Six Inspirational Quotes Spoken by Celebrities

Actors, musicians, and star athletes – often we look up to them for what they do, but many of them have a lot to say as well. Through all the noise of celebrity gossip and scandal-searching, sometimes great pieces of inspiration emerge to tell a story of their own. Take these six inspirational quotes as an example of the things we can learn from some of our most-loved celebrities.

"I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." – Michael Jordan

In the world of basketball, there is perhaps no legend that stands taller than that of Michael Jordan. Often when we think of him, we think of the good moments: the games that he won and the shots that me made. But for him, what really drove him to success was not winning every time, but learning to lose often and how to overcome every failure.

"I know for sure that what we dwell on is who we become." – Oprah Winfrey

Television's great problem solver Oprah Winfrey has had a keen eye to the human psyche throughout her long career. Her talk show and publications have helped countless Americans overcome their personal struggles to become who they want to be. Over this time, she has uncovered many profound truths, including this ancient biblical principle, which tells us that in the end, it's our thoughts that ultimately determine our reality.

"Pain is temporary; quitting is forever." – Lance Armstrong

As seven-time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong knows a thing or two about pain, despite the controversy surrounding him. Just take a look at his face as he climbs Mont Ventoux – one of the toughest peaks in the world – and you'll get an idea of what it's like to endure extreme physical struggles. The message: don't give up! Even if it feels tough now, the pain will fade, but the accomplishment will last forever.

"You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take." – Wayne Gretzky

Hockey's "Great One" made a lot of shots, but he also took a lot of shots. This simple principle applies in life as it does in hockey. If you don't shoot for what you want, you'll never know what you might achieve.

"A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it isn't open." – Frank Zappa

Rock star Frank Zappa offers this sage advice on the mind. He may not have been a brain surgeon, but he understood how the human brain works. As a musician, he wrote and performed successfully in a wide variety of styles, including rock, jazz, and classical. Keep an open mind like him and see where it takes you.

"All you need is love." – John Lennon

Perhaps one of the most famous quotes to come from the world of music, John Lennon's words have stood the test of time. Lennon was blessed with fame and fortune, but in the end, he understood what really mattered. Next time you hear about celebrities behaving badly, keep these quotes in mind. Not only will they improve your view of celebrities in general, they'll also provide you with the inspiration you need to work through your own life challenges.