My most favorite, short travel quotes

You might have been looking all over the internet to find that one perfect (short) travel quote that describes exactly how you feel while traveling. I know I did many times. And I got sick of it. So to help you out and save you some time and trouble, here are my favorite travel-related quotes: 

1. “THE JOURNEY, NOT THE ARRIVAL, MATTERS” – T.S. ELIOT

It’s one of the most popular (travel) quotes that refer to life itself, but I’d like to see it as a travel quote. Eliot was a Nobel Price winning British poet, writer, and philosopher mostly known for his poems The Waste Land, The Hollow Man, and The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. 

2. “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.” – JAWAHARIAL NEHRU

Ok, not a short travel quote, but it is a great one! Jawaharial Nehru was India’s first official Premier after a long fight to get India independent from the United Kingdom. His admiration for Gandhi and his choice to live as an atheist is still an inspiring story today. 

3. “NO ONE REALIZES HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS TO TRAVEL UNTIL HE COMES HOME AND RESTS HIS HEAD ON HIS OLD, FAMILIAR PILLOW.” – LIN YUTANG

Lin Yutang was a Chinese writer and translator in the early 20th century. He traveled a lot between the US and China and his search for “the right” religion is highly admirable. Many great travel quotes from this guy can be found!

4.”LIFE IS EITHER A DARING ADVENTURE OR NOTHING AT ALL.” – HELEN KELLER

If you have seen the movie or read the book The Miracle Worker, you will understand why this short travel quote is so important to keep in mind while living your life as a world traveler. It’s what you make of your life. 

5. “IF YOU REJECT THE FOOD, IGNORE THE CUSTOMS, FEAR THE RELIGION AND AVOID THE PEOPLE, YOU MIGHT BETTER STAY HOME.” – JAMES MICHENER

Well, do I even have to say anything about this? James Michener, an American author, wrote a lot of romantic and historical novels about different geographic locations. So if you’re into this genre, bring them with you on your next journey! (Check out best seller Hawaii)

and now two very famous travel quotes: 

6. “NOT ALL THOSE WHO WANDER ARE LOST.” – J.R.R. TOLKIEN

I believe that Frodo Baggins was lost from time to time, but ok, he wasn’t wandering ofc! I do am wandering a lot and Tolkien is absolutely right that I’m not lost in those moments. I just really like to walk around without a plan and see what the city brings me at that moment. 

This short-travel quote is super popular. You can buy t-shirts, jewelry, and even home decorations and a wooden world map with this quote on it. My favorite is the leather passport cover though! Go mental if you love this too! 

7. “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

Jack Kerouac traveled a lot in the US and Mexico while writing most of his novels. He lived a very bumpy life with depressions, alcohol addiction, and stranded relationships. But he did know that if you would stay at the same location for the rest of your life, you wouldn’t excel in life. 

8. “TO TRAVEL IS TO DISCOVER THAT EVERYONE IS WRONG ABOUT OTHER COUNTRIES.” – ALDOUS HUXLEY

Another American novelist. I always reckon this quote in myself. Whenever I hear people talking about countries where they haven’t been themselves, but also when I take off to another country. Upon arriving I always expect something different than I get. Which makes it of course so beautiful to travel. 

9. “REMEMBER THAT HAPPINESS IS A WAY OF TRAVEL – NOT A DESTINATION.” – ROY M. GOODMAN

If we all knew where happiness was located, we would all be living there! But no, there’s no such place. It’s a way of life, a way of thinking and in mister Goodmans words: a way of travel. Amen, sir. 

10. “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

The great Mark Twain (or actually Samuel Langhorne Clemens, but I understand why he used an alter name)! Father of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. He traveled all over the USA and later also Europe and the Middle East, which was quite a world trip (we’re talking about the year 1869 people). So yes, of course, Mark Twain is on my list of favorite travel quotes. It was a struggle to choose the best one, cause he has written many great things about traveling and has a lot of great travel quotes. 

11. “TAKE ONLY MEMORIES, LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS.” – CHIEF SEATTLE

As long as your footprints are carbon-neutral, I’m all in!

You have to know that Chief Seattle was a prominent figure among the Native American tribes, protecting the land of his people against the new Americans. Oh man, I can quote this man a million times! And this quote is still so accurate on the current situation of the world. Read all about Chief Seattle in this book.

I have never taken anything with me from foreign countries, besides the correct souvenirs. I collect wooden toys as souvenirs, cause you can never go wrong with that. So I have this wooden classic car from Cuba, a wooden rhino from Kenya and for example a wooden train from Lisbon. But indeed, I also have a lot more memories and those are the best souvenirs to bring home with you. 

12.“WHEREVER YOU GO, GO WITH ALL YOUR HEART!” – CONFUCIUS

Amen Confucius, you nailed it. Probably this wasn’t related to world traveling, but about life itself. But still, it’s a great quote to keep in mind.

13. “ONCE A YEAR, GO SOMEPLACE YOU’VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE.” – DALAI LAMA 

Ok, once a year is not enough. I rather do this 12 times a year. Travel somewhere new every month! And if I’m not moving to another country, I’m looking for a new location nearby. A new museum, park, beach, house, forest. Wherever I haven’t been, I will find it. Even in my home town. I can recommend it! 

Read recommendation: The Art of Happiness

14. “TWO ROADS DIVERGED IN A WOOD AND I – I TOOK THE ONE LESS TRAVELED BY.” – ROBERT FROST

I can recognize myself in this since I’m more or less focused on the countries where my friends haven’t been yet. I hate it (and you probably too) when I tell you that I’m going somewhere and that EVERYBODY I know has already been there and is giving me unwanted travel advice. This also makes me a bit reserved about giving my travel experiences. You don’t want to be the person you hate.

15. “LIVE YOUR LIFE BY A COMPASS, NOT A CLOCK.” – STEPHEN COVEY

You’d think everybody has read the book Seven Habits of Highly Effective Leaders, right? Well, I haven’t! And I’m not going to either. I have read enough about how to do, think, or act like a successful person that it makes me sick. It constantly made me think I’m not good enough, can do better, and should be doing more to be happy. But sorry guys, I’m already freakin’ happy! Don’t need other strategies to be successful and/or happy, cause it works the other way around for me. 

Then why quoting the guy? Well, he is right about that compass 😉

16. “TAKE EVERY CHANCE YOU GET IN LIFE BECAUSE SOME THINGS ONLY HAPPEN ONCE.” – KAREN GIBBS

Don’t we all have these unique moments in the past of which we absolutely know won’t come on your path again? My parents would say “you only live once”, which is in line with this quote. 

17. “LIVE LIFE WITH NO EXCUSES, TRAVEL WITH NO REGRET” – OSCAR WILDE

Though he is mostly known for his extraordinary life and ‘sex scandals’, Oscar Wilde traveled a lot for his time. His revolutionary vision of life made it hard for him to live his life to the fullest, but he wasn’t afraid of standing out of the crowd. To understand the whole story behind this travel quote of Oscar Wilde, you should definitely read his biography by Richard Ellmann (it won a Pulitzer!).   

18. “TRAVELING – IT LEAVES YOU SPEECHLESS, THEN TURNS YOU INTO A STORYTELLER.” – IBN BATTUTA

Ibn Battuta is one of the biggest world travelers of his time (14th century). He traveled through almost all countries in the Middle East and Asia while working as a political figure, trader, and explorer. He had a truly nomadic life and it made him a great storyteller. Something I hope to be when I’m a granny 😉 

19. “THE MAN WHO GOES ALONE CAN START TODAY, BUT HE WHO TRAVELS WITH ANOTHER MUST WAIT TILL THAT OTHER IS READY.” – HENRY DAVID THOREAU

This travel quote is on my list because I love to travel alone. This doesn’t mean I am alone during my travels, nor that I’m not willing to be around people. On the contrary actually! I love to meet new people and hear their life stories! I’m just not willing to let somebody else have an influence on my travel plans. I wake up in the morning and decide what I’m going to do that day. I’m not waking up to negotiate on what to do. It’s my journey, I decide. And I’m most certainly not waiting.

20. “THE WORLD IS A BOOK AND THOSE WHO DO NOT TRAVEL READ ONLY ONE PAGE.” – SAINT AUGUSTINE

Nothing gets me more annoyed; people who do not travel but think to know how the story ends.

21. “THE COST OF NOT FOLLOWING YOUR HEART, IS SPENDING THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WISHING YOU HAD.” – J. PAULSEN

This quote is in line with “you only live once” and “becoming a great storyteller when you grow old”. A quote that couldn’t be missed in this list.

22. “GOOD TIMES KEEP ROLLING. AND NOBODY CAN CONTROL THEM BUT YOU.” – SEAN KOCH

A travel quote from a song 🙂 The first “instant feel-good song” in my playlist when I’m on the road. I have a great travel/surf playlist btw, you can find it here: Travel Playlist Josien.