9 uplifting quotes to brighten your day and spark some joy

I’ve always loved positive quotes. 

There’s something magical about how a few well-chosen words can shift my entire mindset, especially on days when I need a little extra encouragement. 

Whether it’s a gentle reminder to slow down, a spark of motivation, or a burst of joy, positive quotes help me reconnect with what matters. They’re like tiny anchors of hope — simple, powerful, and always there when I need them. 

I love collecting them, sharing them, and letting them guide me through life’s ups and downs.

Here are 9 uplifting quotes to brighten your day and spark some joy:

1. "Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow." — Helen Keller

2. "Every day brings new choices." — Martha Beck

3. "You cannot have a positive life and a negative mind." — Joyce Meyer

4. "Find a place inside where there's joy, and the joy will burn out the pain." — Joseph Campbell

5. "Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results." — Willie Nelson

6. "Happiness never decreases by being shared." — Buddha

7. "Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures." — H. Jackson Brown Jr.

8. "For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness." — Ralph Waldo Emerson

9. "Positivity always wins…Always." — Gary Vaynerchuk

I hope you find a quote here that you love.

Do you have a favorite quote from this list?

If like me you love quotes you can find more here:

• 9 Health Quotes
• 6 quotes about life
• My favourite Richard Branson Quotes
• Quotes by famous women.

10 Uplifting Environmental Quotes

Here are ten uplifting environmental quotes that celebrate connection, stewardship, and the quiet power of care of our beautiful planet.

1. “The Earth is what we all have in common.” — Wendell Berry A reminder that environmental care is a shared language across generations and cultures.

2. “Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man.” — Stewart Udall Environmental justice is human justice.

3. “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” — Albert Einstein Nature doesn’t just heal—it teaches.

4. “We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” — David Brower A call to stewardship that honors both past and future.

5. “No water, no life. No blue, no green.” — Sylvia Earle A poetic truth from the ocean’s fiercest advocate.

6. “The environment is where we all meet, where we all have a mutual interest. It is the one thing all of us share.” — Lady Bird Johnson A gentle reminder of our interconnectedness.

7. “What is the use of a house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?” — Henry David Thoreau A nudge toward rethinking comfort and sustainability.

8. “Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson A beautiful reflection on how our inner world mirrors the outer one.

9. “Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth… these are one and the same fight.” — Ban Ki-moon Environmental advocacy is intersectional.

10. “The single biggest threat to our planet is the destruction of habitat and the loss of precious wildlife. We need to reach a balance where people, habitat, and wildlife can co-exist.” — Steve Irwin From one of Australia’s most beloved voices, a plea for coexistence.

Get more quotes:

My favourite Richard Branson Quotes

Quotes by famous women.

6 quotes about life.

9 Health quotes. 

The Optimist's Creed.

My favourite Richard Branson Quotes

Sir Richard Branson

I've just finished reading Business Stripped Bare: Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur by Richard Branson, well re- reading it actually and to tell the truth I actually listened to it in my car off an audio book, which is my new favourite thing to do when driving - listen to audio books. 

Branson’s fearless approach to life and business never fails to spark inspiration. His words are bold, authentic, and often just the push you need to think bigger or move forward

I always find Sir Richard Branson inspiring and thought you might enjoy some of his words of wisdom. Do you have a favourite?

“There is no greater thing you can do with your life and your work than follow your passions – in a way that serves the world and you.”

“You don't learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over.”  

“Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don't want to.”

“Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.”

“Respect is how to treat everyone, not just those you want to impress.” in Screw It, Let's Do It: Lessons in Life and Business

“The brave may not live forever – But the cautious do not live at all” in Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won't Teach You at Business School

“I can honestly say that I have never gone into any business purely to make money. If that is the sole motive then I believe you are better off not doing it. A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts.” in Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way

"A business is simply an idea to make other people’s lives better."

"My family brought me up to always look for the best in other people. I love people. Love spending time with people. I love learning from people."

"Entrepreneurship is a great leveler, The wonderful thing is that money is not the sole currency when it comes to starting a business; drive, determination, passion and hard work are all free and more valuable than a pot of cash."

Whether you're launching a business, navigating a career shift, or just trying to live with more intention, Richard Branson’s quotes offer grounded wisdom with a dash of rebellious spirit. They remind us to lead with passion, embrace failure, treat people well, and never be afraid to take a leap. I hope these words have sparked something in you as they have in me. And if you’ve got a favourite Branson quote I didn’t include, I’d love to hear it.

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Quotes by famous women

Celebrating the Wisdom of Women 

Throughout history, women have inspired, challenged, and uplifted the world with their words. Whether through wit, courage, compassion, or creativity, their voices have echoed across generations, leaving behind timeless wisdom that continues to resonate today. This collection of quotes brings together powerful reflections from iconic women—thinkers, artists, leaders, and trailblazers—whose insights remind us of the strength, beauty, and brilliance of the female spirit.

Let these quotes spark your imagination, stir your heart, and perhaps even shift your perspective. Because when women speak, the world listens—and grows.

 

We love these fabulous and famous women and what they had to tell us. If you enjoy these quotes you might also enjoy our page of quotes by famous women which you can find at GNN Good News Network.

6 Quotes about life

We love quotes—especially the uplifting kind—because they’re like little pep talks you can carry around. Life gets messy, and sometimes all it takes is one powerful sentence to snap you out of a funk or remind you what really matters. A good quote can feel like a friend nudging you forward, saying, “You’ve got this.”

Uplifting quotes also connect us to others. When someone reads a quote and thinks, “Yes, that’s exactly how I feel,” it creates a sense of belonging and validation. 

Plus, they’re super shareable. Whether it’s on your feed, your fridge, or your phone wallpaper, quotes help us connect with others and ourselves. They put big feelings into small words, and that’s kind of magical.

These are our favourite quotes, with advice about life, for this week. We hope you enjoy them and if you are looking for more good quotes you can find a multitude on our tumblr

 

Good Quote about a real friend

A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself and especially to feel, or not feel. Whatever you happen to be feeling at any moment is fine with them. That’s what real love amounts to - letting a person be what he really is.

Jim Morrison, singer and poet  (1943 – 1971)

 

This is an amazing reminder to me of how to be a true friend. It helps me understand who my true friends are and how to be a better friend to others. Connecting with other human beings is important and taking them for how they are is a good and helpful thing to do.

 

Today I spoke to a man who has recently lost his wife, and we struggled through the language barriers, and expressed to each other things about change and loneliness and coping. We shared experiences that we had in common. He told me he could walk down this street, we were standing in, and meet his friends - any morning there would be some of them there at the coffee shop.  It was good, he said, to know they were there. As he walked off down the street I felt happy knowing this. He would not be alone today.

 

My wish is that you have a friend that allows you to be yourself. Maybe you are one of the lucky ones that has a few.

Simple Life: simple letter of thanks

Are you fascinated by the enigmatic Marilyn Monroe?
Here is a letter she wrote - a charming, short and simple letter that gets straight to the point but shows some of the writer's personality:

 

Transcript of the letter

Mr. Volkmar von Fuehlsdorff
German Consulate General
3450 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles 5, California

Dear Mr. von Fuehlsdorff:

Thank you for your champagne.

It arrived, I drank it and I was gayer.

Thanks again.

My best,

Marilyn Monroe

9 Health quotes

Health has always been at the heart of human wisdom, valued far beyond wealth, success, or possessions. From ancient philosophers to modern leaders, the message is clear: without health, everything else fades in importance. These timeless quotes remind us not only to cherish our wellbeing but also to find balance, laughter, and presence in everyday life.

The first wealth is health ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.  ~ Mark Twain

Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have. ~ Winston Churchill

When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless, and intelligence cannot be applied. ~  Herophilus

Without health, life is not life; it is only a state of languor and suffering. ~ Francois Rabelais

To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. ~ Buddha

A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book. ~ Irish Proverb

He who has health, has hope.
And he, who has hope, has everything.
~ Arabian Proverb

The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.  ~ Buddha

Which is your favourite?

Get more quotes:

My favourite Richard Branson Quotes

Quotes by famous women.

6 quotes about life.

The Optimist's Creed.

10 uplifting environmental quotes. 

The Optimist's Creed

Promise Yourself
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words but great deeds.
To live in faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

An excerpt from The Optimist Creed written by Christian D. Larson who is credited as being a founder in the New Thought movement. (1874 – 1962) Larson was a prolific writer of  books on positive thinking. Many of his books remain in print today, nearly 100 years after they were first published.

The Ideal Made Real; or Applied Metaphysics for Beginners: Originally Published  in 1912

On the Heights (1908)

The Pathway of Roses

Nothing Succeeds Like Success

Perfect Health

What Right Thinking Will Do

The Great Within (1908)

Your Forces and How to Use Them

Brains and How to Get Them

How to remain well (1912)

The Mastery Of Self And The Mastery Of Fate

How to Stay Young

Frugal Friday: Live More With Less

Live More With Less that is basically what my idea of frugal is all about. But how do I do this?

More: celebrate a simple life, focus on what really matters to me, enjoy time with family and friends, live within my means, care about the earth's resources,  work towards self sufficiency, gain appreciation for the things I already have in my life.

Less: less spending, less unconscious spending, less waste, less stuff cluttering up my life. Of course these are all just ideals or statements of intent that I am working towards. When I look at the large amount of stationary items I have accumulated in the past, now sitting in a drawer, I know I have a long way to go. But I am on the path: I no longer go to the office supplies or stationary shop but instead try and use what I have in this drawer.
 

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." is how L. Reid expressed it.

I know frugal can mean so many things to different people and I would love to know what frugal means to you?

 

Dance to your own music

Do you have a passion, a plan a goal? Sometimes I find it is better to move forward towards the fullfilment of the goal, one step at a time, without telling others.

I value uniqueness and originality in all things and see increasingly that others who do something unusual or out of the main stream are being more and more appreciated. This is such a good thing.

I will no longer allow myself to be dissuaded by negative comments that are not constructive or backed up with good reasons. Maybe I need to be smarter and more selective in who I tell my plans to - positive people are always greatly appreciated. What are your thoughts?

What I believe - thanks Kurt

Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.

― Kurt Vonnegut

Don't Worry

We need to be able to let go of the past and forgive. Not just forgive others but forgive ourselves. What we did yesterday was based on decisions made because of the information we had available at that time. Maybe we did not make good decisions.  This can cause feelings of guilt and sadness.

We need to let go and forgive ourselves and others so that we can feel better and move on with our life. We can reflect on the past and what happened, we do not need to forget it but we need to leave it in the past so that we can feel good right now and lead a better life.

We cannot change the past but we can choose not to dwell upon it.

New year, new eyes

“Life stands before me like an eternal spring with new and brilliant clothes.”

—Carl Friedrich Gauss 

Singing nature's song

A good river is nature's life work in song

Mark Helprin in 'Freddy and Fredericka'

This wonderful view is of Little Moon Bay in the Georges River in the outer suburbs of Sydney. I am lucky enough to see this view everyday. I hope that nature is some part of your everyday life.

Even after all these years,

Even after all these years,
the Sun never says
to the Earth
"You owe Me."
Look what happens—
with a Love
like that,
It lights
the whole
sky.
Hafiz


WHO WAS HAFIZ?: a 14th-century Persian mystic and poet.

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
Aesop, in the Lion and the Mouse.



Browse hundreds of positive uplifting quotes at Good Quotes

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Something to live up to

   Charles Bukowski

Died	March 9, 1994(1994-03-09) (aged 73) San Pedro, California, U.SA.
Occupation	Novelist, poet, short story writer, columnist

In 1986 Time Magazine called Bukowski a "laureate of American lowlife".

Found quote/graphic at http://wanderlusttt.tumblr.com/