The 21 Worst Inspirational Quotes – Avoid These Pitfalls!

Are you tired of hearing the same old inspirational quotes over and over again? Do you roll your eyes every time someone shares a quote with you that makes you want to vomit? Well, look no further! We’ve compiled a list of the worst inspirational quotes out there. Use this guide as your ultimate resource for avoiding motivational clichés and cringe-worthy catchphrases.

Hocus-pocus Hopla

“Butterflies can’t see their wings. They can’t see how truly beautiful they are, but everyone else can.”

Do butterflies really care if they’re beautiful or not? I doubt it. And even if they did, we don’t have any proof whatsoever that other insects perceive them more beautiful than others.

There’s Only One Person Like You

“There is no one alive who is youer than you.” – Dr Seuss

Firstly, grammar issues aside (we allow license freedom to Dr Seuss), doesn’t the very fact that he created most unique characters in children’s literature contradict his own statement?

Secondly, what about identical twins? Or clones?

Thirdly, somebody please explain to me why “unique snowflakes” has become such an insult when being compared to something barely visible in bunches inside an extremely cold atmosphere?

Look On The Bright Side

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

What if I don’t like lemonade? What if I’m allergic to citrus fruit altogether? Can I just return these hypothetical lemons back or complain and sue Life Inc.? There’s no need trying so hard twisting crappy circumstances into positive ones simply because some expert said so.

Live Your Dreams

“If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.”

Well isn’t it safer advice dreaming only things we consider attainable without stressing ourselves? What about those people who’re content with their modest and achievable dreams? And what if I’m scared of clowns? Should I dream about them anyways?

Follow Your Heart

“Follow your heart, but take your brain with you.”

What the hell does that even mean? This quote doesn’t make any sense. If left only to themselves without a brain’s guidance, our hearts would lead us into outrageous ditches like never before.

“A person is smart. People are dumb.” – Agent K (Men in Black)

This statement is both arrogant and narrow-minded. Just because some individuals do not agree with each other or may be ignorant on certain topics it does not necessarily justify implying that they have lesser mental capabilities than others.

Fake it Till You Make It

“Fake it till’ you make it.”

Seriously? For everyone playing Alan Sugar outside The Apprentice boardroom pretending to know everything while knowing nothing how well did this work out for them?

Surely there’s something wonky about shirking personal responsibility by deceiving such important aspects as ability and productivity purely through actings skills alone?

Success is Key

“The key to success is hard work.”

Sorry, Adolf Hitler worked very tirelessly towards his goals yet we all know he wasn’t doing anything good at all. Hard work should always come along an ethical compass aligned most closely to humanity welfare standards.

“You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated.” – Maya Angelou

So… when exactly is defeat experienced since being ‘defeated’ isn’t allowed anyhow? Is failure one iteration below defeat so long as ‘I was almost winning’ happened during my fall from grace donwards down the ladder called “successful outcomes”?

The worst motivational quotes
You are only confined by the walls you build yourself.
Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.
If at first, you don’t succeed, try, try again.
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
The past does not equal the future.” – Tony Robbins

The Sky’s The Limit

“The sky’s the limit.”

Is it though? With climate change and air pollution making hundreds of cities worldwide uninhabitable as a result of cancerous particulate matter spreading outwards beyond human control nowadays ground level most certainly HAS become our primary limitation.

How long would we need to be able afford a ticket spaceward or even create another living environment planet-side giving rise to this new sarcastic comeback for younger generations’ “But daddy Elon Musk said spaceships haven’t landed yet dude?”

Trust Yourself

“Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come.”

The real question should perhaps ask whether we determine too much value from any irreversible position already gained rather than pressing onwards towards higher goals in quantum leap fashion without wasting time reminding ourselves what happened before?

For instance if while training to run Boston marathon my max ever distance had been a single mile last month am I supposed to keep on remembering this “milestone” every time I feel tired during upcoming workouts? That sounds like quite an unnecessary mental burden.

“There’s no ‘I’ in team.”

Right…but there is one in “winning”, so let’s break up into solo deals because as history remembers ‘Lone Wolf’ was always the undefeated man, right? (Wrong. Teamwork makes the dream work — sorry.)

Boundless Love

“Love knows no bounds.”

It’s nice to know that any kind of love can practically become identical then—as loving a partner may be just as great as a mild interest in baking or beer appreciation.

True question though: does this mean I can only eat and breathe when surrounded by big fat hearts finally able to reach complete circumference amity?

Embrace Change

“Change is inevitable, but growth is optional.” – John C. Maxwell

Well if you don’t like it simply don’t adapt; remain stagnant forever! Plain logic dictates things from individual emotions to quantum particles struggle at times befogging previous calculations which therefore calls for adaptation because there’s no use beating up onself when an unexpected event occurs.

Also “growth” doesn’t always compares favorably against life comfort balance scales—smaller families may allow for more mobility or quality time with fewer members around instead of having many kids ungovernable through their own chaos underfoot) making this much too situational statement unwise.

“We all have two lives. The second one starts when we realize we only have one.” – Confucius

Wait…what?! How am I supposed to apply such a generalized proverb catered clients specifically at funerals while planning my daily schedule due tomorrow? Second life? What about sleep cycles dividing every single day between our spatiotemporal frames?

Wouldn’t adopting Buddhist ideas improve climate change policy via stimulating water conservation practices?

Persistence Pays Off

“The race goes not always the swift, but those who keep running.”

Sounds like bullhit since competition inherently requires racing of some sort regardless how slow runners are feeling already behind everybody else outstripping them miles ahead downstream path basking within artificial glory engulfing social media platforms everywhere!

If people eagerly want to sell motivational quotes encouraging others, at least strive for a decent observation pattern — because even more vague life statements can still come equipped with some sort of numerological logic instead.

“It’s not about being the best it’s about being better than you were yesterday.”

Great! So if while just starting out my interest in learning a foreign language I had accidentally muttered an obscenity and everybody else smiled patting me on back saying “now that’s progress!” Are they lying to me?

Smile Through It

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

What? That doesn’t make any sense. Why would you force yourself to smile if there was nothing genuinely joyful around happening already? At what point am I yawning wide enough during early morning board meetings having declared “just happy to be present here”?

These are just a few examples of terrible inspirational quotes that should never see the light of day again. Just remember: inspiration comes from within, not from cheesy memes or outdated clichés. Trust yourself and believe in your own unique path – no sappy quote necessary.


Disclaimer: This article does not intend in any way shape or form hurt anybody’s feelings whatsoever; our writers only express their opinions which may differ lightheartedly without impinging upon anyone’s personal values or beliefs.

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