125 Best Motivational Quotes for Overcoming Obstacles

Nobody ever said life would be easy — and thank goodness for that! Those big rocks in your path? They’re not there to make you turn around. They’re there to see if you’ve got the power to climb over them. And you know what? You 100% overcome it.

To help inspire you on your journey, I will share 125 motivational quotes for overcoming obstacles in life — they are a testament to the indomitable will that propels you forward, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable hurdles.

Here we go!

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Motivational Quotes for Overcoming Obstacles

1. “The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” — William Faulkner

2. “The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” — Molière

3. “Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” — Bruce Lee

4. “We all have obstacles. The feeling of satisfaction comes by overcoming something.” — Marta

5. “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” — Vidal Sassoon

6. “By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination.” — Christopher Columbus

7. “Perseverance is impossible if we don’t permit ourselves to hope.” — Dean Koontz

8. “The human capacity for burden is like bamboo – far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance.” — Jodi Picoult

9. “If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.” — Frank A. Clark

10. “Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.” — Wayne Dyer

11. “It’s not what happens that determines the major part of your future. What happens, happens to us all. It is what you do about what happens that counts.” — Jim Rohn

12. “Nobody’s going to win all the time. On the highway of life you can’t always be in the fast lane.” — Haruki Murakami

Read more: 120 Great Quotes for Vision and Mission Clarity

13. “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” — Michael Jordan

14. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” — Dr. Seuss

15. “Champions keep playing until they get it right.” — Billie Jean King

16. “Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.” — Roger Crawford

17. “We develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and obstacles.” — Stephen Covey

18. “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” — Henry Ford

19. “She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails.” — Elizabeth Edwards

20. “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” — John Quincy Adams

21. “Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.” — Abraham Lincoln

22. “Convince your enemy that he will gain very little by attacking you; this will diminish his enthusiasm.” — Sun Tzu

23. “The true test of a champion is not whether he can triumph but whether he can overcome obstacles.” — Garth Stein

24. “There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, there are no limits.” — Michael Phelps

25. “Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven’t half the strength you think they have.” — Norman Vincent Peale

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26. “Faith and perseverance is the key to overcoming obstacles.” — Lorna Jackie Wilson

27. “The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance – it is the illusion of knowledge.” — Daniel J. Boorstin

28. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” —Confucius

29. “Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you.” — Ovid

30. “Facing it, always facing it, that’s the way to get through. Face it.” — Conrad Joseph

31. “Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.” — Roger Crawford

32. “Be strong. Live honorably and with dignity. When you don’t think you can, hold on.” — James Frey

33. “Obstacles can’t stop you. Problems can’t stop you. Most of all, other people can’t stop you. Only you can stop you.” — Jeffrey Gitomer

34. “Well, if it can be thought, it can be done, a problem can be overcome,” — E.A. Bucchianeri

35. “It’s part of life to have obstacles. It’s about overcoming obstacles; that’s the key to happiness.” — Herbie Hancock

36. “Obstacles are the cost of greatness.” — Robin Sharma

37. “I’ve stood the test of time, weathered a lot of storms and hurdled a lot of obstacles.” — Ginuwine

Read more: 101 Amazing Change Starts from Within Quotes to Know You

38. “A man does what he must – in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures – and that is the basis of all human morality.” — John F. Kennedy

39. “When we tackle obstacles, we find hidden reserves of courage and resilience we did not know we had. And it is only when we are faced with failure do we realise that these resources were always there within us. We only need to find them and move on with our lives.” — A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

40. “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” — Booker T. Washington

41. “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” — Thomas A. Edison

42. “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.” — Maya Angelou

43. “When you meet obstacles with gratitude, your perception starts to shift, resistance loses its power, and grace finds a home within you.” — Oprah Winfrey

44. “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” — Henry Ford

45. “There is meaning in every journey that is unknown to the traveler.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

46. “Find ways around the obstacles in your life. The power lies within you and your ability to change the way you think and act. Never forget that, and never give up.” — Mike Finley

47. “Always listen to experts. They’ll tell you what can’t be done, and why. Then do it.” — Robert A. Heinlein

48. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” —Joshua 1:9

49. “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” — Christian Larson

50. “Achieving success is a challenge but so is struggling so you may as well choose success.” — Rob Liano

Read more: 105 Easy It’s Time to Move on Quotes (Find Your Wings)

51. “Joy is of the will which labours, which overcomes obstacles, which knows triumph.” — William Butler Yeats

52. “Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” — Sam Ewing

53. “A problem is a chance for you to do your best.” — Duke Ellington

54. “In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins, not through strength but by perseverance.” — H. Jackson Brown Jr.

55. “Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others.” — Robert Louis Stevenson

56. “In fact, stories of people of achievement often show that obstacles and struggles are the stepping stones to success.” — Michal Stawicki

57. “You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” — Rabindranath Tagore

58. “If you have a dream and you don’t give up no matter what obstacles come up, then life’s problems will fall away and you will get what you want. It happens. It works.” — Yanni

59. “Because some people see a wall, and assume that’s the end of their journey. Others see it, and decide it’s just the beginning.” — Angeline Trevena

60. “Those who don’t know how to suffer are the worst off. There are times when the only correct thing we can do is to bear out troubles until a better day.” — Deng Ming-Dao

61. “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you’re doing the impossible.” — Francis of Assisi

62. “One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity.” — Albert Schweitzer

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63. “The majority see the obstacles; the few see the objectives; history records the successes of the latter, while oblivion is the reward of the former.” — Alfred A. Montapert

64. “It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” — Lou Holtz

65. “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” — Robert F. Kennedy

66. “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success is more important than any other one thing.” — Abraham Lincoln

67. “You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.” — Bob Marley

68. “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.” — Chinese Proverb

69. “Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven’t half the strength you think they have.” — Norman Vincent Peale

70. “The only guarantee for failure is to stop trying.” — John C. Maxwell

71. “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” — Ernest Hemmingway

72. “Being able to see the end result, rather than just the task, eliminates obstacles, focuses your energy, and provides motivation to excel.” — Catherine Pulsifer

73. “Our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

74. “Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.” — E.B. White

75. “The greater the destiny, the greater obstacles you’ll have to overcome. No great destiny comes without great challenges and sacrifices.” — Jeanette Coron

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76. “Life keeps throwing me stones. And I keep finding the diamonds.” — Ana Claudia Antunes

77. “Out of difficulties grow miracles.” — Jean de La Bruyère

78. “Love conquers all difficulties, surmounts all obstacles, and effects what to any other power would be impossible.” — William Godwin

79. “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” — Albert Einstein

80. “Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I’ll show you someone who has overcome adversity.” — Lou Holtz

81. “Love overcomes obstacles.” — Craig Groesche

82. “It is absolutely essential to hang in there–especially when you feel most discouraged.” — Steve Shallenberger

83. “Some fish love to swim upstream. Some people love to overcome challenges.” — Amit Ray

84. “I thrive on obstacles. If I’m told that it can’t be told, then I push harder.” — Issa Rae

85. “Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember-the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you.” — Zig Ziglar

86. “Turn your wounds into wisdom.” — Oprah Winfrey

87. “You show me anybody that’s great in anything they do, I’ll show you somebody that’s persevered, demonstrated that mental toughness to overcome some obstacles and adversity.” — Sean McVay

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88. “Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage.” — Niccolo Machiavelli

89. “Today’s tears water tomorrow’s gardens.” — Matshona Dhliwayo

90. “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul – and sings the tunes without the words – and never stops at all.” — Emily Dickinson

91. “When you see an obstacle approaching, grab your courage and speed up.” — Angela Lynne Craig

92. “Every adversity, every failure, and every heartache, carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.” — Napoleon Hill

93. “Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.” — Julie Andrews Edwards

94. “Rock bottom became the solid foundation in which I built my life.” — J.K. Rowling

95. “You can’t be brave if you’ve only had wonderful things happen to you.” — Mary Tyler Moore

96. “It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” — Sir Edmund Hillary

97. “If the leader is filled with high ambition and if he pursues his aims with audacity and strength of will, he will reach them in spite of all obstacles.” — Carl von Clausewitz

98. “Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” — Joshua J. Marine

99. “Well, if it can be thought, it can be done, a problem can be overcome.” — E.A. Bucchianeri

100. “The only way to achieve the impossible is to believe it is possible.” — Charles Kingsleigh

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101. “If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?” —T.S. Eliot

102. “In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.” — Tony Robbins

103. “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” — Maya Angelou

104. “If the leader is filled with high ambition and if he pursues his aims with audacity and strength of will, he will reach them in spite of all obstacles.” — Carl von Clausewitz

105. “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” — Christopher Reeve

106. “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” — Helen Keller

107. “Turning feelings into words can help us process and overcome adversity.” — Sheryl Sandberg

108. “A good half of the art of living is resilience.” — Alain de Botton

109. “If you expect life to be easy, challenges will seem difficult. If you accept that challenges may occur, life will be easier.” — Rob Liano

110. “Don’t give up. Obstacles can be overcome through strategy and learning.” — Hidetaka Miyazaki

111. “Joy is of the will which labours, which overcomes obstacles, which knows triumph.” — William Butler Yeats

112. “If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.” — Frank A. Clark

Read more: Useful 121 Power of the Subconscious Mind Quotes

113. “Don’t take yourself too seriously. Know when to laugh at yourself, and find a way to laugh at obstacles that inevitably present themselves.” — Halle Berry

114. “Worry never accomplishes anything. When you have a problem, it is best to concentrate on the solution to that problem, not the problem itself.” — Thomas D. Willhite

115. “It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop.” — Dieter F. Uchtdorf

116. “To overcome obstacles, you need solutions.” — Thomas Tuchel

117. “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” — Dale Carnegie

118. “The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived.” — Robert Jordan

119. “There are plenty of difficult obstacles in your path. Don’t allow yourself to become one of them.” — Ralph Marston

120. “Life is very interesting. In the end, some of your greatest pains become your greatest strengths.” — Drew Barrymore

121. “I’ve been able to overcome obstacles that would fold most people over.” — Frank Mir

122. “Life always gives us another change: It’s called ‘To Move On’.” — Ana Claudia Antunes

123. “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” — Khalil Gibra

124. “Only those who dare to fail greatly, can ever achieve greatly.” — Robert F. Kennedy

125. “Whatever be the challenges, whatever be the obstacles before us, I say to you as I say to everybody else that we will overcome.” — Ferdinand Marcos

Final Thoughts

I hope that the above motivational quotes for overcoming obstacles will serve to remind you that challenges are not roadblocks — but opportunities for growth, resilience, and self-discovery. 

Remember the size of your success is measured by the size of the obstacles you’ve overcome. So bring it on, life. Show everyone what you’ve got!

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