So, you’re having a bit of an unmotivated day. Maybe productivity is low, you lack inspiration, or you’re just stumped on what to wear. Yep, it happens to men too. What you may just need are some motivational words to boost morale and help you grab your day by the horns.
You may have experienced that Eureka moment when reading a really awe-inspiring mantra on the subway or your ex-boss’s Facebook page that you can’t remember why you’re stalking. But you might want to think about going beyond simply googling these motivational messages.
Putting up quotes in your home can be a great way to remind yourself of who you want to be. But if you need a bit of help figuring out which quotes will best inspire you, keep reading, because I’ve got your back.
What It Means to Be a Man
To be a man means different things to different people, and so it should. It’s 2021. There’s no more room for a one-size-fits-all attitude towards manhood anymore.
But that said, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take pride in what your masculinity means to you, whether you look up to James Bond or your granddad James. Turning to the footsteps of those who’ve gone before us can be a great way to shape our manhood and take a firm grasp on our ideal ways of being.
The men on this list may not be inspirational to you, although this reporter thinks they should. But all of their words echo a sentiment of modern masculinity that could just incite the greatest idea of your day.
Quotes About Being a Man
So without further ado, let’s get those productivity cogs turning. The quotes below are compiled to help keep you on track and remind you of what it is that gets you up in the morning.
Carpe Diem as the Romans put it. But what do other great men have to say on this topic?
“A man’s got to have a code, a creed to live by, no matter his job.”
John Wayne
Marion Robert Morrison, otherwise known as John Wayne, was an American filmmaker and actor born on May 26, 1907. Wayne grew to fame during Hollywood’s Golden Age and is known for his prominent roles in Western and War movies. The actor grew up in Iowa and represented quintessential masculinity in his roles as the taciturn cowboy and soldier for many Americans.
Wayne starred in over 170 films and received three Oscar nominations across his 50-year acting career, making him a cinematic icon. He was posthumously awarded with the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“No great man ever complains of want of opportunity.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson, born in 1803 in Boston, Massachusetts, was a poet, philosopher, essayist, lecturer, and advocate of social reform. Emerson authored well-known essays such as “Self-reliance”, “History”, “The Over-Soul” and “Fate”, which are known to have shaped American literary style.
He also led the Transcendentalist movement, whose followers advocated the idea of personal knowledge, idealism and believed that nature was a reflection of God. Emerson was known as the man of letters and is one of the most influential American literary figures of all time.
“The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone.”
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Johan Ibsen was a Norwegian playwright and director of theatre, born on March 20, 1928 in Skien, Norway. His notable works include “Peer Gynt”, “A Doll’s House”, “Ghosts” and “An Enemy of the People”. Ibsen is known as one of the founders of modernism in stage dramatics and one of the most influential playwrights of his era.
He often abandoned verse and wrote in realistic prose and his later works were considered scandalous for his time. For these reasons, Ibsen became known as the Father of Realism and his plays are also the most frequently performed dramatics after Shakespeare’s.
“There never was yet a truly great man, that was not at the same time truly virtuous.”
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin is widely considered the Founding Father of the United States of America. He was a polymath inventor, scientist, politician, freemason and diplomat, born on January 17, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Declaration of Independence and The U.S. Constitution were both in part drafted by Franklin and he also negotiated the 1783 Treaty of Paris, ending the Revolutionary War.
Astonishingly, he only had two years of formal education and spent half his life in unofficial retirement, but despite that, he outdid himself in his accolades during his short active career. His inventions, like the phonetic alphabet, the lightning rod, bifocal glasses, and the glass harmonica, an instrument used by both Mozart and Beethoven, have gone down in history, like his legacy.
“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.”
Marcus Aurelius
“If unwilling to rise in the morning, say to thyself, ‘I awake to do the work of a man.”
Marcus Aurelius
One man certainly seizing his day was Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher of the Pax Romana age. Aurelius was born in Rome and was emperor from the year AD 161 to 180, placing him among the longest-serving Roman emperors. He was the last of Rome’s rulers who came to be known as ‘the Five Good Emperors’ as he served in an age of relative stability and peace for the Roman Empire.
He became one of the most respected emperors in Roman history as a philosopher of antiquity who emphasized fate, reason, and self-restraint. He also authored the philosophical work ‘Meditations’, which is known as one of the most influential philosophical books of all time.
“Duty is the essence of manhood.”
General George Patton
George Smith Patton Jr. was born on November 11, 1885 in San Gabriel, California, USA and was a general who commanded the Seventh United States Army in World War II. Patton attended both the Virginia Military Institute and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he studied Fencing and designed the M1913 Cavalry Saber, or “Patton Saber”.
Patton was one of the most successful combat generals in U.S. history and one of the most controversial. He lead the Allies to victory in the invasion of Sicily in WWII and was instrumental in the freeing of Germany from Nazi occupation. He was also awarded a Distinguished Service Medal and the Purple Heart military decoration.
“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination.”
Tommy Lasorda
Tommy Lasorda was born on September 22, 1927 in Norristown, Pennsylvania and was a professional baseball player and manager. Not only was he a pitcher, but Lasorda coached the Dodgers until he took over as manager from 1976 to 1996. Lasorda was renowned for his vibrant persona and outspoken opinions on baseball and sports culture.
He was fiercely loyal to his players and team and also defied the longstanding taboo regarding managers and players interacting on the pitch and his managing techniques triumphed. Lasorda’s long career is a testament to his success as he retired in 1996 and was inducted into the baseball hall of fame in 1997.
“To be a man is, precisely, to be responsible.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Antoine Marie Jean-Baptiste Roger, comte de Saint-Exupéry or more simply known as de Saint-Exupéry, was a french poet, writer, journalist and aristocrat and pioneering aviator. He was born on June 29, 1900 in Lyon, France and was a commercial pilot prior to the Second World War.
Saint-Exupéry joined the French Air Force in WWII but spent two years producing his most renowned works in America following the war. In addition to his Novella “The Little Prince”, which was translated into 300 languages, his unique testimonies about being an aviator in the most dangerous times also showed a different perspective of adventure to the world.
“It is not the situation which makes the man, but the man who makes the situation.”
Frederick William Robertson
Frederick William Robertson was born in London on February 3, 1816, and was known as an English Devine and clergyman of the Church of England. Although destined for the military with his father serving as an artillery captain, he followed his father’s desire path for him and entered into the church.
He became popular among the working class because of his sermons’ psychological insights, which he preached in Trinity Chapel, Brighton. He also became known among intellectual circles for his profound words and speaking abilities. Although he passed before his 40th birthday, his sermons and lectures were collected and published and went down his history along with his memory.
“Men are like steel. When they lose their temper, they lose their worth.”
Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris is an American actor, producer, screenwriter as well as martial artist, born in Oklahoma on March 10, 1940. As well as performing in a number of action movies himself, Norris’ production company is responsible for a number of recognizable titles such as “Walker” and “Texas Ranger”.
On top of his notable screen accolades, Norris also served in the United States Air Force. He went on to also become a black belt in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Judo and even founded his own discipline Chun Kuk Do. Norris has also won numerous martial arts championships and his successes define him as an ultimate jack of all trades, which makes him an inspiration for the modern man.
“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.”
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta Marley was born on February 5, 1945, in Kingston, Jamaica. He was a singer, songwriter, musician, and devout Rastafarian. His contribution to Reggae music changed the world’s perception of Carribean culture across generations.
Marley used his platform to express his spirituality to the world and inspire others. His songs are widely understood as teachings for Rastafarians, and non-believers alike, and his music popularized the Reggae genre.
“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Churchill was born on November 30, 1874 in Blenheim Place in England. He was an impressive statesman, writer, orator and subsequent Prime Minister of England from 1940 to 1945. His most impressive and memorable feat was guiding Britain to victory in the Second World War.
For this, he gained immense popularity with the British public and was reelected back into office from 1951 to 1955. His inspiring speeches and wartime refusal to give up meant he is widely considered to be not only the greatest Prime Minister, but the greatest Briton of all time.
“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.”
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein is an icon if ever there was one, and rightly so tops off our list. He was born in Ulm, Germany on March 14, 1879, and is widely known for his development of the theory of relativity. Einstein also made crucial contributions to quantum mechanics and created the equation of E=MC2.
He won the Nobel prize for his subsequent discovery of the photoelectric effect. Einstein revolutionized our understanding of space, time, and gravity and went down in history as the greatest physicist of all time.
A Final Word From The Trending Man
Whether you aspire to be these men or not, some inspiring words can do a world of good for your mindset. Hearing how other great men motivate themselves could get you one step closer to being the great man you know you can be.
Aspiration does come from within, gentlemen, but we also think that motivational quotes are sometimes a good place to start. Remember, always be true to yourself, but don’t be afraid of using some cheesy one-liners to help get you there.
