40+ Employee Motivation Quotes for Confidence, Morale, & Appreciation

Do your employees have an unstoppable urge to conquer the world?

No? Well, they will after you fire them up with some classic quotes for employee motivation. 

Seriously, sharing some inspirational thoughts and observations can challenge perspectives, soothe stress, and serve as a bit of thoughtful encouragement. They’re also a memorable way to convey company values and culture. 

Here are more than 40 motivational employee quotes for strength, gratitude, positivity, and a few laughs.

Famous inspiration: Quotes for employee motivation

The best motivational quotes are sharp, short, and wise. Make one of these a company mantra, share them on employee walls, or use them to help reinforce core values. 

1. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
2. “There are no traffic jams on the extra mile.” – Roger Staubach
3. “Someday is not a day of the week.” – Janet Dailey
4. “All men of action are dreamers.” – James Huneker
5. “The road to success is always under construction.” – Lily Tomlin
6. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
7. "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." – Wayne Gretzky
8. “Either you run the day, or the day runs you.” – Jim Rohn
9. “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. – Vince Lombardi
10. “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein
11. “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan
12. “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” – Helen Keller
13. “Learning never exhausts the mind.” – Leonardo da Vinci
14. “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too.” – Paulo Coelho

Funny quotes to lift morale at work

As Reba McEntire once said, “To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone, and a funny bone.” Find inspiration, boldness, and a few laughs with these tension-busting, morale-boosting quotes. 

1. “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing–that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar
2. “A clear conscience is a sure sign of a bad memory.” – Mark Twain
3. “I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” – Douglas Adams
4. “You can’t have everything. Where would you put it?” – Steven Wright
5. “Honest criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, friend, acquaintance, or a stranger.” – Franklin P. Jones
6. “There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full.” – Henry Kissinger
7. “Work is the greatest thing in the world, so we should always save some of it for tomorrow.” – Don Herold

Gratitude is motivation: Quotes for employee appreciation

You don’t have to be in the history books to share note-perfect words of gratitude for employee motivation. The following includes some of HeyTaco’s ideas for impactful, authentic employee appreciation messages.

1. "Your creativity and problem-solving skills have transformed our team. Your contributions make a difference every single day."
2. "To the most innovative team I've ever worked with: Your collaborative spirit and determination make every challenge conquerable.”
3. "Your growth over the past year has been remarkable. Today, we celebrate not just your achievements, but the incredible person behind them.”
4. “I feel a very unusual sensation. If it is not indigestion, it must be gratitude.” – Benjamin Disraeli 
5. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy 

Motivational employee quotes for stressful times

Everyone need a little extra push? Whip out one of these inspirational quotes about persistence, resilience, and overcoming adversity.

1. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu
2. “Failure is a condiment that gives success its flavor.” – Truman Capote
3. “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.” – Babe Ruth
4. "Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other." – Walter Elliot
5. “Few things can help an individual more than to place responsibility on him, and to let him know that you trust him.” – Booker T. Washington
6. “Champions keep playing until they get it right.” – Billie Jean King
7. "Working hard is very important. You're not going to get anywhere without working extremely hard." – George Lucas
8. "Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don't recognize them." – Ann Landers

Food for thought: Captivating quotes to close emails and meetings

Looking to distribute some sage wisdom? Cap off communications with one of these quotes for employee motivation and encouragement. Or, give staff a few minutes to mull over their response to some thought-provoking check-in questions.

1. “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin
2. “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker
3. “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” – Booker T. Washington
4. “Even when all experts agree, they may be mistaken.” – Bertrand Russell
5. “Complexity is your enemy. Any fool can make something complex. It takes a genius to make something simple.” – Richard Branson
6. “When it is obvious that goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” – Confucius 
7. “Ask advice, but use your own common sense.” – Unknown

Nothing’s more motivating than recognition

“Employees engage with employers and brands when they’re treated as humans worthy of respect.” – Meghan M. Biro

We couldn’t agree more. Make employees feel seen with peer recognition software that makes it easy to recognize each other in team chat, without disrupting workflows. It keeps morale and productivity up while you build a highly motivating culture of gratitude. 

It’s worked for a thousand companies globally, including digital agency Eugeniuses. 

“We used to only celebrate at the end of a project,” their project manager reports. “But now, with HeyTaco, we’re celebrating the little things—like saving a client relationship or helping with a tricky functionality…HeyTaco has made it more fun to go to work. It’s not just about the tasks—it’s about the relationships we build along the way. And when we’re having fun, it shows in the work we do.”

Feeling motivated to implement it at your organization? Try it free for a month.