640+ Best John Maxwell Quotes to Inspire Leadership in 2025

By ava white

Want to lead with wisdom and inspire those around you? John Maxwell, a world-renowned leadership expert, has shared countless insights on success, influence, and personal growth.

If you’re an entrepreneur, a manager, or someone striving for excellence, his words can guide you to new heights.

In this collection of 640+ Best John Maxwell Quotes, you’ll find motivation, leadership lessons, and the mindset shifts you need to succeed.

Scroll through, find your favorite quote, and with just one click, copy it to WhatsApp to share with your team, friends, or social circle! 🚀


John Maxwell Quotes for Social Media Captions

John Maxwell Quotes for Social Media Captions

Want to wow your followers with some deep and thoughtful quotes? These John Maxwell quotes are perfect for giving your posts that extra punch:

  • “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
  • “Success is not a destination, it’s a journey.”
  • “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
  • “The secret to success is to focus on goals, not obstacles.”
  • “The more seriously you take yourself, the less seriously others will take you.”
  • “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.”
  • “Teamwork makes the dream work.”
  • “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
  • “Growth is the great separator between those who succeed and those who do not.”
  • “If you’re not failing, you’re not growing.”
  • “Leaders become great not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others.”
  • “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”
  • “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”
  • “There is no success without sacrifice.”
  • “To add value to others, one must first value others.”

John Maxwell Quotes for Funny Moments

John Maxwell Quotes for Funny Moments

Looking for something funny yet insightful to break the ice? These John Maxwell quotes bring a dose of humor and wisdom:

  • “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way – but a good leader also knows when to laugh along the way.”
  • “If you’re going to lead, you might as well make it fun!”
  • “When you’re going through something hard, remember: everything’s a joke until someone gets hurt!”
  • “You don’t have to be perfect to lead; just be willing to make mistakes…and laugh about it!”
  • “Sometimes, leadership is just being the first one to admit you messed up – with a smile.”
  • “Don’t follow the crowd, unless they’re laughing!”
  • “Even a great leader can fall… but at least they’ll trip in style.”
  • “Fail forward… but only if you can laugh about it.”
  • “Leadership is like a good joke – it works best when it’s light-hearted.”
  • “You don’t need to be a superhero to be a great leader – just a funny human will do.”
  • “If at first, you don’t succeed, laugh, and try again – that’s the leader’s way!”
  • “Leadership is all about inspiring others to dream more, do more, and laugh more.”
  • “When leadership gets tough, just remember: laughter is the best strategy.”
  • “Life is short, so lead with laughter.”
  • “Laugh at your mistakes – that’s the leadership way!”

Short John Maxwell Quotes for Daily Inspiration

Short John Maxwell Quotes

Need a daily dose of motivation? These quick, impactful John Maxwell quotes are perfect for getting your day started right:

  • “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
  • “Leadership is influence.”
  • “Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.”
  • “The most important thing a leader can do is lead by example.”
  • “Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.”
  • “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”
  • “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.”
  • “The difference between average and extraordinary is that little extra.”
  • “Your attitude determines your altitude.”
  • “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
  • “A leader’s potential is determined by those closest to him.”
  • “What you do today will determine your future.”
  • “Success is what happens after you have survived all your mistakes.”
  • “Great leaders know the value of time.”
  • “Growth is the great separator between those who succeed and those who do not.”

John Maxwell Quotes for Motivating Others

John Maxwell Quotes for Motivating Others

These quotes will help you inspire the people around you, whether at work, in your personal life, or in your community:

  • “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
  • “The only guarantee for failure is to stop trying.”
  • “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
  • “The secret to success is to do what you love and do it well.”
  • “Leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say.”
  • “To lead yourself, use your head. To lead others, use your heart.”
  • “The greatest mistake we make is living in constant fear that we will make one.”
  • “If you want to fly, you have to give up the things that weigh you down.”
  • “You don’t have to be perfect to lead, just be passionate about what you do.”
  • “Your dreams don’t work unless you do.”
  • “The difference between a great leader and a good leader is the ability to help others succeed.”
  • “Leaders who know their purpose can’t help but inspire others to find theirs.”
  • “Encouragement is the oxygen that makes the spirit soar.”
  • “Don’t just set goals, set goals that help others reach theirs.”
  • “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”

John Maxwell Quotes About Success

John Maxwell Quotes About Success

Looking to add some success-driven quotes to your conversation? Here are some of the best from John Maxwell:

  • “Success is not how high you have climbed, but how you make a positive difference to the world.”
  • “Success is not about what you do; it’s about how you do it.”
  • “Success is a journey, not a destination.”
  • “The more I give away, the more I get back.”
  • “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”
  • “Success is not for the chosen few; it is for the few who choose it.”
  • “Success requires a lot of hard work and persistence.”
  • “Success is a result of what we do every day.”
  • “Success is doing what you love with people you love.”
  • “Success is finding satisfaction in giving a little more than you take.”
  • “Success is not the key to happiness; happiness is the key to success.”
  • “Success is the product of daily habits and consistent effort.”
  • “Success is not about being the best; it’s about being better than you were yesterday.”
  • “Success is living your life the way you want to, with no regrets.”
  • “Success is when preparation meets opportunity.”

Uplifting John Maxwell Quotes for a Positive Mindset

Sometimes, we just need a little reminder to stay positive and keep going. Here are some uplifting quotes to boost your mindset:

  • “A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes.”
  • “The more you do, the more you can do.”
  • “The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall.”
  • “Your mindset will determine your success.”
  • “Choose to be positive – the world needs more of it.”
  • “When you’re positive, your world becomes a reflection of your attitude.”
  • “The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.”
  • “A leader is someone who can turn challenges into opportunities.”
  • “Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure.”
  • “Life is about how you respond to what happens to you, not what happens to you.”
  • “Success is not a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.”
  • “There is no limit to what you can accomplish, except the limits you place on your own thinking.”
  • “A person’s life is the result of their thinking.”
  • “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.”
  • “A positive mindset is a true game-changer.”

Conclusion

If you’re sharing these John Maxwell quotes on social media, using them to motivate a friend, or just finding the right words to brighten your day, you can’t go wrong with these nuggets of wisdom.

From humor to deep insights, these quotes bring out the best in every conversation.

Pick your favorites, share them with your followers, and let the wisdom (and smiles!) spread!

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