30 Inspirational Occupational Therapy Quotes

If your career path leads you towards occupational therapy, you may feel the stressors of the medical field falling fast upon your shoulders. You not only have to find a school that offers an occupational therapy program, but you also have to balance your school, home, and even work-life in a way that sets you up for success in all areas.

As a prospective occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, individuals may be brainstorming ways to help keep them motivated throughout the semester. One of the most simple, yet effective ways to do so is by reading inspirational occupational therapy quotes. Here are a few quotes that will not only cheer students up but also motivate them to do exceptional in their field of study.

On the Art of Occupational Therapy

A quote by an unknown author is superimposed over an orange background that says “Occupational therapy practitioners know that hope still glimmers in the darkest hour...”

  1. “Occupational therapy practitioners know that hope still glimmers in the darkest hour.” – Unknown
  2. “Care asserts that as difficult and painful as life can be, it is worth something to be in the present, alive, and doing one’s daily bit. ” – Kathleen Norris, The Quotidian Mysteries
    A tree sits in the background behind a quote from an unknown author that says “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; They have the heart...”
  3. “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; They have the heart…” – Unknown
    A floating house in the sky sits next to a quote by Patch Adams that says “You treat a disease: you win, you lose. You treat a person: I guarantee you win — no matter what the outcome.”
  4. “You treat a disease: you win, you lose. You treat a person: I guarantee you win — no matter what the outcome.” – Patch Adams
  5. “Man, through the use of his hands, as they are energized by mind and will, can influence the state of his own health.” – Mary Reily, OTR, EdD
  6. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
  7. “The association is a responsible, incorporated body with officers of large experience, and active committees encouraging research, collecting data and recommending standards. It seems reasonable to assert that there is a work of national importance, a human reclamation service touching vitally on matters of vast social and economic consequence. Mere encouragement, even placement in industry cannot restore men and women who have not learned through careful bedside training how to use their disabled bodies. The association is literally helping the helpless to help themselves.” – Herbert Hall, From a 1922 editorial on the purpose of the AOTA

Hope

A red cross with hearts in all four of the corners of the cross is in the lower right hand corner of a grey background, next to a quote from Abraham Lincoln, saying “I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let him down.”

  1. “I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let him down.” – Abraham Lincoln
    A graphic of two people with their heads down, standing back to back is on the right side of a quote by Helen Keller that says “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
  2. “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller
    An Abraham Lincoln quote is superimposed over a blue background that says “Whatever you are, be a good one.”
  3. “Whatever you are, be a good one.” – Abraham Lincoln
    A John Bunyan quote that says “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” is super imposed over a graphic of a corkboard with various things pinned to it.
  4. “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” – John Bunyan
    The Cookie Monster's head sits besides a quote from Winston Churchill that says “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
  5. “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” – Winston S. Churchill
    A quote from Booker T. Washington is superimposed over desert landscape saying “Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”
  6. “Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.” – Booker T. Washington, Up from Slavery
  7. “It is neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility and occupation which give you happiness.” – Thomas Jefferson, Personal letter to his sister

PerseveranceWhite tree branches stand out on a black background with a quote from Dr. Seuss saying "“And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed!”

  1. “And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed!” – Dr. Seuss
    A graphic of a multicolored diamond on a black background is above a quote by Henry Kissinger, saying “A diamond is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure..”
  2. “A diamond is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure..” – Henry Kissinger
    A Paulo Coelho quote is superimposed over a grey background, saying “Don't give up, normally it is the last key on the ring which opens the door.”
  3. “Don’t give up, normally it is the last key on the ring which opens the door.” – Paulo Coelho
    A graphic of a woman standing against a grey background, with a quote from Lewis Carroll that says "“That’s the reason they’re called lessons,” the Gryphon remarked: “because they lessen from day to day.”
  4. “That’s the reason they’re called lessons,” the Gryphon remarked: “because they lessen from day to day.” – Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
    A Winston Churchill quote is superimposed over a black background that says “Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it.”
  5. “Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it.” – Winston S. Churchill
    A quote by Lewis Carroll superimposed over a wooden background says “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
  6. “Why sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” – Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
    White glasses stand out in a black background and over a quote by Plato that says “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than a year of conversation.”
  7. “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than a year of conversation.” – Plato
    A blue flower stands out in a back background and sits next to a quote by Mark Twain that says “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking down complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.”
  8. “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking down complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” – Mark Twain
  9. “You need to be content with small steps. That’s all life is. Small steps that you take every day so when you look back down the road it all adds up and you know you covered some distance.” – Katie Kacvinsky

PatienceA Pierre Teilhard de Chardin quote that says “…We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new. And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability – and that it may take a very long time…” is superimposed over a blue, polka dotted background.

  1. “…We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new. And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability – and that it may take a very long time…” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
    An Auguste Rodin quote that says “Patience is also a form of action.” is superimposed over a green background.
  2. “Patience is also a form of action.” – Auguste Rodin
    A purple flower sits next to a quote by Moliere that says “Trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit.”
  3. “Trees that are slow to grow to bear the best fruit.” – Molière
    A quote by Albert Einstein superimposed over a red background says “It is not that I’m so smart. But I stay with the questions much longer.”
  4. “It is not that I’m so smart. But I stay with the questions much longer.” – Albert Einstein
    A quote from Abraham Lincoln superimposed over a blue background says “I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.”
  5. “I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.” – Abraham Lincoln
    Pac Man sits beside a quote by Eleanor Brown that says “Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” The quote also sits under a line of various pills.
  6. “Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” – Eleanor Brown
  7. “It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.” – Andy Warhol

The essential skills and traits of occupational therapists entail more than what you can learn in school. Writing down or printing off the quotes that stand out to you and keeping them near can help you remain motivated throughout the day. It can even be helpful to create large copies of the quotes to put in your study area to create an inspiring, stress-free zone that allows you to focus on one priority at a time. Whatever you choose to do with these quotes, pay attention to how they made you feel — and know that in times of need, you can reread the quotes that motivated and inspired you the most.