Looking to fuel your personal growth, lead a stronger team, or simply stay motivated when things get tough? Growth mindset quotes are a powerful place to start. The right words can shift your perspective, reframe failure, and remind you that progress is always possible—with the right mindset.
In this post, we’ve gathered 50 of the best growth mindset quotes, organized into 10 categories. Whether you’re embracing challenges, learning from failure, or pushing through discomfort, you’ll find the wisdom in these quotes to inspire your next step forward.
1. Embracing Challenges
“Challenges are what make life interesting. Overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua J. Marine
“If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.” – Fred DeVito
“A challenge only becomes an obstacle when you bow to it.” – Ray A. Davis
“Don’t wish it were easier. Wish you were better.” – Jim Rohn
“The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” – Molière
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2. Learning from Failure
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas Edison
“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” – Henry Ford
“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” – Robert F. Kennedy
“Mistakes are proof you are trying.” – Jennifer Lim
“Success is not built on success. It’s built on failure.” – Sumner Redstone
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3. Persistence and Grit
“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” – Albert Einstein
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier
“Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals.” – Angela Duckworth
“Energy and persistence conquer all things.” – Benjamin Franklin
“Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.” – Julie Andrews
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4. The Power of Yet
“I can’t do it… yet.” – Carol Dweck
“The word ‘yet’ can turn a struggle into a stepping stone.” – Unknown
“There is no failure. Only feedback and not-yet-success.” – Unknown
“Not yet is a mindset. It’s an open door.” – Carol Dweck
“Growth comes from the struggle, from the not-yet moments.” – Unknown
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5. Effort and Hard Work
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” – Tim Notke
“Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency.” – Dwayne Johnson
“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” – Jimmy Johnson
“Effort is the engine of achievement.” – Carol Dweck
“Dreams don’t work unless you do.” – John C. Maxwell
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6. Self-Belief and Confidence
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford
“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” – William James
“Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.” – Peter T. McIntyre
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – A.A. Milne
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7. Adaptability and Change
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” – Albert Einstein
“Change is the end result of all true learning.” – Leo Buscaglia
“Adaptability is about the powerful difference between adapting to cope and adapting to win.” – Max McKeown
“Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” – George Bernard Shaw
“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” – George Bernard Shaw
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8. Curiosity and Growth
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Be curious, not judgmental.” – Walt Whitman
“Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.” – William Arthur Ward
“The more I read, the more I acquire, the more certain I am that I know nothing.” – Voltaire
“Never stop learning, because life never stops teaching.” – Unknown
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9. Overcoming Fear
“Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” – George Addair
“Do one thing every day that scares you.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.” – Japanese Proverb
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage.” – Dale Carnegie
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” – Nelson Mandela
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10. Progress Over Perfection
“Strive for progress, not perfection.” – Unknown
“Done is better than perfect.” – Sheryl Sandberg
“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” – Vince Lombardi
“Perfection is the enemy of progress.” – Winston Churchill
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe
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Growth doesn’t happen by accident.
It takes intentional effort, a willingness to stretch, and the right mindset to keep moving forward, especially when things get hard. That’s what makes these growth mindset quotes so valuable. They’re more than just inspiring words—they’re reminders to stay curious, embrace discomfort, and pursue progress over perfection.
As you reflect on these growth mindset quotes, take a moment to ask yourself: What am I really growing toward? Behind every challenge you face is an opportunity to get one step closer to your purpose. Whether you’re building a business, leading a team, or working on yourself, growth is the path—and purpose is the reason.
Keep showing up. Keep growing. Keep chasing who you were built to become.
A final thought on developing a growth mindset: Find your purpose
Without purpose, growth can feel random or aimless. But when you know your “why,” growth becomes intentional. You’re not just learning for the sake of learning. You’re learning to become the person you’re meant to be or to accomplish something meaningful.
That’s why I created the Personal Purpose Guide to walk you through the same process I used myself: Reflect. Discover. Craft. Align.
Your purpose isn’t somewhere “out there.” It’s already inside you. You just need to find it—and choose to live it.
Here’s to taking that first step.
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Ready for more?
If you liked this, then you might be interested in my new book, Living Life Daily. Designed to motivate and challenge you every day, this book offers 365 thought-provoking prompts that will push you to reflect, take action, and embrace meaningful change. Whether you’re striving to set clearer goals, build resilient habits, or cultivate a winning mindset, each daily entry is packed with wisdom and practical advice to help you take small steps toward big results. Find it here!
You’ll also get massive value out of the Grit Meets Growth podcast that I share with Chris Cathers. It’s for people who want more out of life… at work, at home, in their relationships, and in their health and wellness. Find it here or on your favorite podcast platform! – John
