113 Life Is Precious Quotes To Enjoy And Inspire
“Be Glad Of Life Because It Gives You The Chance To Love, To Work, To Play, And To Look Up At The Stars.” - Henry Van Dyke
Do you ever feel like life is just passing one day into the next, and you are missing something in all of the hectic coming and going?
Press pause. Even if it is for just a moment, a moment to breathe deep, and to reset.
It is a rare person who can say that they live every day to the fullest. We can all find areas of our life that we can make better, more fulfilling, and gratifying.
It is the how of making this happen that can be challenging. It is easier to just go along as we have been rather than make a conscious effort to improve ourselves and our life.
Quotes can be the key to improving your life. It takes more than reading them, of course, but reading quotes is the starting place.
Quotes can help us to identify an area of our life that we would like to change in some way, even if that change is to be more aware of that aspect.
Quotes are effective because they capture a thought, a feeling, an idea in a brief phrase. The fact that quotes are often brief makes them very functional. If you don’t have time to read an entire book on self-help, you can still read some quotes.
Once you find a quote or two that fits your area of focus, then it’s a matter of embedding those quotes into your life. This is the key to making the change, and making it stick. It is not enough to simply read a quote, and think, “That’s a nice quote, and it relates to my life.” That’s an important step, but there is more to do to make the quote really work for you.
The quotes here encourage us to regard life as the precious gift it is, and to not take it for granted. There are quotes that will inspire you to make your life more meaningful, to look at the beauty around us every day in nature, in people, in our relationships and in our work.
Enjoy reading these quotes and see what draws you in, makes you pause and think. That’s the start of a change that could enrich your life.
40 Best Inspirational Life Is Precious Quotes
1. "Experience life while you still can: we only get one chance at this, and it's a pity to waste it." - Thomas McIlveen
2. "In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years." - Edward J. Stieglitz
3. "Life is precious, fragile, fleeting." - Jim Butcher
4. "Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the quicker we will be able to treat life as art." - Maya Angelou
5. "One day your life will be over and you won't remember how you got there." - Nancy O'Hara
6. "Once you bring life into the world, you must protect it. We must protect it by changing the world." - Elie Wiesel
7. "Enjoy your life, the precious moments you have." - Jim Valvano
8. "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" - Martin Luther King, Jr.
9. "Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated." - Confucius
10. "Life is precious. Life is beautiful. Life should be treated with the respect it deserves because life tomorrow is not guaranteed." - Vincent J. Monteleone
11. "It’s amazing to see the beauty of the world. It’s so beautiful and so brutal. It’s a reminder that every second of life is precious." - Sally Green
12. “Life is like a roller coaster. Live it, be happy, enjoy life.” - Avril Lavigne
13. "It’s a terrible thing, I think, in life, to wait until you’re ready." - Hugh Laurie
14. "Life gets mighty precious when there’s less of it to waste." - Bonnie Raitt
15. "Enjoy life while you have it, for it does not last long." - Prasanna Rao Bandela
16. "Life is too precious to be unhappy." - Kate Atkinson
17. "The most precious things in life are not those you get for money." - Albert Einstein
18. "Like water, life is precious, but most people, through their lack of empathy, prefer to waste it." - Michael Bassey Johnson
19. "Life is a precious gift. Use your days wisely." - Unknown
20. "Choose life for life is precious and you, your life, is so, so, so precious to God, your creator. CHOOSE LIFE." - Victoria Titiloye
21. "Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what’s left and live it properly." - Marcus Aurelius
22. "Go for it now. The future is promised to no one." - Wayne Dyer
23. "With life as short as a half-taken breath, don’t plant anything but love." - Rumi
24. "All things precious in life are simple; all things simple in life are precious." - M. K. Mahmood
25. "Life is precious, life is beautiful, life is exciting. Life can be terrible at times but there is no good without the bad." - Lewis Pope
26. "Fools waste what the wise regard as sacred: life." - Maxime Lagacé
27. "Your time is precious. Don’t waste it on anyone who doesn’t realize that you are, too." - Robert Tew
28. "Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love, to work, to play, and to look up at the stars." - Henry Van Dyke
29. "Be grateful for every second of every day that you get to spend with the people you love. Life is so very precious." - Unknown
30. "Just remember—Life is precious. Treat it that way! Jaideep Singh Chaddha, Please Mom It's My Life." - Unknown
31. "The function of a man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." - Jack London
32. "Life was precious. Life was all that mattered. Yet it meant nothing if you weren’t living as you wanted." - Edward Bunker
33. "Life is too short for long-term grudges." - Elon Musk
34. "We don't ever realize how precious life is while we're living it." - Michael Arden
35. "I’m at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you’re right – have fun." - Unknown
36. "You don't have to wait for a wakeup call to begin to live in the present. Cynthia Heald, Becoming a Woman of Simplicity." - Unknown
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37. "Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many." - Unknown
38. "Life’s most precious moments are not all loud or uproarious. Silence and stillness has its own virtues." - Kilroy J. Oldster
39. "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." - George Bernard Shaw
40. "Life is precious and more immeasurable by any jewel." - Ken Goss, Thoughts and Written Expressions
40 Wise & Precious Life Gift Quotes
41. "Across the morning sky, all the birds are leaving. How can they know that it’s time to go?" - Nina Simone
42. "There is precious instruction to be got by finding we were wrong." - Thomas Carlyle
43. "Life is precious and time is a key element. Let's make every moment count and help those who have a greater need than our own." - Harmon Killebrew
44. “You only live once, and you need to enjoy life, to go out and achieve whatever you want to.” - Ellie Simmonds
45. "There’s only one thing more precious than our time and that’s who we spend it on." - Leo Christopher
46. “Life is precious, and relationships are precious. I’m a great believer in family.” - Len Goodman
47. "Time is like the wind, it lifts the light and leaves the heavy." - Domenico Cieri Estrada
48. “Life is too precious to waste your time thinking about someone who didn’t treat you right.” - Unknown
49. "More precious is want with honesty than wealth with infamy." - Thomas Wentworth
50. "If it weren’t for the last minute, nothing would get done." - Rita Mae Brown
51. "Sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all your hard work isn’t what you get for it, but what you become for it." - Steve Maraboli
52. “Lost time is never found again.” - Benjamin Franklin
53. "You may delay, but time will not." - Benjamin Franklin
54. "Follow your heart, Ithilnin,' Albirich repeated. 'Time is precious. Don't waste it living someone else's life." - Jess C Scott
55. "Mental time-travel is one of the greatest gifts of the mind. It makes us human, and it makes us special." - Claudia Hammond
56. "Life and death, union and separation, follow hard upon one another. Nothing is steadfast but the will, nothing endures but one's achievements. These alone count in life." - Yoshida Shoin
57. "Life every man holds dear but the dear man holds honor far more precious dear than life." - William Shakespeare
58. "I am able to follow my own death step by step. Now I move softly towards the end." - Pope John XXIII
59. If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life is made up of.” - Bruce Lee
60. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." - Chinese proverb
61. "If we really think that home is elsewhere and that this life is a ‘wandering to find home,’ why should we not look forward to the arrival?" - C. S. Lewis
62. “Life gets mighty precious when there’s less of it to waste.” - Bonnie Raitt
63. “Truth is life’s most precious commodity.” - Edwin Louis Cole
64. "Let us come alive to the splendor that is all around us, and see the beauty in ordinary things." - Thomas Merton
65. "Whether it’s the best of times or the worst of times, it’s the only time we’ve got." - Art Buchwald
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66. "I would argue that nothing gives life more purpose than the realization that every moment of consciousness is a precious and fragile gift." - Steven Pinker
67. "We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable. It would be wise to use that time adoring our families, cherishing our friends, and living our lives." - Maya Angelou
68. "The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time." - Mark Twain
69. “As I’ve said before, time is short, and life is precious.” - Nancy Reagan
70. "Life is precious, do not waste it doing anything that your heart does not respect or agree with." - Leon Brown
71. "Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation." - Rumi
72. "You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it." - Charles Buxton
73. “There’s something about knowing life is finite that makes it so precious.” - Ethan Hawke
74. “Of all possessions, a friend is the most precious.” - Herodotus
75. “Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.” - Wayne Dyer
76. “You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it.” - Charles Buxton
77. "Always seek beauty to create a beautiful like." - Debasish Mridha
78. “I realise how precious life is, probably because I’ve seen how it can be taken away.” - Pierce Brosnan
79. "If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life is made up of." - Bruce Lee
80. "The years teach much which the days never know." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
33 Life Is Precious - Long Quotes
81. “Sometimes we get caught up in our troubles and our problems and we let life slip away, but life is precious, all of life, and one must try to take in as much of it as possible.” - Yanni
82. "I often feel that death is not the enemy of life, but its friend; for it is the knowledge that our years are limited which makes them so precious." - Joshua Loth Liebman
83. "Life is too precious to allow others to define you, to waste time trying to live up to the mask that we all sometimes wear, to wake up to a new day without thanking he who allowed it to happen." - Ken Goss
84. "You know that life is precious, brief, and oh so fragile. But what do you do with such vulnerability? One attitude is to live your life with fear and paranoia. Another response is to embrace the fleeting quality of life by seizing the day (carpe diem) and never taking things for granted." - Ashley Davis Bush
85. “Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about those who don’t. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy; they just promised it would most likely be worth it.” - Harvey Mackay
86. "Life is a precious thing, you never know when you’re going to lose it. Live life while you can, because you never know which second is going to be your last." - Unknown
87. "Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have - life itself." - Walter Anderson
88. “Every moment of life is precious and can never happen again and therefore is a reason to appreciate, be grateful for, and celebrate the fact that you are alive.” - Zelig Pliskin
89. "When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." - Marcus Aurelius
90. "Life is precious, we don't know which moment is going to be our last moment in this world. Every moment needs to be celebrated. Life is meaningful, every moment needs to be embraced with learnings." - Hammad Ansari
91. “Life moves on, whether we act as cowards or heroes. Life has no other discipline to impose if we would but realize it than to accept life unquestioningly. Everything we shut our eyes to, everything we run away from, everything we deny, denigrate or despise, serves to defeat us in the end. What seems nasty, painful, and evil can become a source of beauty, joy, and strength if faced with an open mind. Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such.” - Henry Miller
92. "Every day of your life is a miracle, every moment is a miracle. You can take life for granted. You can focus on all your shortcomings, all your pains and trials, but even then, it is a miracle that these things even exist." - Joji Valli
93. "Life only lasts a moment. A fragile sliver of time, Is all that you've been given. So live each moment fully, Each day like it's your last; Let each year seem like a century has passed." - Alondra Lyn Swink
94. “Life is precious, and what you do with it keeps you alive on the inside. It’s not enough just to live and take that gift for granted. Each one of us has fears, but the more we work to overcome them, the more we can enjoy our lives.” - Demi Lovato
95. "Try as much as possible to be wholly alive, with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell and when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough." - William Saroyan
96. "Life is precious. We should not take anything for granted. Living every moment as if it was our first and last is a genuine life of gratitude, acceptance and wisdom." - Akiane Kramarik
97. “Life is precious, and it’s what you do with it that keeps you alive on the inside. It’s not enough just to live and take that gift for granted. Each one of us has fears, but the more we work to overcome them, the more we are able to enjoy our lives.” - Demi Lovato
98. "Life was precious. Life was fragile. Here one moment, gone the next. Every second should be milked for all it’s worth because you never know when the bottom was going to drop out." - Sandra Brown
99. “Try to accomplish things you have always dreamt of while you can. I know it sounds cliché, but the biggest lesson I have learned is that life is precious; enjoy it while it lasts.” - Lisa Ling
100. "You have to embrace getting older. Life is precious, and when you’ve lost a lot of people, you realize that each day is a gift." - Meryl Streep
101. "Well, I think life is precious because you can’t watch it again. I mean you can believe in an after life if that makes you feel better but once you realize you’re not going to be around forever, I think that’s what makes life so magical." - Ricky Gervais
102. “Having come so close to death, I now value just how precious life truly is and want to ride what God gave me until the wheels fall off.” - Shaun King
103. "Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it." - Mother Teresa
104. “Life is precious and time is a key element. Let’s make every moment count and help those who have a greater need than our own.” - Harmon Killebrew
105. "One day, your life will be no more. We tend to live life without the urgency that this basic fact of life provides. 'There will always be tomorrow,' we say. It is a stubborn illusion." - Kavit Haria
106. "It dawns on you one day… how precious your life is and how not okay it is for anyone, ever, to cause you any amount of suffering, ever. Then the next time you step out the door you look at everyone and you’re thinking, ‘My life is precious and you’re not allowed to hurt me." - C. JoyBell C
107. "Be yourself. Life is precious as it is. All the elements for your happiness are already here. There is no need to run, strive, search, or struggle. Just Be." - Thich Nhat Hanh
108. "Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about those who don’t. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would most likely be worth it." - Harvey Mackay
109. "Life is precious. We should not take anything for granted. Living every moment as if it was our first and last is a genuine life of gratitude, acceptance, and wisdom."
110. “Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have – life itself.” - Walter Anderson
111. “I think I’m very conscientious of how precious life is and how quickly life can be taken away from you, especially at times when it can be least expected.” - Jeff Garcia
112."The Old Ones knew that life is not rare, but precious; not fragile, but vulnerable. Life is as deep as the seas in which it was born, as strong as the mountains that give it shelter, as universal as the stars themselves." - Ben Bova
113. “Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless it’s a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from.” - Al Franken
Next Steps
To make a real change in your life, you need to take steps beyond connecting with a quote, but that is the first step. Follow these ideas for taking that quote and making lasting change.
- Set aside a specific time to read through the quotes. Try to make this a time when you can be by yourself, and you are not going to be rushed to get to an appointment or drive the kids to a music lesson. This will allow you to give your undivided attention to what you are reading and decide on a quote that you really connect with.
- This next step is critical in making a quote an impactful part of your life. It’s important to remind yourself of the quote - frequently. Do this by displaying it in different areas around your house or at work where you will be sure to see it again and again.
- Determine where you spend most of your time throughout the day: at home, at work, on public transit. Then think about where you could post your quote so you would see it readily and be reminded of the message often.
- Now choose the method of display. If you’re a coffee or tea drinker then your quote on a favorite mug both at work and at home would be a great spot. If you enjoy wearing jewelry you could have your quote engraved on the inside of a ring, or bracelet. If you love to read, put it on a bookmark. This works well if you take something to read on the bus, subway, or streetcar.
- Build into your daily routine, opportunities to reflect on your quote. For example, every night when you go to bed, dedicate a few minutes to reflecting on the message itself and how you were able to incorporate it into your day. Set an intention for the next day. In the morning, remind yourself of the intention and start your day grounded in your quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Keep A Quote As My ‘Go-To’ Forever, Or Should I Change Up Quotes From Time To Time?
Keep a quote for as long as it is inspiring you and helping you to attain a goal. If it is no longer serving a purpose, it’s okay to let it go.
Different quotes have different functions. Some quotes can be very practical in nature, and may speak to a particular goal which, once attained, negate the purpose of the quotes.
Other quotes deal with issues that are broader in scope and may require a life-long commitment.
It is important to revisit your quote. If the quote no longer strikes a chord with you, then it is time to replace it.
What Is Journaling And How Can It Be Helpful?
Journaling is the act of writing down any number of things. It can be a record of events that are important to you. You could write down how you felt about an event. Many people write about their thoughts, feelings, goals, and ideas.
A journal may take the form of an actual book, or you might prefer keeping a journal online. Journals are typically personal and private like a diary would be.
Journaling can help you to work through challenges by writing out your feelings and weighing pros and cons of possible solutions.
Journaling can be a place to set goals and aspirations. Writing out a list of ways you would like to improve yourself, for example, can help you focus your attention on a particular quality in yourself that you wish to give attention to.
When you set aside time to intentionally write down your thoughts and reflections, this can help develop a focus, and this, in turn, can lead you to read quotes that may inspire you in your journey to develop.
Select one or two quotes that are important to you in reaching a goal, and write them in your journal. Use them to analyze and reflect on your progress.