Inspirational quotes are thoughtful words that help you to look at things differently, and sometimes to feel inspired to make positive change. A few words of encouragement at the right time can make all the difference. We have collected and included some inspirational quotes and words of hope and encouragement.

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You can recover. It’s a hard and ongoing road, but it can be done.

– Man Age 34, sexually assaulted at age 23

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The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Character is how you treat those who can do nothing for you.

– Anon

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It’s not who you are, what you do in life defines who you are. The abuse happened to you, not because of you. The abuse does not define you… love yourself.

– Man age 45, sexually abused from age 9-10

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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.

– Aristotle.

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I spent so much of my teens and twenties just numbing. Now, I choose to live a life of relevance.

– Member of Living Well Support Group.

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Now and then, it is good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.

– Guillame Apollinaire

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Life moves pretty fast. If you dont stop and look around once in a while you could miss it.

– J. Hughes

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It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one that is most adaptable.

– Charles Darwin

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I’m letting go of the thoughts that do not make me stronger.

– Anon

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It is important to remember that it is not your fault or your responsibility. The abuser is the only person responsible and being male does not make what was done excusable.

– Man age 25, sexually abused from age 2-14

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Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail.

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Once you choose hope, anything is possible.

– Anon

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You possess great knowledge and skills relating to survival and living, make the most of these and be kind to yourself always. You are worth it, as am I.

– Man age 47, sexually abused from age 11-15

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Living well is the best revenge.

– George Herbert

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Anyone who has never made a mistake, has never tried anything new.

– Albert Einstein

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Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle.

– Plato

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Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

– George Bernard Shaw

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Don’t be afraid to stand for what you believe in, even if that means standing alone.

– Anon

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I am thankful for all of those who said NO to me. It’s because of them I’m doing it myself.

– Albert Einstein

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The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.

– Steve Jobs

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Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.

– Farraj Gray

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Life has two rules: #1: Never quit. #2: Always remember rule # 1.

– Anon

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When life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up.

– Les Brown

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A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success.

– Anon

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It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.

– Epictetus

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This too shall pass.

– Persian Sufi poet

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I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.

– Henry David Thoreau

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Everyone has inside them a piece of good news. The good news is you dont know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is.

– Anne Frank

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Fighting for your dreams isn’t always easy, but it’s so worth it.

– Anon

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Every day, a new opportunity to decide where your next step will go is given to you. Your future will be determined by the accumulation of these daily decisions. You control your steps and therefore your destiny, so choose wisely.

– Kevin Ngo

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It is time for us all to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever – the one who recognizes the challenges and does something about it.

– Vince Lombardi

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There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.

– John Holmes

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Encourage yourself by encouraging others. It’s tough to encourage others without lifting your own spirits up.

– Kevin Ngo

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To encourage someone is to help instil courage in them so that they can stand up and keep pressing forward.

– Kevin Ngo

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Do just once what others say you can’t do and you will never pay attention to their limitations again.

– James R. Cook