If you ever needed inspiration to travel, then hopefully these quotes will offer just that. Here are ten of our favourites which we hope will inspire you to get out and see more of the world in which we live. Please tell us your favourites (whether they be listed here or not) by submitting a comment at the end…
“Once a year, go some place you’ve never been before.” Dalai Lama
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” St. Augustine
“A good traveller has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” Lao Tzu
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour and catch the Trade Winds in your sails.” Mark Twain
“Remember happiness is a way of travel not a destination.” Roy Goodman
“Not all those who wander are lost.” J.R.R. Tolkein
“I haven’t been everywhere but it’s on my list.” Susan Sontag (photo courtesy of Seattle Dredge)
“No one realises how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” Lin Yutang
“We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.” Hilaire Belloc
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” Mark Twain
Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Telegraph.
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45 Comments
#11…”I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” Mary Anne Radmacher
I have my own saying too and here it is:
Travel expands the mind and fills the gap.
Sheda Savage
Lao Tzu was a smart man it seems:
“A journey of a thousand miles, must begin with a single step” – Lao Tzu
“ÂI am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” Mary Anne Radmacher
The one from Mark Twain was my inspiration for my working holiday year in Australia 9 years ago. Best year my life! :-)
Hi Tess… there are actually two Mark Twain quotes in the list… which one of them inspired you?
Oh I completely missed the last one. :-) the one about sailing away from the safe harbour and regretting things I didn’t do.
Yes… that’s one of my faves too. :)
Tolkien gets my vote:
Not all those who wander are lost. J.R.R. Tolkein –
Brilliant :-)
I also like: It is better to travel well than to arrive. Buddha
It’s not necessarily about travel, but I like to take it literally: “When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But that is not what great ships are built for.”
The one from St. Augustine is on the cover my journal, but my new fav must be the last one by Mark Twain about travel being “fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow mindedness”. I would sum it up by adding one word – “ignorance”.
Way too many times, we hear so much negativity about countries, but we go anyways, to throw away all the prejudices and preconceived notions. This quote is one of my favorites and is perfect for those situations.
“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” – Aldous Huxley
‘Tis better to have traveled and gotten lost than never to have traveled at all (in fact, the getting lost is sometimes the most valuable part).
– Dan Brook
“It’s not what you spend or pack that makes your trip memorable; it’s the state of mind you bring. … Savor the differences. … Be ready to ad-lib, to be imaginative while conquering surprise challenges. Make an art out of taking the unexpected in stride. … Good travelers – like skiers bending their knees to make moguls more fun – enjoy the bumps in the road. … Don’t complicate your trip: simplify! Travelers can get stressed or waste time over the silliest things, which, in their niggling ways, can suffocate a happy holiday. … Avoid unnecessary burdens. … Ask questions all along the way. Make yourself an extrovert, even if you’re not. … Don’t be afraid to butcher the language. … Be a catalyst for adventure and excitement. … Be open-minded. Absorb, accept, and learn. Much of the success of your trip will depend on the attitude you pack. If you can think positively, travel smartly, adapt well, and connect with the culture, you’ll have a truly rich … trip. So raise your travel dreams to their upright and locked positions, and let yourself fly away.” – Rick Steves
Great list. Do you think it would be possible to link my photo (haven’t been everywhere/hand one) back to my site? :]
Done! Thanks… ;-)
i just couldn’t choose between these two: “Once a year, go some place you’e never been before.” Dalai Lama
and
“I haven’t been everywhere but it’s on my list.” -Susan Sontag
My favorite is, Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness. Mark Twain
Yet another reason to travel with children and establish those mindsets early in life!
Here’s an old favorite of mine by Sir Francis Drake: “It isn’t that life ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better.”
I personally love..
I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine. ~Caskie Stinnett
thanks for these wonderful quotes! we repined some on our Pinterest board. Here is one of our favorite quotes: “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller
I would like to offer the corollary: “I am not the same having drunk the moonshine on the other side of the world.
My personal favourite is this light hearted but very very true one “even if an ass goes travelling he will not come back a horse”
I was on a bus in Thailand going to Laos when we stopped in a small village to eat and rest a bit and found a book of poetry by Stevie Smith someone haf left. One of my favorite lines: Do you hear the north wind outside the window? He calls me, do you think I should stay when I can so easily go?
Ok, how about this?
“Travel is an addiction. There is no cure, the only treatment is planning your next trip”
-unknown
Make sure you travel to Nepal before dying. Besides the highest peak on Earth, it is a paradise on Earth! You can literally see mountains floating on an ocean of white clouds, and you can see how nature has woven time and space differently in certain locations such as the Crystal Mountain that will intice your mind!!!
Hi Paul. Great inspiring quotes in your post.
How about this one From Nelson Mandela…fitting for this week:
“Tread Softly, Breathe Peacefully, Laugh Hysterically.
And here are a couple of others that I like:
“Not till we are lost do we begin to find ourselves.”
and “Replace the fear of the unknown with curiosity.”
And what about one from the legendary Dr. Seuss:
“You’re off to great places.
Today is your day.
Your mountain is waiting.
So get on your way.”
@Michle i am agree with you. Once in a life you must have to visit the Himalaya Kingdom of Earth, where every guest are treated as GOD. In every corner of street statue are waiting to greet you , the Open museum of Nature and Culture. Naturally Nepal Once is not Enough.
I also like;
Ones destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.
Henry Miller
Not directly about travel, but a great quote. I was on the Helsinki-Tallin ferry a week or so ago (Tallinn is amazing by the way if you’ve not been) and I saw an ad for Finlandia Vodka – loved the bit at the bottom, which read:
“Live Magnificently. Drink Responsibly.”
Great way to liven up some otherwise dull small print. And definitely a good one for travellers :o)
The ‘everywhere’ quote is definitely my favourite!
Reminds me of one I saw the other day, Gill…
“Not to get technical but according to chemistry, alcohol is a solution.”
:)
This list has brightened up my day, including the great additions in the comments list. Thanks to everyone for sharing – I’m off to break open the atlas!
Brilliant, love it! Going totally off topic, my favourite quote ever is a Groucho Marx one, on leaving a party:
“I’ve had a wonderful evening, but this wasn’t it.”
:o)
Haha… very good also! :)
Love these. My son is travelling (again) and it makes me giddy thinking about him when I read these inspiring quotes.
So jealous, can’t wait to retire.
Its not necessarily about travel, but a new way of seeing things.
Travel is an addiction. There is no cure, the only treatment is planning your next trip
wow!A great list. These are the best travel quotes for all time. Thank for sharing this list with awesome picture.
We tented for a month in Africa last year and the cover of my travel journal I wrote in each day was “It always seems impossible until it is done” by Nelson Mandela
I enjoyed the other quotes too. Thanks!
I’ve been to a heck of a lot of places in the world, but there’s always something pulling me home.
However, I’m so glad I have had the opportunity and I realise just how fortunate I have been and so much wiser. One day I will go visit those hidden places in good ole GB(I hope).
Happiness is a way of travel not the destination,. this one is epic! the greater happiness is found in travelling and discovering new destinations and culture.. That feeling!
I really like quote Once a year, go some place youve never been before. Dalai Lama. This makes lot of difference in a life and brings happiness. We should find some time to go places which we never been.
Thanks for your useful tips. Thank for sharing this list with awesome picture.
Great way to liven up some otherwise dull small print. And definitely a good one for travellers :o)
The everywhere quote is definitely my favourite!
“We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.” This one is my favourite too :)
I really love those quotes and it is very inspiring while reading.
Thanksfor sharing the best travel quotes for all time & awesome picture. it’s very inspiring me.
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#11…”I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” Mary Anne Radmacher
I have my own saying too and here it is:
Travel expands the mind and fills the gap.
Sheda Savage
Lao Tzu was a smart man it seems:
“A journey of a thousand miles, must begin with a single step” – Lao Tzu
“ÂI am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” Mary Anne Radmacher
The one from Mark Twain was my inspiration for my working holiday year in Australia 9 years ago. Best year my life! :-)
Hi Tess… there are actually two Mark Twain quotes in the list… which one of them inspired you?
Oh I completely missed the last one. :-) the one about sailing away from the safe harbour and regretting things I didn’t do.
Yes… that’s one of my faves too. :)
Tolkien gets my vote:
Not all those who wander are lost. J.R.R. Tolkein –
Brilliant :-)
I also like: It is better to travel well than to arrive. Buddha
It’s not necessarily about travel, but I like to take it literally: “When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But that is not what great ships are built for.”
The one from St. Augustine is on the cover my journal, but my new fav must be the last one by Mark Twain about travel being “fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow mindedness”. I would sum it up by adding one word – “ignorance”.
Way too many times, we hear so much negativity about countries, but we go anyways, to throw away all the prejudices and preconceived notions. This quote is one of my favorites and is perfect for those situations.
“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” – Aldous Huxley
‘Tis better to have traveled and gotten lost than never to have traveled at all (in fact, the getting lost is sometimes the most valuable part).
– Dan Brook
“It’s not what you spend or pack that makes your trip memorable; it’s the state of mind you bring. … Savor the differences. … Be ready to ad-lib, to be imaginative while conquering surprise challenges. Make an art out of taking the unexpected in stride. … Good travelers – like skiers bending their knees to make moguls more fun – enjoy the bumps in the road. … Don’t complicate your trip: simplify! Travelers can get stressed or waste time over the silliest things, which, in their niggling ways, can suffocate a happy holiday. … Avoid unnecessary burdens. … Ask questions all along the way. Make yourself an extrovert, even if you’re not. … Don’t be afraid to butcher the language. … Be a catalyst for adventure and excitement. … Be open-minded. Absorb, accept, and learn. Much of the success of your trip will depend on the attitude you pack. If you can think positively, travel smartly, adapt well, and connect with the culture, you’ll have a truly rich … trip. So raise your travel dreams to their upright and locked positions, and let yourself fly away.” – Rick Steves
Great list. Do you think it would be possible to link my photo (haven’t been everywhere/hand one) back to my site? :]
Done! Thanks… ;-)
i just couldn’t choose between these two: “Once a year, go some place you’e never been before.” Dalai Lama
and
“I haven’t been everywhere but it’s on my list.” -Susan Sontag
My favorite is, Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness. Mark Twain
Yet another reason to travel with children and establish those mindsets early in life!
Here’s an old favorite of mine by Sir Francis Drake: “It isn’t that life ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better.”
I personally love..
I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine. ~Caskie Stinnett
thanks for these wonderful quotes! we repined some on our Pinterest board. Here is one of our favorite quotes: “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller
I would like to offer the corollary: “I am not the same having drunk the moonshine on the other side of the world.
My personal favourite is this light hearted but very very true one “even if an ass goes travelling he will not come back a horse”
I was on a bus in Thailand going to Laos when we stopped in a small village to eat and rest a bit and found a book of poetry by Stevie Smith someone haf left. One of my favorite lines: Do you hear the north wind outside the window? He calls me, do you think I should stay when I can so easily go?
Ok, how about this?
“Travel is an addiction. There is no cure, the only treatment is planning your next trip”
-unknown
Make sure you travel to Nepal before dying. Besides the highest peak on Earth, it is a paradise on Earth! You can literally see mountains floating on an ocean of white clouds, and you can see how nature has woven time and space differently in certain locations such as the Crystal Mountain that will intice your mind!!!
Hi Paul. Great inspiring quotes in your post.
How about this one From Nelson Mandela…fitting for this week:
“Tread Softly, Breathe Peacefully, Laugh Hysterically.
And here are a couple of others that I like:
“Not till we are lost do we begin to find ourselves.”
and “Replace the fear of the unknown with curiosity.”
And what about one from the legendary Dr. Seuss:
“You’re off to great places.
Today is your day.
Your mountain is waiting.
So get on your way.”
@Michle i am agree with you. Once in a life you must have to visit the Himalaya Kingdom of Earth, where every guest are treated as GOD. In every corner of street statue are waiting to greet you , the Open museum of Nature and Culture. Naturally Nepal Once is not Enough.
I also like;
Ones destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.
Henry Miller
Not directly about travel, but a great quote. I was on the Helsinki-Tallin ferry a week or so ago (Tallinn is amazing by the way if you’ve not been) and I saw an ad for Finlandia Vodka – loved the bit at the bottom, which read:
“Live Magnificently. Drink Responsibly.”
Great way to liven up some otherwise dull small print. And definitely a good one for travellers :o)
The ‘everywhere’ quote is definitely my favourite!
Reminds me of one I saw the other day, Gill…
“Not to get technical but according to chemistry, alcohol is a solution.”
:)
This list has brightened up my day, including the great additions in the comments list. Thanks to everyone for sharing – I’m off to break open the atlas!
Brilliant, love it! Going totally off topic, my favourite quote ever is a Groucho Marx one, on leaving a party:
“I’ve had a wonderful evening, but this wasn’t it.”
:o)
Haha… very good also! :)
Love these. My son is travelling (again) and it makes me giddy thinking about him when I read these inspiring quotes.
So jealous, can’t wait to retire.
Its not necessarily about travel, but a new way of seeing things.
Travel is an addiction. There is no cure, the only treatment is planning your next trip
wow!A great list. These are the best travel quotes for all time. Thank for sharing this list with awesome picture.
We tented for a month in Africa last year and the cover of my travel journal I wrote in each day was “It always seems impossible until it is done” by Nelson Mandela
I enjoyed the other quotes too. Thanks!
I’ve been to a heck of a lot of places in the world, but there’s always something pulling me home.
However, I’m so glad I have had the opportunity and I realise just how fortunate I have been and so much wiser. One day I will go visit those hidden places in good ole GB(I hope).
Happiness is a way of travel not the destination,. this one is epic! the greater happiness is found in travelling and discovering new destinations and culture.. That feeling!
I really like quote Once a year, go some place youve never been before. Dalai Lama. This makes lot of difference in a life and brings happiness. We should find some time to go places which we never been.
Thanks for your useful tips. Thank for sharing this list with awesome picture.
Great way to liven up some otherwise dull small print. And definitely a good one for travellers :o)
The everywhere quote is definitely my favourite!
“We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.” This one is my favourite too :)
I really love those quotes and it is very inspiring while reading.
Thanksfor sharing the best travel quotes for all time & awesome picture. it’s very inspiring me.