"MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES FOR TEENS"
SUBMITTED BY TEENS
"Dare to be different."
Author Unknown --- Sent in by Lisa, Age 17 --- Ohio
"Take a chance.Things work out better that way."
Alyson R. --- Sent in by Jennifer, Age 16 --- California
"Don't smother each other.
No one can grow in the shade."
Leo Buscaglia --- Sent in by Stephanie K., Age 17 --- Nebraska
"Having a dream isn't stupid, Norm.
It's not having a dream that's stupid."
Cliff Clavin of 'Cheers' --- Sent in by Amy H., Age 15 --- Alberta, Canada
"The Lord guides us on our paths,
And if you love someone truly,
You will meet again.
So never say goodbye when in your heart you know
It's really see you again someday."
Josh B., Age 17 --- Pennsylvania
"I do not regret what I have said or done;
It is what I have not said or done that I regret."
Candace W., Age 16 --- Pennsylvania
Almost Perfect
"Almost perfect, but not quite,
Those were the words of Mary Hume
at her seventh birthday party
looking 'round the ribboned room.
This tablecloth's pink, not white,
Almost perfect, but not quite.
Almost perfect, but not quite,
Those were the words of grown up Mary
compainin' 'bout her handsome beau
the one she wasn't going to marry.
Squeezes me a bit too tight,
Almost perfect, but not quite.
Almost perfect, but not quite,
Those were the words of ol' Miss Hume
grading papers in the gloom
late at night up in her room.
They never cross their t's just right,
Almost perfect, but not quite.
Ninety-eight, the day she died,
Compainin' 'bout the spottless floor.
People shook their heads and sighed,
Guess that she'll like Heaven more.
Up went her soul on feathered wings
Out the door, up out of sight.
Another voice from Heaven came,
Almost perfect, but not quite."
Copyright © Shel Silverstein
--- Sent in by Stacie C., Age 17 --- Louisiana
"Some days you are the dog, some days you are the hydrant."
Unknown --- Sent in by Ross K., Age 15 --- New Jersey
"The biggest room in the world, is the room for improvement."
Author Unknown --- Sent in by Chris, Age 18 --- Arizona
"Regret for things we did can be tempered by time;
It is regret for things we did not do that is inconsolable."
Sydney J. Harris --- Sent in by Karyn D., Age 16 --- Iowa
"If all my friends were to jump off a bridge,
I wouldn't follow.
I'd be at the bottom to catch them when they fall."
Author Unknown --- Sent in by Antonette S., Age 14 --- California
"I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken,
The world doesn't stop for your grief."
Author Unknown --- Sent in by Ashley F., Age 16 --- Ohio
"When you finish the last page, close the book."
Author Unknown --- Sent in by Nikki P., Age 15 --- Michigan
"If you have built castles in the air,
Your work need not be lost;
That is where they should be.
Now put the foundations under them."
Henry David Thoreau --- Sent in by Sharon O., Age 18 --- Kentucky
"Love me or hate me, but spare me your indifference."
Libbie Fudim --- Sent in by Mindy M., Age 14 --- Pennsylvania
"If you never try you can never succeed,
But if you try and do the best you can,
You will never fail!"
Megan, Age 15 --- Pennsylvania
"If we could reach up and hold onto a star
For each time we've made each other smile,
An entire evening's sky would be in the palm of our hands."
Unknown --- Sent in by Katherine, Age 15 --- Nebraska
"When the tide of life turns against you,
And the current upsets your boat,
Don't waste your tears on what might have been,
Just lie on your back and float."
Unknown --- Sent in by Chris H., Age 15 --- Idaho
"If there is anything better than to be loved,
It is loving."
Author Unknown --- Sent in by Katie H., Age 17 --- Dunbogan, Australia
"Whatever you Wish, whatever you Dream,
Whatever you hope to Achieve,
It's yours if you only Believe."
Author Unknown --- Sent in by --- Brandy H., Age 16 --- Louisiana
"May you follow your Dreams and always Believe in yourself.
Keep your Eyes on the Stars and Hope in your Heart."
Author Unknown --- Sent in by Amy H., Age 18 --- Louisiana
"There will be many times that you stand at a crossroad in life,
Just as you are now,
And no one can tell you which way to go, or what you should do.
The Choice is Yours!"
Author Unknown --- Sent in by Darrell H., Age 13 --- Louisiana
"I don't need a picture to remind myself of a good time."
Kort M., Age 12 --- Texas
"In life there are no obstacles... just options!"
Author Unknown --- Sent in by Katie, Age 17 --- New Jersey
"It is better to have gotten offline and loved,
Than to have never gotten online at all."
My online friend --- Submitted by Kimberly H., Age 16 --- New York
"Real friends are like 4-leaf clovers, they're one in a million."
Stephanie S., Age 14 ---New York
"The measure of a man's real character
Is how he would act if he were never found out."
Author Unknown --- Sent in by Jim J., Age 17 --- New Jersey
"Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude
From achieving his goal;
Nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude."
Thomas Jefferson --- Submitted by Sandie E., Age 18 --- Malaysia
"You never realize what you have until it's gone."
Author Unknown --- Sent in by Kelli, Age 16 --- New York
"Don't Die! Life needs You!"
Sarah, Age 13 --- Idaho
"A good friendship is unlike a book,
Although it has a beginning and a middle,
It shouldn't have an ending."
Scott Yager --- Sent in by Kim H., Age 16 --- New York
"You can't test courage cautiously."
Author Unknown --- Sent in by Erin W., Age 15 --- Minnesota
"Friends are the stepping stones of life.
In order to cross the water,
You may have to rely on them completely sometime in your life.
But then, quite possibly, never see them again.
When you have them; respect and cherish them.
Look forward to new ones and when they're gone,
Never forget them.
There will always be many behind,
Some on the way, and even more ahead."
Christopher McC., Age 17 --- Pennsylvania
"For every petal you pluck from a daisy,
I grant you one measure of love.
For every rainbow you find with two ends,
I wish you two stars from above.
For every tear you brush from a cheek,
I promise you kindness will follow.
Wherever you walk, under rainbows of stars,
Over daisies or down lonely hollows.
For every child you play with and talk to,
I grant you one heart full of laughter.
For every smile you place on a face,
I promise you peace ever after.
If you think "I" am giving you priceless gifts,
Look close at yourself and your deeds.
The gifts you earned were the lessons you learned
While answering other folks' needs."
Copyright © Marlene Gerba
--- Sent in by Tacy T., Age 15 --- Hawaii
"Those who sweat together, stick together!"
Unknown --- Sent in by Kristi, Age 14 --- Idaho
"Love is a very strong word,
Be careful how you use it."
Julie B., Age 16 --- New Jersey
"Listen to the mustn'ts, child,
Listen to the don'ts, listen to the shouldn'ts,
The impossibles, the won'ts.
Listen to the never-haves,
Then listen close to me.
Anything can happen, child,
Anything can be."
Copyright © Shel Silverstein
--- Sent in by Heidi N., Age 18 --- Ohio
"When somebody tells me I can't do something
It lights a fire under my butt and my first response is
I'm going to prove you wrong."
Picabo Street --- Sent in by Chris, Age 17 --- California
"One who seeks honor will never acquire it;
Yet one who flees from honor due to him,
Can never hide from it!"
Michael S., Age 17 --- New York
"It is better to have loved and lost
Than to never have loved at all."
Tennyson --- Sent in by Molly M., Age 15 --- Massachusetts
--- Author's name supplied by Ann Burke 6/13/99
"Life is like a buffet;
You can eat all you want,
So long as you help yourself."
Luke D., Age 16 --- Northern Territory, Australia
"If your actions don't show it
Then you don't believe it."
Sue Ballew - (my sunday school teacher)
--- Sent in by Nathanael S., Age 17 --- Iowa
"To be nobody-but-myself
in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make youeverybody else
means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stopfighting. "
e.e. cummings --- Sent in by Charlette S., Age 17 --- Maryland
"If there is something worth waiting for;
Just wait for it and have patience."
Nikita, Age 14 --- Ohio
"Not what we give,
But what we share,
For the gift without the giver
Is bare."
Author Unknown --- Sent in by Fiona L., Age 18 --- Sydney, Australia
"Just as a cloud must give of itself
For rain to flow,
We must give of ourselves
For love to grow."
Carrie Kay, Age 16 --- Texas
"Friendship is like a bank account:
You cannot continue to draw on it
Without making deposits."
Author Unknown --- Sent in by T.A., Age 13
"Inspire and be inspired!"
Tiffany, Age 17 --- British Columbia, Canada
"Failure is divided into two classes:
Those who thought and never did
And those who did and never thought."
Author Unknown --- Sent in by Shannon R., Age 14 --- Iowa
"When problems beset us
Our trials begin.
Let's summon the power
Of the strength from within.
It's there when you need it.
It flows from the heart.
It's the noblest energy
Life can impart.
It says never weaken
Don't ever give in.
With invincible spirits,
Keep striving to win.
Though the odds may seem heavy
And the efforts seem great,
The courage we muster
Will govern our fate.
So acknowledge the challenge
And give it your best.
Let that strength from within
Help you meet every test."
Author Unknown --- Sent in by Kristy Z., --- Ohio
"The measure of a man's character
Is not what he gets from his ancestors,
But what he leaves his descendants."
Author Unknown --- Sent in by Jo B., Age 14 --- Colorado
"Thank You
Thank you for settling my fears,
And wiping away my many tears.
Thank you for not getting mad,
All those times when I was bad.
Thank you for your advice on boys,
And helping me clean up my toys.
Thank you for being there,
When no one else seemed to care.
Thank you for teaching me,
What to do and how to be.
Thank you for showing me what's right,
When to let go and when to fight.
Thank you for all the good advice,
Even if you had to tell me twice.
Thank you for all of the times,
You got me out of difficult binds.
Thank you for everything you've bought,
And for forgiving me when we fought.
Thank you for warning me when to beware,
And for always styling my hair.
Thank you for showing me how to deal,
With all of the emotions that I feel.
Thank you for all you've done,
You've made my life so much fun.
Thank you for being my sister too,
I couldn't have done anything without you.
I thank you
and I love you."
Copyright © Colleen Damman --- Michigan
--- Dedicated to my sister, Jenny
"The medicine to heal a pained heart and soul
Is a comforting and understand hug and smile."
Nhi N., Age 16 --- Texas
"If you risk nothing, you risk everything."
Geena Davis --- Sent in by Rachel S., Age 18 --- New York
"I always knew looking back at the times we cried
Would make me laugh,
But I never knew that looking back at the times we laughed
Would make me cry."
Jimmy Buffet --- Sent in by Molly M., Age 15 --- Massachusetts
--- Author's name supplied by Steff M., Age 17 --- Kentucky --- 6/22/99
"Even the darkest cloud can not shade the vibrant sunlight of your smile."
Author Unknown --- Sent in by Molly P., Age 16 --- Texas
"In this life you can either eat dust or make dust.
You make that decision."
Tillie Carter --- Sent in by Whitney, Age 14 --- Georgia
"Trust others and believe in yourself.
Trust yourself and believe in others.
These are the true ties of friendship."
Author Unknown --- Sent in by Elizabeth, Age 14 --- Michigan
"Never put a heart around the name of who you love,
Put a circle,
Because hearts get broken and circles never end."
Anonymous --- Sent in by Allie B., Age 15 --- Alberta, Canada