Discouragement Quotes, Triumphing Over Despair

Be encouraged and motivated by these quotes when you feel discouraged. This collection of discouragement quotes and sayings will inspire thoughts that may change your mind, to alter your thoughts from negative to positive.

What is discouragement except for a loss of confidence or enthusiasm. However, this feeling of dispiritedness can be overcome; do not give in to it. If you think you are the only one that feels pessimistic, you're wrong.

Life may be full of roses but there are also thorns among them. Every thorn represents a challenge but in each problem lies a great opportunity to develop a character of faith, hope, action, and perseverance. It is our hope that to those who feel discouraged, these quotes will inspire you to surmount your feelings of discouragement.

Updated May 26, 2026, by Catherine Pulsifer.

Do Not Give Up

Discouragement may slow us down, but it does not have to stop us.

Defeat is final when you give up. And, discouragement is not permanent unless you wish it to be so.
Byron R. Pulsifer

Be believing, be happy, don't get discouraged. Things will work out.
Gordon B. Hinckley

Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged.
Thomas Alva Edison

Let no feeling of discouragement prey upon you, and in the end you are sure to succeed.
Abraham Lincoln

The time to succeed is when others, discouraged, show traces of tire.
Unknown, Perseverance

When you would stop, discouraged, sad, use a little grit!
David V. Bush, Use A Little Grit

Be stubborn against failure; try! try! and try again; the boys who keep on trying have made the world's best men.
Eben E. Rexford, Keep Trying

...so stick to the fight when you're hardest hit, it's when things seem worst, you must not quit.
Edgar A. Guest

Don't get discouraged. While you may feel disappointment, keep moving forward.
Catherine Pulsifer

Finding Hope Again

Hope helps us look beyond disappointment and believe better days can come.

Sometimes we set our expectations too high and we are disappointed thinking that there is no other way. But with hope we understand and have faith that things will work out.
Catherine Pulsifer

Sometimes it feels like life has buried us in the dirt, when in reality we've been planted with an opportunity to grow.
Tina Hallis

What a satisfaction it is to go through life radiating sunshine and hope instead of despair, encouragement instead of discouragement.
Orison Swett Marden, Radiate Sunshine

Life is never hopeless however great your sorrow, if you're looking forward to a new tomorrow.
Author Unknown, Life Still Has A Meaning

Do not be discouraged when your wish has not come true. Never lose your faith. Be patient. Take the longer view.
Patience Strong, Hope Deferred

And so when cares depress you and you cannot see a gleam remember shadows are not quite as dark as they may seem.
Patience Strong

'Tis darkest just before the day; be thou not discouraged.
Henry Reed Conant, Be Not Discouraged

Faith In Discouraging Times

Faith reminds us that we are never alone, even when life feels heavy.

This is My command: be strong and courageous. Never be afraid or discouraged because I am your God, the Eternal One, and I will remain with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9, The Voice

And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31:8, NKJV

The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God. When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength.
Warren Wiersbe

Our world today so desperately hungers for hope, yet uncounted people have almost given up. There is despair and hopelessness on every hand. Let us be faithful in proclaiming the hope that is in Jesus.
Billy Graham

When discouragement comes, you can rest assured in one thing: God chose you to be a part of his family. Long before you chose God, he picked you!
Rick Warren

Don't feel discouraged when you've failed, and life falls down around you, renew your pledge and try again, for Christ's love will surround you.
Greta Zwaan, In His Steps

Learning From Failure

Failure can discourage us, but it can also teach us what to try next.

You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it. So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because, remember that's where you'll find success. On the far side.
Thomas John Watson, Sr.

Don't be discouraged by a failure. It can be a positive experience. Failure is, in a sense, the highway to success.
John Keats

If I had permitted my failures, or what seemed to me at the time a lack of success, to discourage me I cannot see any way in which I would ever have made progress.
Calvin Coolidge

History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats.
Bertie Forbes

And don't be discouraged if you make a mistake, fix it and move on, that is how we learn!
Catherine and Byron Pulsifer

When defeat comes along and it's hard to take, don't be discouraged no matter your fate, look for other ways and the stories they tell from the winners of life that survive and excel.
Catherine Pulsifer, Don't Be Discouraged

Taking Action When Discouraged

One small step forward can help discouragement lose its hold.

When discouraged ask for help, don't complain or yelp.
Catherine Pulsifer, Words of Wisdom For The New Graduate

Rather than looking at the end goal and becoming discouraged and feeling overwhelmed, break down your goal into action plans.
Catherine Pulsifer

Don't be discouraged if you run into a roadblock, there is a way to go around, stop and take stock.
Catherine Pulsifer, Change, It Is Up To Me

You have the potential to exceed so take a deep breath and go, don't be discouraged if it's slow.
Catherine Pulsifer, Seasons of Life

Being discouraged can cause you to lose hope, you need to pick yourself up, focus on the positive and find success by taking action, you may then find your discouragement fading.
Catherine Pulsifer

Encouragement From Others

The right people can help lift our hearts when discouragement feels strong.

When life discourages you, surround yourself with people who love you, they will be a source of support and encouragement.
Kate Summers

I want to thank you, for your belief in me, for your patience with me, for always taking the time to help me, and for those four little words that helped me when I was discouraged: “You can do it!”
Kate Summers

Don't let people discourage you from living your dreams.
David DeNotaris

Try to do unto others as you would have them do to you, and do not be discouraged if they fail sometimes. It is much better that they should fail than you should.
Charles Dickens

Conclusion

Discouragement comes to everyone at one time or another. Challenges, disappointments, setbacks, and failures can cause us to lose confidence and enthusiasm. But discouragement does not have to define your future. These discouragement quotes remind us to keep trying, keep believing, and keep moving forward even when life feels difficult.

Many successful people faced obstacles and moments when they wanted to quit. What made the difference was their willingness to keep going. Sometimes all it takes is one encouraging thought, one kind word, or one small step forward to change your outlook. Hold on to hope, trust that brighter days are ahead, and remember that every challenge can help you grow stronger.

More Quotes for Encouragement and Motivation