Listen, we’re all friends here, so we’re not above admitting the occasional bro crush. We’d kill to crack open a couple of cold ones with Keanu Reeves. And half the reason we even internet anymore is for the joy that comes from stumbling across a Tony Hawk story. But in terms of inspiration, you can’t get much more aspirational than Dwayne Johnson. If you’re ever in a slump, you can pretty much count on The Rock quotes to pull you out of it.
Sure, the dude’s laser-sharp focus can be slightly intimidating. If you’ve ever read his book, though, you know The Rock hasn’t always had his life together. OK, so yes, it’s been pretty charmed at times — I mean, jeezus, he grew up with Andre the Giant visiting his house. And when football didn’t work out, his dad’s wrestling connections sealed his fate. Still, just because he enjoyed some seriously “lucky” breaks doesn’t mean that The Rock was without motivation and determination. When things did go to shit, Johnson leveraged his second chances and looked for windows to climb through. Wrestler, best-selling author, actor, director, entrepreneur: He’s accomplished a lot because our boy always goes hard and never gives up.
So, go ahead and print these quotes out. Write them on Post-Its and stick them anywhere you need motivation, from the weight bench to “your cubicle,” aka the john, where you do your best work. (It’s got a comfier seat and is further from the screaming kids.)
The Rock Quotes to Help You Level Up
- “I grew up where, when a door closed, a window didn’t open. The only thing I had was cracks. I’d do everything to get through those cracks — scratch, claw, bite, push, bleed. Now the opportunity is here. The door is wide open, and it’s as big as a garage.”
- “Not only do I think being nice and kind is easy, but being kind, in my opinion, is important.”
- “Success isn’t overnight. It’s when every day you get a little better than the day before. It all adds up.”
- “It’s you vs. you.”
- “Success at anything will always come down to this: focus and effort. And we control both.”
- “Success isn’t always about ‘greatness;’ it’s about consistency. Consistent, hard work gains success.”
- “Keep calm and shut your mouth.”
- “Blood, sweat, and respect. First two you give, last one you earn.”
- “The road to success and greatness is always paved with consistent hard work. Outwork your competitors, be authentic, and above all else, chase your greatness.”
- “If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.”
- “What’s the key to success? The key is, there is no key. Be humble, hungry, and the hardest worker in any room.”
- “Do not go gentle — cause that rent is always due.”
- “All success begins with self-discipline. It starts with you.”
- “If something stands between you and your success, move it! Never be denied.”
- “Don’t be afraid to be ambitious about your goals. Hard work never stops. Neither should your dreams.”
- “Outwork all competition, be grateful for the grind, don’t run from your demons, and if it ever becomes personal, then payback’s a bitch.”
- “Failure’s not an option. It’s just a step.”
- “With drive and a bit of talent you can move mountains.”
- “You either play the game or let the game play you.”
- “You don’t need directions — just point yourself to the top and go!”
- “We do today what they won’t, so tomorrow we accomplish what they can’t.”
- “Think back five years ago. Think of where you’re at today. Think ahead five years and what you want to accomplish. Be unstoppable.”
- “Vision, guts, and enthusiasm. Three qualities I feel you always gotta have to have a shot at success.”
- “When you walk up to the opportunities door, don’t knock it. Kick that b*tch in, smile, and introduce yourself.”
- “I like to use the hard times in the past to motivate me today.”
- “Wake up determined. Go to bed satisfied.”
- “The first step to achieving your goal is to take a moment to respect your goal. Know what it means to you to achieve it.”
- “In 1995 I had $7 bucks in my pocket and I knew two things: I’m broke as hell and one day I won’t be.”
- “Don’t focus on the pain. Focus on the progress.”
- “I’ve always loved the showmanship of professional wrestling. While I love making movies, I love that platform, too.”
- “Unapologetically push for greater and always disrupt expectations.”
- “When I was a kid, at four years old, that’s when I started amateur wrestling with my dad and family. And when that’s instilled in you, it never goes away.”
- “My goal was never to be the loudest or the craziest. It was to be the most entertaining.”
- “Grind hard, shine hard.”
- “If I love you, I show you I love you every day. Little things. Big things.”
- “Big changes. Big goals. What gets my passion. What gets my focus. What goes ‘bye bye’ out of my life. If you haven’t tried it, I would highly recommend you write all your stuff down. Get tactile. Our DNA absorbs it when we write it down, and the universe starts to meet us halfway.”
- “Training, for me, is a metaphor for life, period. The dedication, the determination, the desire, the work ethic, the great successes, and the great failures. I take that into life.”
- “When life puts you in touchy situations, don’t say, ‘Why me?’ Just say, ‘Try me.'”
- “If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.”
- “My work, my goal, my life — it’s like a treadmill. And there’s no stop button on my treadmill. Once I get on, I just keep going.”
- “The wall! Your success is on the other side. Can’t jump over it or go around it. You know what to do.”
- “Check your ego at the door. The ego can be the great success inhibitor. It can kill opportunities, and it can kill success.”
- “Being a true badass has no weight or gender requirement — just 100-percent commitment to greatness.”
- “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.”
- “Attitude and enthusiasm play a big part in my life. I get excited about the things that inspire me. I also believe in laughing and having a good time.”
- “If you’ve never been hungry, you can never be full.”
- “You don’t just find the willpower you need. You create it.”
- “Step by step, day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year. My will found a way. Yours will too.”
- “You just can’t beat the person who never gives up.”
- “I found that with depression, one of the most important things you can realize is that you’re not alone. You’re not the first to go through it; you’re not going to be the last to go through it.”
- “We are all a work in progress.”
- “Show respect to people who don’t deserve it: not as a reflection of their character, but a reflection of yours.”
- “I’ve never gone wrong trusting my gut.”
- “Three choices in life: give up, give in, or give it your all.”
- “Can you smell what the Rock is cooking?” (Had to do it).
