H. Jackson Brown Jr. was an American author best known for his inspiring and thought-provoking quotes. Born in 1940, Brown wrote numerous books throughout his career, many of which have become international bestsellers. His words of wisdom cover a wide range of topics, including life, love, success, and happiness, and have been featured in a variety of publications, from newspapers and magazines to greeting cards and calendars.
Brown’s quotes are beloved by people all over the world for their ability to inspire, motivate, and uplift, and they continue to resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds.
90 H. Jackson Brown Jr. Quotes
- “Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts.”
2. “Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.”
3. “Never deprive someone of hope it may be all they have”
4. “When you can’t change the direction of the wind — adjust your sails”
5. “If you’re doing your best, you won’t have time to worry about failure.”
6. “Don’t delay acting on a good idea. Chances are someone else has just thought of it, too. Success comes to the one who acts first.”
7. “When you’re lost, admit it, and ask for directions.”
8. “Don’t burn bridges. You’ll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river.”
9. “When you are angry or frustrated, what comes out? Whatever it is, it’s a good indication of what you’re made of.”
10. “Life doesn’t require that we be the best, only that we try our best.”
11. “Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you.”
12. “Don’t judge those who try and fail. Judge only those who fail to try.”
13. “Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something and has lost something.”
Inspirational H. Jackson Brown Jr. Quotes
14. “Every person that you meet knows something you don’t; learn from them.”
15. “Success is getting what you want. Happiness is liking what you get.”
16. “Life is slippery. We all need a loving hand to hold onto.”
17. “Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.”
18. “Don’t waste time waiting for inspiration. Begin, and inspiration will find you.”
19. “Never underestimate your power to change yourself.”
20. “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.”
21. “Good manners sometimes means simply putting up with other people’s bad manners.”
22. “Never be ashamed of honest tears.”
23. “Become the kind of person who brightens a room just by entering it.”
24. “Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.”
25. “Choose your life’s mate carefully. From this one decision will come 90 percent of all your happiness or misery.”
H. Jackson Brown Jr. Quotes For Success
26. “Let people know what you stand for and what you won’t stand for.”
27. “Encourage anyone who is trying to improve mentally, physically, or spiritually.”
28. “A kiss on the beach when there is a full moon is the closest thing to heaven.”
29. “Love is when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own.”
30. “Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.”
31. “Earn your success based on service to others, not at the expense of others.”
32. “You cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up up them.”
33. “Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking”
34. “Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.”
35. “Judge your success by the degree that you’re enjoying peace, health, and love.”
36. “While earning your daily bread, be sure you share a slice with those less fortunate.”
37. “Resist telling people how something should be done. Instead, tell them what needs to be done. They will often surprise you with creative solutions.”
38. “Practice empathy. Try to see things from other people’s points of view.”
39. “Don’t dismiss a good idea simply because you don’t like the source.”
40. “When someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go.”
H. Jackson Brown Jr. Quotes To Live By
41. “You must take action now that will move you towards your goals. Develop a sense of urgency in your life.”
42. “Apply this simple rule to your conversations: If you wouldn’t write it down and sign it, don’t say it.”
43. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
44. “Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen everyday.”
45. “Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.”
46. “Lose without excuses. Win without boasting.”
47. “Protect your enthusiasm from the negativity of others.”
48. “Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eyes”
49. “In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins, not through strength but by perseverance.”
50. “Opportunity dances with those who are already on the dance floor.”
51. “Remember that a minute of anger denies you sixty seconds of happiness.”
52. “Remember that the biggest gap in the world is between ‘I should’ and ‘I did.”
53. “Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others.”
Empowering H. Jackson Brown Jr. Quotes
54. “Enjoy the satisfaction that comes from doing little things well.”
55. “Remember that almost everything looks better after a good night’s sleep.”
56. “It’s not your job to get people to like you, it’s your job to like people.”
57. “Take care of your reputation. It’s your most valuable asset.”
58. “Improve your performance by improving your attitude.”
59. “Don’t forget, a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.”
60. “If you know someone who tries to drown their sorrows, you might tell them sorrows know how to swim.”
61. “Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.”
62. “Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly.”
63. “Remember that children, marriages, and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get.”
64. “Do battle against prejudice and discrimination wherever you find it.”
65. “Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you: love, prayer, and forgiveness.”
66. “A true friend encourages us, comforts us, supports us like a big easy chair, offering us a safe refuge from the world.”
Motivational H. Jackson Brown Jr. Quotes
67. “Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.”
68. “Remember that the more you know, the less you fear.”
69. “Measure your wealth by what you’d have left if you lost all your money.”
70. “Show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job.”
71. “People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost”
71. “Never make fun of someone who speaks broken English. It means they know another language.”
72. “I’ve learned that being kind is more important than being right.”
73. “Put a love note in his shaving kit before he leaves on a business trip.”
74. “Don’t expect others to listen to your advice and ignore your example.”
75. “Someone will always be looking at you as an example of how to behave. Don’t let him down.”
76. “Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity.”
77. “Win without boasting, lose without excuses – internalize your failures and externalize your victories.”
78. “Strive for excellence, not perfection.”
79. “I’ve learned that education, experience, and memories are three things that no one can take away from you”
Famous H. Jackson Brown Jr. Quotes
80. “Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.”
81. “Your mind can only hold one thought at a time. Make it a positive and constructive one.”
82. “The shortest way to get anywhere is to have good company.”
83. “Let perseverance be your engine and hope your fuel.”
84. “Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it’s going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.
85. “If you want to do something and you feel in your bones that it’s the right thing to do, do it. Intuition is often as important as the facts.”
86. “I never expect to lose. Even when I’m the underdog, I still prepare a victory speech.”
87. “Remember that what’s right isn’t always popular, and what’s popular isn’t always right.”
88. “When you have nothing important or interesting to say, don’t let anyone persuade you to say it.”
89. “Living big and joyful and content is almost always the result of our finding satisfaction in life’s ordinary day-to-day pleasures. And God must be fond of them, too, for He made so many of them for us to enjoy.”
90. “Live and learn and pass it on.”
Additional Read: H. Jackson Brown Jr., Best-Selling Giver of Fatherly Advice, Dies at 81