quotes about sea travel

40 Ocean Quotes for Everyone Who Loves The Sea

By: Author Carrie Ann Karstunen

Posted on Published: July 21, 2021  - Last updated: December 16, 2021

Are you inspired by the ocean? Gazing out to sea, sailing, or just spending a lazy day on the beach can be such a magical experience. Here are my 40 favorite ocean quotes to inspire you to spend some time out on the water.

These ocean quotes about the sea range from short to long, inspirational to funny (and everything in between!), so I’m sure you’ll find a quote that you love. I’ve illustrated each of these ocean quotes with a beautiful photo of the sea, perfect to save to your ocean Pinterest board.

I hope you enjoy these quotes as much as I do. Use your favorites for scrapbooking, journaling, and Instagram captions, or just for inspiration to keep looking to the horizon.

Please feel free to save any of my ocean quotes images to use on your own website or social media. Just be sure to credit Should Be Cruising and link back to this page. Thanks!

1. “Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.” — Van Morrison

Sir George Ivan Morrison (1945-) is a Grammy Award-winning Northern Irish singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer. This ocean quote is from the lyrics to  Into the Mystic , from his 1970 album  Moondance .

2. “Dance with the waves, move with the sea. Let the rhythm of the water set your soul free.” — Christy Ann Martine

One of my favorite ocean quotes, these lines are by Christy Ann Martine Zutautas (1972-), a Canadian poet and writer. This quote about the ocean is from her short poem, Dance With The Waves , written in 2017.

3. “The sea is an underwater museum still awaiting its visitors.” — Philippe Diolé

Philippe Victor Diolé (1908-1977) was a French author and undersea explorer, best known for co-authoring seven of the 8-volume series The Undersea Discoveries of Jacques-Yves Cousteau .

4. “The sea always filled her with longing, though for what she was never sure.” — Cornelia Funke

Cornelia Maria Funke (1958-) is a German author and illustrator of children’s fiction. This ocean quote is from her 2003 young adult fantasy novel Inkheart , the first in a trilogy of the same name.

5. “My soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882) was an American poet and educator. One of the “fireside poets” from New England, Longfellow was the most popular American poet of his day. This quote about the sea is from his poem The Secret of the Sea , included in his 1850 book of poetry The Seaside and the Fireside .

6. “Take me to the ocean. Let me sail the open sea. To breathe the warm and salty air and dream of things to be.” — Erica Billups

Erica Billups is an Atlanta-based poet, artist, and blogger. She’s the owner and lead artist at Liberty & Lilac Paper Co , and the author of this favorite ocean quote.

7. “You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” — Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) was a Bengali writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer, painter, and one of India’s greatest poets. He was the first Asian writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1913. This inspirational ocean quote is from his 1910 mystic play The King Of The Dark Chamber .

8. if the ocean can calm itself, so can you. we are both salt water mixed with air.” — Nayyirah Waheed

Reclusive poet and writer Nayyirah Waheed has been called “perhaps the most famous poet on Instagram” by Jet . She’s published two books of her minimalist poetry—this ocean quote is from her 2013 debut volume entitled  salt .

9. “The sea appears all golden, Beneath the sun-lit sky.” — Heinrich Heine

Christian Johann Heinrich Heine (1797–1856) was a German poet, writer, and literary critic. Heine is perhaps best known for his early lyric poems, many of which were set to music by composers including Schubert and Schumann. His quote about the sea comes from his romantic poem Seraphina , published in his 1827 Book of Songs .

10. “The sea does not like to be restrained.” — Rick Riordan

Richard Russell Riordan Jr. (1964-) is an American author best known for writing the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, about a teenager who discovers he’s the son of the Greek god Poseidon. This sea quote is from his 2005 novel The Lightning Thief , the first book in the series.

11. “To me the sea is a continual miracle; The fishes that swim—the rocks—the motion of the waves—the ships with men in them; What stranger miracles are there?”  — Walt Whitman

Walter Whitman (1819–1892) was an American humanist poet, essayist, and journalist. Whitman is one of the most influential American poets and is often called the father of free verse. His ocean quote is from the poem Miracles , first published in his 1856 volume Leaves of Grass .

12. “That the sea is one of the most beautiful and magnificent sights in Nature, all admit.”  — John Joly

John Joly (1857–1933) was an Irish physicist, professor of geology, and inventor, most famous for his development of radiotherapy in the treatment of cancer. Joly also developed the Joly color screen, the first successful process for producing color photographs from a single plate.

13. “The sea is a desert of waves, A wilderness of water.”  — Langston Hughes

James Mercer Langston Hughes (1901–1967) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. A leader of the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes was also an early innovator of jazz poetry. This ocean quote is from his poem Long Trip .

14. “To me, the sea is like a person — like a child that I’ve known a long time. It sounds crazy, I know, but when I swim in the sea I talk to it. I never feel alone when I’m out there.”  — Gertrude Ederle

Gertrude Caroline Ederle (1905–2003) was an American competition swimmer known as the “Queen of the Waves”. Ederle was an Olympic champion, former world record-holder in five events, and in 1926 became the first woman to swim across the English Channel.

15. “And the sea will grant each man new hope, as sleep brings dreams of home.”  — Larry Ferguson

Larry Ferguson is an American screenwriter and film director whose film credits include Highlander ,  Beverly Hills Cop II , and  Alien 3 . Although this sea quote is commonly misattributed to Christopher Columbus, Ferguson actually penned the words, delivered by Sean Connery at the end of the film The Hunt for Red October .

16. “With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you’re connected to the sea. No matter where on Earth you live.”  — Sylvia Earle

Dr. Sylvia Alice Earle (1935-) is an American marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer, author, and lecturer. Earle was the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Since 1988, she’s been a National Geographic explorer-in-residence, and is also part of Ocean Elders , a group dedicated to protecting the ocean and its wildlife.

17. “Wouldst thou … learn the secret of the sea? Only those who brave its dangers, comprehend its mystery!”  — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882) was an American poet and educator. This quote about the ocean is from his poem The Secret of the Sea. It’s often misquoted as “Would you learn the secret of the sea?”, but the original line was “Wouldst thou, —so the helmsman answered; Learn the secret of the sea?”.

18. “For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it’s always ourselves we find in the sea ” — E. E. Cummings

Edward Estlin Cummings (1894–1962) was an American modernist poet, painter, essayist, author, and playwright. This ocean quote comes from his 1956 poem maggie and milly and molly and may .

19. “The sea possesses a power over one’s moods that has the effect of a will. The sea can hypnotize. Nature in general can do so.”  — Henrik Ibsen

Henrik Johan Ibsen (1828–1906) was a Norwegian modernist playwright and theatre director, often referred to as the “father of realism”. After Shakespeare, Ibsen is the most frequently performed dramatist in the world. This sea quote is from his 1888 play The Lady from the Sea .

20. “There’s nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater, you realize that you’ve been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent.”  — Dave Barry

David McAlister Barry (1947-) is an American author and columnist. From 1983 until 2005, Barry wrote a nationally syndicated humor column for the  Miami Herald . He’s also written many books of humor and parody and several comic novels.

21. “How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is clearly Ocean.”  — Arthur C. Clarke

Sir Arthur Charles Clarke (1917–2008) was an English science-fiction writer, science writer, inventor, undersea explorer, and television host. Clarke co-wrote the screenplay for the 1968 film  2001: A Space Odyssey , one of the most influential films of all time. During the 1980s he hosted several television shows, including  Arthur C. Clarke’s Mysterious World .

22. “We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came…”  — John F. Kennedy

John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917–1963) was an American politician and the 35th president of the United States. As a young man, JFK and his family spent summers at their Cape Cod home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, where he enjoyed sailing and swimming in the ocean. This ocean quote is from Kennedy’s speech given at the dinner for the America’s Cup crews on September 14, 1962.

23. “Limitless and immortal, the waters are the beginning and end of all things on earth.”  — Heinrich Zimmer

Heinrich Robert Zimmer (1890–1943) was a German Indologist, linguist, and historian of South Asian art, Zimmer is best known for his works  Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization  and  Philosophies of India . He was one of the most important German scholars in Indian philology.

24. “The ocean makes me feel really small and it makes me put my whole life into perspective.”  — Beyoncé Knowles

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter (1981-) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She’s one of the world’s best-selling recording artists, and was the first artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 with their first six solo studio albums. In 2020, Beyoncé was included on Time ‘s list of 100 women who defined the last century.

25. “The ocean has always been a salve to my soul…the best thing for a cut or abrasion was to go swimming in salt water. Later down the road of life, I made the discovery that salt water was also good for the mental abrasions one inevitably acquires on land.” — Jimmy Buffett

James William Buffett (1946-) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, actor, and businessman. Best known for his island-escapist music, Buffett is also a bestselling author as well as the owner of the Margaritaville restaurant chain. This ocean quote is from his 1988 autobiography A Pirate Looks at Fifty .

26. “In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans.”  — Kahlil Gibran

Gibran Khalil Gibran (1883–1931) was a Lebanese-American writer, poet, and visual artist. Gibran is best known for his 1923 inspirational fiction work The Prophet , one of the best-selling books of all time. This quote about the ocean is translated from his 1921 Arabic-language play Iram, City of Lofty Pillars .

27. “The calming movement of the sea along with the restless ocean breeze gently caresses me creating a soothing trance which lulls me to a place of peace.”  — M. L. Borges

M. L. Borges is a visual artist, poet, and author who writes in various genres, including mystery and romance. This quote about the ocean is from By The Sea , a 2013 collection of paintings and quotes.

28. “We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds.”  — Aristotle Onassis

Aristotle Socrates Onassis (1906–1975) was a Greek shipping magnate. He owned the world’s largest privately-owned shipping fleet at the time and was one of the world’s richest men. Onassis was well known for marrying former US first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, leading to her nickname of “Jackie O”.

29. “ The sea does not reward those  who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient … One  should  lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach—waiting for a gift from  the sea .”  — Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Anne Spencer Morrow Lindbergh (1906–2001) was an American author and aviator. She was the wife of aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh, and they made many exploratory flights together. This sea quote is from her 1955 book Gift from the Sea , an inspirational volume for women that foreshadowed the green movement.

30. “They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea.”  — Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban (1561–1626) was an English philosopher and statesman who served as Attorney General, as temporary Regent of England (for a month in 1617), and later as Lord Chancellor of England. Bacon was an influential figure during the scientific revolution, and his works helped develop the scientific method.

31. “The sea lives in every one of us.”  — Robert Wyland

Robert Wyland (1956-), known simply as Wyland, is an American artist and conservationist best known for his Whaling Walls, a series of over 100 large outdoor murals featuring life-size images of whales and other sea creatures.

Fun fact for cruise fans: Wyland designed and painted a massive mural on the hull of Norwegian Cruise Line ‘s Norwegian Bliss , launched in 2018, featuring images of his trademark life-sized whales.

32. “But where, after all, would be the poetry of the sea were there no wild waves?”  — Joshua Slocum

Joshua Slocum (1844–1909) was a Canadian-American writer, sailor, and adventurer. The first person to sail single-handedly around the world, he wrote a book in 1900, Sailing Alone Around the World , about his journey aboard his sloop the Spray . The book—where this ocean quote is taken from—was an international best-seller. Slocum disappeared in November 1909 while aboard his boat and was presumed lost at sea.

33. “Great sea captains are made in rough waters and deep seas.”  — Kathryn Kuhlman

Kathryn Kuhlman (1907–1976) was an American evangelist known for hosting healing services. She traveled the US extensively and around the world between the 1940s and 1970s, holding “healing crusades”. In the 60s and 70s, Kuhlman hosted I Believe In Miracles , a weekly television program that was aired nationally in the United States.

34. “The human heart is like a ship on a stormy sea driven about by winds blowing from all four corners of heaven.”  — Martin Luther

Martin Luther (1483–1546) was a German professor of theology, priest, author, composer, Augustinian monk, and an important figure in the Protestant Reformation. This ocean quote comes from the preface to his 1545 Commentary on the Psalms . This quote is often misattributed to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., leader of the American civil rights movement in the 1950s and 60s.

35. “What world lies beyond that stormy sea I do not know, but every ocean has a distant shore, and I shall reach it.”  — Cesare Pavese

Cesare Pavese (1908–1950) was an Italian novelist, poet, essayist, short story writer, translator, and literary critic. Although he destroyed many of his personal papers before his death, his diaries (which include this quote) remain and were published as This Business of Living: Diaries 1935-1950 .

36. “The sea is as near as we come to another world.”  — Anne Stevenson

Anne Stevenson (1933–2020) was an American-British poet and writer. Stevenson was the author of over a dozen volumes of poetry, books of essays, and literary criticism. In 2007, she was awarded the Lannan Lifetime Achievement Award for Poetry, and the Poetry Foundation’s Neglected Masters Award. This ocean quote is from her 1977 poem North Sea off Carnoustie .

37. “As the sea is beautiful not only in calm but also in storm, so is happiness found not only in peace but also in strife. ” —  Ivan Panin

Ivan Nikolayevich Panin (1855–1942) was a Russian writer and lecturer. After his exile from Russia, Panin emigrated first to Germany and then to the US. Today Panin is best known for claiming to discover numerical patterns in the text of the Hebrew and Greek Bibles. This sea quote is included in his 1899 book, Thoughts .

38. “The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace.”  — Kate Chopin

Katherine O’Flaherty Chopin (1850–1904) was an American short story writer and novelist. Chopin is one of the most frequently read and recognized writers of Louisiana Creole heritage. This ocean quote is from The Awakening , her second novel.

39. “The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths, it has its pearls too.”  — Vincent van Gogh

Vincent Willem van Gogh (1853–1890) was a Dutch post-impressionist painter who became one of the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. This inspirational ocean quote is from The Letters of Vincent van Gogh , a collection of over 900 of his personal letters and related manuscripts.

40. “The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul.”  — Robert Wyland

For more inspiring quotes and captions about the sea and sailing, be sure to check out:

• 80+ Perfect Ocean and Sea Captions for Instagram
• 22 Inspirational Cruise Travel Quotes (With Photos)
• 150+ Perfect Beach Captions for Instagram

Pin this for later!

What are your favorite ocean quotes? Is there one I listed that speaks to you, or do you have another quote about the sea that inspires you? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

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Michelle Latinovich

Thursday 14th of October 2021

What a lovely and very detailed list of ocean quotes for everyone to enjoy! Thank you for your hard work at compiling these!

Sunday 17th of October 2021

Hi Michelle, I'm so glad you enjoyed my favorite ocean quotes! Thanks for your kind comment :)

Monday 26th of July 2021

Fantastic quotes. These would be lovely done up in a poster for a boat or someone who loves cruises.

Tuesday 27th of July 2021

Hi Nyxie, that's a great idea! Glad you liked my list of ocean quotes :)

Grasyah [Of Coffee and Crackers]

Saturday 24th of July 2021

Saving up some for sharing! Lovely quotes!

Sunday 25th of July 2021

Hi Grasyah, thanks so much for stopping by and commenting! :)

Emman Damian

Friday 23rd of July 2021

Great list of quotes. I can resonate with all of it. I like “Dance with the waves, move with the sea. Let the rhythm of the water set your soul free.” So true!

Hi Emman, glad you liked the ocean quotes! That one is a perennial favorite :)

Thursday 22nd of July 2021

Love these quotes! I'd love to get back out on the sea soon.

Hi Alexis, I hope you're able to enjoy the ocean soon!

50 Inspirational Ocean Quotes for Those That Love the Sea

Sharing is caring!

There’s no denying it. Thinking about and dreaming of the ocean brings us both joy and calmness, and truly soothes the soul.

In times of stress, we turn to the ocean for it’s for words of wisdom, spoken through inspiring quotes and sayings.

These ocean and sea quotes remind us of our strength and resilience, and our love and vulnerabilities. They help us to weather tough times and challenges, knowing calmer seas will soon replace the storm.

If the sea has your heart, I hope these long and short ocean quotes bring you joy.

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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Encouraging Ocean Quotes for Sea and Beach Lovers

If you enjoy the images for these ocean quotes and sayings, you’re welcome to use the images, provided you link to this post directly and credit this website, lifewellcruised.com . These short sea quotes also make great instagram captions.

Here are the ocean quotes that inspire us, and I hope will inspire you too

1. “The sea does not like to be restrained”

Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief

2. “We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected on the deep.”

William James

3. “The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths it has its pearls too”

Vincent van Gogh, The Letters of Vincent van Gogh

4. “To reach a port we must set sail. Sail, not tie at anchor. Sail, not drift.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt

5. “Together we can face challenges as deep as the ocean and as high as the sky”

Sonia Gandhi

6. “We ourselves feel what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”

Mother Teresa

7. “Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”

Ryunosuke Satoro

8. “There’s nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it’s sent away.”

9. “Dance with the waves, move with the sea, let the rhythm of the water set your soul free.”

Christy Ann Martine

10. “Life is like the ocean, it goes up and down.”

Vanessa Paradis

11. “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”

Jacques Cousteau

12. “We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came.”

John F. Kennedy

13. “The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul.”

Robert Wylan

14. “If the ocean can calm itself, so can you. We are both salt water mixed with air”

Nayyirah Waheed

15. “ The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea .”

Isak Dinesen

16. “There must be something strangely sacred in salt. It is in our tears and in the sea.”

Khalil Gibran

17. “Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.”

Robert Henri

18. “If you want to hear the distant voice of the ocean put your ear to the distant lips of a seashell” 

Curtis Tyrone Jones

19. “You will love the ocean. It makes you feel small, but not in a bad way. Small because you realize you’re part of something bigger.”

Lauren Myracle

20. “Water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing, in the end, can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone.”

Margaret Atwood

21. “For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it’s always our self we find in the sea.”

E.E. Cummings

22. “Let the waves carry you where the light can not.”

Mohit Kaushik

23. “The sea has boundless patience.”

Craig Robertson

24. “With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you’re connected to the sea. No matter where on Earth you live.

Sylvie Earle

25. “The sea will grant each man new hope, and sleep will bring dreams of home…”

Christopher Columbus

26. “In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans.”

Kahlil Gibran

27. “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”

28. “The sea lives in every one of us.”

Robert Wyland

29. “I wanted freedom, open air and adventure. I found it on the sea.”

Alain Gerbeault

30. “The ocean makes me feel really small, and it puts my whole life in perspective.”

31. “At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much.”

Robin Lee Graham

32. “The sea, the great unifier, is man’s only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: we are all in the same boat.”

Jacques Yves Cousteau

32. “The ocean has always been a salve to my soul.”

Jimmy Buffett

33. “The ocean is a wilderness reaching round the globe, wilder than a Bengal tiger.”

Henry David Thoreau

34. “The ocean is a powerful force, but so is the human spirit.”

Richard Branson

35. “The ocean is an unfathomable mystery.”

Gérard Depardieu

36. “The sea is the same as it has been since before men ever went on it in boats.”

Ernest Hemingway

37. “The ocean is a mighty, vast, and dangerous place, but it always makes me feel small and humble.”

Alexandra Cousteau

38. “The ocean is the lifeblood of our world.”

Sylvia Earle

39. “The sea is everything. It covers seven-tenths of the terrestrial globe. Its breath is pure and healthy. It is an immense desert, where man is never lonely, for he feels life stirring on all sides.”

Jules Verne

40. “The ocean is a mighty, pulsing heart that surges with the rhythms of the earth.”

Philip Hoare

41. “The ocean has never been friendly to man. At most it has been the accomplice of human restlessness.”

Joseph Conrad

42. “The ocean is more ancient than the mountains, and freighted with the memories and the dreams of time.”

H.P. Lovecraft

43. “The ocean is a world of perpetual motion and sound, a world where nothing stands still.”

Rachel Carson

44. “The ocean is a central image. It is the symbolism of a great journey.”

45. “I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky; And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.”

John Masefield

46. “The sea is emotion incarnate. It loves, hates, and weeps. It defies all attempts to capture it with words and rejects all shackles.”

Christopher Paolini

47. “I have sea foam in my veins, for I understand the language of the waves.”

Le Testament d’Orphée

48. “Smell the sea and feel the sky, let your soul and spirit fly”

Van Morrison

49. “A rising tide lifts all boats”

Sean Lemass

50. “How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is clearly Ocean.”

Arthur C. Clarke

More inspiring quotes:

25 Inspirational Cruise Travel Quotes That Will Have You Dreaming

50 Inspirational Beach Quotes for Those that Love the Sea

25 Rick Steves Travel Quotes and Travel Books that Will Inspire You

Final thoughts: Inspirational Ocean Quotes for Those That Love the Sea

Whether we are anxious and need to feel calm, feeling blue and long to be happy, feeling vulnerable and need reminding of our strength, thoughts of the ocean brings this into our heart and soul.

If you love the beach and ocean, I hope that you’ve enjoyed these quotes and have found some inspiration.

Please leave any other favorite quotes about the ocean, sea and the beach in the comments below.

P.S. Thanks for reading – if you’ve enjoyed this post, please share on Facebook or Pinterest, so others can benefit as well.

Let’s connect:

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I like what Mark Twain said, “ Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that You didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor”. Cruising does that for me. They ask for volunteers, I raise my hand and wave it like crazy. Positive side I have won some nice prizes. Bottles wine, t-shirts, and other nice things. Negative I won’t see these people again ever. Thanks for raising my spirits and thinking about what I like to do. Keep up good work. I like your articles.

I love that one too Russell!! I know cruising is a big enjoyment and I’m so happy we have this in our lives. It will be back in a few months and I have no doubt it will be better than ever! Thanks for reading and commenting Russell!

16. “There must be something strangely scared in salt. It is in our tears and in the sea.”

the word should be SACRED not scared …autocorrect 🙂

Thanks Kamaroon. Good catch – corrected 🙂

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150 Amazing Quotes about the Sea: Best Sea Quotes EVER

By: Author Girl with the Passport

Posted on Last updated: September 14, 2021

Categories Travel Tips

Are you OBSESSED with ocean quotes, quotes about the sea, beach quotes, and just basically all of the best sea quotes ever? 

Hi, yeah, me too. After all, I could always use a little extra vitamin sea in my life – especially when it’s the dead of winter and all I really want to do is hop in the ocean and frolic through the waves like the beach bunny that I am.

Or like a half-dead cow since that description is infinitely more accurate. 

Anyway, regardless of whether you dream about the sea. what to snazz up your latest Instagram post with some supremely awesome sea captions and sea quotes for Instagram, or just want to use these sea beach quotes to low-key pretend you’re at the ocean when there are 10,000 feet of snow outside, this list of ocean quotes is totally for you!

Because I hardcore love the sea (aka ocean in the US) and want to share all of my very best sea quotes with you. This way, you can quickly and easily make all your sea/beach-related dreams come true. 

So, if you’re ready, let’s swan dive into this glorious expert’s guide to 150 of the best quotes about the sea!

Dear wonderful, beautiful, and oh-so-amazing reader (Yup, I lay it on thick for my dozens of fans). Since I am incapable of making it rain money, there’s a high probability (like 99.999%) that this post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more information. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

Short Sea Quotes and Quotes about the Sea

Honestly, sometimes you just can’t handle a super long-sea quote that most of your Instagram followers (or you) won’t read. And that’s why I love these short sea quotes.

Because at around twenty-two words MAX, these short quotes about the sea are easy to read but still pack a whole lot of punch with their insightful meaning. 

So, if you want something that is short and sweet and yet still powerfully inspiring, then these short quotes about the sea are for you!

1. “A rising tide lifts all boats.” – Sean Lemass

2. “How foolish to believe we are more powerful than the sea or the sky.” – Ruta Sepetys

3. “Even the upper end of the river believes in the ocean. ” – William Stafford

4. “Rough seas make stronger sailors. Tough times build greater people.” – Robin Sharma

5. “The waves of the sea help me get back to me.” – Jill Davis

6. “Life is as inexorable as the sea.” – Thomas Wentworth Higginson

7. “I must be a mermaid, Rango. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.” – Anais Nin

8. “The sea is as near as we come to another world.” – Anne Stevenson

9. “The sea lives in every one of us.” – Robert Wyland

10. “Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.” – Robert Henri

11. “Let the waves carry you where the light cannot” – Mohit Kaushik

 12. “For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it’s always our self we find in the sea.” – E. E. Cummings

13. “The cure for anything is saltwater: sweat, tears or the sea.” – Isak Dinesen (aka Karen Blixen)

14. “That the sea is one of the most beautiful and magnificent sights in Nature, all admit.” – John Joly

15. “At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much.” – Robin Lee Graham

16. “And the sea will grant each man new hope, as sleep brings dreams of home.” – Larry Ferguson

17. “The sea does not link to be restrained.”- Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief

18. “The sea appears all golden. Beneath the sun-lit sky.” – Heinrich Heine

19. “But where, after all, would be the poetry of the sea were there no wild waves?” – Joshua Slocum

20. “The sea pronounces something, over and over, in a hoarse whisper; I cannot quite make it out.” – Annie Dillard

21. “The sea always filled her with longing, though for what she was never sure.” – Cornelia Funke

22. “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

23. “The sea is an underwater museum still awaiting its visitors.” – Phillip Diole

24. “Follow the river and you will find the sea.” – French Proverb

 25. “I feel we are all islands – in a common sea.” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh

26. “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” – Jacques Yves Cousteau

27. “I wanted freedom, open-air, and adventure. I found it on the sea.” – Alain Gerbeault

28. “The sea! the sea! the open sea! The blue, the fresh, the ever free!” – Bryan W. Procter

29. “The sea is a desert of waves, a wilderness of water.” – Langston Hughes

30. “Dance with the waves, move with the sea. Let the rhythm of the water set your soul free.” – Christy Ann Martine

31. “We dream in colors borrowed from the sea.” – Unknown

32. “You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” – Rabindranath Tagore

33. “Friends, sun, sand, and sea. That sounds like a summer to me.” – Unknown

34. “In still moments by the sea life seems large-drawn and simple. It is there we can see into ourselves.” –Rolf Edberg

35. “The sound and smell of the sea cleanses my soul.” – Unknown

36. “The breaking of a wave cannot explain the whole sea.” – Vladimir Nabokov

37. “Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.” – Van Morrison

38. “You can never cross the ocean until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Christopher Columbus

39. “I’m pretty sure my birthstone is a seashell.” – Unknown

40. “We got no troubles, Life is the Bubbles, Under the Sea”– The Little Mermaid, “Under the Sea”

41. “Life is like the ocean, it goes up and down.” – Vanessa Paradis

42. “The ocean is a mighty harmonist.” – William Wordsworth

43. “He always thought of the sea as ‘la mar’ which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her.” – Ernest Hemmingway, The   Old Man and the Sea

Best Sea Quotes and Long Quotes about the Sea

Sometimes what you really need are some long quotes about the sea. You know, slightly more substantial sea quotes that give your reader something juicy to ponder.

So, if you or 10,000 of your closest friends need some long sea quotes in your life then this is the spot you want to be as you uncover all the best quotes about the sea. 

44. “Take me to the ocean. Let me sail the open sea. To breathe the warm and salty air and dream of things to be.” – Erica Billups

45. “I believe in the ocean curing all bad moods. I believe in the waves wiping away worries. I believe in seashells bringing good luck. I believe in toes in the sand grounding my soul.” – Unknown

46. “A beach is not only a sweep of sand, but shells of sea creatures, the sea glass, the seaweed, the incongruous objects washed up by the ocean.” – Henry Grunwald

47. “Advice from the Ocean: Be shore of yourself. Come out of your shell. Take time to coast. Avoid pier pressure. Sea life’s beauty. Don’t get so tide down on work that you miss out on life’s beautiful waves.” – Unknown

48. “At night, when the sky is full of stars and the sea is still you get the wonderful sensation that you are floating in space.” – Natalie Wood

49. “To me, the sea is a continual miracle; The fishes that swim–the rocks–the motion of the waves–the ships, with men in them, What stranger miracles are there?” – Walt Whitman

50. “My soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

51. “Is this chicken what I have, or is this fish? I know it’s tuna, but it says ‘Chicken of the Sea’.” – Jessica Simpson (OMG Dead. One of my fave quotes about the sea EVER.)

52. “At the beach, life is different. Time doesn’t move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides and follow the sun.” – Sandy Gingras

53. “Would you learn the secret of the sea? Only those who brave its dangers, comprehend its mystery!” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

54. “When anxious, uneasy and bad thoughts come, I go to the sea, and the sea drowns them out with its great wide sounds, cleanses me with its noise, and imposes a rhythm upon everything in me that is bewildered and confused.” – Rainer Maria Rilke

55. “To me, the sea is like a person like a child that I’ve known a long time. It sounds crazy, I know, but when I swim in the sea I talk to it. I never feel alone when I’m out there.” – Gertrude Ederle

56. “With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you’re connected to the sea. No matter where on Earth you live.” – Sylvia Earle

57. “She loves the serene brutality of the ocean, loves the electric power she felt with each breath of wet, briny air.” – Holly Black

58. “The sea possesses a power over one’s moods that has the effect of a will. The sea can hypnotize. Nature, in general, can do so.” – Henrik Ibsen

59. “There’s nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater, you realize that you’ve been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent.” – Dave Barry

60 “The calming movement of the sea along with the restless ocean breeze gently caresses me creating a soothing trance which lulls me to a place of peace.” – M. L. Borges, By The Sea

61. “The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths, it has its pearls too.” – Vincent van Gogh

62. “See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me. And no one knows, how far it goes.” – Moana, “How Far I’ll Go”

63. “Because there’s nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it’s sent away.” – Sarah Kay 

64.“It is good that we do not have to try to kill the sun or the moon or the stars. It is enough to live on the sea and kill our true brothers.”  – Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea

Best Sea Quotes for Instagram and Sea Captions for Instagram

If you want the best sea quotes for Instagram and some amazing sea captions for Instagram then this is the section for you!

After all, I’ve successfully been using Instagram for YEARS and want to share all of the best quotes about the sea that I use to help increase engagement and make my Instagram account stand out from the crowd. 

65. “You are the only fish in the sea for me.” 

66. “Eternity begins and ends with the ocean’s tides.”

67. “The ocean is calling and I must go.”

68. “Meet me where the sky touches the sea.” – Jennifer Donnelly

69. “Sometimes in the waves of change we find our true direction.”

70. “Let the sea set you free.”

71. “A lot of people attack the sea, I make love to it.” – Jacques Cousteau

72. “High tides. Good vibes.”

73. “Individually, we are a drop. Together we are an ocean.” – Ryunosuke Akutagawa 

74. “Darling, it’s better down where it’s wetter. Take it from me. ” – Sebastian the Crab, Little Mermaid

75. “Retirement Plan: Sell seashells by the seashore.”

76. “A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

77. “You, me and the sea.”

78. “Wild and free just like the sea.”

79. “The sea calls me.” 

80. “I was a mermaid for this sea-sun.”

81. “Life is simple: just add water.”

82. “Me and the ocean: Love at first sight.”

83. “Thalassophile (n) A lover of the sea, someone who loves the sea/ocean.” – dictionary

Best Sea Puns and Funny Sea Quotes

What can I say? The seaweed is always greener in somebody else’s lake. That’s why you may need some of my best sea puns to help cheer you up!

Trust me, these funny sea quotes are sure to put a smile on your face as you continue enjoying this list of the best quotes about the sea. 

 84. “Happier than a sea -gull with a French fry.”

85. “Sea la vie!”

86. “The sea-weed is always greener in somebody else’s lake.”– The Little Mermaid, “Under the Sea”

87. “Shell -abrate good times.”

88. “Long time no sea.”

89. “ Sea you soon!”

90. “You look fin -tastic!”

91. “I need to be sea -habilitated.”

92.  “ Seas the day!”

93. “If there’s a will there’s a wave .”

94. “I’m not shore .”

95. “I’m too so- fish -ticated for that.”

96. “ Sea -sons greetings!”

97. “He fainted because he had a vitamin sea deficiency.”

98. “No buoys are allowed on this girls trip!”

99. “ Pier -pressure should be avoided at all costs.”

100. “This view is absolutely cray- sea .”

101. “A fanta- sea world.”

102. “I’d rudder be here than there.”

103. “I like to stay current on the news.”

104. “I never get tide of reading.”

105. “ Seas the moment!”

106. “We don’t sea eye to eye.”

107. “I don’t know my life’s porpoise .”

108.”It surfs him right.”

109. “You have the final sea in the matter.”

110. “Keep your sea-tbelt on at all times.”

111. “My sea-sickness comes in waves .”

112. “Can I get your sea-l of approval?”

113. “We might have to declare bank-rup- sea !”

114. “We need a consultan- sea .”

115. “This is really sea -rious.”

116. “Hand me some of that sea-rum.”

Funny Ocean Puns and Funny Ocean Quotes

Need a good laugh? Yup, you and me both since the current state of the world feels more than a little icky. That’s why I compiled this list of slightly cheesy but totally satisfying funny ocean quotes, funny sea puns, and funny oceans puns. 

This way, you can yuck it up and have a good laugh even while the world around you might seem like it’s falling apart. Who knows, these excellent sea puns and ocean puns might even make your Instagram fandom swoon. 

117. “When the pirate saw some construction happening on the shore, he looked towards his henchman and said, ‘something a-piers to be going on there.”

118. “How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is clearly Ocean.” – Arthur C. Clarke

119. “The ocean didn’t say anything to his wife before leaving for his work trip. He just waved to her.”

120. “A fish was really upset because his favorite restaurant delivered his order cold. When he complained to his wife, she just told him to heat it up in the micro- wave .”

121. “An ocean was really upset because he didn’t receive his dream car on his birthday. “Stop being so salty “, chastised his mother.”

122. “We should write sea -sons and greetings on every Christmas card”, the ocean suggested to his wife.

123. “I missed you so much gull-friend.”

124. “ Wat-er you doing?”

125. “He didn’t want to get tide down.”

126. “First come, first surf .”

127. “What’s all the comm- ocean ?”

128. “Snape made sure he had the right p- oceans .”

129. “Looks like you’re about to get a prom- ocean .”

130. Sal -mon Cowell

131. “Find him gill-ty ladies and gentlemen.”

132. “Can you be more Pacific ?”

133. “A little bit of sand-to-sand combat.”

134. “He wanted to sand out from the crowd.”

135. “I was just sand-ing there quietly.”

136. “I don’t know water problem is.”

137. “What are the sea-ting arrangements?”

138. “I think we need a sea -peration.”

139. “You’re being very sea -crative.”

Best Vitamin Sea Quotes

I think we could all use a little extra vitamin sea in our lives. Don’t you? That’s why I’ve compiled this list of the best vitamin sea quotes around. This way, you can add a little vitamin sea to your life even when you’re not at the sea. 

And, added bonus? They make great short and sweet sea quotes for Instagram too!

140. “All I need is a good dose of vitamin sea.”

141. “I need a little vitamin sea in my life.”

142. “Sometimes when life gets hard, try adding a little vitamin sea.”

143. “Life is better with vitamin sea.”

144. “Everyone needs a daily dose of vitamin sea.”

145. “Travel anywhere that will give you a daily dose of vitamin sea.”

146. “Vitamin Sea = happiness.”

147. “When life gives you happiness deficiency try adding Vitamin sea to your travels, believe me it always works!” — Aakash Nand

148. “Taking an extra dose of Vitamin Sea.”

149. “Vitamin Sea, please.”

150. “Life is better with Vitamin Sea.”

Other Amazing Quotes You’ll Love!

• Best Quotes about Alaska
• Best Quotes about Amsterdam
• Best Quotes about Rome
• Best Quotes about London
• Best Paris Captions for Instagram
• Best Instagram captions about New York City
• 190 Inspiring Mountain Quotes
• 200 Best Rainbow Quotes
• 140 Best Sunrise Quotes
• 120 Best Lake Quotes Ever
• Best Quotes about Waterfalls

There you have it! That just about concludes this awesome guide to 150 of the best quotes about the sea and the best sea quotes around. 

Tell me, did all your favorite ocean quotes and beach quotes make the list if not then let me know in the comments below so that i can add your favorite quotes about the ocean to this list, and if you found this post useful, be sure to join our email list and pin this post now that you can read it again later.

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111 Inspirational Ocean Quotes That Transport You to the Sea

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive compensation when you purchase via my links at no cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

The ocean: a vast, mysterious expanse that has captivated the hearts and minds of poets, explorers, and dreamers throughout the ages. Its boundless horizons and unfathomable depths are a source of endless inspiration and introspection. In its waves, we find the echoes of our own souls and in its ceaseless rhythms, the earth’s heartbeat.

This collection of inspirational ocean quotes seeks to capture the essence of the sea’s enigmatic beauty and its profound influence on our lives. From the tide’s serene whispers to the storm’s roaring majesty, the ocean speaks a language that resonates deep within us all. Each quote is a drop in the vast ocean of wisdom, offering insights into life, love, and the indomitable spirit of the human heart.

So, let us set sail on this journey of reflection, allowing the words of poets, philosophers, and seafarers to guide us through the uncharted waters of our thoughts and emotions. May these quotes stir your soul as the ocean stirs the sands, and may you find a tidal wave of inspiration within them.

111 Inspirational Ocean Quotes

1. “The sea does not like to be restrained” Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief

2. “We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came.” John F. Kennedy

3. “We ourselves feel what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” Mother Teresa

4. “Your thoughts, feelings and sensations are the waves of the ocean – coming and going. There are big strong waves and there are soft gentle waves; they are all water and all part of the ocean” Rose-Marie Sorokin, The Miracle of Yes

5. “The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul.” Robert Wylan

6. “You will love the ocean. It makes you feel small, but not in a bad way. Small because you realize you’re part of something bigger.” Lauren Myracle

7. “Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” Ryunosuke Satoro

8. “The Earth is a complex, fascinating place. From its vast oceans to its towering mountains, arid deserts, and lush forests, the beauty and wonder of our planet is truly staggering.” Michael Bright, 1001 Natural Wonders You Must See Before You Die

9. “You can either see yourself as a wave in the ocean or you can see yourself as the ocean.” Oprah Winfrey, Words of Encouragement

10. “If the ocean can calm itself, so can you. We are both salt water mixed with air” Nayyirah Waheed

11. “Let the waves carry you where the light can not.” Mohit Kaushik

12. “Water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing, in the end, can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone.” Margaret Atwood

13. “No one would have crossed the ocean if he could have gotten off the ship in the storm.” Charles Kettering

14. “For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it’s always our self we find in the sea.” E.E. Cummings

15. “Eternity begins and ends with the ocean’s tides.” Author Unknown

16. “The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.” Isak Dinesen

17. “The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths it has its pearls too” Vincent van Gogh, The Letters of Vincent van Gogh

18. “We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected on the deep.” William James

19. “You have to think of your career the way you look at the ocean, deciding which wave you’re gonna take and which waves you’re not gonna take. Some of the waves are going to be big, some are gonna be small, sometimes the sea is going to be calm. Your career is not going to be one steady march upward to glory.” Alan Arkin

20. “There’s nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it’s sent away.” Sarah Kay

21. “Dance with the waves, move with the sea, let the rhythm of the water set your soul free.” Christy Ann Martine

22. “Looking out over the ocean you can see reflections of God.” Catherine Pulsifer

23. “There must be something strangely sacred in salt. It is in our tears and in the sea.” Khalil Gibran

24. “Asking is the beginning of receiving. Make sure you don’t go to the ocean with a teaspoon. At least take a bucket so the kids won’t laugh at you.” Jim Rohn

25. “The sea has boundless patience.” Craig Robertson

26. “To reach a port we must set sail. Sail, not tie at anchor. Sail, not drift.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

27. “Even when the sea is stirred up by the winds of self-doubt, we can find our way home. We can discover, in the midst of the waves, our spacious and wakeful awareness.” Tara Brach, Radical Acceptance

28. “Life is like the ocean, it goes up and down.” Vanessa Paradis

29. “Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.” Robert Henri

30. “Together we can face challenges as deep as the ocean and as high as the sky.” Sonia Gandhi

31. “If you want to hear the distant voice of the ocean put your ear to the lips of a seashell.” Curtis Tyrone Jones

32. “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” Jacques Cousteau

33. “With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you’re connected to the sea. No matter where on Earth you live.” Sylvie Earle

34. “The beauty and mystery of the ocean, fills our lives with wonders, vast beyond our imagination.” M. L. Borges, By The Sea

35. “Life is an ocean, fathom it.” M. K. Soni

36. “I wanted freedom, open air and adventure. I found it on the sea.” Alain Gerbeault

37. “If you want to find a fish, look in the ocean. If you want to find yourself, look in your mind.” Richard Gere

38. “Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty” Gandhi

39. “The potential of the average person is like a huge ocean unsailed, a new continent unexplored, a world of possibilities waiting to be released and channeled toward some great good.” Brian Tracy

40. “Every drop in the ocean counts.” Yoko Ono

41. “Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone.” Author Unknown

42. “While inner beauty stays permanent like an ocean. By all means, hold strong to your inner beauty.” Edmond Mbiaka

43. “The sea will grant each man new hope, and sleep will bring dreams of home…” Christopher Columbus

44. Advice from the Ocean: Be shore of yourself. Come out of your shell. Take time to relax and coast. Avoid pier pressure. Sea life’s beauty. Don’t get tide down. Make waves! Author Unknown, Poems about Life

45. “To find the pearls in life’s ocean, you have to venture out far past the shore.” Author Unknown

46. “Being out there in the ocean, God’s creation, it’s like a gift He has given us to enjoy.” Bethany Hamilton

47. “In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans.” Kahlil Gibran

48. “The ocean holds secrets, Baby. It sees a lot and tells nothing.” Lois Ruth Scott, The House of Blue Lights

49. “As the ocean is never full of water, so is the heart never full of love.” Author Unknown

50. “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

51. “I need vitamin sea.” Unknown Author

52. “How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is clearly Ocean.” Arthur C. Clarke

53. “The sea lives in every one of us.” Robert Wyland

54. “Life’s roughest storms prove the strength of our anchors.” Unknown Author

55. “Storms draw something out of us that calm seas don’t.” Bill Hybels

56. “In a calm sea, every man is a pilot.” John Ray

57. “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

58. “At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much.” Robin Lee Graham

59. “You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” Rabindranath Tagore

60. “Let the sea set you free” Unknown Author

61. “How foolish to believe we are more powerful than the sea or the sky.” Ruta Sepetys

62. “We dream in colors borrowed from the sea.” Unknown Author

63. “A sailor is an artist whose medium is the wind.” Webb Chiles

64. “Sometimes in the waves of change, we find our true direction” Unknown Author

65. “The ocean makes me feel really small and it makes me put my whole life into perspective.” Beyonce Knowles

67. “A rising tide lifts all boats” Sean Lemass

68. “A lot of people attack the sea, I make love to it.” Jacques Cousteau

69. “She loves the serene brutality of the ocean, loves the electric power she felt with each breath of wet, briny air.” Holly Black

70. “Those who live by the sea can hardly form a single thought of which the sea would not be part.” Hermann Broch

71. “There’s nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater, you realize that you’ve been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent.” Dave Barry

72. “Well, the Ocean hides many secrets, and all of them are precious and beautiful” SA Krishnan, Samudra Manthan

73. “It’s the sound of the sea that makes you believe in mermaids.” Anthony T.Hincks

74. “There was a magic about the sea. People were drawn to it. People wanted to love by it, swim in it, play in it, look at it. It was a living thing that was as unpredictable as a great stage actor: it could be calm and welcoming, opening its arms to embrace it’s audience one moment, but then could explode with its stormy tempers.” Cecelia Ahern

75. “I was happy anywhere I could see the ocean.” Ai Yazawa

76. “By protecting our oceans, we are preserving them for the next generation to enjoy.” The Grumpy Guru, Beach Quotes

77. “A pool just isn’t the same as the ocean. It has no energy. No life.” Linda Gerber

78. “I couldn’t imagine living in a state that didn’t reach the ocean. It was a giant reset button. You could go to the edge of the land and see infinity and feel renewed.” Avery Sawyer

79. “The ocean has a life of its own. Its tides, whirlpools, currents and eddies are a testament to its conflicting emotions.” Anthony T. Hincks

80. “The sound and smell of the sea cleanses my soul.” Unknown Author

81. “Where chefs once ruled the waves, local small farmers are the new rock stars.” Mario Batali, America Farm To Table

82. “For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it’s always our self we find in the sea.” E.E. Cummings

83. “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” Jacques Cousteau

84. “Smell the sea and feel the sky, let your soul and spirit fly” Van Morrison

85.”No matter how rough the sea, I refuse to sink.” Unknown Author

86. “In every outthrust headland, in every curving beach, in every grain of sand there is the story of the earth.” Rachel Carson

87. “The waves broke and spread their waters swiftly over the shore. One after another they massed themselves and fell; the spray tossed itself back with the energy of their fall.” Virginia Woolf

88. “Family is a life jacket in the stormy sea of life.” J.K. Rowling

89.”Vicinity to the sea is desirable, because it is easier to do nothing by the sea than anywhere else, and because bathing and basking on the shore cannot be considered an employment but only an apotheosis of loafing.” E.F. Benson

90. “A rough day at sea is better than any day in the office.” Unknown Author

91. “You never really know what’s coming. A small wave, or maybe a big one. All you can really do is hope that when it comes, you can surf over it, instead of drowning in its monstrosity.” Alysha Speer

92. “What an incomparable creature is the sea!” Julian Hawthorne

93. “When the seas are rough and disturbing, and the rowing seems always upstream, With a world of indifference to curb you, there’s always a hope and a dream.” Greta Zwaan, Be Patient

94. “A full moon sprinkled the black ocean with diamonds, and she could imagine fairies dancing in the silver foam that laced the huge, dark waves.” Patricia Hagan

95. “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” Andre Gide

96. “Great sea captains are made in rough waters and deep seas.” Kathryn Kuhlman

97. “That the sea is one of the most beautiful and magnificent sights in Nature, all admit.” John Joly

98. “Even the upper end of the river believes in the ocean.” William Stafford

99. “The sea is as near as we come to another world.” Anne Stevenson

100. “How I long to be the shore and feel your waves crash upon me over and over again.” Timothy Joshua Chia

101. “Dear ocean, thank you for making us feel tiny, humble, inspired, and salty…all at once.” Unknown Ocean

102. “Waves tossed themselves against the shore, dragging grit and sand between their nails as they were slowly pulled back out to sea.” Holly Black

103. “Either you decide to stay in the shallow end of the pool or you go out in the ocean.” Christopher Reeve

104. “The sea is a desert of waves, A wilderness of water.” Langston Hughes

105. “The ocean is a mighty harmonist” William Wordsworth

106. “It’s when I go down to the beach that the waves come up to greet me.” Anthony T. Hincks

107. “There are finer fish in the sea than have ever been caught.”

108. “The universe is an ocean upon which we are the waves. While some decide to surf, others venture to dive.” Charbel Tadros

109. “The ocean is calling and I must go” Unknown Author

110. “What would an ocean be without a monster lurking in the dark? It would be like sleep without dreams.” Werner Herzog

111. “The oceans roar is music to the soul.” Unknown Author

Marcello De Lio

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68 Memorable Sea Quotes For Ocean Lovers (2022)

Are you looking for that perfect quote to compliment the feelings the ocean stirs up? These quotes about the sea turn a memorable snapshot of warm and salty air, saltwater, and a restless ocean breeze into a deep dive through the scene’s emotions. 

The sea life speaks through authors who were profoundly moved by all the oceans and captured the wonder forever in words.

Falling in love with the ocean is simply human nature, from the sounds of crashing waves to the unadorned beauty of its untamed depths and all the secrets living there. Adding any of these quotes about the sea to your daily life shows your love for literature and all the oceans. 

There are countless more words about the sea that are far less memorable, and some don’t even make waves. Only the best quotes about the sea made it on the list. Through works of art , poetry, and film, memorable quotes come from every medium. 

We found some quotes about the sea that were just plain cheesy, like “I need vitamin sea.” While the fake depth of these words is great for selling bland knick-knacks, they don’t capture the depth of a special moment. Other quotes can make excellent captions for Instagram posts. 

We love the sea –the salt water, the sandy beach, the waves, the ocean views, and everything that comes with it. That’s how we compiled our favorite quotes about the sea for every occasion, from romantic moments to navigating the not-so-smooth seas of life. If sea quotes didn’t move us the same way the ocean stirs the soul, they didn’t make the cut. 

Memorable Sea Quotes for Every Occasion

Finding the right quote for the occasion can be challenging. The words need to reflect the moment, and the moment needs to compliment the wonder forever. 

Though just a drop in the bucket, here are 68 memorable sea quotes for every ocean fan that you can use in letters, in photo frames, and even in captions for Instagram. 

Short Sea Quotes

Not every moment needs a speech, so finding short quotes about the sea can be tasteful and blissful. These are the perfect short quotes about the ocean!

“Let the waves carry you where the light cannot” – Mohit Kaushik

This quote is excellent for finding motivation. When things aren’t as clear, let life’s waves carry and guide you in the right direction. 

“Smell the sea and feel the sky, let your soul and spirit fly” – Van Morrison

Van Morrison makes some pretty great music. These lyrics speak to the ocean lover in all of us!

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s view of nature helped shape an entire literary movement. Likewise, his words on the sea strike a deep chord.

“The cure for anything is saltwater: sweat, tears or the sea.” – Isak Dinesen

Hard work, a good cry, or a day at the beach is all anyone really needs. This quote perfectly sums up life’s essentials. 

“Sometimes in the waves of change, we find our true direction” – Unknown

Often we are so sure of where we want to be. However, life has other plans, and many times it’s for the best! 

“The sea has neither meaning nor pity.” – Anton Chekhov

Chekhov wanted to highlight the simple nature of the sea. It doesn’t feel. It just is. 

“It is pleasant to watch the wild sea.” – Lucretius

This quote is so simple yet speaks volumes. It’s very peaceful to watch the breaking of the waves, each one as unpredictable as the last. 

“I love the beach. I love the sea.” – Rafael Nadal

Nadal is a world-class tennis player. But as someone who has been everywhere, it’s the sea that inspires love.

“The sea lives in every one of us.” – Robert Wyland

Robert Wyland is an artist obsessed with the sea. So it makes sense that he’s got a few things to say about it!

“At sea, I feel comfortable, and I come to rest.” – Laura Dekker

Like the rest of us, Dekker finds the sea the most relaxing place. 

“There’s never an end for the sea.” – Samuel Beckett

Samuel Beckett is a famous novelist and playwright. His words about the sea are worth remembering because he’s right. There’s never an end to the sea. 

“The sea complains upon a thousand shores.” – Alexander Smith

The sea does complain upon a thousand shores, but it also departs deep wisdom when the waves finally break.

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Romantic Sea Quotes

Falling in love can feel like drowning. Like the ocean’s tides, pure emotions overwhelm you, and waves of excitement crash over everything you do. So when love is all you can think about, these quotes about the sea are the perfect way to let the world know!

“It was as if when I looked into his eyes, I was standing alone on the edge of the world… on a windswept ocean beach. There was nothing but the soft roar of the waves.” – Anne Rice

Anne Rice’s vampires were passionate. However, her love for the sea was just as intense, and we all can feel that!  

“Come walk with me, take off your shoes, let’s walk the beach with only the moon to light the path and waves to hear you tell me you love me.” – J. Henson

This quote is somewhere between I like long walks on the beach and taking a midnight stroll. The only thing that matters is I love you! 

“Because there’s nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it’s sent away.” – Sarah Kay

One of the most famous love quotes comes from poet Sarah Kay. Her words on the persistence of the ocean give lovers hope worldwide!

“She would be half a planet away, floating in a turquoise sea, dancing by moonlight to flamenco guitar.” – Janet Fitch

As an excellent writer, Janet Fitch has the pleasure of being an Oprah Bookclub #1 author. Her words about a lover being miles away pull at the heartstrings. If we could only find that girl floating in the turquoise sea.

“Don’t grow up too quickly, lest you forget how much you love the beach.”— Michelle Held

As kids, the only thing we wanted was beach day. Funny how time flies, and at heart, we still just want that day by the sea. 

“I could be blindfolded and dropped into the deepest ocean, and I would know where to find you. I could be buried a hundred miles underground, and I would know where you are.”-Neil Gaiman

Celebrated author Neil Gaiman wrote these words in the novel American Gods. It shows how deep love for someone can get. At times it’s the only thing keeping us going. 

“Walking beside the beach, hands held tight, love had a million lessons to teach, in that serene moonlit night.” –Hart

This memorable beach quote reminds us of the beauty in each moment with our lovers. In the moonlight, that’s the only love we need.

“To me, the sea is like a person — like a child that I’ve known a long time. It sounds crazy, I know, but when I swim in the sea, I talk to it. I never feel alone when I’m out there.” – Gertrude Ederle

Gertrude Ederle was an Olympic swimmer, and her achievements include being the first woman to swim the English Channel. Her love for the sea knows no bounds.

“You all want to know what my dream is? Very simple. To walk along the beach, holding the hand of my lover.” – Michelle Bachelet

These words by Michelle Bachelet are simple yet profound. Walking along the beach with our lover is all we could ask for. 

“I love you more than there are grains of sand on the beach, fish in the sea, and waves in the ocean.” – Unknown

As the waves will continue for as long as there’s water on Earth, they cannot match this level of love! 

“I like long walks along the beach, but when it’s with you, it’s the only place I want to be.” – Unknown

Long walks on the beach with a lover are what life’s all about. However, when with your true love, long walks anywhere mean the world.

“Come walk with me along the beach, where sunsets seem within reach. We’ll search for treasures in the sand as we walk hand in hand.” – Unknown

There are few sights more beautiful than a sunset over the waves. Spending that time with the love of your life is a treasure all its own. 

Rough Sea Quotes

Not every moment on the ocean is calm. Sometimes, rough seas toss the boat around, and weathering the storm is the only option. These quotes show strength and determination for the most harrowing moments in life. 

“We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds.” – Aristotle Onassis

Aristotle knew that, much like the sea, the struggles of life would never stop. So instead of waiting for it to get easier, you have to learn to thrive when it’s tough. 

“I am a shipwrecked man who fears every sea.” – Ovid

Ovid uses a shipwreck as a metaphor for depression. When in that dark state, every moment seems complicated, but everyone struggles from time to time. 

“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

Roosevelt was no stranger to adversity. Yet, despite the difficulties he faced, he became one of the most influential presidents. His quote on skilled sailors is no doubt influenced by life events. 

“Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.” – Publilius Syrus

Publilius knew that it takes a challenge to mold great leaders. When there is a calm, smooth sea, everyone can claim to be great. 

“The man who has experienced shipwreck shudders even at a calm sea.” – Ovid

Ovid must have experienced a shipwreck in his lifetime, and it stuck with him. Rough seas have a way of changing people. 

​​“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”– Mahatma Gandhi

It’s easy to get lost in the inhumanity of some people. But, though those people are out there, many more people are good at heart, and we can’t forget that. 

“Life is like the ocean. It can be calm or still and rough or rigid. But in the end, it is always beautiful.” – Unknown

Much like Chekov’s words about the sea simply existing, this unknown author felt the ocean was beautiful in any scenario. We’re inclined to agree!

“The human heart is like a ship on a stormy sea driven about by winds blowing from all four corners of heaven.” – Martin Luther

Martin Luther continues to influence people today. Though we like to think we have it all together, Martin Luther knew human nature is far more complex. 

“I keep sailing on in this middle passage. I am sailing into the wind and the dark. But I am doing my best to keep my boat steady and my sails full.” – Arthur Ashe

Arthur Ashe played tennis when black Americans struggled to break into many sports. Regardless, he kept his passion steady and continued to work hard. His sails remained full until he died in 1993! 

“If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.” – Seneca the Younger

Going with the flow is a carefree way of living. However, even living with the waves can lead to hardship if there’s not at least some direction. 

“The sea, the great unifier, is man’s only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: we are all in the same boat. “–Jacques Cousteau

Jacques Cousteau was quite literally a man of the sea. His work revolutionized ocean exploration, and his words refer to understanding how our planet relies on the sea. We’re all in the same boat shows how we need to care for the ocean, or it will not care for us. 

“In high seas or in low seas, I’m gonna be your friend… I’m gonna be your friend. In high tide or in low tide, I’ll be by your side… I’ll be by your side.”– Bob Marley

Bob Marley’s lyrics show how important it is to have that friend who stands beside us through thick and thin. 

​​What world lies beyond that stormy sea, I do not know, but every ocean has a distant shore, and I shall reach it. – Cesare Pavese

Poet and novelist Cesare Pavese wrote these words about perseverance. It’s the beach lover’s equivalent of finding the silver lining. 

Captions for Instagram

You’ve snapped the perfect selfie. You’ve edited, added filters, and cropped it just right, but what do you say to show the world you’re influential? We’ve got you covered with these perfect ocean captions for Instagram.

The voice of the sea speaks to the soul.

This caption says what we all think. The waves speak a language that only the heart understands!

I can leave the sea, but the sea never leaves me.

Unless we’re total beach bums, we all have to leave the sea at some point. The great thing is that the memories will never leave us. 

Just like the sea, I can be a little salty.

While the sea is beautiful, it’s also a cruel mistress. This caption shows followers that while there’s a serene side, there’s also a dark side. 

Smell the sea, Feel the breeze, Hear the ocean, Be at ease

Nature has a way of relaxing us. The sea has the right combination of elements to put us in a state of complete relaxation. 

Be shore of yourself. Don’t be crabby. Let your worries drift away. Drown out pier pressure. Soak up positive energy. Seas life’s moments.

Puns, humor, and positive sea vibes fill this caption like a sand bucket. It’s the perfect caption to remind us not to take life too seriously!

I want to be wild, beautiful, and free. Just like the sea.

Few things in the world are genuinely unshackled like the sea. It lives by its own rules, and we aspire to be just like it! 

I’m happiest lying on the sand looking at the sea.

The perfect beach shot just got the perfect caption. Who isn’t happiest laying on the sand and soaking in the sea?

My dreams are made of sand and sea.

They say that dreams are a reflection of our innermost desires. Whoever said that must have been dreaming about the beach. 

The memories will last forever… just like the sand at the bottom of my bag.

Coming home from the beach means sand everywhere. No matter how hard you try, there will always be a souvenir in your luggage! 

I like to let the sea waves take me where they want me to go.

Life is much like the sea. This caption is an excellent way to let the waves take you! Wherever it’s meant to take you, you’ll end up. 

The sea was waving, so I waved back.

This cute caption is on the lighter side of Instagram. Why be so serious? The ocean was just saying ‘hi!’

Sleep. Ocean. Repeat

There’s not much to worry about when hanging out by the ocean. This caption is a perfect compliment for Insta pics that show off resorts. 

Happiness is the sand between the toes and the sea around your ankles.

This caption is perfect for looking into the distance shots. Have the sand between your toes and the sea around your ankles for best results. Anything less won’t have the same impact! 

Reflections of the Sea on the Self

These quotes are perfect for finding out the meaning of life. While they may not find that meaning for you, they’re sure to make you feel closer to the journey! There’s something about being near the sea that inspires reflection on self. 

“The waves of the sea help me get back to me.” – Jill Davis

This quote is great for remembering what’s important in life. We all lose our way from time to time. A great return to the sea helps many of us get back to who we really are. 

“To escape and sit quietly on the beach – that’s my idea of paradise.” – Emilia Wickstead

We all have a unique view of what paradise is. For Emilia Wickstead, the idea of sitting quietly by the sea with the waves lapping at her feet is a paradise we can all get behind! 

“I am alone again, and I want to be so; alone with the pure sky and open sea.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

Nietzsche was a philosopher, and his words still influence many today. As someone who studied thought, his reflection on the sea can strike a chord within all of us! 

“I wanted freedom, open-air, and adventure. I found it on the sea.” – Alain Gerbault

Alain Gerbault was a tennis player and sailor who famously circumnavigated the globe on a solo expedition. This quote is all the explanation we need for why he did it! 

“It’s out there at sea that you are really yourself.” – Vito Dumas

Vito Dumas, like Alain Gerbault, was a solo sailor. He sailed around the southern ocean during WWII and really found himself out there. 

“Life is as inexorable as the sea.” – Thomas Wentworth Higginson

Higginson was a Union soldier and writer. His experiences fueled this quote. With the turmoil of the Civil War, his comparison of life and the sea is fitting. 

“The edge of the sea is a strange and beautiful place.” – Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson was a marine biologist. Her work on environmental studies fuels the climate change movement. The sea’s edge was just as mysterious to her as it is to the rest of us!

“There are no signposts in the sea.” – Vita Sackville-West

Even if signposts were in the sea, the waves would still carry you where they wanted. This quote by Vita Sackville-West highlights her love for the sea and of words. 

“I wonder if the ocean smells different on the other side of the world.” – J.A. Redmerski

There are countless quotes about the smell of the sea, but does it really smell different on other shores? 

“We dream in colors borrowed from the sea.” – Unknown

This unknown author had the right idea. Our dreams are indeed cast in hues stolen straight from the ocean. 

“Happiness is the sunset and the sea.” – Unknown

There’s a moment of tranquility just before the sun dips below the horizon. It’s a happiness that can’t be matched. 

The Nature of the Sea

The sea is a focal point of nature. With every wave that breaks, another thoughtful quote is spoken. These quotes highlight the heart of the sea.  

“We need the tonic of wildness…At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed, and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature.” – Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau was a naturalist and a poet . That makes him the perfect person to speak about the nature of the sea. 

“To me, the sea is a continual miracle; The fishes that swim–the rocks–the motion of the waves–the ships, with men in them, What stranger miracles are there?” — Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman is another famous American poet whose long-form poems helped define a generation. This quote from Whitman speaks volumes about the depth he implemented in his poems. 

“Would you learn the secret of the sea? Only those who brave its dangers comprehend its mystery!” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Even those who brave the ocean’s dangers trying to reveal all the secrets it holds are no closer to understanding it than anyone else, especially because the ocean refuses to bend to humans.

“That the sea is one of the most beautiful and magnificent sights in Nature, all admit.” – John Joly

John Joly was a physicist and geologist. He understood the essential workings of the universe the way few others could. Even he feels the sea is nature at its finest. 

“At night, when the sky is full of stars and the sea is still, you get the wonderful sensation that you are floating in space.” – Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood, unfortunately, drowned at sea. Still, her love of the sea at night will be etched forever in her powerful words. 

“The sea! the sea! The open sea! The blue, the fresh, the ever free!” – Bryan W. Procter

Procter proclaimed the smooth sea to be free, fresh, and blue. We’d love to uphold that ocean view for everyone to enjoy! 

“The sea is a desert of waves, A wilderness of water.” – Langston Hughes

The use of descriptors like the waves as a water desert is both irresistible and beautiful. This quote is a perfect way to describe the isolation of the mid-ocean. 

Wrapping Up

Now that you’ve found the most memorable sea quotes, use them everywhere you can. Slip them into everyday conversation, use them as captions for Instagram, or wrap up that email. Every situation could benefit from a sea quote!

Feel free to save any of our sea quote images and use them wherever you wish!

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67 Beautiful Ocean Quotes on Waves, Water & the Sea

There’s is something truly spiritual and inspiring about the sea. These ocean quotes perfectly capture what makes waves, big water and the deep blue see so special.

Ocean Quotes

“I love the smell of rain, and I love the sound of the ocean waves.” – Amy Purdy

“How I long to be the shore and feel your waves crash upon me over and over again.” – Timothy Joshua Chia

“Far and away, the greatest threat to the ocean, and thus to ourselves, is ignorance. But we can do something about that.” – Sylvia Earle

“Where chefs once ruled the waves, local small farmers are the new rock stars.” – Mario Batali

“Water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing, in the end, can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone.” – Margaret Atwood

“I am the shore and the ocean, awaiting myself on both sides.” – Dejan Stojanovic

“Either you decide to stay in the shallow end of the pool or you go out in the ocean.” – Christopher Reeve

“Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.” – Robert Henri

“Take me to the ocean. Let me sail the open sea. To breathe the warm and salty air and dream of things to be.” – Erica Billups

“I’m an ocean, because I’m really deep. If you search deep enough you can find rare exotic treasures.” – Christina Aguilera

“Don’t cross oceans for people who wouldn’t cross a puddle for you.” –

“We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds.” – Aristotle Onassis

“We could learn to leave things alone and rest in the awareness – the ocean – rather than being thrown around by the waves. This is what meditation practice is all about.” – Gelong Thubten

“You can’t cross the ocean of life just by dreaming about it, you have to jump in and swim.” – Debasish Mridha

“The waves of the sea help me get back to me.” – Anonymous

“The ocean is an object of no small terror.” – Edmund Burke

“I couldn’t imagine living in a state that didn’t reach the ocean. It was a giant reset button. You could go to the edge of the land and see infinity and feel renewed.” – Avery Sawyer

“My soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea. And the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“When people who love the ocean come together, they can achieve extraordinary things.” – Frances Beinecke

“I don’t trust the ocean, either; it would kill me as soon as not. It doesn’t mean I’m afraid of it.” – Maggie Stiefvater

“There’s nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater, you realize that you’ve been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent.” – Dave Barry

“I have always wanted to give you the world, so I started giving you pieces of the oceans that kept us apart.” – Karen Quan

“Looking out over the ocean you can see reflections of God.” – Catherine Pulsifer

“The sea is a desert of waves, A wilderness of water.” – Langston Hughes

“Like a shipwreck or a jetty, almost anything that forms a structure in the ocean, whether it is natural or artificial over time, collects life.” – Sylvia Earle

“The true beauty of the sea cannot be discovered unless we go within.” – Asad Meah

“A woman’s heart is a deep ocean of secrets.” – Titanic

“Sand lines my soul which is filled with the breath of the ocean.” – A.D. Posey

“Every drop in the ocean counts.” – Yoko Ono

“A healthy ocean is vital to our economy and well-being. We need clean and healthy oceans to sustain tourism and fisheries.” – Scott Peters

“Ocean, n. A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man — who has no gills.” – Ambrose Bierce

“To me, the sea is a continual miracle; The fishes that swim–the rocks–the motion of the waves–the ships, with men in them, What stranger miracles are there?” – Walt Whitman

“How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is clearly Ocean.” – Arthur C. Clarke

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” – Mother Teresa

“Life is a sea of vibrant color. Jump in.” – A.D. Posey

“The ocean is the navigator’s world.” – William Baffin

“Dance with the waves, move with the sea, let the rhythm of the water set your soul free.” – Christy Ann Martine

“A pool just isn’t the same as the ocean. It has no energy. No life.” – Linda Gerber

“Treasures of the sea can be found at the beach. Let go and discover!” – Catherine Pulsifer

“If you cannot on the ocean sail among the swiftest fleet, Rocking on the highest billows, laughing at the storms you meet.” – Ellen M. H. Gates

“The sea will grant each man new hope, and sleep will bring dreams of home.” – Christopher Columbus

“You will love the ocean. It makes you feel small, but not in a bad way. Small because you realize you’re part of something bigger.” – Lauren Myracle

“Those who live by the sea can hardly form a single thought of which the sea would not be part.” – Hermann Broch

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” – Jacques Cousteau

“Every time I slip into the ocean, it’s like going home.” – Sylvia Earle

“There’s nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it’s sent away.” – Sarah Kay

“There must be something strangely sacred in salt. It is in our tears and in the sea.” – Khalil Gibran

“In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans.” – Kahlil Gibran

“I wish I could describe the feeling of being at sea, the anguish, frustration, and fear, the beauty that accompanies threatening spectacles, the spiritual communion with creatures in whose domain I sail.” – Steve Callahan

“To find the pearls in life’s ocean, you have to venture out far past the shore.” – Unknown

“We have the responsibility to care for the ocean as it cares for us.” – Suzanne van der Veeken

“You never really know what’s coming. A small wave, or maybe a big one. All you can really do is hope that when it comes, you can surf over it, instead of drowning in its monstrosity.” – Alysha Speer

“The ocean is a mighty harmonist.” – William Wordsworth

“The ocean has a life of its own. Its tides, whirlpools, currents and eddies are a testament to its conflicting emotions.” – Anthony T. Hincks

“I go to the ocean to calm down, to reconnect with the creator, to just be happy.” – Nnedi Okorafor

“Every time you dive, you hope you’ll see something new – some new species. Sometimes the ocean gives you a gift, sometimes it doesn’t.” – James Cameron

“Each kiss of an ocean wave is passed along, as long as there is life on and in the seas.” – Anthony T. Hincks

“I pray to be like the ocean, with soft currents, maybe waves at times. More and more, I want the consistency rather than the highs and the lows.” – Drew Barrymore

“Just as the ocean has waves or the sun has rays, so the minds’s own radiance is its thoughts and emotions.” – Sogyal Rinpoche

“Waves tossed themselves against the shore, dragging grit and sand between their nails as they were slowly pulled back out to sea.” – Holly Black

“Well, the Ocean hides many secrets, and all of them are precious and beautiful.” – SA Krishnan

“My life is like a stroll upon the beach, as near to the ocean’s edge as I can go” – Henry David Thoreau

“The ocean is a central image. It is the symbolism of a great journey.” – Enya

“Summer is calling me with the music of an ocean breeze. I must go dance with the waves of love.” – Debasish Mridha

“The ocean is everything I want to be. Beautiful, mysterious, wild, and free.” – Unknown

“Limitless and immortal, the waters are the beginning and end of all things on earth.” – Heinrich Zimmer

“I filmed underwater for two days in the open ocean with dolphins.” – Kathleen Quinlan

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Home » Topics » Travel Quotes » The most beautiful Sea Quotes – Inspirational words about the Sea, the Ocean, and the Beach

The most beautiful Sea Quotes – Inspirational words about the Sea, the Ocean, and the Beach

The sea is for many a place of longing. And that’s why we want to give vent to our love for the sea and have collected the most beautiful sea quotes for you.

Whether inspiring sea quotes from famous personalities, inspiring sayings about the sea, or funny beach quotes – here is something of everything. Whether for colleagues who go on vacation, as an inspiring sea saying for friends who move to the sea, as great Sea captions for Instragam, or just so for you.

What to find out in this post

• 1 The best Sea Quotes
• 2 Sea and Ocean Quotes
• 3 More great Sea Captions and Quotes
• 4 Funny Quotes about the Sea
• 5 The most beautiful Beach Quotes
• 6.1 About the AuthorVicki

The best Sea Quotes

Life is like the ocean, it goes up and down. – Vanessa Paradis

Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean. – Akutagawa Ryunosuke

The cure for anything is salt water — sweat, tears, or the sea. – Isak Dinesen

Smell the sea and feel the sky, Let your soul and spirit fly. – Van Morrison

Every time I slip into the ocean, it’s like going home. – Sylvia Earle

The Ocean is everything I want to be. Beautiful mysterious, wild and free. – Unknown

The ocean is this beautiful, unexplored place. Why on Earth everyone isn’t down there, I don’t know. – Graham Hawkes

Ab aqua libertas (Latein: From water comes freedom) – Unknown

Nothing soothes the soul like a day by the sea! – Unknown

Eternity begins and ends with the tides of the ocean. – Unknown

Only those who have lived by the sea know the sweetness of salt. – Juan Ortiz

Sea and Ocean Quotes

Dance with the waves, move with the sea. Let the rhythm of the water set your soul free. – Christy Ann Martine

The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. – Jacques Yves Cousteau

Because there’s nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it’s sent away. – Sarah Kay

See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me And no one knows How far it goes If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me One day I’ll know If I go, there’s just no telling how far I’ll go – Moana (Disney)

There was a magic about the sea. People were drawn to it. People wanted to love by it, swim in it, play in it, look at it. It was a living thing that as as unpredictable as a great stage actor: it could be calm and welcoming, opening its arms to embrace it’s audience one moment, but then could explode with its stormy tempers. – Cecilia Ahern

To me the sea is a continual miracle; The fishes that swim–the rocks–the motion of the waves–the ships, with men in them, What stranger miracles are there? – Walt Whitman

For her, the sea was more than a dream, it was a place she had to go to find herself. And when she returned to the city, you could see the sun in her eyes, feel the wind in her hair and taste the infinite salt on her lips. – José Chávez

More great Sea Captions and Quotes

You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. – Christopher Columbus

When anxious, restless, and evil thoughts come, I go to the sea, and the sea drowns them out with its great, vast sounds, purifies me with its noise, and imposes a rhythm on everything in me that is disturbed and confused. – Rainer Maria Rilke

I love the sea like my soul, because the sea is my soul. – Heinrich Heine

What we know is a drop, what we don’t know is an ocean. – Isaac Newton

The free sea frees the spirit. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Why is the sea king of a hundred streams? Because it lies below them. – Laotse

No one would have crossed the ocean if he could have gotten off the ship in the storm. – Charles F. Kettering

I wanted freedom, open air and adventure. I found it on the sea. – Alain Gerbault

At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much. – Robin Lee Graham

To me, the sea is like a person – like a child that I’ve known a long time. It sounds crazy, I know, but when I swim in the sea I talk to it. I never feel alone when I’m out there. – Gertrude Ederle (Schwimmerin)

The sea always filled her with longing, she herself did not know what for. – Cornelia Funke

Funny Quotes about the Sea

I need Vitamine Sea – Unknown

Everyone is good at something. I, for example, am good at sitting by the sea. – Unknown

Sea La Vie – Unknown

Don’t worry – Beach Happy – Unknown

If you are not barefoot, then you are overdressed. – Unknown

It’s time for beach therapy. – Unknown

Seas the Day – Unknown

Give me coffee to change the things I can change – and the beach to accept the things I can’t. – Unknown

A beach chair in the front row and a coffee, please. Thank you! – Heimatmeer

Sometimes you just need a little bit of sea. – Unknown

Better to bathe in the sea than to swim in work. – Unknown

If you see the ocean in your rearview mirror, you’re going the wrong way. – Unknown

The most beautiful Beach Quotes

Happiness is a day at the beach. – Unknown

At the beach, life is different. Time doesn’t move hour to hour. We live by the currents, plan by the tides and follow the sun. – Sandy Gingras

Life is better at the beach. – Unknown

Life gives you special moments, especially those that involve the beach. – Larry Wilcox

Happiness consists of living every day as if it were the first day of your honeymoon and the last day of your vacation. – Lew Nikolajewitsch Tolstoi

Every day should be a beach day. – Unknown

The best Wave Quotes

You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf. – Jon Kabat-Zinn

The higher the wave, the more important the anchor. – Karl-Heinz Karius

Freedom is like the sea: the individual waves are not capable of much, but the power of the surf is irresistible. Václav Havel

As hard as you try, as many places as you travel, and as many waves as you have the honor to feel beneath your heels, it will inevitably only deepen the desire to seek out more. – Bethany Hamilton

There is no new wave, only the sea. – Claude Chabrol

Feelings are much like waves: we can’t stop them from coming, but we can choose which one to surf. – Jonatan Mårtensson

What is your personal favorite sea saying? Maybe you even have a favorite that isn’t on the list yet. Feel free to let us know in the comments below.

Interested in Travel Quotes?

About the Author Vicki

Hi, we are Vicki & Eduardo, an international travel couple on a mission to help you save money for priceless travel experience. Follow us through the miracles of this world and you will be rewarded with a bunch of practical travel tips.

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25 Awe-Inspiring Ocean Quotes That Will Transport You to the Waves

“Dance with the waves, move with the sea, let the rhythm of the water set your soul free.”

There’s nothing like standing at the edge of the ocean. With each wave barreling in one after the other, our senses can’t help but be ignited. Smelling that salty and briny sea breeze, seeing its vastness as our eyes scan the horizon to try to comprehend its end, and feeling so small in the middle of its mighty roar or quiet stillness: these are emotions only the ocean can stir.

“Because there's nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it's sent away.”

Nayyirah Waheed

“if the ocean can calm itself, so can you. we are both salt water mixed with air.”

“The ocean makes me feel really small and it makes me put my whole life into perspective.”

“There's nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater, you realize that you've been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent.”

Le Testament d'Orphée

“I have seafoam in my veins, I understand the language of waves.”

“Your heart is like the ocean, mysterious and dark.”

Langston Hughes

“The sea is a desert of waves, A wilderness of water.”

“In high seas or in low seas, I'm gonna be your friend... I'm gonna be your friend. In high tide or in low tide, I'll be by your side... I'll be by your side.”

William Carlos Williams

“But the sea which no one tends is also a garden”

Herman Melville

“There is, one knows not what sweet mystery about this sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath...”

“Ocean separates lands, not souls..”

Charlotte Eriksson

"I will find comfort in the rhythm of the sea.”

Rick Riordan

“The sea does not like to be restrained”

William James

“We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected on the deep.”

Vincent van Gogh

“The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths it has its pearls too”

Christy Ann Martine

Jacques cousteau.

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”

Robert Wylan

“The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul.”

Robert Henri

“Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.”

E.E. Cummings

“For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it’s always our self we find in the sea.”

Leah Hall is currently a digital producer and writer for Country Living. She is based in Huntsville, Alabama. 

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Sea Quotes: A massive collection of inspiring sea and ocean quotes

A huge collection of the best sea quotes and inspiring sayings about the ocean. Perfect for inspiration and mindful moments.

Quotes about the sea

Quotes are inspiring for many reasons. They give us inspiration and consolation when we're feeling down or struggling with a problem.

Quotes give us new perspectives on things, and can encourage us to do something that we've been meaning to do but maybe haven't had the energy to start yet.

This collection of sea quotes covers everything sea related – sea quotes, sea love quotes, sea captions and sea life quotes. Each quote has a picture that is connected in some way to the sea or to water.

Do you love the sea? “Thalassophile (n) A lover of the sea, someone who loves the sea/ocean.”

Sea Captions and Quotes

“Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.”

– Van Morrison

“You can never cross the ocean until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.”

– Christopher Columbus

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

– Mark Twain

“Dance with the waves, move with the sea. Let the rhythm of the water set your soul free.”

– Christy Ann Martine

“To me, the sea is a continual miracle; The fishes that swim–the rocks–the motion of the waves–the ships, with men in them, What stranger miracles are there?”

– Walt Whitman

“Would you learn the secret of the sea? Only those who brave its dangers, comprehend its mystery!”

– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“That the sea is one of the most beautiful and magnificent sights in Nature, all admit.”

– John Joly

“The sea always filled her with longing, though for what she was never sure.”

– Cornelia Funke

“At night, when the sky is full of stars and the sea is still you get the wonderful sensation that you are floating in space.”

– Natalie Wood

“When anxious, uneasy and bad thoughts come, I go to the sea, and the sea drowns them out with its great wide sounds, cleanses me with its noise, and imposes a rhythm upon everything in me that is bewildered and confused.”

– Rainer Maria Rilke

Related: Best Sky Captions

Hashtags to use with sea and ocean quotes

Already found a quote you want to use? Here's some sea hashtags you might want to use:

#ocean #sea #seaquotes #oceanquotes #quotesaboutthesea #oceaninstagramcaptions #travelquotes #instagramcaptions #oceanlife #oceancaptions #ocean_captions #oceanlove #theoceancaptions #sealifequotes

Related: Boat Instagram Captions

Sea and Ocean quotes and sayings

Here's the next selection of quotes that are perfect if you love the sea.

“I ‘m on the sea! I ‘m on the sea! I am where I would ever be, With the blue above and the blue below, And silence wheresoever I go.”

-Bryan Procter

“The sea is a desert of waves, A wilderness of water.”

– Langston Hughes

“To me, the sea is like a person — like a child that I’ve known a long time. It sounds crazy, I know, but when I swim in the sea I talk to it. I never feel alone when I’m out there.”

– Gertrude Ederle

“The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.”

– Karen Blixen

“See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me. And no one knows, how far it goes.”

– Moana, “How Far I’ll Go”

“With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you’re connected to the sea. No matter where on Earth you live.”

– Sylvia Earle

“Take me to the ocean. Let me sail the open sea. To breathe the warm and salty air and dream of things to be.”

– Erica Billups

“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came…”

– John F. Kennedy

“Limitless and immortal, the waters are the beginning and end of all things on earth.”

– Heinrich Zimmer

“My soul is full of longing for the secrets of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.”

The best short quotes about the sea

Here's our next 10 sea quotes for your inspiration and creativity.

“I wanted freedom, open air and adventure. I found it on the sea.”

– Alain Gerbeault

“The sea does not like to be restrained.”

– Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief

“And the sea will grant each man new hope, as sleep brings dreams of home.”

– Larry Ferguson

“For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it’s always our self we find in the sea.”

– E. E. Cummings

“The sea possesses a power over one’s moods that has the effect of a will. The sea can hypnotize. Nature in general can do so.”

– Henrik Ibsen

“How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is clearly Ocean.”

– Arthur C. Clarke

“A pool just isn’t the same as the ocean. It has no energy. No life.”

– Linda Gerber

“I must be a mermaid. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.”

– Anais Nin

“The ocean makes me feel really small and it makes me put my whole life into perspective.”

– Beyoncé Knowles

Ocean Quotes and Sayings

There's something about the sea that fills us with a sense of awe and freedom, so here's the next section of ocean quotes for you to enjoy.

“The ocean has always been a salve to my soul…the best thing for a cut or abrasion was to go swimming in salt water. Later down the road of life, I made the discovery that salt water was also good for the mental abrasions one inevitably acquires on land.”

– Jimmy Buffet

“The ocean is everything I want to be. Beautiful, mysterious, wild and free.”

– Unknown

“In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans.”

– Kahlil Gibran

“The three great elemental sounds in nature are the sound of rain, the sound of wind in a primeval wood, and the sound of outer ocean on a beach.”

Related: Short beach captions for Instagram

– Henry Beston

“Why is it that scuba divers and surfers are some of the strongest advocates of ocean conservation? Because they’ve spent time in and around the ocean, and they’ve personally seen the beauty, the fragility, and even the degradation of our planet’s blue heart.”

“Every time I slip into the ocean, it’s like going home.”

“Eternity begins and ends with the ocean’s tides.”

“The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul.”

– Robert Wyland

“Wish I was ocean size”

– Jane's Addiction

“She loves the serene brutality of the ocean, loves the electric power she felt with each breath of wet, briny air.”

– Holly Black

“Life is like the ocean, it goes up and down.”

– Vanessa Paradis

“Being out there in the ocean – God's creation – it's like a gift he has given us to enjoy.”

– Bethany Hamilton

“Ocean is more ancient than the mountains and freighted with the memories and the dreams of Time.”

– H. P. Lovecraft

“Ocean: A body of water occupying two-thirds of a world made for man – who has no gills.”

– Ambrose Bierce

“Because there’s nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it’s sent away.”

– Sarah Kay

“A beach is not only a sweep of sand, but shells of sea creatures, the sea glass, the seaweed, the incongruous objects washed up by the ocean.”

– Henry Grunwald

“Ocean separates lands, not souls.”

– Munia Khan

“Together we can face challenges as deep as the ocean and as high as the sky.”

– Sonia Gandhi

“Individually we are one drop. Together we are an ocean.”

– Ryunosuke Satoro

“If everyone could just live near the ocean, I think we’d all be happier. It’s hard to be down about anything knee-deep in the sand.”

– Crystal Woods

“You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.”

Sea and Ocean Puns

There's more than a few puns and quips that can be made using the sea and ocean. They'd also make good captions on Instagram.

Here's some that tickle us!

“All I need is a good dose of vitamin sea.” “Seas the day.”

“I’m a true oceanholic.” “Go with the flow.” “I need to be seahabilitated.” “Happier than a seagull with a French fry.” “I was mermaid for this sea-sun.“ “Long time, no sea.” “You are the only fish in the sea for me.” “There's plenty more fish in the sea.” “Sea la vie!” “If there’s a will there’s a wave.” “Sea you soon!” “Sea you in the morning.” “Seas the moment.” “Advice from the Ocean: Be shore of yourself. Come out of your shell. Take time to coast. Avoid pier pressure. Sea life’s beauty. Don’t get so tide down on work that you miss out on life’s beautiful waves.”

More sea quotes and sea sayings!

We've collected a few more of our favorite sea quotes, sea sayings and sea puns to help you get inspired but don't stop there! Let us know in the comments your favorites too.

“The waves of the sea help me get back to me.”

– Jill Davis

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

“A sailor is an artist whose medium is the wind.”

– Webb Chiles

“Follow the river and you will find the sea.”

– French Proverb

“Life is a sea of vibrant color. Jump in.”

– A.D. Posey

“The edge of the sea is a strange and beautiful place.”

– Rachel Carson

“Meet me where the sky touches the sea.”

– Jennifer Donnelly

“In still moments by the sea life seems large-drawn and simple. It is there we can see into ourselves.”

– Rolf Edberg

“Those who live by the sea can hardly form a single thought of which the sea would not be part.”

– Hermann Broch

Under the sea quotes

“The sea is an underwater museum still awaiting its visitors.”

– Phillip Diole

“We got no troubles, life is the bubbles, under the sea.” – The Little Mermaid, “Under the Sea” “There’s nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater, you realize that you’ve been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent.”

– Dave Barry

Inspirational Quotes on the Sea

These quotes about the ocean should hopefully provide some much-needed inspiration, no matter what you're looking for.

“Nothing soothes the soul like a day by the ocean!”

“There is pleasure in the pathless woods, there is rapture in the lonely shore, there is society where none intrudes, by the deep sea, and music in its roar; I love not Man the less, but Nature more.”

– Lord Byron

“Let the waves carry you where the light cannot.”

– Mohit Kaushik

“The calming movement of the sea along with the restless ocean breeze gently caresses me creating a soothing trance which lulls me to a place of peace.”

– M. L. Borges, By The Sea

“We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected in the deep.”

– William James

“Ideals are like the stars: we never reach them, but like the mariners of the sea, we chart our course by them.”

– Carl Schurz

“We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds.”

– Aristotle Onassis

“The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. … Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach – waiting for a gift from the sea.”

– Anne Morrow Lindbergh

“There must be something strangely sacred in salt. It is in our tears and in the sea.”

– Khalil Gibran

Insightful Wisdom Using The Sea As A Metaphor

“They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea.”

– Francis Bacon

“I feel we are all islands – in a common sea.”

“The sea, the great unifier, is man’s only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: we are all in the same boat.”

– Jacques Yves Cousteau

“All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full.”

– King Solomon

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”

– Mahatma Gandhi

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”

– Mother Teresa

“It makes you feel small, but not in a bad way. Small because you realize you’re part of something bigger.”

– Lauren Myracle

“Water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing, in the end, can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone.” – Margaret Atwood

Quotes about Rough Seas

Some of these quotes about sailing in rough seas are insightful in that they can help us when we go through tough periods of our life.

“Rough seas make stronger sailors. Tough times build greater people.”

– Robin Sharma

“No matter how rough the sea, I refuse to sink.”

“But where, after all, would be the poetry of the sea were there no wild waves?” – Joshua Slocum

“Great sea captains are made in rough waters and deep seas.”

– Kathryn Kuhlman

“We are all in the same boat, in a stormy sea, and we owe each other a terrible loyalty.”

– Gilbert K. Chesterton

“The human heart is like a ship on a stormy sea driven about by winds blowing from all four corners of heaven.”

– Martin Luther King

“The man who has experienced shipwreck shudders even at a calm sea.”

“There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.”

– Willa Cather

“Storms draw something out of us that calm seas don’t.”

– Bill Hybels

“Great people are not affected by each puff of wind that blows ill. Like great ships, they sail serenely on, in a calm sea or a great tempest.”

– George Washington

“As the sea is beautiful not only in calm but also in storm, so is happiness found not only in peace but also in strife.”

– Ivan Panin

“I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning to sail my ship.”

– Louisa May Alcott

“What world lies beyond that stormy sea I do not know, but every ocean has a distant shore, and I shall reach it.”

– Cesare Pavese

“Family is a life jacket in the stormy sea of life.”

– J.K. Rowling

“Life’s roughest storms prove the strength of our anchors.”

“Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.”

– Publilius Syrus

Philosophical Thoughts about the Sea and Life

“Time and tide wait for no man.”

– Saint Marher

“If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to it.”

– Jonathan Winters

“Just as the wave cannot exist for itself, but is ever a part of the heaving surface of the ocean, so must I never live my life for itself, but always in the experience which is going on around me.”

– Albert Schweitzer

“Life is as inexorable as the sea.”

– Thomas Wentworth Higginson

“Our knowledge is a little island in a great ocean of nonknowledge.”

– Isaac Bashevis Singer

“Maybe life was like a sea, and all the people were like boats … Everybody who was born was cast into the sea. Winds would blow them in all directions. Tides would rise and turn, in their own rhythm. And the boats – they just went along as best they could, trying to find a harbor.”

– Cynthia Voigt

“Thought is the wind, knowledge is the sail, and mankind is the vessel.”

– August Hare

“To reach a port we must sail, sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against it. But we must not drift or lie at anchor.”

– Oliver Wendell Holmes

“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.”

– William Arthur Ward

Being at one with the sea

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”

– Jon Kabat-Zan

“You never really know what’s coming. A small wave, or maybe a big one. All you can really do is hope that when it comes, you can surf over it, instead of drown in its monstrosity.” – Alysha Speer

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”

“Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.”

– Robert Henri

“It isn’t that life ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better.”

– Sir Francis Drake

“The sea is as near as we come to another world.” – Anne Stevenson

“The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace.” – Kate Chopin

“Ships are safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for. So set sail on the stormy sea of love. You’re going to get soaked at times, but at least you’ll know you’re alive.”

– John A. Shedd

“The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths, it has its pearls too.” – Vincent van Gogh

“If you live a life of make-believe, your life isn't worth anything until you do something that does challenge your reality. And to me, sailing the open ocean is a real challenge because it's life or death.”

Morgan Freeman

The best sea quotes and captions

“So that the monotonous fall of the waves on the beach, which for the most part beat a measured and soothing tattoo to her thoughts, seemed consolingly to repeat over and over again.”

– Virginia Woolf

“Even the upper end of the river believes in the ocean.”

– William Stafford

“The ocean is a place of skin, rich outer membranes hiding thick juicy insides, laden with the soup of being.”

– Vera Nazarian

“When anxious, uneasy, and bad thoughts come, I go to the sea, and the sea drowns them out with its great wide sounds, cleanses me with its noise, and imposes a rhythm upon everything in me that is bewildered and confused.”

– Rainer Maria Rilke

“The great sea makes one a great skeptic.”

– Richard Jefferies

“He that will learn to pray, let him go to sea.”

– George Herbert

“The ocean is a central image. It is the symbolism of a great journey.”

– Enya

“The sea lives in every one of us.”

– Robert Wyland

“Even castles made from sand fall to the ocean.”

-Jimi Hendrix

“A lot of people attack the sea. I make love to it.”

– Jacques Cousteau

“The sea complains upon a thousand shores.”

– Alexander Smith

“The sea appears all golden. Beneath the sun-lit sky.”

– Heinrich Heine

“At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much.”

– Robin Lee Graham

“Sometimes in the waves of change we find our true direction.”

A final few unattributed quotes about the sea

“I’m pretty sure my birthstone is a sea shell.” – Unknown

 “I believe in the ocean curing all bad moods. I believe in the waves wiping away worries. I believe in seashells bringing good luck. I believe in toes in the sand grounding my soul.” – Unknown

“The sound and smell of the sea cleanses my soul.”

“Dear ocean, thank you for making us feel tiny, humble, inspired, and salty …all at once.”

“Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone.”

“The oceans roar is music to the soul.”

“Wild and free, just like the sea.”

“Life is simple: just add water.”

“We dream in colors borrowed from the sea.”

“Let the sea set you free.”

“Me and the ocean: Love at first sight.”

“High tides. Good vibes.”

Inspirational Ocean Quotes

“You, me and the sea.”

“Friends, sun, sand and sea. That sounds like a summer to me.”

“I am happy anywhere I can see the ocean.”

“The ocean is my happy place.”

“If you’re lucky enough to live by the sea, you’re lucky enough.”

“You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.”

“A smooth sea never made a skilful sailor.”

“Dream higher than the sky and deeper than the ocean.”

“Things aren’t always as they appear on the surface.”

“In the waves of change, we find our direction.”

“Life is like the ocean. It can be calm or still, and rough or rigid, but in the end, it is always beautiful.”

“I lost my heart to the sea.”

“Our love is as deep as the ocean.”

“If you want to know how much I love you, count all the waves in the sea.”

“As the ocean is never full of water, so is the heart never full of love.”

“I love you more than there are grains of sand on the beach, fish in the sea, and waves in the ocean.”

“If the ocean can calm itself, so can you. We are both salt water mixed with air” Nayyirah Waheed

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80 Awesome Sea Quotes and Captions You Should Read

July 27, 2021.

The Best Sea Quotes and Captions 

There is something about the word ‘sea’ that allows an immediate sense of calm to wash over me.

I can’t help envisioning myself staring out at the ocean on a summer day and smelling the sea salt while my hair blows back and forth in the sea breeze. Add in a picnic on the sand with a French baguette and some brie cheese on a weekend afternoon and it’s like my mind is guiding me on my own mediation through imagination.

I’m curious. What is it that you picture when you think of the sea?

I have written about quotes pertaining to the ocean and vacation before; my beach quotes post is a popular article. But, I noticed that some of you were looking specifically for sea quotes and sea captions. That is why I decided to make a post specifically dedicated to quotes about the sea and captions for the sea.

It’s interesting. At the time, I hadn’t even thought that it might be prudent to separate these posts. However, the sea, the ocean, the beach, and the shore — each word brings back a completely different memory — so it makes absolute sense that anyone researching quotes about any one of these terms would be looking for something more specific.

If you would like further inspiration or quotes that pertain more to the beach, definitely take a look at these beach quotes in my post entitled 30 Best Beach Quotes You Need to Read . 

Quotes about the Sea

1. “Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.” – Van Morrison

2. “Take me to the ocean. Let me sail the open sea. To breathe the warm and salty air and dream of things to be.” – Erica Billups

3. “I’m pretty sure my birthstone is a sea shell.” – Unknown

4. “The sound and smell of the sea cleanses my soul.” – Unknown

5. “I feel we are all islands – in a common sea.” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh

6. “I wanted freedom, open air and adventure. I found it on the sea.” – Alain Gerbeault

7. “We dream in colors borrowed from the sea.” – Unknown

8. “The sea! the sea! the open sea! The blue, the fresh, the ever free!” – Bryan W. Procter

9. “The sea is a desert of waves, a wilderness of water.” – Langston Hughes

10. “You can never cross the ocean until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Christopher Columbus

11. “Dance with the waves, move with the sea. Let the rhythm of the water set your soul free.” – Christy Ann Martine

12. The first “I believe in the ocean curing all bad moods. I believe in the waves wiping away worries. I believe in seashells bringing good luck. I believe in toes in the sand grounding my soul.” – Unknown

13. “Follow the river and you will find the sea.” – French Proverb

14. “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” –  Jacques Yves Cousteau

15. “A beach is not only a sweep of sand, but shells of sea creatures, the sea glass, the seaweed, the incongruous objects washed up by the ocean.” – Henry Grunwald

16. “Advice from the Ocean: Be shore of yourself. Come out of your shell. Take time to coast. Avoid pier pressure. Sea life’s beauty. Don’t get so tide down on work that you miss out on life’s beautiful waves.” – Unknown

17. “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

18. “Friends, sun, sand and sea. That sounds like a summer to me.” – Unknown

19. “The sea is an underwater museum still awaiting its visitors.” – Phillip Diole

20. “The sea always filled her with longing, though for what she was never sure.” – Cornelia Funke

21. “My soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

22. “You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” – Rabindranath Tagore

23. “The sea appears all golden. Beneath the sun-lit sky.” – Heinrich Heine

24. “Is this chicken what I have, or is this fish? I know it’s tuna, but it says ‘Chicken of the Sea’.” – Jessica Simpson 🙂

25. “The sea does not link to be restrained.”- Rick Riordan

26. “At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much.” – Robin Lee Graham

27. “To me, the sea is a continual miracle; The fishes that swim–the rocks–the motion of the waves–the ships, with men in them, What stranger miracles are there?” – Walt Whitman

28. “Would you learn the secret of the sea? Only those who brave its dangers, comprehend its mystery!” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

29. “That the sea is one of the most beautiful and magnificent sights in Nature, all admit.” – John Joly

30. “At night, when the sky is full of stars and the sea is still you get the wonderful sensation that you are floating in space.” – Natalie Wood

31. “When anxious, uneasy and bad thoughts come, I go to the sea, and the sea drowns them out with its great wide sounds, cleanses me with its noise, and imposes a rhythm upon everything in me that is bewildered and confused.” – Rainer Maria Rilke

32. “To me, the sea is like a person like a child that I’ve known a long time. It sounds crazy, I know, but when I swim in the sea I talk to it. I never feel alone when I’m out there.” – Gertrude Ederle

33. “The sea pronounces something, over and over, in a hoarse whisper; I cannot quite make it out.” – Annie Dillard

34. “The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.” – Karen Blixen

35. “With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you’re connected to the sea. No matter where on Earth you live.” – Sylvia Earle

36. “And the sea will grant each man new hope, as sleep brings dreams of home.” – Larry Ferguson

37. “For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it’s always our self we find in the sea.” – E. E. Cummings

38. “The sea possesses a power over one’s moods that has the effect of a will. The sea can hypnotize. Nature in general can do so.” – Henrik Ibsen

39. “There’s nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater, you realize that you’ve been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent.” – Dave Barry

40. “The sea lives in every one of us.” – Robert Wyland

41. “She loves the serene brutality of the ocean, loves the electric power she felt with each breath of wet, briny air.” – Holly Black 

42. “Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.” – Robert Henri 

43. “At the beach, life is different. Time doesn’t move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides and follow the sun.” — Sandy Gingras

 44. “Let the waves carry you where the light cannot” – Mohit Kaushik 

 45. “The calming movement of the sea along with the restless ocean breeze gently caresses me creating a soothing trance which lulls me to a place of peace.” – M. L. Borges, By The Sea

46. “But where, after all, would be the poetry of the sea were there no wild waves?” – Joshua Slocum 

47. “The sea is as near as we come to another world.” – Anne Stevenson 

48. “I must be a mermaid, Rango. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.” – Anais Nin

 49. “The waves of the sea help me get back to me.” – Jill Davis 

50. “Life is as inexorable as the sea.” – Thomas Wentworth Higginson 

51. “The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths, it has its pearls too.” – Vincent van Gogh 

52. “Because there’s nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it’s sent away.” – Sarah Kay  

53. “Rough seas make stronger sailors. Tough times build greater people.” – Robin Sharma

54. “The breaking of a wave cannot explain the whole sea.” – Vladimir Nabokov

55. “In still moments by the sea life seems large-drawn and simple. It is there we can see into ourselves.” – Rolf Edberg

Sea Captions for Instagram

56. “Meet me where the sky touches the sea.”   – Jennifer Donnelly

57. Happier than a seagull with a French fry.

58. You are the only fish in the sea for me.

59. Sometimes in the waves of change we find our true direction.

60. Let the sea set you free.

61. High tides. Good vibes.

62. All I need is a good dose of vitamin sea.

63. If there’s a will there’s a wave.

64. Retirement Plan: Sell seashells by the seashore.

65. A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.

66. Seas the day!

67. You, me and the sea.

68. Long time no sea .

69. Sea you soon!

70. I need to be seahabilitated.

71. Shell-abrate good times.

72. “We got no troubles,  Life is the Bubbles,  Under the Sea” – The Little Mermaid, “Under the Sea” 

73. The sea calls to me.

74. Wild and free just like the sea.

75. Sea la vie!

76. “See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me. And no one knows, how far it goes.” – Moana, “How Far I’ll Go”

77. I was mermaid for this sea-sun.

78. Life is simple: just add water.

79. Me and the ocean: Love at first sight.

80. Thalassophile (n) A lover of the sea, someone who loves the sea/ocean.

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What were your favorite sea quotes and sea captions on this list?  If you have your own favorite sea beach quotes, captions for the sea, sea breeze quotes, or seaside quotes, please share them in the comments below. And don’t forget to check out some of my other posts!

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• 120 Ocean Quotes

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Arthur C. Clarke once wrote that it was inappropriate to call our planet ‘Earth’ when so much of it is covered in the ocean. The ocean is a vast body of salt water covering 71% of Earth’s surface. It has been called “the last frontier” because it remains largely unexplored, and its resources are not yet fully exploited. The word ‘ocean’ comes from the Greek word Okeanos, meaning sea or gulf. There are five major types of oceans: Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean and the Southern Ocean.

The word “ocean” has been used to describe a body of water since the earliest times. The ancient Greeks called it θάλασσα, which means sea, and they believed that underground rivers connected all oceans. In Latin, this became mare or Maris; in Greek, μερις. We are drawn to it because of its beauty, mystery and power. The sea has been a source of inspiration for artists from ancient times through today. It’s also an essential part of our history as humans; in fact, many believe that life on Earth began with the first fish who swam into shallow water after being thrown out by a storm.

Famous explorers sailed the world’s oceans to discover new shores. The first person to discover a new continent was probably Amerigo Vespucci, who discovered South America in 1499. Christopher Columbus sailed the Atlantic Ocean, and his discovery led to European colonization of what would become known as the United States.

We love reading ocean quotes for inspiration. The sea is a vast and deep body of water, stretching out before our eyes for as long as we can see. And in this unending stretch, there are secrets to be discovered; it’s up to us now whether or not we take the plunge into its mysterious depths. The ocean is an abyss. Miles of water stretch endlessly into the horizon, and on any given day, you could find yourself face-to-face with a dolphin or whale in one direction while swimming through schools of jellyfish in another. The sheer size can be overwhelming at first glance, but it’s also comforting to know that there are still what seems like endless spaces for us to explore and discover new things about this world we live in today.

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Famous Ocean Quotes

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1- “Would you learn the secret of the sea? Only those who brave its dangers, comprehend its mystery!” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

This is an ocean quote that has stood the test of time. The search for the secrets of the sea is a quest that transcends time. One way or another, every human knows something about the mysteries of the sea.

Whether it’s catching crabs or watching sharks swim past your boat, or just appreciating them for their beauty and gracefulness, every single living creature on this planet is connected to the ocean.

It seems fitting that these words should adorn the cover of nearly every book ever written about the sea.

The ocean can inspire one to learn more about themselves. No matter where you go on the globe, the sea is an anchor of life.

2- “Why did they make birds so delicate and fine as those sea swallows when the ocean can be so cruel?” – Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea.

Famous American writer Ernest Hemingway wrote The Old Man and the Sea in 1951. The short novel was Hemingway’s last major work, and he won the Pulitzer Prize in 1054 for this work.

3- “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” – Mother Teresa.

Mother Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary born in Skopje. Her famous ocean quote reminds us all of how everything we do counts.

4- “To me the sea is a continual miracle; The fishes that swim – the rocks – the motion of the waves – the ships, with men in them, What stranger miracles are there?” – Walt Whitman.

American poet and journalist Walt Whitman points out that the sea is one of nature’s most wondrous creations. Its calmness makes it seem almost supernatural, but when a storm rages, it takes on a spirit of its own, and you could almost believe that an evil spirit possesses the ocean.

5- “We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came.” – John F. Kennedy.

When you are alone in the middle of the ocean, the sounds of the sea will remind you that you’re part of something far more significant than yourself. This is one of the quotes about the ocean to keep you grounded.

6- “Our oceans cover 70 percent of the world’s land area yet contain 95% of its fish stocks. Our seas produce half of our oxygen supply while absorbing 80% of our carbon dioxide emissions. But they’re also home to many species which provide food for millions around the globe.” – UNEP

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is focused on environmental issues that affect the world we live in.

7- “You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” –Mahatma Gandhi.

This is one of my favourite ocean quotes and a reminder to have faith.

8- “The deep sea is the largest museum on earth, it contains more history than all the museums on land combined, and yet we’re only now penetrating it.” – Robert Ballard.

Our lives are a drop in the ocean, and the sea hides many mysteries humanity has yet to decipher.

9- “Fifty percent of the United States of America is underneath the ocean. And we have better maps of Mars than those areas.” – Robert Ballard.

10- “There are more active volcanoes beneath the sea than on land by two orders of magnitude.” – Robert Ballard.

Robert Ballard is a deep-sea explorer and underwater archaeologist known for his discoveries of hydrothermal vents and famous shipwrecks, including the R.M.S. Titanic and the German battleship Bismarck. He has done over 100 expeditions to learn the secrets of the oceans of the world.

11- “My soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

12- “Faith is knowing there is an ocean because you have seen a brook.” – William Arthur Ward.

Or is this called blind faith? American writer William Arthur Ward wrote over 100 articles, poems and meditations in Reader’s Digest, Science of Mind, and various Christian publications.

13- “The sea does not like to be restrained.” – Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief. The Lightning Thief is a young adult fantasy novel based on Greek mythology that won several awards, including the Adult Library Services Association Best Books for Young Adults.

14- “How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it’s so clearly Ocean.” – Arthur C. Clarke.

15- “Follow the river and you will find the sea.” – French Proverb

16- “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.

17- “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” Jacques Cousteau.

18- “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt.

19- “The sea teaches men to wait patiently until opportunity comes knocking.” – Aristotle Onassis.

20- “I love the sea because it gives up so much without complaining.” – William Wordsworth.

21- Looking out over the ocean, you can see reflections of God. – Catherine Pulsifer.

22- “Men do need sea monsters in their personal oceans” – John Steinbeck.

23- “The sea is an underwater museum still awaiting its visitors.” – Phillip Dole.

24- “The waves of the sea help me get back to me.” – Jill Davis

25- “In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans.” –Kahlil Gibran.

26- “Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.” – Van Morrison.

27- “The cure for anything is saltwater: sweat, tears or the sea.” – Karen Blixen.

28- “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.

29- ‘Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.’ – Ryunosuke Sataro.

30- “My altars are the mountains and the ocean.” – Lord Byron.

31- “Either you decide to stay in the shallow end of the pool, or you go out in the ocean.” – Christopher Reeve.

32- “The sea is emotion incarnate. It loves, hates, and weeps. It defies all attempts to capture it with words and rejects all shackles. No matter what you say about it, there is always that which you can’t.” – Christopher Paolini.

33- “The person you think of when you stand in front of the ocean. That’s the person you’re in love with.” – Colleen Michele

34- “A woman’s heart is a deep ocean of secrets.” – Titanic

35- “Life is short, but the ocean is endless. Live now and make love by the sea because tomorrow might never come.”

36- “The ocean is like a love poem, eternal and beautiful.”

37- “The sea is a mysterious thing. You cannot explain why she is angry sometimes. Or happy at other times. She just is.” – Arundhati Roy

38- “If my love were an ocean, there would be no more land. If my love were a desert, you would see only sand. If my love were a star-late at night, only light. And if my love could grow wings, I’d be soaring in flight.” – Jay Asher, Thirteen Reasons Why.

39- “I love you more than there are stars in the sky and fish in the sea.” – Nicholas Sparks.

40 – “The human heart is like a ship on a stormy sea driven about by winds blowing from all four corners of heaven.” – Martin Luther King

Sometimes I think about the sea and wonder if maybe it has been here forever, since before man was born and before love began. If so, then perhaps it will be around long after humanity becomes extinct and love dies.

41- “The sea brings together those who belong together. Those whose hearts beat as one.”

42- “God’s LOVE is Like an Ocean; You can See its Beginning, but not its end.” – Rick Warren’

If you’re looking for inspirational ocean quotes to motivate you to keep going, these are worth reading.

43- “The sea is everything. It covers seven-tenths of the terrestrial globe. Its breath is pure and healthy. It is an immense desert, where man is never lonely, for he feels life stirring on all sides. The sea is only the embodiment of supernatural and wonderful existence. It is nothing but love and emotion; it is the Living Infinite.” – Jules Verne, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

44- “The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.” – Vincent Van Gogh This is one of the inspirational ocean quotes to remember when you are unsure about whether to push on in the face of adversity.

45- “It is not that life ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better.” – Sir Francis Drake, Sea Captain

46- “Until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore, you will not know the terror of being forever lost at sea.” – Charles Cook

47- “The sea is a perfect companion. The sea does not judge. The sea forgives. The sea heals.”

48- “The three ingredients of happiness are a sunny sky, a blue sea, and a happy heart.”

49- “The sea is a child that doesn’t care whether you get wet. It just wants you to play with it every day.”

50- “No matter what kind of storm comes raging at you from the sea, don’t give up until you reach land.”

51- “The sea is a desert of waves, A wilderness of water.” – Langston Hughes.

52- “I must be a mermaid. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.” – Anais Nin.

53- “All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full.” – King Solomon.

54- “The Pacific is my home ocean; I knew it first, grew up on its shore, collected marine animals along the coast. I know its moods, its color, its nature.” – John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America.

55- “The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul.” – Robert Wyland.

56- “My life amounts to no more than one drop in a limitless ocean. Yet what is any ocean, but a multitude of drops?” – David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas.

57- “There is nothing more enticing, disenchanting, and enslaving than the life at sea.” – Joseph Conrad.

58- “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” – William Arthur Ward.

59- “When the tide goes out, even the stones cry out in protest.”

60- “All things change, yet the sea remains constant.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

61- “The ocean is a mirror reflecting the world.”

62- “On the surface of the ocean, men wage war and destroy each other; but down here, just a few feet beneath the surface, there is a calm and peace, unmolested by man” – Jules Verne.

63- “With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you’re connected to the sea. No matter where on Earth you live.” – Sylvia Earle.

64- “When you’re standing on the shoreline, watch the waves roll in. Watch the foam break against the rocks and listen to the sound of the breaking surf. Feel the wind blowing through your hair and smell the salty air. You won’t regret taking time to enjoy these natural wonders.”

65- “In my mind, the sea represents everything pure and clean: love, hope, joy, freedom, faithfulness, trustworthiness, loyalty, friendship, generosity, forgiveness, gentleness, humility, purity, truthfulness, kindness, compassion, mercy, modesty, innocence, wisdom, understanding, serenity, tranquillity, courage, perseverance, fortitude, diligence, determination, honour, justice, integrity, creativity, inspiration, power, enthusiasm, optimism, and gratitude.”

66- “I am drawn to the sea whenever I feel lost and alone. The sea reminds me that there is no such thing as separation between people.”

67- “One day, the sea will take away everything we’ve built along her shores. One day, she will swallow up our cities and towns. She will wash away our highways and buildings. She will erase our memories and history.

68- “As far as I’m concerned, the sea is the greatest teacher of all.”

69- “What happens under the sea stays under the sea.”

70- “Ocean waves are made up of millions of tiny drops of water.”

71- “Our bodies may die, but the ocean will live forever.”

72- “To swim in the sea is to enter into communion with the universe.”

73- “Seashells are treasures of beauty and mystery. They tell stories about creatures that once inhabited them and left their imprints behind. Seashells are windows to worlds past.”

74- “Life began out of just a drop of salt water. Life started in just a drop of the deep blue sea. All forms of life came from just a drop of the same source.”

75- “A child can’t help loving the ocean because she sees so much of herself in it.”

76- “It takes only an instant to drown, but it takes centuries to become wise.”

77- “The sea gives without any thought of return. We receive its gifts gladly, gratefully, always knowing that someday we’ll give something in exchange.”

78- “If you have ever seen a sunset over a calm sea, you know what I mean when I say that the sky itself looks like a piece of coloured glass set above us.”

79- “There is nothing more beautiful than watching the rising ocean’s tides lap at your feet as you stand looking out across the vast expanse of the Atlantic.”

80- “For every drop of rain falling on the earth, ten thousand gallons fall back into the sea.”

81- “The sea is not merely a place where we go to get wet. It’s a way of thinking, feeling, being, becoming.”

82- “The sea is full of mysteries and miracles.”

There are many secrets hidden beneath the surface of the waters. But one thing is sure and that is even after thousands of years, they still hold some surprises!

83- “People ask: Why should I care about the ocean? Because the ocean is the cornerstone of the earth’s life support system, it shapes climate and weather. It holds most of life on earth. 97% of the earth’s water is there. It’s the blue heart of the planet – we should take care of our heart. It’s what makes life possible for us. We still have the capacity to make things better than they are. They won’t get better unless we take action and inspire others to do the same thing. No one is without power. Everybody has the capacity to do something.” – Sylvia Earle.

84- “We know that when we protect our oceans, we’re protecting our future.” – William J. Clinton.

85- “Every day, billions of microscopic organisms drift through the waters of the open ocean. Some float freely like tiny specks of dust or pollen. Others cling together in huge swarms called plankton. These floating plants and animals form the base of the marine ecosystem. In turn, they support countless numbers of larger animals such as whales, dolphins, sharks, tuna, codfish, squid, octopus, shrimp, crabs, lobsters, eels, clams, oyster, mussels, barnacles, jellyfish, starfish, sponges, coral reefs, kelp forests, algae, shellfish, worms, snails, molluscs, crustaceans, insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and even us!.”

86- “The ocean has given birth to countless species of plants and animals. Some of those species have evolved into new kinds of plant and animal life. Others remain unchanged. In either case, the oceans continue to provide food and shelter for billions of beings.”

87- “All the animals in the sea depend on each other for their survival. So do people. That means that everyone depends on everyone else.”

88- “As long as man continues to pollute the seas, fish stocks will decline, and marine mammals will suffer. If we want healthy oceans and abundant wildlife, we must stop pollution now.”

89- “The sea is never empty. It teems with life. From the smallest plankton to the biggest whales, the sea is home to almost every kind of creature imaginable.”

90- “In order to keep the balance between the supply and demand of freshwater, nature keeps creating rivers and streams which flow into lakes and finally into the sea.”

91- “Ocean waves bring joy to everyone. They remind us of God’s great creation. No matter whether we are walking along the shoreline or sitting quietly under the sun, watching them play their magic tricks brings just a drop of tranquillity to our hearts.”

92- “A single wave is like a drop of rain falling into the ocean: each small ripple increases the size of the entire lake.”

93- “Waves break on rocks, but ships sink due to holes in their hulls and the salt water mixed with metal is etched in your memory.”

94- “It takes three minutes for a wave to reach the shore from its crest; it takes an hour for the bottom trace of the same wave to return.”

95- “You can’t see waves until you’re knee-deep in them; then all of a sudden, there they are: gigantic moving mountains of water crashing against the beach.”

96- “What happens to the tides affects everything living on land and undersea. “

97- “We live surrounded by magnificent bodies of water, yet few of us take time out to appreciate this great natural wonder.”

98- “Life began in the sea, and it ends there too. We owe a debt of gratitude to these vast underwater worlds for giving rise to our earthly existence.”

99- “I pray to be like the ocean, with soft currents, maybe waves at times. More and more, I want the consistency rather than the highs and the lows.” – Drew Barrymore.

100- “When you swim in deep waters, you learn how much you really know when you get back out again.” – David Allen Grier.

101- “If the ocean were not so wild, we would probably destroy her instead of merely abuse her.”

102- “To hear the roar of the surf on the sand, To feel the spray upon my face, Is enough to make me shout aloud, For what may be awaiting me here, Above or below the tide?”

103- “There’s nothing quite like being beside the sea, nothing as restful, peaceful, sublime as the smell of saltwater and clean air.” ­­– Jack London.

104- “No one knows where the sea begins nor where it ends.” – Pablo Neruda.

105- “The power of the sea lies in its mystery.” – Unknown Author.

106- “Everywhere around the globe, people depend on the sea to sustain them and provide food supplies. The sea provides jobs for millions of fishermen across the planet. Its beauty inspires art, literature and poetry. Most importantly, however, the sea makes possible the lives of billions of humans who rely on seafood for survival.”

107- “The sea is always changing, even though she seems still. Her moods are many and various. She looks calm today, serene. But tomorrow, perhaps, she will rage, foam and thunder.”

109- “Seashells have been used since ancient times to decorate jewellery because of their beautiful colours and lustre.”

110- “Fishing boats are sometimes called ‘ships of the open sea’ because they sail far beyond the sight of land, never knowing exactly what might lie ahead.”

111- “People think that the sea is cold, boring, and dangerous. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, without the sea, life itself wouldn’t exist.”

112- “Why do sailors love the sea? Because they believe that only after experiencing danger, struggle, and hardship can they truly understand the meaning of happiness.”

113- “They say the sea changes shape according to the weather and the restless ocean breeze, the wind shapes the sea, and the waves carry hope.”

114- “Sailing over the sea is very different from sailing on inland waterways.

115- “Waves carry the ocean’s soul to the shore and brings eternal joy to those who are blessed.”

116- “The warm and salty air of the ocean is a balm to the soul as are the wild waves.” Funny Ocean Quotes

117- If God had wanted us to walk across the dry ground, he would have given us feet instead of legs. He gave out a lot more than that, but we’ve been blessed with an ability most people don’t get: when you’re in the ocean and feel those waves washing over your toes as they break onshore – it’s like being worshipped by nature itself because from there all things start their life-cycle anew.

118- “Asking is the beginning of receiving. Make sure you don’t go to the ocean with a teaspoon. At least take a bucket so the kids won’t laugh at you.” – Jim Rohn.

119- “Don’t try to describe the ocean if you’ve never seen it.” – Jimmy Buffett

120- “The vitamin sea is a pill for the soul.”

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Inspirational Ocean Quotes for Those With Passion For The Sea

Oceans are the most valuable resource in the world. They cover more than  71 percent  of our planet’s surface, and whether you’re gazing at the mesmerizing sunset on the beach or taking a refreshing walk in the sand, no mountain in this world can match it.

We’ve all got our reasons, but most of us seem to turn to the sea to calm our souls. Words of wisdom, spoken through inspiring quotes and sayings, help us endure hard times and challenges, knowing calm seas will soon replace the storm. The ocean has it all, from inspiring quotes and sayings printed across its waves to a spectacular view that will take your breath away.

Our collection of ocean quotes will guide you on a journey through the arts and sciences, uncovering a world of enchantment and imagination. Dive in!

Ocean Quotes For Sea And Ocean Lovers To Inspire You

1. “We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected on the deep.” – William James

2. “The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths, it has its pearls too” – Vincent van Gogh, The Letters of Vincent van Gogh

3. “If you want to hear the distant voice of the ocean put your ear to the lips of a seashell.” –  Curtis Tyrone Jones

4. “Those who live by the sea can hardly form a single thought of which the sea would not be part.” –  Hermann Broch

5. “We ourselves feel what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” –  Mother Teresa

6. “In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans; in one aspect of you are found all the aspects of existence.” –  Kahlil Gibran Jr.

7. “It’s the sound of the sea that makes you believe in mermaids.” –  Anthony T.Hincks

8. “I felt the full breadth and depth of the ocean around the sphere of the Earth, […] the endless waves of swimming joy and quiet losses of exquisite creatures with fins and fronds, tentacles and wings, colorful and transparent, tiny and huge, coming and going. There is nothing the ocean has not seen” –  Sally Andrew

9. “There’s nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it’s sent away.” –  Sarah Kay

10. “Whenever I find myself growing grim […] I quietly take to the ship. Almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.” –  Herman Melville

11. “Life is like the ocean, it goes up and down.” –  Vanessa Paradis

12. “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” –  Jacques Cousteau

13. “The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths, it has its pearls too” –  Vincent van Gogh

14. “The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination, and brings eternal joy to the soul.” –  Robert Wyland

15. “There is something about the ocean that never fails to amaze me, the way she never fails to kiss the shores even though she is sent away, the way her waves can be both calm and terrifying, and the way she never fails to soothe my soul.” –  Unknown

16. “There must be something strangely sacred in salt. It is in our tears and in the sea.” –  Khalil Gibran

17. “The universe is an ocean upon which we are the waves. While some decide to surf, others venture to dive.” –  Charbel Tadros

18. “When she saw the waves crashing on the shore, her heart leaped inside her in excitement. She still had a love affair with the ocean.” –  Sharon Brubake

19. “What would an ocean be without a monster lurking in the dark? It would be like sleep without dreams.” –  Werner Herzog

20. “Her happiness floated like waves of the ocean along the coast of her life. She found lyrics of her life in his arms but she never sang her song.” –  Santosh Kalwar

21. “You will love the ocean. It makes you feel small, but not in a bad way. Small because you realize you’re part of something bigger.” –  Lauren Myracle

22. “The sea will grant each man new hope, and sleep will bring dreams of home…” –  Christopher Columbus

23. “In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans.” –  Kahlil Gibran

24. “A pool just isn’t the same as the ocean. It has no energy. No life.” –  Linda Gerber

25. “The ocean has a life of its own. Its tides, whirlpools, currents, and eddies are a testament to its conflicting emotions.” –  Anthony T. Hincks

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Smell the sea and feel the sky.

Don't sit and wait. Get out there, feel life. Touch the sun, and immerse in the sea.

Meet me where the sky touches the sea. Wait for me where the world begins.

I wanted freedom, open air and adventure. I found it on the sea.

Because there's nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it's sent away.

Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.

Brother will kill brother, spill blood across the land. Killing for religion, something I don't understand. Fools like me who cross the sea and come to foreign lands, ask the sheep for their beliefs; 'Do you kill on God's command?'

The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.

Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.

I am alone again and I want to be so; alone with the pure sky and open sea.

There's never an end for the sea.

The health of our seas determines the future of humanity.

As the sea is beautiful not only in calm but also in storm, so is happiness found not only in peace but also in strife.

At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much.

The sea! The sea! The open sea!, The blue, the fresh, the ever free!

To stand at the edge of the sea, to sense the ebb and flow of the tides, to feel the breath of a mist moving over a great salt marsh, to watch the flight of shore birds that have swept up and down the surf lines of the continents for untold thousands of years, to see the running of the old eels and the young shad to the sea, is to have knowledge of things that are as nearly eternal as any earthly life can be.

There is one spectacle grander than the sea, that is the sky; there is one spectacle grander than the sky, that is the interior of the soul.

The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.

The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace.

Calm seas never made a good sailor

When anxious, uneasy and bad thoughts come, I go to the sea, and the sea drowns them out with its great wide sounds, cleanses me with its noise, and imposes a rhythm upon everthing in me that is bewildered and confused.

The edge of the sea is a strange and beautiful place.

There is nothing in the world that is not mysterious, but the mystery is more evident in certain things than in others: in the sea, in the eyes of the elders, in the color yellow, and in music.

There is one knows not what sweet mystery about this sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath.

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152 Best Travel Quotes To Inspire You To See The World

We’ve been putting together some of our favorite inspirational travel quotes as we continue to travel the world and experience new places and things abroad.

What follows is a complete collection of 152 of the best travel quotes, complete with adventure travel quotes from famous figures like Anthony Bourdain, John Muir, and Mark Twain.

Warning: some of these quotes may give you the travel itch! In any case, I hope you’ll find some of these short travel quotes inspirational for your own journey!

Table of Contents show 152 Best Travel Quotes • Famous Travel Quotes • Mark Twain Travel Quotes • Funny Travel Quotes • Short Travel Quotes • Misc Travel Quotes • Inspirational Travel Quotes • Travel With Friends Quotes • Adventure Travel Quotes • Solo Travel Quotes • Anthony Bourdain Travel Quotes More Travel Content & Tips  

152 Best Travel Quotes

• famous travel quotes.

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. — Unknown

Take only memories, leave only footprints. — Unknown

Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world. — Gustave Flaubert

Not all those who wander are lost. — J.R.R. Tolkien

Every man dies, but not every man really lives. — William Wallace

To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all. — Oscar Wilde

Life is a journey. Make the most of it. — Unknown

I’ve traveled every road in this here land… I’ve been everywhere, man, I’ve been everywhere. — Johnny Cash

Paris is always a good idea. — Audrey Hepburn

Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer. — Unknown

Collect moments, not things. — Unknown

Today is your day, your mountain is waiting. So get on your way. — Dr Seuss

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. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. — Unknown

I’m shaking the dust of this crummy little town off my feet and I’m gonna see the world. — George Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life

It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to. — J.R.R. Tolkien

Nature is not a place to visit. It is home. — Gary Snyder

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not. — Ralph Waldo Emerson

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. — Lao Tzu

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. — John Muir

The mountains are calling and I must go. — John Muir

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. — John Muir

To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, to gain all while you give, to roam the roads of lands remote: To travel is to live. — Hans Christian Andersen

Oh the places you’ll go. — Dr. Seuss

I shall be telling this with a sigh, Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. — Robert Frost

When one is alone at night in the depths of the woods, the stillness is at once awful and sublime. — John Muir

Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own. — Charles Dickens

• Mark Twain Travel Quotes

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one’s lifetime.

To do something, say something, see something, before anybody else — these are the things that confer a pleasure compared with which other pleasures are tame and commonplace, other ecstasies cheap and trivial. Lifetimes of ecstasy crowded into a single moment.

It is the loveliest fleet of islands [ Hawaii ] that lies anchored in any ocean.

No alien land in all the world has any deep strong charm for me but that one [ Hawaii ], no other land could so longingly and so beseechingly haunt me, sleeping and waking, through half a lifetime, as that one has done. Other things leave me, but it abides; other things change, but it remains the same.   For me the balmy airs are always blowing, its summer seas flashing in the sun; the pulsing of its surfbeat is in my ear; I can see its garlanded crags, its leaping cascades, its plumy palms drowsing by the shore, its remote summits floating like islands above the cloud wrack; I can feel the spirit of its wildland solitudes, I can hear the splash of its brooks; in my nostrils still lives the breath of flowers that perished twenty years ago.

• Funny Travel Quotes

Airplanes may kill you, but they ain’t likely to hurt you. — Leroy Satchel Paige

Two great talkers will not travel far together. — George Borrow

I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them. — Mark Twain

I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine. — Caskie Stinnett

Did you ever notice that the first piece of luggage on the carousel never belongs to anyone? — Erma Bombeck

Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore. — Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz

• Short Travel Quotes

Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before. — Unknown

Better to see something once than hear about it a thousand times. — Asian Proverb

Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller. — Ibn Battutah

We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us. — Unknown

One travels to run away from routine, that dreadful routine that kills all imagination and all our capacity for enthusiasm. — Ella Maillart

Half the fun of travel is the esthetic of lostness. — Ray Bradbury

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. — Marcel Proust

There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign. — Robert Louis Stevenson

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. — Neale Donald Walsh

I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list. — Unknown

And I think to myself, what a wonderful world. — Louis Armstrong

They say travel broadens the mind, but you must have the mind. — G.K. Chesterton

Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow. — Anita Desai

Life is short and the world is wide. — Unknown

The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one’s own country as a foreign land. — G.K. Chesterton

A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving. — Lao Tzu

If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere. — Vincent van Gogh

The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness. — John Muir

A wise traveler never despises his own country. — Carlos Osvaldo Goldoni

You know more of a road by having traveled it than by all the conjectures and descriptions in the world. — William Hazlitt

I love to travel, but hate to arrive. — Albert Einstein

And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. — John Muir

A great way to learn about your country is to leave it. — Henry Rollins

Live your life by a compass, not a clock. — Stephen Covey

Some experiences simply do not translate, you have to go to know. — Kobi Yamada

I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world. — Mary Anne Radmacher

At its best, travel should challenge our preconceptions and most cherished views, cause us to rethink our assumptions, shake us a bit, make us broader minded and more understanding. — Arthur Frommer

Travel is never a matter of money, but of courage. — Paulo Coelho

Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost. — Erol Ozan

Travel far enough, you meet yourself. — David Mitchell

The journey itself is my home. — Matsuo Basho

Live, travel, adventure, bless and don’t be sorry. — Jack Kerouac

The saddest journey in the world is the one that follows a precise itinerary. — Guillermo del Toro

A good traveler leaves no tracks. — Lao Tzu

It’s in those quiet little towns, at the edge of the world, that you will find the salt of the Earth people who make you feel right at home. — Aaron Lauritsen

It is better to travel well than to arrive. — Unknown

The impulse to travel is one of the hopeful symptoms of life. — Agnes Repplier

• Misc Travel Quotes

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. — Albert Camus

To the lover of wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world. — John Muir

When we contemplate the whole globe as one great dewdrop, striped and dotted with continents and islands, flying through space with other stars all singing and shining together as one, the whole universe appears as an infinite storm of beauty. — John Muir

I’m in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection. But with Montana, it is love. — John Steinbeck

Yosemite Park is a place of rest, a refuge from the roar and dust and weary, nervous, wasting work of the lowlands, in which one gains the advantages of both solitude and society. — John Muir

The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. — Jacques Cousteau

The Mediterranean has the color of mackerel, changeable I mean. You don’t always know if it is green or violet, you can’t even say it’s blue, because the next moment the changing reflection has taken on a tint of rose or gray. — Vincent van Gogh

I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order. — John Burroughs

No pain here, no dull empty hours, no fear of the past, no fear of the future. These blessed mountains are so compactly filled with God’s beauty, no petty personal hope or experience has room to be. — John Muir

On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it. — Jules Renard

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. — Albert Einstein

Lighthouses are not just stone, brick, metal, and glass. There’s a human story at every lighthouse. — Elinor DeWire

To almost every man and woman there is something about a lighted beacon which suggests hope and trust and appeals to the better instincts of all mankind. — Edward Rowe Snowe

• Inspirational Travel Quotes

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. — Helen Keller

Never let your memories be greater than your dreams. — Douglas Ivester

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 on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible. — Lawrence of Arabia

Do not dare not to dare. — C.S. Lewis

Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear. — George Adair

Wherever you go, go with all your heart. — Unknown

It seems to be a law of nature, inflexible and inexorable, that those who will not risk cannot win. — John Paul Jones

This is what holidays, travels, vacations are about. It is not really rest or even leisure we chase. We strain to renew our capacity for wonder to shock ourselves into astonishment once again. — Shana Alexander

I beg young people to travel. If you don’t have a passport, get one. Take a summer, get a backpack and go to Delhi, go to Saigon, go to Bangkok, go to Kenya. Have your mind blown. Eat interesting food. Dig some interesting people. Have an adventure. Be careful. Come back and you’re going to see your country differently, you’re going to see your president differently, no matter who it is. — Henry Rollins

Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in an office or mowing your lawn. Climb that damn mountain. — Jack Kerouac

For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move; to feel the needs and hitches of our life more nearly; to come down off this feather-bed of civilization, and find the globe granite underfoot and strewn with cutting flints. — Robert Louis Stevenson

Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you’d drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories. — Ray Bradbury

We leave something of ourselves behind when we leave a place. We stay there, even though we go away. And there are things in us that we can find again only by going back there. — Pascal Mercier

Once in a while it really hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way they have been told to. — Alan Keightley

Every dreamer knows that it is entirely possible to be homesick for a place you’ve never been to, perhaps more homesick than for familiar ground. — Judith Thurman

Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey. — Pat Conroy

No man is brave that has never walked a hundred miles. If you want to know the truth of who you are, walk until not a person knows your name. Travel is the great leveler, the great teacher, bitter as medicine, crueler than mirror-glass. A long stretch of road will teach you more about yourself than a hundred years of quiet. — Patrick Rothfuss

It is always sad to leave a place to which one knows one will never return. Such are the melancolies du voyage: perhaps they are one of the most rewarding things about traveling. — Gustave Flaubert

The wish to travel seems to me characteristically human: the desire to move, to satisfy your curiosity or ease your fears, to change the circumstances of your life, to be a stranger, to make a friend, to experience an exotic landscape, to risk the unknown. — Paul Theroux

Although I deeply love oceans, deserts and other wild landscapes, it is only mountains that beckon me with that sort of painful magnetic pull to walk deeper and deeper into their beauty. They keep me continuously wanting to know more, feel more, see more. — Victoria Erickson

• Travel With Friends Quotes

A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles. — Tim Cahill

You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart always will be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place. — Miriam Adeney

We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend. — Robert Louis Stevenson

• Adventure Travel Quotes

Adventure is worthwhile in itself. — Amelia Earhart

If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; it is lethal. — Paulo Coelho

Most of us abandoned the idea of a life full of adventure and travel sometime between puberty and our first job. Our dreams died under the dark weight of responsibility. Occasionally the old urge surfaces, and we label it with names that suggest psychological aberrations: the big chill, a midlife crisis. — Tim Cahill

Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness. All other travel is mere dust and hotels and baggage and chatter. — John Muir

Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread. — Edward Abbey

Once a journey is designed, equipped, and put in process, a new factor enters and takes over. A trip, a safari, an exploration, is an entity, different from all other journeys. It has personality, temperament, individuality, uniqueness. A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless.   We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us. Tour masters, schedules, reservations, brass-bound and inevitable, dash themselves to wreckage on the personality of the trip. Only when this is recognized can the blown-in-the glass bum relax and go along with it. Only then do the frustrations fall away. In this a journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it. — John Steinbeck

What is that feeling when you’re driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? – it’s the too-huge world vaulting us, and it’s good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies. — Jack Kerouac

A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for. — J.A. Shedd

It’s a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you’re ready. I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything. There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now. And you may as well do it now. Generally speaking, now is as good a time as any. — Hugh Laurie

Adventure is a path. Real adventure – self-determined, self-motivated, often risky – forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the Earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind – and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white. — Mark Jenkins

The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. — Christopher McCandless

Adventure is allowing the unexpected to happen to you. Exploration is experiencing what you have not experienced before. How can there be any adventure, any exploration, if you let somebody else – above all, a travel bureau – arrange everything before-hand? — Richard Aldington

Be careful because Cambodia is the most dangerous place you will ever visit. You will fall in love with it, and eventually it will break your heart. — Joel Brinkley

• Solo Travel Quotes

To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the most pleasant sensations in the world. — Freya Stark

Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. — Unknown

I can’t think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything. Suddenly you are five years old again. You can’t read anything, you have only the most rudimentary sense of how things work, you can’t reliably cross a street without endangering your life. Your whole existence becomes a series of interesting guesses. — Bill Bryson

The true fruit of travel is perhaps the feeling of being nearly everywhere at home. — Freya Stark

When you’ve managed to stumble directly into the heart of the unknown – either through the misdirection of others, or better yet, through your own creative ineptitude – there is no one there to hold your hand or tell you what to do. In those bad lost moments, in the times when we are advised not to panic, we own the unknown, and the world belongs to us. The child within has full reign. Few of us are ever so free. — Tim Cahill

No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow. — Lin Yutang

He travels the fastest who travels alone. — Rudyard Kipling

Travel can be one of the most rewarding forms of introspection. — Lawrence Durrell

When the traveler goes alone he gets acquainted with himself. — Liberty Hyde Bailey

The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready. — Henry David Thoreau

I think one travels more usefully when they travel alone, because they reflect more. — Thomas Jefferson

Loving life is easy when you are abroad. Where no one knows you and you hold your life in your hands all alone, you are more master of yourself than at any other time. — Hannah Arendt

Personally I like going places where I don’t speak the language, don’t know anybody, don’t know my way around and don’t have any delusions that I’m in control. Disoriented, even frightened, I feel alive, awake in ways I never am at home. — Michael Mewshaw

I can speak to my soul only when the two of us are off exploring deserts or cities or mountains or roads. — Paulo Coelho

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road. Healthy, free, the world before me. The long brown path before me leading me wherever I choose. — Walt Whitman

• Anthony Bourdain Travel Quotes

If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel – as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them – wherever you go.

Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks — on your body or on your heart — are beautiful. Often, though, they hurt.

It’s an irritating reality that many places and events defy description. Angkor Wat and Machu Picchu , for instance, seem to demand silence, like a love affair you can never talk about.   For a while after, you fumble for words, trying vainly to assemble a private narrative, an explanation, a comfortable way to frame where you’ve been and what’s happened. In the end, you’re just happy you were there — with your eyes open — and lived to see it.

Travel is about the gorgeous feeling of teetering in the unknown.

I’m a big believer in winging it. I’m a big believer that you’re never going to find the perfect city travel experience or the perfect meal without a constant willingness to experience a bad one. Letting the happy accident happen is what a lot of vacation itineraries miss, I think, and I’m always trying to push people to allow those things to happen rather than stick to some rigid itinerary.

Do we really want to travel in hermetically sealed popemobiles through the rural provinces of France, Mexico and the Far East, eating only in Hard Rock Cafes and McDonalds? … I know what I want. I want it all. I want to try everything once.

It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it, how many places I have still to go, how much more there is to learn.   Maybe that’s enlightenment enough – to know that there is no final resting place of the mind, no moment of smug clarity. Perhaps wisdom, at least for me, means realizing how small I am, and unwise, and how far I have yet to go.

I think food, culture, people and landscape are all absolutely inseparable.

Food is everything we are. It’s an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It’s inseparable from those from the get-go.

Southeast Asia has a real grip on me. From the very first time I went there, it was a fulfillment of my childhood fantasies of the way travel should be.

I wanted adventures. I wanted to go up the Nung river to the heart of darkness in Cambodia . I wanted to ride out into a desert on camelback, sand and dunes in every direction, eat whole roasted lamb with my fingers. I wanted to kick snow off my boots in a Mafiya nightclub in Russia. I wanted to play with automatic weapons in Phnom Penh, recapture the past in a small oyster village in France, step into a seedy neon-lit pulqueria in rural Mexico. I wanted to run roadblocks in the middle of the night, blowing past angry militia with a handful of hurled Marlboro packs, experience fear, excitement, wonder.   I wanted kicks – the kind of melodramatic thrills and chills I’d yearned for since childhood, the kind of adventure I’d found as a little boy in the pages of my Tintin comic books. I wanted to see the world – and I wanted the world to be just like the movies.

At this point I think my body is like an old car. Another dent ain’t gonna make a whole lot of difference. At best it’s a reminder that you’re still alive and lucky as hell. Another tattoo, another thing you did, another place you’ve been.

Without experimentation, a willingness to ask questions and try new things, we shall surely become static, repetitive, and moribund.

If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. The extent to which you can walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food, it’s a plus for everybody. Open your mind, get up off the couch, move.

Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.

More Travel Content & Tips

That’s a roundup of our favorite adventure travel quotes! I hope you’ve found these travel quotes inspirational for your own journeys.

Don’t forget to check out my latest travel blog posts and our complete destination guides by country!

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Atlas & Boots

The UK's most popular outdoor travel blog

95 most inspirational travel quotes ever penned

Our favourite inspirational travel quotes have encouraged us to travel with abandon over the years. Perhaps they will do the same for you…

For us, there is no such thing as luxury travel; travel is, by default, a luxury. It is a privilege provided by the country of our birth, a privilege that many are not as fortunate to enjoy.

Sometimes, we have to pinch ourselves at just how ridiculous our lives have become: an ex-teacher and jobbing writer travelling the world for a living. It is absurd, it is astonishing, it is luxury.

When I first went travelling at 21 years old, my father gave me this quote scrawled on a piece of card.

It infused me with wanderlust. It encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone, make the most of my time, see the world and enjoy the freedom that comes with being on the road. It remains one of the most inspirational travel quotes I’ve read (even if Twain did not actually say it).

Today, 20 years and almost 100 countries later, it’s still in my wallet. Despite its tattered and dishevelled appearance, it’s every bit as important to me now as it was then.

With that in mind, we’ve collated our most beloved inspirational travel quotes to encourage readers to “explore, dream and discover” for themselves.

inspirational travel quotes

1. “To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” – Bill Bryson

2. “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine

3. “Travel is never a matter of money, but of courage.” – Paulo Coelho

4. “With age, comes wisdom. With travel, comes understanding.” – Sandra Lake

5. “When overseas you learn more about your own country, than you do the place you’re visiting.” – Clint Borgen

6. “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” – Mark Twain

7. “Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon.” – Paul Brandt

8. “The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready.” – Henry David Thoreau

9. “The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it.” – Rudyard Kipling

10. “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

11. “When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.” – Susan Heller Anderson

12. “No place is ever as bad as they tell you it’s going to be.” – Chuck Thompson

13. “We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharlal Nehru

14. “A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu

15. “There is no moment of delight in any pilgrimage like the beginning of it.” – Charles Dudley Warner

16. “A ship in harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships were built for.” – John A. Shedd

17. “Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going.” – Paul Theroux

18. “Not all those who wander are lost.” – J. R. R. Tolkien

19. “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

20. “Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.” – Benjamin Disraeli

21. “Once a year, go somewhere you’ve never been before.” – The Dalai Lama

22. “No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” – Lin Yutang

23. “What you’ve done becomes the judge of what you’re going to do – especially in other people’s minds. When you’re travelling, you are what you are right there and then. People don’t have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.” – William Least Heat Moon

24. “There are no foreign lands. It is the traveller only who is foreign.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

25. “Travel is glamorous only in retrospect.” – Paul Theroux

26. “A traveller without observation is a bird without wings.” – Moslih Eddin Saadi

27. “Your true traveller finds boredom rather agreeable than painful. It is the symbol of his liberty-his excessive freedom. He accepts his boredom, when it comes, not merely philosophically, but almost with pleasure.” – Aldous Huxley

28. “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller

29. “All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to improve his own. And if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it.” – Samuel Johnson

30. “Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe.” – Anatole France

31. “I can’t control the wind but I can adjust the sail.” – Ricky Skaggs

32. “We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfilment.” – Hilaire Belloc

33. “People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home.” – Dagobert D. Runes

34. “If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” – James Michener

35. “The use of travelling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson

36. “You don’t have to be rich to travel well.” – Eugene Fodor

37. “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou

38. “All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” – Martin Buber

39. “Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by.” – Robert Frost

40. “Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” – Seneca

41. “Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things – air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.” – Cesare Pavese

42. “Once the travel bug bites, there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life.” ― Michael Palin

43. “A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” – Tim Cahill

44. “A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.” – John Steinbeck

45. “When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable.” – Clifton Fadiman

46. “There are far, far better things ahead than we leave behind.” – C.S. Lewis

47. “Travel does what good novelists also do to the life of everyday, placing it like a picture in a frame or a gem in its setting, so that the intrinsic qualities are made more clear. Travel does this with the very stuff that everyday life is made of, giving to it the sharp contour and meaning of art.” – Freya Stark

48. “To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” – Aldous Huxley

49. “All the pathos and irony of leaving one’s youth behind is thus implicit in every joyous moment of travel: one knows that the first joy can never be recovered, and the wise traveller learns not to repeat successes but tries new places all the time.” – Paul Fussell

50. “I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” – Mark Twain

51. “The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one’s own country as a foreign land.” – G.K. Chesterton

52. “Too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely lengthens the conversation.” – Elizabeth Drew

53. “People don’t take trips, trips take people.” – John Steinbeck

54. “Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you’d drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.” – Ray Bradbury

55. “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Gustave Flaubert

56. “The journey not the arrival matters.” – T. S. Eliot

57. “Time flies. It’s up to you to be the navigator.” – Robert Orben

58. “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust

59. “I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.” – Oscar Wilde

60. “For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

61. “If an ass goes travelling, he’ll not come home a horse.” – Thomas Fuller

62. “Travelling tends to magnify all human emotions.” – Peter Hoeg

63. “To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, To gain all while you give, To roam the roads of lands remote: To travel is to live.” – Hans Christian Andersen

64. “To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.” – Freya Stark

65. “I am not the same having seen the moon shine from the other side of the world.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

66. “I always wonder why birds stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on earth. Then I ask myself the same question.” – Harun Yahya

67. “I dislike feeling at home when I am abroad.” – George Bernard Shaw

68. “A wise traveler never despises his own country.” – Carlo Goldoni

69. “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide

70 “Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta

71. “We travel, some of us forever, to seek other places, other lives, other souls.” – Anais Nin

72. “Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard

73. “The gladdest moment in human life, methinks, is a departure into unknown lands.” – Sir Richard Burton

74. “A man of ordinary talent will always be ordinary, whether he travels or not; but a man of superior talent will go to pieces if he remains forever in the same place.” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

75. “He who would travel happily must travel light.” – Antoine de St. Exupery

76. “Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.” – Jack Kerouac

77. “The more I travelled the more I realised that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.” – Shirley MacLaine

78. “Live your life by a compass, not a clock.” – Stephen Covey

78. “Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else.” – Lawrence Block

80. “Take only memories, leave only footprints.” – Chief Seattle – or Si’ahl

81. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

82. “It is not down in any map; true places never are.” – Herman Melville

83. “We live in a world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharlal Nehru

84. “The most beautiful thing in the world is, of course, the world itself” – Wallace Stevens

85. “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” – Neale Donald Walsch

86. “Paris is always a good idea.” – Julia Ormond (although it is often wrongly attributed to Audrey Hepburn)

87. “Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the trip.” – Babs Hoffman

88. “Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain

89. “Jobs fill your pocket but adventures fill your soul.” – Jaime Lyn Beatty

90. “It is in our nature to explore, to reach out into the unknown. The only true failure would be not to explore at all.” – Sir Ernest Shackleton

91. “Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” –  Jack Kerouac

92. “Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things can not be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain

93. “Live with no excuses and travel with no regrets.” – Oscar Wilde

94. “Remember that happiness is a way of travel – not a destination.” – Roy M Goodman

95. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain (or possibly H Jackson Brown Jr )

Enjoyed this post? pin it for later…

The Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List is the definitive wish list of the best places to visit on earth – the perfect accompaniment to our selection of inspirational travel quotes.

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• 103 Best Travel Quotes to Inspire your Wanderlust (2024)

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For all those out there with hearts full of reisefieber (that’s German for travel fever), this post goes out to you. I’ve collected the 103 best travel quotes to fuel your wanderlust, caption your Instagram posts, and inspire your next adventure. I hope you enjoy.

This post was updated November 2023.

Quotes That Define Travel

1.”Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things—air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky—all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.” -Cesare Pavese

2. “Traveling is like flirting with life. It’s like saying, ‘I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station.’” -Lisa St. Aubin de Teran

3. “Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” -Mary Ritter Beard

How Travel Defines Us

4. “If you want to know the truth of who you are, walk until not a person knows your name. Travel is the great leveler, the great teacher, bitter as medicine, crueler than mirror-glass. A long stretch of road will teach you more about yourself than a hundred years of quiet.” -Patrick Rothfuss

5. “So much of who we are is where we have been.” -William Langewiesche

6. “You get a strange feeling when you leave a place. Like you’ll not only miss the people you love, but you miss the person you are at this time and place because you’ll never be this way ever again.” -Azar Nafisi

7. “One of the great things about travel is that you find out how many good, kind people there are.” -Edith Wharton

8. “The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.” -Shirley Maclaine

Quotes About Why We Travel

9. “I’ll never be content to stay forever in one place. I’m too madly in love with all the places I haven’t been, the people I haven’t met, the food I haven’t tried, and the streets I haven’t danced on.” -Brooke Hamptom

10. “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” -Robyn Yong

11. “We travel initially to lose ourselves; and we travel next to find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate. We travel to bring what little we can, in our ignorance and knowledge, to those parts of the globe where riches are differently dispersed. And we travel, in essence, to become young fools again—to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more.” -Patrick Rothfuss

12. “To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” -Bill Bryson

13. “We travel because distance and difference are the secret tonic of creativity. When we get home, home is still the same. But something inside our minds has changed, and that changes everything.” -Jonah Lehrer

14. “Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” -Jack Kerouac

15. “I travel because I’d rather look back at my life, saying ‘I can’t believe I did that’ instead of ‘If only I had…’” -Florine Bos

16. “I need to move around a bit. To shuffle my surroundings. To wake up in cities I don’t know my way around and have conversations in languages I cannot entirely comprehend. There is always this tremendous longing in my heart to be lost, to be someplace else, to be far far away from all of this.” -Beau Taplin

We were made to move

17. “I always wonder why birds choose to stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on the earth, then I ask myself the same question.” -Harun Yahya

18. “A ship at harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” -John A Shedd

19. “If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet.” -Rachel Wolchin

Quotes About How Travel Changes Us

20. “Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” -Ibn Batutta

21. “At its best, travel should challenge our perceptions and most cherished views, cause us to rethink our assumptions, shake us a bit, make us broader minded and more understanding.” -Arthur Frommer

22. “A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” -Oliver Wendell Holmes

23. “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” -Gustave Flaubert

24. “Travel sparks our imagination, feeds our curiosity and reminds us how much we all have in common.” -Deborah Lloyd

25. “I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” -Mary Anne Radmacher

Travel Quotes About Home

26. “You will never be completely home again, because part of your heart always will be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.” -Miriam Adeney

27. “We are torn between a nostalgia for the familiar and an urge for the foreign and strange. We are homesick most for the places we have never known.” -Carson McCullers

28. “A great way to learn about your country is to leave it.” -Henry Rollins

29. “There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.” -Robert Louis Stevenson

30. “Wild hearts find a home in every place they roam.” -C. Churchill

31. “A man does not belong to the place where he was born, but where he chooses to die.” -Orson Welles

Proverbs From Around the World

32. “Your feet will take you where your heart is.” -Irish Proverb

33. “He who is outside his door already has the hardest part of his journey behind him.” -Dutch Proverb

34. “Don’t listen to what they say. Go see.” -Chinese Proverb

35. “Who lives sees much. Who travels sees more.” -Arab Proverb

On the Journey, the Road, the Destination

36. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” -Lao Tzu

37. “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” -Susan Sontag

38. “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.” -David Bowie

39. “The best journeys are the ones that answer questions that at the onset you never thought to ask.” -Rick Ridgeway

40. “A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” -Lao Tzu

41. “Because the greatest part of a road trip isn’t arriving at your destination. It’s all the wild stuff that happens along the way.” -Emma Chase

42. “Two roads diverged in a wood and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” -Robert Frost

43. “There are roads left in both of our shoes.” -Death Cab for Cutie, Soul Meets Body

Travel Quotes About Tourists v. Travelers

44. “When a man is a Traveler, the world is his house and the sky is his roof, where he hangs his hat is his home, and all the people are his family.” -Drew Bundini Brown

45. “Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going.” -Paul Theroux

46. “The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see.” -G. K. Chesterton

47. “Please be a traveler, not a tourist. Try new things, meet new people, and look beyond what’s right in front of you. Those are the keys to understanding this amazing world we live in.” -Andrew Zimmern

Travel Quotes From Explorers and Travel Writers

Freya stark.

Freya Stark (1893-1993) was a British/Italian explorer and travel writer. She traveled extensively in the Middle East, Mediterranean, and Asia. In fact, she was one of the first non-Arabs to cross the Arabian Desert.

48. “To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world. You are surrounded by adventure.” -Freya Stark

49. “Travel does what good novelists also do to the life of everyday, placing it like a picture in a frame or a gem in its setting, so that the intrinsic qualities are made more clear. Travel does this with the very stuff that everyday life is made of, giving to it the sharp contour and meaning of art.” -Freya Stark

Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain (1956-2018), chef, travel writer and documentarian. This is a man who needs no introduction. He taught us about other cultures and countries, unapologetically examining both the good and the bad with raw honesty and respect.

50. “Travel is not reward for working, it’s education for living.” -Anthony Bourdain

51. “Travel is about the gorgeous feeling of teetering in the unknown.” -Anthony Bourdain

52. “Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” -Anthony Bourdain

Pico Iyer (1957–) is a contemporary British travel writer. He tends to focus his writing on often over-looked topics. For example, he examines the disconnect between local tradition and global pop culture, the cultural repercussions of isolation, and how travel can help us find a calm and stillness in today’s busy pace.

53. “A person susceptible to ‘wanderlust’ is not so much addicted to movement as committed to transformation.” -Pico Iyer

54. “Travel is not really about leaving our homes, but leaving our habits.” -Pico Iyer

55. “And if travel is like love, it is, in the end, mostly because it’s a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed. That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end.” -Pico Iyer

56. “Anybody who travels knows that you’re not really doing so in order to move around—you’re traveling in order to be moved. And really what you’re seeing is not just the Grand Canyon or the Great Wall but some moods or intimations or places inside yourself that you never ordinarily see when you’re sleepwalking through your daily life.” -Pico Iyer

Travel Quotes From Naturalists

57. “Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.” -Henry David Thoreau

58. “The world is big, and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.” -John Muir

59. “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” -John Muir

60. “Most people who travel look only at what they are directed to look at. Great is the power of the guidebook maker, however ignorant.” -John Muir

Travel Quotes From Great Literary Authors

61. “To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, to gain all while you give, to roam the roads of lands remote, to travel is to live.” -Hans Christian Anderson

62. “For always roaming with a hungry heart, much have I seen and known.” -Alfred Tennyson

63. “Live life with no excuses, travel with no regret.” -Oscar Wilde

64. “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” -T. S. Elliot

65. “It’s a funny thing coming home. Nothing changes. Everything looks the same, feels the same, even smells the same. You realize what’s changed is you.” -F Scott Fitzgerald

66. “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” -Mark Twain

67. “Bizarre travel plans are dancing lessons from God.” -Kurt Vonnegut

68. “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all people cry, laugh, eat, worry and diet, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” -Maya Angelou

Travel Quotes From Books

69. “It is not down in any map; true places never are.” -Herman Melville, Moby Dick

70. “It is a big and beautiful world. Most of us live and die in the same corner where we were born and never get to see any of it. I don’t want to be most of us.” -Oberyn Martell, Game of Thrones

71. “Travel far enough to meet yourself.” -David Mitchel, Cloud Atlas

72. “I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.” -Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest

73. “Would you like an adventure now or shall we have our tea first?” -Peter Pan

74. “Not all those who wander are lost.” -J.J.R. Tolkien

75. “It’s a dangerous business…going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” -J.R.R. Tolkien

Travel Quotes on Books and Education

76. “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” -St. Augustine

77. “I read, I travel, I become.” -Derek Walcott

78. “Of all the books in all the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport.” -Saber Ben Hassen

79. “With age, comes wisdom. With travel, comes understanding.” -Sandra Lake

80. “Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have traveled.” -Muhammad

Travel Quotes About Wealth

81. “Travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer.” -Anonymous

82. “I would rather own a little and see the world than own the world and see a little of it.” -Alexander Sattler

83. “Own only what you can always carry with you: know languages, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag.” -Alexander Solzhenitsyn

84. “To travel is to possess the world.” -Burton Holmes

Quotes on Adventure

85. “Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures.” -Lovelle Drachman

86. “If happiness is the goal—and it should be, then adventures should be a priority.” -Richard Branson

87. “Nothing adventured, nothing attained.” -Peter McWilliams

88. “You must go on adventures to find out where you truly belong.” -Sue Fitzmaurice

89. “We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” -Jawaharlal Nehru

90. “Travel doesn’t become adventure until you leave yourself behind.” -Marty Rubin

Travel Quotes That Offer Advice

91. “Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.” -Dalai Lama

92. “Live your life by a compass, not a clock.” -Stephen Covey

93. “We must travel in the direction of our fear.” -John Berryman

94. “Cover the earth before it covers you.” -Dagobert D Runes

95. “Travel while you’re young and able. Don’t worry about the money, just make it work. Experience is far more valuable than money will ever be.” -David Avocado Wolfe

96. “When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.” -Susan Heller

97. “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time.” -Aliyyah Eniath

98. “If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears.” -Cesare Pavese

99. “When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable.” -Clifton Fadiman

100. “Do yourself a favor. Before it’s too late, without thinking too much about it first, pack a pillow and a blanket and see as much of the world as you can. You will not regret it. One day it will be too late.” -Jhumpa Lahiri

Travel Memories

101. “We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone.” -Travelermentality

102. “I have worn the dust of many foreign streets, but to brush it off would surely be a crime. I have the memories of many foreign adventures, but to forget them, would surely be a sin. So, breath in the dust, and keep the memories in.” -Rowland Waring-Flood

103. Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know why I look this way. I’ve traveled a long way and some of the roads weren’t paved.” -Will Rogers

Without a doubt, there are a lot of amazing travel quotes out there. However, I’ve only shared a few of them. Do you have a favorite quote I missed? I’d love to hear from you. So tell me, what are your favorite travel quotes, and why do they speak to you?

Also, if you’re looking for a little more travel inspiration, check out Clarice’s Travel Bucket List . Or if you’re looking for more quotes, you can check out 13 John Muir Quotes for the Adventurers at Heart , too.

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The post 103 Best Travel Quotes to Inspire your Wanderlust (2024) first appeared on The Clever West Wind .

The post 103 Best Travel Quotes to Inspire your Wanderlust (2024) appeared first on The Clever West Wind .