Dream Big Quotes: 85 Words to Fuel Your Biggest Ambitions

Your dreams are too small. Not because you lack imagination—because you’ve been taught to be realistic. Dream something achievable. Set reasonable goals. Don’t aim too high. Protect yourself from disappointment by lowering your expectations before life does it for you.

You’ve internalized this message so completely that you can’t even access your biggest dreams anymore. When asked what you really want, you give practical answers: “A better job. More money. Lose some weight.” Safe dreams. Achievable dreams. Dreams that won’t make people laugh at you for having audacity to want more.

Meanwhile, your actual dreams—the wild, ambitious, seemingly impossible ones—stay buried. Starting that business. Writing that book. Completely changing careers. Moving to another country. Building something that matters. Creating generational wealth. Making a real impact. Living a life that looks nothing like the one you’re living now.

These eighty-five quotes aren’t permission to dream moderately. They’re permission to dream impossibly. They’re words from people who dreamed things others called crazy and then made those dreams real. They’re fuel for the ambitions you’ve been suppressing because they feel too big, too bold, too much.

Some of these quotes come from entrepreneurs who built empires from nothing. Others from artists who created masterpieces everyone said were impossible. Some from athletes who achieved what experts said couldn’t be done. All of them from people who refused to make their dreams smaller to fit others’ limited vision.

These quotes work because they challenge the voice that says “be realistic” with voices that say “be audacious.” They remind you that every achievement started as a dream someone else thought was impossible. They give you permission to want what you actually want, not what you’ve been told you should want.

Your dreams aren’t too big. Your belief in what’s possible is too small. These quotes expand it.

Why Dream Big Quotes Matter

Research by Dr. Gail Matthews shows that people who write down ambitious goals and share them are 42% more likely to achieve them than those who don’t. Big dreams create big motivation.

Psychology research on goal-setting shows that challenging goals lead to higher performance than easy goals. Your brain rises to the level of ambition you set. Dream small, achieve small. Dream big, achieve bigger.

Studies of successful entrepreneurs show that most started with dreams others called unrealistic. Amazon, Apple, Tesla—all started as “crazy” ideas. The pattern is clear: audacious dreams precede exceptional achievement.

These quotes matter because they give you language for the ambitions you’ve been afraid to articulate.

The 85 Dream Big Quotes

On Dreaming Without Limits (1-17)

“The only thing worse than starting something and failing… is not starting something.” — Seth Godin
“Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” — Oprah Winfrey
“If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.” — Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” — Walt Disney
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
“Don’t tell people your dreams. Show them.” — Unknown
“Dream big. Start small. Act now.” — Robin Sharma
“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.” — Colin Powell
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” — C.S. Lewis
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” — Henry David Thoreau
“The only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.” — Michelle Obama
“Dreams don’t work unless you do.” — John C. Maxwell
“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” — J.K. Rowling
“Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” — Steve Jobs
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” — Mark Twain

On Believing in the Impossible (18-34)

“The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.” — Tony Robbins
“Because a thing seems difficult for you, do not think it impossible for anyone to accomplish.” — Marcus Aurelius
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” — Nelson Mandela
“Impossible is just an opinion.” — Paulo Coelho
“The word ‘impossible’ is only in the dictionary of fools.” — Napoleon Bonaparte
“Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible!'” — Audrey Hepburn
“Impossible only means that you haven’t found the solution yet.” — Unknown
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” — Arthur Ashe
“They did not know it was impossible, so they did it.” — Mark Twain
“Everything is impossible until somebody does it.” — Bruce Wayne
“The impossible is often the untried.” — Jim Goodwin
“What we can or cannot do, what we consider possible or impossible, is rarely a function of our true capability. It is more likely a function of our beliefs about who we are.” — Tony Robbins
“You’ll never know what’s impossible until you reach too far and succeed.” — Unknown
“When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t.” — Thomas Edison
“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” — Walt Disney
“Believe and act as if it were impossible to fail.” — Charles Kettering
“Impossible situations can become possible miracles.” — Robert H. Schuller

On Taking Bold Action (35-51)

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” — Wayne Gretzky
“Do one thing every day that scares you.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
“Fortune favors the bold.” — Virgil
“Don’t wait for opportunity. Create it.” — Unknown
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” — Chinese Proverb
“Action is the foundational key to all success.” — Pablo Picasso
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” — Walt Disney
“Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” — Will Rogers
“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” — Zig Ziglar
“If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.” — Thomas Jefferson
“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” — Unknown
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs
“Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.” — Roy T. Bennett
“Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” — George Addair
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” — Helen Keller
“Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall.” — Ray Bradbury
“A year from now you may wish you had started today.” — Karen Lamb

On Persistence and Resilience (52-68)

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” — Thomas Edison
“Fall seven times, stand up eight.” — Japanese Proverb
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” — Thomas Edison
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” — Thomas Edison
“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” — Theodore Roosevelt
“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” — Henry Ford
“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” — Winston Churchill
“The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” — Henry Ford
“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” — John Wooden
“Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.” — Rikki Rogers
“A champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall.” — Serena Williams
“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” — J.K. Rowling
“The comeback is always stronger than the setback.” — Unknown
“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” — Earl Nightingale
“When you feel like quitting, think about why you started.” — Unknown
“Winners never quit, and quitters never win.” — Vince Lombardi

On Changing the World (69-85)

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi
“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” — Steve Jobs
“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The ones who see things differently.” — Steve Jobs
“If you want to change the world, start with yourself.” — Mahatma Gandhi
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” — Peter Drucker
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” — Howard Thurman
“Your playing small does not serve the world.” — Marianne Williamson
“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” — June Jordan
“Think big and don’t listen to people who tell you it can’t be done. Life’s too short to think small.” — Tim Ferriss
“The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones that do.” — Unknown
“Make your life a masterpiece; imagine no limitations on what you can be, have, or do.” — Brian Tracy
“The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that’s changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.” — Mark Zuckerberg
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” — Norman Vincent Peale
“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” — Ayn Rand
“You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.” — Zig Ziglar
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Real Stories: When Big Dreams Became Reality

Sarah’s Story: From Employee to CEO

Sarah, 34, worked in marketing for someone else’s company. Her dream—running her own agency—felt unrealistic. “I saved quote #4: ‘If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough,'” she explained. “My dream scared me. That meant it was worth pursuing.”

She quit her job, started her agency, struggled for six months, then landed a major client. Three years later, her agency employs fifteen people and generates seven figures annually. “That quote gave me permission to pursue the scary dream instead of the safe career.”

Marcus’s Story: Published Author at 41

Marcus dreamed of writing a book since college. Twenty years later, he still hadn’t started. “Quote #51 hit me: ‘A year from now you may wish you had started today,'” he said. “I was tired of wishing I’d started.”

He wrote for an hour every morning. One year later, he had a complete manuscript. Two years later, his book was published. “I wasted twenty years being realistic. I should have been audacious.”

Lisa’s Story: Career Change at 50

Lisa spent 25 years in finance, dreaming of becoming a therapist. At 50, she thought it was too late. Then she read quote #10: “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”

She enrolled in graduate school. At 54, she became a licensed therapist. At 58, she runs a successful practice. “I almost didn’t pursue this because I thought I was too old. That quote challenged the lie that age makes dreams expire.”

How to Use These Quotes to Fuel Your Dreams

The Morning Fuel Ritual

Start each day by reading 3-5 quotes. Let them set the tone that today, you’re building toward your big dreams, not settling for small ones.

The Vision Board Integration

Choose 10 quotes that resonate most. Add them to your vision board alongside images of your dreams. Return to them when doubt creeps in.

The Courage Trigger

When fear tries to stop you from pursuing a dream, read a quote. Let it challenge the fear. Use it as a pattern interrupt that creates courage.

The Decision Maker

When choosing between safe and bold, read quotes from the “Taking Bold Action” section. Let them tip the scales toward audacity.

The Persistence Fuel

When you want to quit, read quotes from the “Persistence and Resilience” section. Let them remind you that everyone who succeeded wanted to quit at some point.

Matching Quotes to Your Dream-Stage

If you haven’t identified your dream yet: Quotes 1-17 (Dreaming Without Limits)

If you think your dream is impossible: Quotes 18-34 (Believing in the Impossible)

If you’re afraid to start: Quotes 35-51 (Taking Bold Action)

If you want to quit: Quotes 52-68 (Persistence and Resilience)

If you want to make an impact: Quotes 69-85 (Changing the World)

What These Quotes Teach You

Dreams Should Scare You: If your dream feels comfortable, it’s not big enough. The discomfort is evidence you’re aiming high enough to require growth.

Impossible Is Temporary: What’s impossible today becomes possible tomorrow through effort, innovation, and persistence. Impossible is just “not yet achieved.”

Action Beats Perfection: You don’t need the perfect plan or perfect timing. You need to start. Imperfect action beats perfect inaction.

Failure Is Feedback: Every person quoted here failed repeatedly. The difference: they kept going. Failure isn’t final unless you make it final.

You Create Your Future: Your future isn’t predetermined by your past or your circumstances. You create it through the dreams you pursue and the actions you take.

Time Passes Anyway: Whether you pursue your dreams or not, time passes. Five years from now, you’ll either have spent those years building toward dreams or regretting that you didn’t.

The World Needs Your Dreams: Your playing small doesn’t serve anyone. The world needs what you’ll create when you pursue your biggest ambitions.

Your Dream Big Action Plan

Today:

Choose your 10 favorite quotes
Write them somewhere visible
Identify your actual biggest dream (not the realistic one—the audacious one)
Take one tiny action toward it

This Week:

Read 5 quotes every morning
Take one action toward your dream daily
Notice when you’re making dreams smaller to feel safer
Use quotes to challenge that pattern

This Month:

Share your dream with someone
Create a plan (imperfect is fine)
Take consistent action
Use quotes for fuel when motivation wavers

This Year:

Build toward your dream daily
Use quotes for courage, persistence, and belief
Adjust course as needed, but don’t quit
Become someone who dreams big and acts boldly

The Truth About Big Dreams

They’re scary. They feel impossible. They make people question your sanity. They require more than you think you have. They demand growth you’re not sure you can achieve.

And they’re worth every uncomfortable moment.

Because the alternative—making dreams small enough to feel safe—is living a life that never scares you because it never challenges you. That’s not safety. That’s settling.

These eighty-five quotes remind you what you already know but keep forgetting: you’re capable of more than you’re currently pursuing. Your dreams deserve to be bigger. Your ambitions deserve to be bolder.

Which quote will fuel your dreams today?

20 Additional Quotes About Dreams and Ambition

“If you can dream it, you can do it.” — Walt Disney
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” — Albert Einstein
“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” — Michelangelo
“Don’t be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.” — Rumi
“What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?” — Robert Schuller
“Everything you can imagine is real.” — Pablo Picasso
“Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.” — Jamie Paolinetti
“Dreams are today’s answers to tomorrow’s questions.” — Edgar Cayce
“Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.” — Japanese Proverb
“A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true.” — Greg Reid
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” — John D. Rockefeller
“The distance between your dreams and reality is called action.” — Unknown
“Dreams are extremely important. You can’t do it unless you imagine it.” — George Lucas
“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” — Langston Hughes
“You see things; and you say ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say ‘Why not?'” — George Bernard Shaw
“First, think. Second, believe. Third, dream. And finally, dare.” — Walt Disney
“All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible.” — T.E. Lawrence
“Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not.” — Robert F. Kennedy
“You have to dream before your dreams can come true.” — A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
“The dreamers are the saviors of the world.” — James Allen

Picture This

It’s five years from today. Your big dream—the one you were afraid to pursue—is your reality. The thing people said was impossible is now your daily life.

You think back to five years ago when you read these 85 dream big quotes. You remember being terrified. Your dream felt too big, too bold, too risky. Every practical person in your life told you to be realistic.

But you saved quote #4: “If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.” Your dream terrified you. That meant it was worth pursuing.

You also saved quote #51: “A year from now you may wish you had started today.” You were tired of wishing. You started.

The first year was brutal. Doubt, fear, failure, criticism, exhaustion. You wanted to quit monthly. But quote #64 kept you going: “Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”

Year two, momentum built. Small wins accumulated. People started taking you seriously. Your dream shifted from impossible to unlikely to possible.

Year three, breakthrough. The thing you’d been building suddenly worked. Revenue, recognition, impact—whatever success meant for your dream, you achieved it.

Year four, consolidation. You weren’t just surviving your dream—you were thriving in it.

Year five—today—your dream is your life. Not without challenges, but challenges you chose. Not without stress, but stress that serves your purpose.

Looking back, the scariest part wasn’t pursuing the dream. It was almost not pursuing it. Almost letting fear win. Almost settling for the safe, small, realistic version of your life.

That version of you—living your big dream, creating the impact you envisioned, becoming who you needed to become—is five years of bold action away.

The quotes gave you permission to dream big. Your actions turned those dreams into reality.

Which quote will you start with?

Share This Article

Someone you know has a big dream they’re too afraid to pursue. They’re making it smaller to feel safer. They need these 85 quotes that give permission to dream impossibly and act boldly.

Share this article with them. Send it to someone whose dreams are bigger than their current belief. Post it for everyone who needs permission to stop being realistic and start being audacious.

Your share might give someone the fuel they need to finally pursue that scary, beautiful, impossible dream.

Who needs this today?

Share it with them now.

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Let’s create a culture where people dream impossibly big. It starts with you sharing these quotes.

Disclaimer

This article is provided for informational and inspirational purposes only. The quotes included are meant to encourage ambitious thinking and bold action toward goals and dreams.

Individual results from pursuing dreams vary dramatically based on countless factors including skills, resources, timing, opportunities, effort, market conditions, and luck. Inspirational quotes alone do not guarantee success or dream achievement.

“Dream big” encouragement should be balanced with realistic planning, skill development, financial responsibility, and strategic action. Inspiration without execution and preparation is unlikely to produce results.

Some dreams require significant resources, education, training, or circumstances that may not be immediately accessible to everyone. Systemic barriers including financial constraints, access to education, discrimination, health issues, and other factors can make some dreams more challenging or require different approaches.

This article is not financial advice, career counseling, or professional guidance. If pursuing dreams involves significant financial investment, career changes, or major life decisions, consider consulting with appropriate professionals.

The real-life examples (Sarah, Marcus, Lisa) are composites based on common patterns when people pursue ambitious goals. They represent possible outcomes but are not guarantees of what everyone will experience.

Not all dreams are meant to be pursued, and wisdom includes discerning which dreams align with your values, capabilities, and circumstances. “Dream big” doesn’t mean pursue every impulse—it means don’t artificially limit your ambitions due to fear.

The encouragement to “dream big” should not be interpreted as encouragement to take reckless risks, ignore practical considerations, or pursue dreams at the expense of wellbeing, relationships, or financial stability.

Success looks different for everyone. Your definition of a “big dream” may differ from others, and that’s completely valid. This article uses ambitious achievement as examples, but meaningful dreams can take many forms.

By reading this article, you acknowledge that pursuing dreams requires more than inspiration—it requires strategic planning, skill development, persistence, and often professional guidance. The author and publisher of this article are released from any liability related to the use or application of the information contained herein.

Dream big. Plan wisely. Act boldly. Seek guidance when needed. Remember that your worth isn’t determined by achievement of dreams.