In his remarkable memoir, “A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier,” Ishmael Beah shares his harrowing journey as a child soldier in Sierra Leone. Full of heart-wrenching and thought-provoking moments, this book provides a poignant reflection on the impacts of war on young minds.
Throughout the pages of “A Long Way Gone,” Beah’s storytelling is infused with powerful quotes that capture the essence of his experiences. These quotes not only highlight the resilience of the human spirit but also shed light on the brutality of war. They serve as reminders of the importance of peace, empathy, and understanding.
One of the most memorable quotes from the book is, “The only option we had was to leave or to be killed. It was as simple as that for us. We began to run.” This quote encapsulates the unimaginable choices that child soldiers like Beah had to make in order to survive. It highlights the desperation and the instinct for self-preservation that fueled their actions.
“I think about it every time I take a sip of water and every time I use water to cook,” Beah writes. This quote serves as a poignant reminder of the privileges we often take for granted, such as basic access to clean water. It emphasizes the stark contrast between the realities of life in war-torn countries and the comforts many of us enjoy.
Inspiring Quotes for a Journey Through Life
1. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
– Steve Jobs
2. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
– Winston Churchill
3. “Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the roads and accommodations.”
– Oliver Goldsmith
4. “The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.”
– Oprah Winfrey
5. “The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.”
– Tony Robbins
6. “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
7. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”
– Helen Keller
8. “The best way to predict your future is to create it.”
– Peter Drucker
9. “Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.”
– Sam Levenson
10. “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
– Albert Einstein
Motivational Quotes to Keep You Going
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer
“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson
“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Believe in yourself, take on your challenges, dig deep within yourself to conquer fears. Never let anyone bring you down. You got this.” – Chantal Sutherland
“Success is not in what you have, but who you are.” – Bo Bennett
Quotes to Reflect on Your Past and Move Forward
2. “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” – Will Rogers
3. “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” – Alan Watts
4. “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” – C.S. Lewis
5. “Holding onto the past can be toxic. Learn from it and let it go, so you can embrace the future.”
6. “The truth is, unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over, you cannot move forward.” – Steve Maraboli
| Quote | Author |
|---|---|
| “The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it.” | Rafiki |
| “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” | Will Rogers |
| “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” | Alan Watts |
| “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” | C.S. Lewis |
| “Holding onto the past can be toxic. Learn from it and let it go, so you can embrace the future.” | |
| “The truth is, unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over, you cannot move forward.” | Steve Maraboli |
Quotes that Embrace the Strength Within You
“Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” – Christian D. Larson
“The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.” – Arthur C. Clarke
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“The strongest people are not those who show strength in front of us but those who win battles we know nothing about.”
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
“Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.”
“Difficulties in life are intended to make us better, not bitter.” – Dan Reeves
“You have within you right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you.” – Brian Tracy
Quotes about Overcoming Obstacles and Challenges
“The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.” – Chinese Proverb
“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” – Henry Ford
“The harder the conflict, the greater the triumph.” – George Washington
“The best way out is always through.” – Robert Frost
“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua J. Marine
“You have within you right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you.” – Brian Tracy
“When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.” – Peter Marshall
“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” – Michael Jordan
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
Quotes that Remind You of the Beauty in the Struggle
2. “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
3. “The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow.”
4. “Every struggle in your life has shaped you into the person you are today. Be thankful for the hard times, they can only make you stronger.”
5. “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” – Sun Tzu
6. “The harder the struggle, the more glorious the triumph.” – Thomas Paine
7. “The beauty of life lies not in eliminating the struggles, but in finding the strength to rise above them.”
8. “Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
9. “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain.” – Vivian Greene
10. “The struggle of today develops the strength for tomorrow.” – Matshona Dhliwayo
Quotes to Encourage Perseverance and Resilience
“When you see a war, you have no choice but to get out of its way.”
– Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
“Even if you get wounded and lose everything, hope can never be taken away from you.”
– Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
“It does not matter how long you have traveled in the wrong direction; you can always turn around.”
– Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
“Resilience is not about never experiencing pain, but about finding the strength to keep going despite it.”
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
– Winston Churchill
“Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path, and you will find you have crossed the mountain.”
“Difficulties in life are intended to make us better, not bitter.”
– Dan Reeves
“Perseverance is not giving up; it is persistence and determination in the face of challenges.”
“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.”
– Steve Jobs
Quotes to Remind You that Every Step Matters
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
“One step at a time is good walking.” – Chinese Proverb
“Success is not about the destination, it’s about the journey.” – Zig Ziglar
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you.” – Walt Whitman
“The road may be long and challenging, but every step forward brings you closer to your goal.”