What are the best life quotes for men to live by?

What is one of the best life quotes for men to live by?

To help you find the best life quote for men to live by, we asked CEOs and business leaders this question for their best quotes. There are several life quotes that embody wisdom, inspiration and eternal principles that would help men live fulfilling lives.

Here are 18 life quotes for men these leaders have chosen to live by:

• Beware of the Corporate Pronouns
• I Wouldn’t Know How to Get Along Without Tough Competition
• Never Stop Being a Learner
• Big Jobs Usually Go to the Men Who Prove Their Ability to Outgrow Small Ones
• A Ship in Harbor is Safe But That’s Not What Ships Are Built for
• A Great Man is Hard on Himself; a Small Man is Hard on Others
• Keep Away From People Who Try to Belittle Your Ambitions
• Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight
• Whatever the Mind Can Conceive and believe, it Will Achieve
• Tenderness and Vulnerability Are Not a Sign of Weakness
• True Nobility is Being Superior to Your Former Self
• Always be the Hardest Worker in the Room
• Every Man of Courage is a Man of His Word
• With Self-Discipline Almost Anything is Possible
• The Real Man Smiles in Trouble, Gathers Strength From Distress, and Grows Brave by Reflection
• Behind Every Great Man is Not a Woman, She is Beside Him, She is With Him, She is Not Behind Him
• Knowledge Will Give You Power But Character Respect
• To Have a Healthy Body, to Hone An Intelligent Mind…

Beware of the Corporate Pronouns

I’ve worked for some excellent organizations and have known some exceptional leaders who radiated integrity and selflessness. By definition however, these are exceptions. The truth is your company doesn’t love you. Neither does your boss. The winds of corporate fortune can change on a dime, and sadly, sometimes there’s nothing you can do about it.

A former colleague and true company man relayed the following sentiment after a merger rocked his world. “For years I said: We did this. We did that. Then one day, they fired me.”  

“Like your job. Love your family. Priorities matter.”

Taken from my post – https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/13-things-every-man-needs-hear-various-points-life-tim-toterhi/

I Wouldn’t Know How to Get Along Without Tough Competition

Walt Disney once said, “I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn’t know how to get along without it.” A good man will realize that competition doesn’t hold you back, but it actually propels you forward. People – especially entrepreneurs – often do their best work under intense pressure from the competition in their niche.

Never Stop Being a Learner

“Never stop being a learner.” This advice has helped shape me as a business person, but also as an individual. No matter what role you are in or where you are in life, you will only succeed more if you take on the mindset that there is always something more to learn, something more to improve, or something more to adapt. This mindset keeps you on your feet at all times, ready to adapt and align as you learn better practices and produce better and better results. Stagnancy is the worst trait a business person can have, but learning to always be ready for the next challenge and always be willing to tackle new mountains will keep you moving forward and up at all times.

Big Jobs Usually Go to the Men Who Prove Their Ability to Outgrow Small Ones

“Big jobs usually go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow small ones.” — Theodore Roosevelt. 

This quote emphasizes the importance of always striving to improve and achieve more. It is a reminder that complacency is never an option if you want to be successful in life. This quote also highlights the fact that opportunity often goes to those who are prepared and willing to seize it. In other words, if you want something badly enough, you need to be willing to put in the hard work required to make it happen.

A Ship in Harbor is Safe But That’s Not What Ships Are Built for

One of my favorites that always seems to motivate and push me to go outside my comfort zone is by John A. Shedd: “A ship in harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” It applies to both calculated risk-taking as well as doing or trying new things you may not have considered before.

A Great Man is Hard on Himself; a Small Man is Hard on Others

Confucius said, “A great man is hard on himself; a small man is hard on others.” Being hard on yourself doesn’t have to mean “too hard!” Here it points to giving your best and paying attention to the areas in your life that need improving. Those who are “small” are too busy pointing out the faults of others to even notice their own weaknesses. Be the great man.

Keep Away From People Who Try to Belittle Your Ambitions

Mark Twain said, “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great men make you feel that you, too, can become great.” There are a myriad of reasons why people will try to talk you out of your dreams. Jealousy, insecurity, a lack of ambition or self esteem are just a few. All of these reasons have nothing to do with you or your abilities. Remember that great men build each other up and support one another.

Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight

“You’re going to fail. Fall down seven times, get up eight.” This is a great quote to live by, especially for men. Men tend to have a tendency to keep their emotions bottled up inside and not talk about their issues. This can lead to stress and anxiety, which can cause more problems and make it hard for men to communicate with their loved ones when they have these problems. This is why this quote is so important and beneficial for men to live by. It’s okay to have issues and concerns, and you should talk about them with your loved ones.

Whatever the Mind Can Conceive and believe, it Will Achieve

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve,” by Napoleon Hill, is one of the most important quotes a man can have at the forefront of his consciousness. Although this quote is not specifically related to being a man, it can be embraced by males to pursue their goals. By understanding that we are more capable than we think we are, we can find greatness. The essential factor is that we devote ourselves to committing to our thoughts in order to find success.

Tenderness and Vulnerability Are Not a Sign of Weakness

Tenderness and vulnerability are not signs of weakness. On the contrary, knowing one’s strengths and weaknesses without becoming entrenched in insecurities shows contentment, self-awareness, and emotional fortitude. Our society largely punishes men for showing emotions or signs of vulnerability, but this creates more problems than it solves. Men who emotionally repress themselves go on to lead dysfunctional lives, either hurting or lashing out at their loved ones or self-sabotaging due to poor emotional management. Instead, we should advocate for and educate men and boys about emotional regulation and expression. Humans are inherently emotion-driven animals, and training a generation to deny that fact is counterproductive and should be avoided.

True Nobility is Being Superior to Your Former Self

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” This quote, attributed to Ernest Hemingway, speaks to the idea that the only person you should really strive to be better than is yourself. Most of the time, men compete with themselves and compare themselves to others. They want to be better. But that’s not the way men’s life should look like. It’s easy to feel superior to others when we compare our accomplishments, possessions, or talents against theirs. But what does it really mean to be superior? Hemingway suggests that it’s not about looking down on others but about continually striving to improve ourselves. After all, anyone can find someone else to compete with and feel good about themselves in the process. But it takes a special person to keep pushing themselves forward, even when there’s no one around to compete with. That’s the kind of man who truly deserves the title of “superior.”

Always be the Hardest Worker in the Room

“Be humble. Be hungry. And always be the hardest worker in the room.” — Dwayne Johnson 

This quote is a reminder that no matter how successful you become, it is important to stay humble. It also highlights the importance of always striving to improve and be the best that you can be. Success is not just about talent or intelligence, but also about hard work. In other words, if you want to be successful in life, you need to be willing to put in the effort required to make it happen.

Every Man of Courage is a Man of His Word

“Every man of courage is a man of his word.” This quote by French dramatist Pierre Corneille embodies the way I try to approach life. To be a man of your word means that you do what you say and say what you do. It means you’re accountable. People talk all the time and say a lot, but words are cheap unless there is action behind them. Make a choice, commit to the consequences, and keep your promises. This is the bravest and oftentimes the hardest thing to do, but it’s ultimately the right thing to do, in my opinion.

With Self-Discipline Almost Anything is Possible

“With self-discipline, almost anything is possible.” This quote by Theodore Roosevelt represents one of my strongest core beliefs. Self-discipline has been a key factor in all my business endeavors. As a kid, I skipped time playing with other children to sell bundles of mistletoe gathered from my grandfather’s ranch. When I was a high-school running back, I edited highlight reels for my teammates’ parents for a fee when my teammates were relaxing after practice. My wife and I started a company, but the pandemic squashed it after three years of hard work. But we didn’t let that stop us: We pushed on and embarked upon another dream. Stay disciplined and commit to achieve your goals. Not all of them will be accomplished right away, but great things will happen if you work hard.

The Real Man Smiles in Trouble, Gathers Strength From Distress, and Grows Brave by Reflection

“The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection,” by Thomas Paine is one of the best life quotes for guys to live by. Being a man is accepting responsibility and exercising willpower to develop into the person you know you are capable of and ought to be. It’s about leveraging your influence as a man to help others and effect change for the better. There are numerous things you can do to improve as a man, even if you can never be flawless. There is always opportunity for development and chances for expansion. You’ll occasionally fall and fail, just like any other person. However, if you are focused and persistent enough, you can gradually improve and transcend your weaknesses. Take ownership of your situation rather than acting as a victim of your surroundings, and seek out opportunities to design the life you want. You can become and be even more of a guy than you are right now, though it’s easier said than done.

Behind Every Great Man is Not a Woman, She is Beside Him, She is With Him, She is Not Behind Him

“Behind every great man is not a woman, she is beside him, she is with him, she is not behind him.” This quote by philosopher and writer Tariq Ramadan is something I believe every man needs to live by and learn by. I grew up surrounded by strong women and there is nothing more accurate than this quote; we need to take our old stories and rewrite them so that our present and future are equal and inclusive.

Knowledge Will Give You Power But Character Respect

Bruce Lee is credited for this quote: “Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.” It’s consistent with the way he lived his life. It’s a life quote that has always resonated with me. I’ve encountered many smart and talented people during my educational, military and professional life. You will succeed if you gain knowledge, but you won’t gain respect unless you have integrity and decency. Don’t let your ambition affect how you treat other people as you rise to the top. The top can be a lonely place if no one respects you. Be a good man in every way.

To Have a Healthy Body, to Hone An Intelligent Mind…

“To have a healthy body, to hone an intelligent mind, to have great friends and a loving family, to be successful at what you do, to give back what you have received, and to create a great life – you need to start putting in the work today.” 

We all dream of a perfect life, yet very few understand that waiting for such a life is futile. You have to start working on it today, and only then will you be able to create the life you want. From building connections with your friends and family to going hard at your professional ambitions, start working on every detail today, and you will soon have the life you wish for.