There’s nothing better than stumbling upon short inspirational quotes that sink into your mind and stay there as a constant source of inspiration. Whether it’s from a poem or social media soundbite, catchy short inspirational quotes can be downright addictive.
Reading about how other people travel has definitely helped me catch the travel bug and has made me want to get out there and explore the world myself. I remember sitting in my dorm room in college, pinning every travel recommendation, destination idea, and collection of short inspirational quotes I could find to my travel Pinterest board. I may not have been able to jet set around the world yet, but that didn’t stop me from making plans.
The amazing thing to me is that travel quotes and experiences come from people who have access to just three things at minimum: transport, accommodation, and a pen. That’s what makes reading about their life views so intriguing.
With that being said, here are 13 of my favorite short inspirational quotes that I think will make anyone want to grab their passport and hit the road!
13 Short Inspirational Quotes That Will Make You Want to Travel
1. “Better to see something once than hear about it a thousand times.” – Asian proverb
If there’s one quote on this list that resonates with me and my travel experience the most, it’s this one. In the past year especially, I’ve become motivated to stop being someone who just reads and talks about gorgeous places and start being the person who actually goes to see them up close and personal. Although it’s nice to hear about a friend’s vacation recommendations, nothing beats experiencing a new place and culture for yourself. You only have one life to live, so don’t spend it wanting, waiting, wishing for something to happen…make it happen!
2. “The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton
There is so much more to traveling than arriving at your destination and ticking all the landmarks off a list (though you guys know I absolutely am not ashamed to hit up tourist attractions, when they’re relevant to my interests). As thrilling as it is to have your first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben, it’s just as absorbing to walk the streets, listening to the different sounds, inhaling the perfumes of the trees, and tasting the local food delights. Sometimes the best discoveries are hidden gems that you find all on your own, just by the act of exploring.
3. “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” – Confucius
One thing I’ve learned while traveling is to open up my heart completely to the new experience. I’m not there to find faults or criticize, I’m there to find something to love or admire in the culture, architecture and people – and I’m never disappointed.
4. “To travel is to take a journey into yourself.” – Danny Kaye
I believe that you can tell quite a lot about a person by where and the way they choose to travel. That’s why I love to go on both long haul flights and weekend trips to a neighboring state. It’s the variety and choice that I find truly stimulating. It’s like that other famous short inspirational quote from Forrest Gump, where he says that life is like a box of chocolates — you never know what you’re going to get. It’s the same with traveling to new and unknown destinations. You never know what you’ll find, and often you’ll learn new things about yourself along the way.
5. “Many a trip continues long after movement in time and space have ceased.” – John Steinbeck
One of the best things traveling is that your experience is essentially unending. Everything that you’ve learned from that new culture stays with you, and you’ll always have those memories of that trip. It’s a beautiful sentiment.
6. “People will travel anywhere for good food – it’s crazy.” – Rene Redzepi
I’m not just interested in the aesthetics of a place (although that is an important factor). Good food and drink are equally important in my book, and they’re often a great way to immerse yourself in a new culture. If you’ve read my post on 7 Things to Do in the Catskills, you know that a big part of the weekend’s awesomeness was the little bijou restaurants and wine bars we found there. Stumbling upon an undiscovered food place that serves something crazy delicious is like striking gold when it comes to travel.
7. “I would travel only by horse, if I had the choice.” – Linda McCartney
I had to include one of these short inspirational quotes from the late Linda McCartney, mostly because I am an avid equestrian. There’s something incredibly freeing about traveling by horseback, and it’s an ideal way to experience nature with no barriers between you and the outdoors. I know a lot of people are afraid of horses, but I would strongly encourage you to book a trail ride or riding lesson if you have the opportunity. One of my closest friends and college roommates did a tour of Ireland on horseback, and she said it’s one of the most amazing things she’s ever done.
8. “Never go on trips with anyone you do not love.” – Ernest Hemingway
This travel quote makes me smile for a few reasons. An experience shared with a loved one is rewarding in and of itself, but there’s something about traveling with someone you love that is the cherry on top. I get to bounce my ideas and opinions of the place we are visiting off my partner, and I love to hear what he/she has to say about it too. Traveling anywhere with someone who’s dear to you lets you see it through their eyes, and it’s a person to make memories with too. You also don’t want to be stuck in a foreign country with someone who’s going to get on your nerves! I’ve heard some horror stories about that (and I even have a few of my own, coming soon), so I always choose my travel mates carefully.
9. “I don’t feel restless, I just like to travel.” – Brad Pitt
I completely identify with what Brad Pitt says here. Whether my trips are planned way in advance or spur of the moment, the excitement starts to kick in the minute the idea to do it pops into my head. It’s the planning part, where I get to craft my perfect weekend or vacation, that gives me the butterflies in my stomach that stay there until I return home. Then the process can start all over again as I look for my next spot to discover.
10. “I enjoy the preparatory elements of travel – packing my bags and choosing my outfits – but my favorite part is getting there.” – Dominic Monaghan
Packing, preparing, and planning are fun. I even once read something that said the happiness you experience before and after a vacation is stronger than the happiness you feel during your trip. A lot of the joy in travel actually comes from the lead up to the trip and the memories afterwards, at least according to this one study I read. While I think we can all agree that getting to your destination is the best part traveling, it’s still a lot of fun planning and getting excited for the trip ahead of time.
11. “I travel, I read, I write, I have other lives. But when I have a camera, I know that’s my country, my island.” – Leos Carax
I love taking pictures when I travel — but more importantly, I love taking good pictures when I travel. Remember what I said about aesthetics being important? Well, that’s because they are the key to taking a stellar photo that will enhance the story and preserve a moment in time forever.
12. “Every traveler knows too well the endless quest for the perfect travel bag.” – Hanya Yanagihara
Believe me when I say that I’ve searched far and wide to find the perfect travel bag. The quote actually goes on to say “the one that’s stylish enough to carry through Paris, sturdy enough to tote around Peru, and…doesn’t make your shoulder sag”. I’ve cracked this problem wide open and solved it so you don’t have to ever suffer any inconvenient bag irritations (like running through the airport with a busted suitcase, like I have).
13. “There is something about the momentum of travel that makes you want to just keep moving, to never stop.” – Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson has written some great travel books, so I had to include at least one of his short inspirational quotes that I found inspirational. Traveling to different places and seeing new things, meeting new people and trying out unknown activities, is the real takeaway from my trips and travels. That’s why I’ll never stop doing it.
So, that’s my favorite selection of short inspirational quotes that inspire me to travel! Which one appeals to you and makes you look forward to your next vacation opportunity? Which one makes you want to travel the most?
