re trying to create a company, it’s like baking a cake. You have to have all the ingredients in the right proportion.”
― Elon Musk
“A room without books is like a body without a soul.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero
Wit
Use of wit in a quote offers just enough surprise to delight your readers and enhance their recall. This phenomenon is known as the humor effect. A witty saying will not only provide lasting memories, but will also be shared among peers.
“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.” ― Oscar Wilde
“I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact.” Elon Musk
Contrast
Contrasting two subjects allows your reader to explore a deeper meaning. Using this concept, this type of quote enhances general perceptions. The goal is to uncover a universal truth or motivating element.
“We owe almost all of our knowledge not to those who have agreed, but to those who have deferred.”
―Charles Caleb Colton
“Much better to do your own work, even if you have to do it imperfectly, than to do other people’s work perfectly.”
―Bhagavad Gita
“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”
―Jim Ryun
(Notice that this quote provides contrast and redefines a subject.)
Repetition
Repetition helps with memory retention and adds elegance to the framework of a quote. Repetition emphasizes the most important element of the quote to enhance the lesson or insight.
“When something can be read without effort, great effort has gone into its writing.”
―Enrique Jardiel Poncela
“Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.”
―Newt Gingrich
(Notice this quote also redefines
the term “perseverance”)
Rhyme
Rhyming can be very helpful to improve recall. We are programmed to prefer rhyming statements. We are also biased toward accepting them as truer than non-rhyming statements. This is known as the “Rhyme as Reason” effect. A successful rhyming quote can be remembered for hundreds of years. Almost every other attempt is cheesy and cringe-worthy. Proceed with caution.
“Follow your dream… Take one step at a time and don’t settle for less, just continue to climb.”
– Amanda Bradley
“Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
– Ben Franklin
Wordplay
An elegant quote often explores the several definitions of a word or plays with the letters that make up a word. Clever wordplay is refreshing to a reader or audience. It can enrich the overall sentiment of a quote. Even the ones that are total garbage (See Audrey Hepburn’s Quote)
“A meeting is an event where minutes are taken and hours wasted.”
“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible‘!”
― Audrey Hepburn
“If you don’t stand for something you, will fall for anything.”
― Gordon A. Eadie
Metaphor
Metaphor is a blend between analogy and hyperbole. Literally transforming a subject into a new vehicle. Use of metaphor can make a ordinary term more powerful and leave a lasting impact. Proper use of metaphor serves to be relatable, elegant, and memorable.
“Necessity is the mother of invention.”
― Plato
“Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.”
― C. Archie Danielson
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
― Oscar Wilde
Comparison / Balance
Connecting two opposites and examining the sentiment of each. For example, work/play, friend/enemy, employee/entrepreneur. Describe the importance of each individually and as they relate to each other.
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
“It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.”
― André Gide
Succinct
A short and insightful quip can be a clever method for improving memorability and impact. When you are able to sum up a feeling or insight into a short, eloquent quip, you establish yourself as an expert.
“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”
― Robert Frost
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
“The definition of genius is taking the complex and making it simple.”
– Albert Einstein
(Notice this quote also
redefines the term “genius”)
Repositioning
Take a standard piece of advice and spice it up by using a less direct method of explaining it.
For example,
We want to encourage a person to stop procrastinating.
We want them to begin work immediately.
In the end, we know that starting on a project now will make easier. So we start with a standard and short declaration.
“Start working now. It will be easier to finish later.”
Repositioning this statement adds creative flair and makes it memorable. The following quote shifts the timeline to focus on the payoff.
“Yesterday’s work half done was finished easily today.”
–Roshi Philip Kapleau
You could also tell people to “Be a role model.”
But it’s not clever or memorable.
It’s common sense.
So we can spice it up by repositioning the perspective of what it means to be a role model. When you tell someone to “be a role model,” you focus on setting an example for others. There is no personal connection, reward, or benefit in that statement.
“Be the person you needed when you were younger.”
― Ayesha Siddiqi
This quote is common sense. But her clever repositioning creates us a deeper personal connection. Who are the role models you looked up to? Who are the role models you wished you had? Be a role model because there are others who need them like you once did.
These quote is common sense. But through clever repositioning, we are offered a deeper personal connection. Who are the role models you looked up to? Wouldn’t you prefer to have easy work today?
Chiasmus
Chiasmus is a phrase that follows a specific structure. The words used in the first half are reversed in the second half to create additional insights. This method is a variant of repetition and can be used to help make a quote more memorable and remarkable.
“Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.”
– President John Kennedy
“They don’t care about how much you know until they know how much you care.”
– Jim Calhoun.
“If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.”
– Benjamin Franklin
“Either you run the day or the day runs you.”
― Jim Rohn
Tradition Twisting
Tradition twisting takes a well-known quote and twists it to provide new meaning.
You can make it wittier,
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
― Oscar Wilde
You can contradict it,
“The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side of the fence.. The grass is greenest where it is watered.”
–Robert Fulghum
Make it more accurate,
“History doesn’t repeat itself, but if often rhymes.”
– Mark Twain
Make it conditional,
“The proverb warns that, ‘you should not bite the hand that feeds you.’ But maybe you should, if it prevents you from feeding yourself.”
― Thomas Szasz
Or apply it to new insights.
“The best things in life aren’t things.”
― Art Buchwald
Quotes for Business
This page was created to help you identify the essentials that establish influential leadership.
Use these insights to design your own quotes or improve your sales and marketing copy. Create motivational meetings with your staff. Refine the vision of your company and create esteem for your brand. Leverage these concepts to communicate better with your colleagues.
Properly designed speech is electrifying and contagious. You are now equipped to start your own movement.
“If you want to build a ship, don’t herd people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
-Antoine de Saint-Exupery