Learn and Have Fun: Sayings that Inspire

Ellison Clapton7 min
Created: Feb 29, 2024Last updated: Feb 29, 2024
Frases motivadoras en inglés

When you're passionate about something new, like studying English phrases, things always go well. But as time goes on, it becomes harder to advance. How do you not give up on what seemed very important yesterday? The easiest way is to get inspired by famous words. Proverbs and quotes will help you master everyday grammatical nuances and learn about the culture, thought, and English traditions.

Motivational Phrases in English for Any Occasion

Tap into the wisdom of successful people and let the pearls of their thoughts inspire you to reach your goals of mastering the language. If you want to give a compliment about appearance, you can start a sentence with the following words:

  • You lou look … – Te ves…
  • Your scarf/dress/skirt/bag is (adjective). – Tu bufanda/vestido/falda/bolsa (adjetivo).
  • Is it a new dress? It is so beautiful! – ¿Es un vestido nuevo? ¡Es muy hermoso!

You can comment on talent or professional skills with the help of the formula pronoun + to be + adjective + noun:

  • You’re a great professor. – Eres un profesor maravilloso.
  • He is a very talented designer. – Es un diseñador muy talentoso.

Feel free to say what you like with these phrases in English and Spanish:

  • I like your sense of style. – Me gusta tu sentido del estilo.
  • I really like your new haircut. – Me encanta tu nuevo peinado.

If you want to support someone, use the following expressions:

  • Don’t give up! – ¡No te rindas!
  • I’m always here for you! – ¡Siempre estoy aquí para apoyarte!
  • You’ve done an amazing job! – ¡Lo hiciste muy bien!
  • You’re a star! – ¡Buen hecho!
  • I like the way you handle things. – Me encanta cómo lo manejas todo.

Learning motivational phrases in English is a universal solution that will help you not only diversify your speech but also inspire you to new achievements.

Inspirational Quotes in English and Their Emotional Impact

Quotes will be a source of inspiration to achieve your goals and confidently continue on the path of life. With just a few words, they are capable of conveying complex ideas and emotions:

  • "Do not wait for the opportunity. Create it" (George Bernard Shaw).  No esperes la oportunidad. Créala.
  • "A golden key can open any door" (John Lilly). – La llave de oro abre cualquier puerta.

To memorize quotes, it's not necessary to translate every word. Pay attention to practical use examples, and find information about the origin and history of the expression.

Famous English Proverbs and Their Meanings

Proverbs are a real "treasure" of English. They first appeared almost simultaneously with the language itself and were initially transmitted verbally from person to person. The author had to create short and simple English phrases so that the listener would remember them and reproduce them for others in their original form:

  • "A good start ensures a good result" (Un buen inicio asegura un buen resultado).
  • "A long way starts with a single step" (Un largo camino comienza con un solo paso).

Most proverbs are not said in a direct meaning but in a figurative one that implies a certain observation of life and its evaluation. Sometimes they touch on eternal truths, which is why they do not lose their relevance even today. They are also rich in metaphors and comparisons. Here are a couple of examples of short English phrases and their translations:

  • Don't try to teach your granny to suck eggs (No intenta enseñar a tu abuelita a beber huevos). Significado: no enseñes al maestro a hacer su trabajo.
  • Don’t spoil the whole ship for a ha’porth of tar (No es necesario hundir un barco entero por media libra de resina). Significado: no sacrifiques todo por nada.
  • God helps those who help themselves (Dios ayuda a los que se ayudan a sí mismos). En una situación difícil, no debes esperar un milagro, debes actuar para cambiar todo.

Expressions continue to form. They are quoted from movies, books, or songs, gain popularity, and over time, become true catchphrases: "I'll be back" (Volveré).

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Using English Phrases for Personal Motivation

Sometimes, motivation is key to avoiding feeling down and in a bad mood. And often, English words affect a person much more strongly than the same phrase in their own language:

  • "All your dreams will come true,dare to follow them". – Todos nuestros sueños se cumplirán si nos atrevemos a seguirlos (Walt Disney).
  • "Speaking another language is like having a second soul". – Hablar de otro idioma es como tener un segundo alma (Carlomagno).

Examples from movies and songs will help you remember interesting expressions and use them in a variety of situations, from communicating with friends to personal development and boosting your self-confidence:

  • Do/Try your best (Haz lo que puedas). Very popular among natives to invite the person to do everything possible to achieve the goal. You can use it to let someone know you will do your utmost.
  • (The) sky’s the limit (Todos los caminos están abiertos, las posibilidades no están limitadas). This phrase is used when you want to communicate that something has no limit. If you suddenly feel like a desire is not meant to come true, remember it with Michael Jackson in the song "Bad."
  • Where there's a will, there's a way (Cuando hay voluntad, siempre hay un camino). Want to communicate fluently in English but don't know how to achieve it? Well, remember this wonderful proverb and watch "Shrek" in English to see how Donkey uses the phrase.
  • You can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs (No puedes hacer una tortilla sin romper huevos). Sometimes, you have to sacrifice something to achieve what you want, and the English, particularly the characters from the series "Doctor Who," have a great proverb for it.

We bring official translations of famous phrases that do not always accurately reflect what the characters say. Isn’t that a reason to watch them in the original?

Cultural Significance of Popular English Quotes

Today, motivational English phrases have become common. They not only provide beauty and emotional color to a variety of situations but also their linguistic value enriches human culture. Behind each one is the authority of generations, traditions, customs, and beliefs of the English, based on different facts of their history.

Thus, the appearance of the proverb "Play fast and loose" (to engage in deceitful or risky behavior) is related to an ancient fair game in England. The finger was tightened, then a belt or rope was loosened, and spectators couldn't see how the hands were manipulated. The expression "Beat the air" originated from the medieval custom of waving weapons as a sign of victory when the opponent was not present to settle a dispute with weapons.

Examples of some short literary phrases in English and Spanish:

  • "The remedy is worse than the disease". La medicina es peor que la enfermedad (Geoffrey Chaucer). 
  • "It is better to reign in hell than to be a slave in paradise". Es mejor reinar en el infierno que ser esclavo en el paraíso (John Milton). 

Some, like "Through hardships to the stars" (A través de espinas a las estrellas) and "Man is to man wolf" (Hombre es hombre lobo) are of Latin origin. And such as "You cannot serve God and mammon" (No puedes servir a Dios y a las riquezas) come from the Holy Scriptures.

How English Phrases Can Inspire Daily Life

We all have difficult moments when we want to hear positive words from friends or loved ones. Favorite phrases and quotes lead to success, goal achievement, self-work, and personal development. They can be used on social media to decorate presentations, enliven conversation with English speakers, and add color to the story: After all, tomorrow is another day! ¡Después de todo, mañana será otro día! (Scarlett O´Hara, "Lo que el viento se llevó"). 

A person who includes famous quotes in their speech appears educated and knowledgeable to others. The thoughts of the wise that come to mind in time give strength in tough moments, remind us of the infinite human potential, and provide inspiration and confidence. According to Oprah Winfrey, you become what you believe (te conviertes en lo que crees).

Perhaps it's time to share your life creed with others? Our online course will help you to form it in English competently. Individual and group classes will make learning a pleasure.

How Do We Help?

Our message is simple: read and watch what inspires you, and communicate freely in our conversation club. Make sure to combine the pleasant with the useful, turn a challenging activity into an exciting adventure, and then everything will be alright.

Ancient Chinese have said: "Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself" (El maestro abre la puerta, pero tú debes entrar)Promova's teachers know exactly which doors should be opened in front of you and will help you not to lose enthusiasm in your studies.

Conclusion

Beautiful English quotes are interesting, but they do not replace the original sources. Are you interested in any of the statements presented above? Try to get to know the original works. Promova will help to deal with the translation and combat the fear of crossing the language barrier. He who has begun has half done!

FAQ

What are famous phrases?

English proverbs are one of the most popular and oldest versions of folk art. In general, sayings have analogs in other languages, similar in meaning, as they reproduce "eternal truths" common to people all over the world. English speakers often use them without realizing it. Little strokes fell great oaks (Pequeños golpes cayeron grandes robles).

What is the use of reading quotes?

With winged words, you can better understand the culture and history, broaden your horizons, and make speech brighter and richer. Also, proverbs will give you an idea of how the English-speaking culture perceives the world around you. And yet, they constitute the concentrated wisdom of the nation, and the person who they guide will not make big mistakes in their life.

How to remember idioms?

Notice phrases in favorite books, movies, and songs, and try to use them as often as possible. Memorize idioms in context as popular words. Look for usage examples, and pay attention to the situations in which the expression is used by series heroes. Make your own sentences using the new phraseology, and try to use them in English classes or when communicating with English-speaking friends.

How will positive phrases in English help me overcome the language barrier?

English is learned in every corner of the world, so don't be afraid of sounding bad and allow yourself to make mistakes. And if you lose the article, natives will forgive this mistake. As George Adair said: Everything you have ever wanted is on the other side of fear (Todo lo que has deseado está al otro lado del miedo). Think about your fears and try your best.

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