Want to know famous English quotes and their translations? There are many, some from movies, some from literature, but most are just popular culture.
Once you know the most popular quotes in English, you'll also find plenty of related references. If you want to quote, you often only need to mention the first part, since many people know how the quote ends.
15 famous English quotes and their translations
1. “Well done, better said than done.”
The author of this quote is the famous Benjamin Franklin, who is considered one of the founding fathers of the United States. The translation of this quote is “A thing well done is better than a thing well said.” He encourages people to do the work and not just talk.
2. “Once you choose what you want, anything is possible.”
This motivational English quote has no known author and cannot be attributed to anyone. However, it is very common and has a beautiful meaning. Everything is possible if you choose what you want.
3. “Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
There's a famous saying in business: “Try again. Fail again. Get used to failure.” Failure is a part of life, especially in business. However, it should not be seen as a defeat, but as an opportunity to learn.
4. “Start wide, expand further, and never look back.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger also uttered this famous phrase, referring to his acting career and other diverse duties as governor. The translation is “Start wide, expand further, and never look back.”
5. “You only live once, but once is enough if you do it right.”
Mae West was an American actress, singer, comedian, screenwriter, and playwright. She is the author of this famous quote that encourages you to do things right and enjoy the moment to the fullest. Translation: “You only live once, but once is enough if you do it right.”
6. “The mind can see things that are invisible to the eye.”
You've probably heard this famous English saying. It is said to be written by Jackson Browne, an American songwriter and musician. This means that the mind can see things that are invisible to the eye.
7. “The harder you work, the luckier you will be.”
“The harder you work, the luckier you get,” is a saying full of wisdom. As we all know, there is a correlation between hard work and happiness.
8. “If you change your thoughts, you will change the world.”
It is often said that attitude is everything, and this is exactly what I want to convey with these words. The literal translation is “To change reality, you must change your thoughts.”
9. “80% of success is showing up.”
We owe this quote to Woody Allen, a famous American film director, comedian, author, musician, and actor who needs no introduction. During his long career, he left us with some great quotes. This is one of them. With this quote, he is trying to convey how important it is to be proactive and work hard in order to be successful. Translated to: “80 percent of the recipe for success is showing up.”
10. “Judge each day not by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you sow.”
A famous British proverb goes, “Judge each day not by what you reap, but by what you sow.” This sentence is trying to tell us through a metaphor that goals must be achieved in stages.
11. “Dream as if you were to live forever. Live as if you were to die today.”
Looking for a quote synonymous with the famous Carpe Diem that will inspire you to live in the moment? It's: “Dream as if you were to live forever. Live as if you were to die today.”
12. “Don’t dream about life, live your dreams.”
The famous American author Mark Twain encourages us to dream and turn our fantasies into reality. He says, “Don't dream your life, live your dreams.”
13. “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”
This famous English proverb teaches us not to stay on the surface and not to trust appearances. Literally translated, it means, “Don't judge a book by its cover.”
14. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
Another American president, Abraham Lincoln, is the author of this famous quote. The literal translation is: “The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself.” Communicate a clear and bold message.
15. “Aim for the moon. If you miss, you might hit the stars.”
“Aim for the moon, girl, and you might just hit the stars” is what this beautiful phrase means. This quote is attributed to William Clement Stone, an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author of self-help books.
These 15 famous and motivational quotes will not only inspire you but also help you increase your English vocabulary. They are all very well known and often seen on books, t-shirts, mugs, etc.
