I had the serendipitous pleasure of flagging a thoughtful taxi driver last week. We talked about a few different things so I no longer remember in what context it was that he told me the following words:

“We are not rewarded for our achievements, we are rewarded by our strivings.”

I had feeling that he was quoting, or at least alluding to something in the Qu’ran. This taxi driver, born in Ethiopia and trying to make a living in New York City, gave me a gift of motivating and inspiring words at an auspicious time.

I am stuffing my bookbag and brain full of words like this because I am at the beginning of an intensive academic project. I’m collecting words that inspire and motivate. I hope that you will help. Share some of the words that have made a difference in your own strivings and achievements. What words motivate and inspire you? The following are from my collection.

A few from the Bible and church culture:

• The race is not given to the swift nor to the strong but to the one who endures to the end. --church saying
   
• Study to show thyself approved unto God, a worker that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. -2 Timothy 2:15
   
• ...forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 3:14
   
• ...let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,... -Hebrews 12: 1-2

And a few from secular sources:

• The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. -Unknown source
   
• We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. -Aristotle
   
• If a woman is sufficiently ambitious, determined and gifted—there is practically nothing she can't do. -Helen Lawrenson

Do you feel motivated yet? Okay, then... what works for you? Add your inspiring sayings to the list and let’s inspire each other.