“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on.”
Robert Frost
Some words have a way of staying with us. They capture a feeling we might struggle to put into words ourselves, remind us of what matters most, or simply make us stop for a moment and smile.
Whether it’s a few words about falling in love, a sentiment that captures the feeling of home, or a reminder of just how precious family is, the right phrase can mean so much.
Welcome to Words to Live By – a collection of thoughtful quotes, meaningful sayings and little reminders about the things that make life special.
Whether you’re looking for inspiration for a social media caption, a beautiful Pinterest post, a greeting card or simply a few words to brighten your day, I hope you’ll find something here.
Love: Words from the Heart
Love is one of life’s greatest gifts, but finding the words to describe it isn’t always easy. Sometimes it’s in the grand gestures, but more often it’s found in the everyday moments: a knowing glance, a reassuring hug or someone who makes even an ordinary day feel special.
“When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance.”
John Lennon
Here are a few words to celebrate love in all its forms.
A little collection of love quotes and phrases:
- Love isn’t about finding someone to live with, it’s finding someone you can’t imagine living without.
- Home is wherever your heart feels understood.
- The best kind of love feels like coming home.
- Love is found in the little things we do, day after day.
- Some people make your world a little brighter just by being in it.
- A lifetime of ordinary moments can make an extraordinary love story.
- Love doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.
- Wherever there is love, there is always something worth celebrating.
Perfect for: Romantic captions, anniversary posts, Valentine’s Day messages and reminders of the people who mean the most.
Prefer quotes from famous authors and inspirational figures? Explore our Words of Wisdom.
Home: More Than Just a Place
Home isn’t necessarily a building, an address or four familiar walls. It’s a feeling. It’s the people who welcome you, the little routines that bring comfort and the freedom to be completely yourself.
It’s the familiar sounds, shared meals, laughter around the table and the feeling of belonging somewhere.
“I’m not going to continue knocking that old door that doesn’t open for me. I’m going to create my own door and walk through that.”
Ava DuVernay
A little collection of words about home:
- Home is where the heart finds its happy place.
- It’s not the size of the house but the love within it that makes a home.
- Home is a feeling, not a postcode.
- The best memories are made around the kitchen table.
- A house becomes a home when it’s filled with love.
- There’s no place quite like the place where you belong.
- Home is where ordinary moments become treasured memories.
- May your home always be a place of warmth, laughter and love.
Perfect for: Home inspiration posts, housewarming messages, family photographs and those little moments that make home special.
Prefer quotes from famous authors and inspirational figures? Explore our Words of Wisdom.
Family: Our Greatest Treasure
Family comes in all shapes and sizes. It’s the people we grow up with, the people we choose and those who stand beside us through life’s ups and downs.
Family isn’t always about being alike or agreeing on everything. It’s about belonging, supporting one another and knowing that, whatever life brings, there are people who will always matter.
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”
Henry Ford
A little collection of family quotes and phrases:
- Family is where life begins and love never ends.
- Together is our favourite place to be.
- The greatest legacy we can leave is a lifetime of happy memories.
- Family: a little bit of crazy, a whole lot of love.
- The best things in life aren’t things. They’re the people we share them with.
- Wherever life takes us, family keeps us connected.
- Some of life’s greatest blessings call us family.
- In the end, it’s the memories we make together that matter most.
Perfect for: Family photographs, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day posts, reunions, celebrations and those special everyday moments.
Prefer quotes from famous authors and inspirational figures? Explore our Words of Wisdom.
A Few Little Reminders to Live By
Sometimes the most meaningful words aren’t necessarily about one particular person or place. They’re little reminders to slow down, appreciate what we have and make the most of the life we’re living.
A few simple thoughts worth keeping close:
- Collect moments, not things.
- Make time for the people who make your heart happy.
- Find joy in the ordinary.
- Be present. These are the good old days.
- A little kindness can change someone’s whole day.
- Don’t wait for a special occasion to celebrate life.
- Happiness is often hiding in the simplest moments.
- Life is made up of little things. Make them count.
Finding the Right Words
Sometimes we need just a few words to accompany a photograph. Other times, we’re looking for something a little more meaningful to express a feeling, mark a milestone or remind someone how much they mean to us.
That’s what Words to Live By is all about.
A carefully chosen phrase can make a social media post feel more personal, add meaning to a photograph or turn a simple greeting into something memorable.
So whether you’re celebrating love, sharing a glimpse of home life, appreciating family or simply looking for a little daily inspiration, I hope you’ll find words here that speak to you.
After all, the best words aren’t necessarily the longest or most elaborate. They’re the ones that mean something.
Words to live by. Words to remember. Words to share.
Words of Wisdom: Quotes from People Who Inspire Us
Some words stay with us long after we’ve read them. Over the years, writers, poets, philosophers and remarkable individuals have found beautiful ways to express the things we sometimes struggle to put into words.
Here are a few timeless thoughts from people whose words continue to inspire us.
On love
A selection of thoughtful words about love, connection and the human heart.
- “The course of true love never did run smooth.”
— William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 1, Scene 1. - “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”
— Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights, Chapter 9. - “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
— Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 34. - “There is no remedy for love but to love more.”
— Henry David Thoreau, Journal, 25 July 1839. - “I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.”
— Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Sonnet 43, Sonnets from the Portuguese (1850). - “All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love.”
— Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace, Book 12, Chapter 16.
On home and belonging
Beautiful reflections on what it means to have somewhere – and someone – to call home.
- “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.”
— Robert Frost, The Death of the Hired Man (1914). - “Where thou art – that is Home.”
— Emily Dickinson, unfinished poem fragment (c. 1863). - “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”
— Maya Angelou, official social media post (2014). - “Where we love is home—home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.”
— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., “Homesick in Heaven”, The Poet at the Breakfast Table (1872). - “There is no place like home.”
— L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chapter 4 (1900). - “The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely.”
— Louisa May Alcott, Jack and Jill.
On family and togetherness
Words that celebrate the special bonds, shared memories and relationships that shape our lives.
- “I do think that families are the most beautiful things in all the world!”
— Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, Chapter 47. - “The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.”
— George Santayana, The Life of Reason, Volume II, “The Family” (1905). - “A happy family is but an earlier heaven.”
— Sir John Bowring, “Home Joys”, Hymns for Public and Private Worship (1837). - “Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the action that we do.”
— Mother Teresa, Nobel Peace Prize Lecture (1979). - “The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have past at home in the bosom of my family.”
— Thomas Jefferson, letter to Francis Willis Jr., 18 April 1790. - “The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.”
— Richard Bach, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah (1977).
Sometimes a few well-chosen words from someone else can express exactly what we’re feeling. These are the words worth remembering, sharing and perhaps even living by.
More Inspirational Quotes About Life, Happiness and Success
From words of wisdom about happiness and friendship to inspiring thoughts on courage, kindness and following your dreams, here are a few more timeless quotations to encourage and inspire.
- “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
— Mahatma Gandhi* - “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
— Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address (1933). - “Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans.”
— Allen Saunders, Reader’s Digest (1957); later popularised by John Lennon. - “In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on.”
— Robert Frost, reported in a 1954 interview. - “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”
— Mae West* - “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”
— J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book I, Chapter 2. - “Everything you can imagine is real.”
— Pablo Picasso* - “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”
— Aristotle* - “Get busy living or get busy dying.”
— Frank Darabont, screenplay, The Shawshank Redemption (1994), based on Stephen King’s novella. - “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
— Winston Churchill*
Please note: * indicates a quotation that is widely attributed to the named person, but for which the original source or exact wording has not been conclusively verified. Quotations and attributions have been checked against available sources wherever possible.
Words to Take Home
Some words are simply too lovely to keep to yourself! If you’ve found a phrase that speaks to you, why not make it part of your everyday surroundings?
Explore our collection of Words to Live By-inspired designs on Redbubble, featuring thoughtful words, uplifting phrases and feel-good sentiments on a range of lovely products.
From beautiful art prints and posters to cosy throw pillows and decorative coasters, there’s something to add a little inspiration and personality to your home – or to give as a thoughtful gift to someone special.
Because sometimes, the right words deserve a place on your wall, your favourite cushion or even your coffee table!
Discover our collection on Redbubble and find a few words to live by.
