Even Russian learners can use a bit of motivation and inspiration.
I need it, I admit it.
Language isn’t easy. But it’s very much worthwhile. That’s why we learn. And if you’re in need of some Russian motivation, this is it.
Here are my Top 10 Motivational & Inspirational Quotes in Russian. They are not of Russian origin, but translated from English into Russian. So, you get a boost of inspiration. You learn some Russian along the way. And you can use them for yourself. While you read, try to do these things for yourself:
- Definitely print this page out for proper and consistent review.
- Do you have any favorites quotes? Leave me a comment below!
- Another lesson you’ll LOVE: How to Learn Russian in 5 Minutes (Free Study Tools Inside)
✅ Hey, if you REALLY want to learn & speak Russian, I suggest RussianPod101. You get 1,000+ audio/video courses, lessons by Russian teachers and a whole learning system. Sign up at RussianPod101 (click here) and start learning! I recommend ’em as a teacher & learner.
Let’s start. Keep reading on!
1. It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. – Confucius
Confucius has a whole slew of quotes. In fact, I could dedicate a whole book to Confucius sayings in Russian. Luckily, there are books about him in Russian. Just not ones that give his quotes to you in English and Russian!
– Russian: Не важно, как медленно ты продвигаешься, главное, что ты не останавливаешься.
– English Pronunciation: Ne vazhno, kak medlenno ty prodvigayesh’sya, glavnoye, chto ty ne ostanavlivayesh’sya.
2. There are no short cuts to any place worth going. – Beverly Sills
– Russian: Нет коротких путей туда, куда стоит стремиться.
– English Pronunciation: Net korotkikh putey tuda, kuda stoit stremit’sya
3. Be the change you want to see in the world. – Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi, another great character. Here’s how you say his quote in Russian.
– Russian: Eсли хочешь изменить мир – начни с себя!
– English Pronunciation: Yesli khochesh’ izmenit’ mir – nachni s sebya!
4. Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. -Abraham Lincoln
– Russian: Всегда опирайтесь на мысль о том, что ваше собственное решение добиться успеха намного важнее всего другого.
– English Pronunciation: Vsegda opiraytes’ na mysl’ o tom, chto vashe sobstvennoye resheniye dobit’sya uspekha namnogo vazhneye vsego drugogo.
5. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. – Wayne Gretzky (or Michael Scott)
Rumor has it that Michael Scott from the Office made that quote. Or Wayne Gretzky. It’s hard to confirm. But it’s not hard to disagree with.
– Russian: 100% непредпринятых попыток заканчиваются неудачей.
– English Pronunciation: 100% nepredprinyatykh popytok zakanchivayutsya neudachey.
6. The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that is it too low and we reach it. – Michelangelo
Of course, as long as you keep going. Most quit because their goal is too high and too hard. And in Russian…
– Russian: Самая большая опасность для всех нас заключается не в том, чтобы установить свою цель слишком высоко и не достичь её, а в том, чтобы установить её слишком низко и достичь своей отметки.
– English Pronunciation: Samaya bol’shaya opasnost’ dlya vsekh nas zaklyuchayetsya ne v tom, chtoby ustanovit’ svoyu tsel’ slishkom vysoko i ne dostich’ yeyo, a v tom, chtoby ustanovit’ yeyo slishkom nizko i dostich’ svoyey otmetki.
7. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. – Chinese proverb
Everybody wishes they had started earlier. Everybody. So, if you’ve been skipping out on learning Russian, the next best time is now.
– Russian: Лучшее время, чтобы посадить дерево, было 20 лет назад. Следующее лучшее время – сегодня.
– English Pronunciation: Luchsheye vremya, chtoby posadit’ derevo, bylo 20 let nazad. Sleduyushcheye luchsheye vremya – segodnya.
8. You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. – Christopher Columbus
– Russian: Ты никогда не пересечешь океан, если боишься потерять из виду берег.
– English Pronunciation: Ty nikogda ne peresechesh’ okean, yesli boish’sya poteryat’ iz vidu bereg.
9. Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. – Napoleon Hill
Napoleon Hill is definitely a quote-worthy character with his success and self help books.
– Russian: Все, что человеческий разум способен понять и во что он способен поверить – достижимо.
– English Pronunciation: Vse, chto chelovecheskiy razum sposoben ponyat’ i vo chto on sposoben poverit’ – dostizhimo.
10. Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions.- Dalai Lama.
And of course, we cannot forget the Dalai Lama himself. What are your actions? What are you doing right now that makes you happy? Learning Russian, I hope!!
– Russian: Счастье не бывает сразу готовым. Оно случается благодаря Вашим действиям.
– English Pronunciation: Schast’ye ne byvayet srazu gotovym. Ono sluchayetsya blagodarya Vashim deystviyam.
This is just the first part!
Motivation can be built up and sustained over a long period of time to help you succeed. I hope this article did something. But of course, as all articles and reading and listening goes – it’s one thing to read/hear it…
…it’s another thing to do.
I hope you “do.”
Do you want more quotes mixed with Russian like this?
Do you have any favorite quotes of your own? Yes, you, reader! Leave me a comment down below!
– The Main Junkie
Want to start learning Russian? Go check out RussianPod101.com!
Very good quotes. I m happy read all posts. Keep updating new
I have a quote that i want to get tattooed.
“Love is giving someone the power to destroy you…but trusting them not to”
Whenever i translate this, the second half gets translated as ‘ but don’t trust them’
That’s not at all what i want. Can u please translate correctly for me.
Just wanted to say that, not all translation is correct I can read Russian as well as English and when i read English and after Russian does not sound the same. Not everything but some
Very nice! Do u know in russian any proverb that is similar to this one in english: you must embrace the darkness to see the light?
Thanks so much .its great
Делюсь своими любимыми цитатами.
Влюблённый в себя соперников не имеет.
(с) Цицерон
Нужно бояться не поражений, а сердца, в котором
уже недостаточно храбрости для того, чтобы
принять вызов и рискнуть.
(с) 지 드래곤
Мне не очень грустно, но я не очень счастлив также. Такое чувство, что я нахожусь где-то посередине.
(с) 지 드래곤
Я хотел весь этот мир или ничего.
Вы не должны соглашаться на меньшее, чем вы заслуживаете или желаете. Стремитесь к лучшему и не принимайте ничего, кроме того, что делает вас полностью счастливым. Нет никакого смысла в отказе от ваших целей, чтобы просто согласиться на промежуточные результаты и потом всегда мучиться в сожалениях.
(с) 지 드래곤
Nice post
Thank you for giving it your time!