Les Brown Quotes

Powerful Les Brown for Daily Growth

About Les Brown

Les Brown (born February 17, 1945) is an American motivational speaker, author, pastor, and former television host. Known for his influential speeches and empowering quotes, he has inspired countless individuals around the world to achieve their full potential. Born in Liberty City, Miami, Florida, Brown was raised by his grandmother after his parents abandoned him as a baby. Despite these challenging circumstances, he excelled in school and eventually became a popular speaker on local television programs. In 1963, Brown's life took a dramatic turn when a near-fatal car accident left him in a coma for six days. The experience instilled in him a profound sense of purpose, leading him to pursue a career in motivational speaking and personal development. Brown went on to become an ordained minister and founded the "Man Power" group, where he helped young men develop their leadership skills. He also served as a radio host for several stations before landing his own television show, "The Les Brown Show," which ran from 1989 to 1994. Throughout his career, Brown has authored numerous books, including "Live Your Dreams" (1988), "How to Achieve Success in Any Field by Doing What You Love" (2003), and "It's Not Over Until You Win!" (2007). His most famous quote, "If you want to succeed, you must be totally dedicated to your chosen field...It is only the strong that survive," encapsulates his philosophy on personal development and achievement. Brown continues to inspire audiences worldwide through speaking engagements, workshops, and his weekly television show, "The Les Brown Show with Motivation Unleashed." His powerful messages of hope, resilience, and determination have left an indelible mark on the world of motivational speaking and personal development.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are too comfortable living our lives."

This quote suggests that many individuals are content with maintaining a status quo in their lives, rather than pursuing their dreams and aspirations. Comfort can often lead to stagnation and prevent us from taking risks or making changes necessary for growth and fulfillment. The call-to-action is to examine one's life and consider whether it aligns with their true desires and passions, as living a comfortable yet unfulfilling existence may be a disservice to both personal development and overall happiness.


"The gravestone of opportunity is marked 'Here lies a million dollars and an easy life – died from indecision.'"

This quote emphasizes the potential consequences of procrastination or fear of taking risks, which can lead to missed opportunities for success and personal growth. The phrase "million dollars and an easy life" represents a lucrative opportunity that could have significantly improved one's financial situation and quality of life. However, the failure to act decisively, as symbolized by death, suggests that fear or hesitation in making a choice can result in forfeiting such opportunities and potentially leaving behind a life filled with regrets.


"It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it."

Les Brown's quote suggests that challenges in life don't define us, but rather our attitude and approach towards those challenges do. The weight of problems or responsibilities we face doesn't have inherent power to break us; instead, how we manage to carry those burdens is what truly determines our resilience and ability to persevere. In other words, it's not the burden that matters, but the way we bear it that shapes our experiences and outcomes.


"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."

The quote emphasizes the importance of reaching high and aiming for ambitious goals, even if not achieved perfectly. It suggests that striving for greatness—like trying to reach the moon—may result in falling short but still landing among the "stars", symbolizing significant achievements or positive outcomes, rather than complete failure. The message encourages individuals to dream big, take risks, and never underestimate their potential successes along the journey toward their goals.


"Anyone can give up, it is the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you came apart, that's a testament to the strength of the human spirit."

This quote by Les Brown highlights the resilience and fortitude inherent within the human spirit. It underscores that while giving up is an easy option when faced with adversity, maintaining one's composure and holding it together even when others might expect otherwise demonstrates remarkable strength and endurance. In essence, the quote emphasizes the human capacity to persevere and prevail despite challenges, which serves as a testament to our indomitable spirit.


Our ability to handle life's challenges is a measure of our strength of character.

- Les Brown

Strength, Character, Measure, Handle

In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. That means we have 1,440 daily opportunities to make a positive impact.

- Les Brown

Every Day, Minutes, Means, Impact

I think of myself as a catalyst of action and a messenger of hope, turning people onto themselves and turning people onto their dreams.

- Les Brown

Myself, Think, I Think, Messenger

Shoot for the moon and if you miss you will still be among the stars.

- Les Brown

Inspirational, Miss You, Miss

If you put yourself in a position where you have to stretch outside your comfort zone, then you are forced to expand your consciousness.

- Les Brown

Consciousness, Your, Forced, Expand

In day-to-day commerce, television is not so much interested in the business of communications as in the business of delivering audiences to advertisers. People are the merchandise, not the shows. The shows are merely the bait.

- Les Brown

Business, Delivering, Bait

I advise you to say your dream is possible and then overcome all inconveniences, ignore all the hassles and take a running leap through the hoop, even if it is in flames.

- Les Brown

Overcome, Say, Through, Leap

Just because Fate doesn't deal you the right cards, it doesn't mean you should give up. It just means you have to play the cards you get to their maximum potential.

- Les Brown

Play, Give, Means, Potential

Make each day count by setting specific goals to succeed, then putting forth every effort to exceed your own expectations.

- Les Brown

Own, Count, Putting, Each Day

Forgive those who have hurt you.

- Les Brown

Forgiveness, Forgive, Those, Hurt

Anytime you suffer a setback or disappointment, put your head down and plow ahead.

- Les Brown

Head, Suffer, Plow, Anytime

We were all born with a certain degree of power. The key to success is discovering this innate power and using it daily to deal with whatever challenges come our way.

- Les Brown

Deal, Discovering, Using, Key

All of us need to grow continuously in our lives.

- Les Brown

Grow, Need, Lives, Continuously

Where do we enroll in Life 101? Where are the classes dealing with the loss of a job, the death of a loved one, the failure of a relationship? Unfortunately, those lessons are mostly learned through trial by fire and the school of hard knocks.

- Les Brown

Death, Through, Mostly, Loved One

Review your goals twice every day in order to be focused on achieving them.

- Les Brown

Achieving, Review, Twice, Goals

If you set goals and go after them with all the determination you can muster, your gifts will take you places that will amaze you.

- Les Brown

Amazing, Will, Set, Goals

Life takes on meaning when you become motivated, set goals and charge after them in an unstoppable manner.

- Les Brown

Motivated, Charge, Set, Goals

Your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible for your life.

- Les Brown

Road, Maps, Show, Goals

You cannot expect to achieve new goals or move beyond your present circumstances unless you change.

- Les Brown

New, Circumstances, Move, Goals

Your ability to communicate is an important tool in your pursuit of your goals, whether it is with your family, your co-workers or your clients and customers.

- Les Brown

Communicate, Clients, Goals

Goals help you channel your energy into action.

- Les Brown

Help, Action, Channel, Goals

The only limits to the possibilities in your life tomorrow are the buts you use today.

- Les Brown

Today, Possibilities, Use, Buts

A lot of people do not muster the courage to live their dreams because they are afraid to die.

- Les Brown

Courage, Die, Lot, Muster

We have to live life with a sense of urgency so not a minute is wasted.

- Les Brown

Urgency, Sense, Wasted, Live Life

If you are carrying strong feelings about something that happened in your past, they may hinder your ability to live in the present.

- Les Brown

Strong, Past, May, Feelings

It takes someone with a vision of the possibilities to attain new levels of experience. Someone with the courage to live his dreams.

- Les Brown

Vision, New, Possibilities, Levels

Help others achieve their dreams and you will achieve yours.

- Les Brown

Help Others, Help, Will, Yours

Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it. Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way.

- Les Brown

Will, Wanting, Compelling, Order

We are living in very challenging times. Pressured in the workplace and stressed out at home, people are trying to make sense of their lives.

- Les Brown

Living, Very, Lives, Pressured

Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.

- Les Brown

Dreams, Living, Too, Our Dreams

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