Bring in the Magic: Inspirational Quotes from Walt Disney

With its prominent presence and undeniable global dominion, it is an understatement to say that the world Walt Disney has created on the day of October 26, 1923, at his humble studio in California is a success. It is quite safe to say that the man is one of the best source of inspiration for children and adults alike, with his trailblazing career that is deeply rooted on many firsts and failures. In the early years of television and broadcasting, his dream was considered crazy by many. Yet, the cinematic genius had persevered and proved naysayers wrong through his passion and perserverance, and made the Disney empire one of the world's most beloved institutions.

So, here is a list of the most popular and the best inspirational quotes from the man himself, which you can use to bring in the magic of the Disney world in you. Find inspiration from these words uttered by an innovator who has a strong desire to make his dreams come true because, after all, the great fantasy empire just started with a mouse. 

On getting started

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.

The human mind can generate as many ideas as he can in a span of a moment, but without a follow-up action, nothing can come into fruition no matter how much you desire it. It is very common for a lot of people to come up with great plans, yet it is not quite every day that these intentions are executed for so many reasons like procrastination or lack of keen interest. One of the most well-known reasons is not knowing how to start, and this is what this quote is trying to tell us. Walt was always filled with new ideas and what makes him different from the rest of us is his ability to switch from talking about things to doing it. Imagine if Mickey Mouse and Friends were still locked up in his brains until no one knows when.

On dreams

If you can dream it, you can do it.

Each one of us has both big dreams and small dreams. Yet, most of us are afraid of dreaming and pursuing the bigger dreams because we are scared of taking risks and failing big time. What we don't know is that bigger dreams can be achieved gradually through dedication and constant hard work. If you are expecting your actions to result in reaching your goals right away, then, that is where you got it wrong. Walt started his empire with a mouse. Who would have thought of Disneyland and the World of Disney during those times? Only Walt did and he was able to achieve his dream, even more than what he dreamt of. Because he believed that the best place to start is always where you are and what you have now.

On believing

When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably.

On courage

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.

Another factor that would affect you from either or not achieving your dream is the amount of courage you apply in reaching for it. No matter what kind of privelege or adversity you have, if you do not have the courage to take the risks and the determination to go through the trials that you may encounter along the way, there is no way for your dreams to come true. In other words, it is not enough for you to have a dream, you have to turn it into a goal, and even making it better. Just like Walt, you should have a dream that you believe in, even if others deem it to be crazy or impossible. That is because at the end of the day, whether you succeed or fail, it is only you who can say that you did your best and there is nothing to regret about it.

On happiness

Happiness is a state of mind. It's just according to the way you look at things.

Most people would tell you about the many different life ingredients that would make a person happy. Some of these include the kind of relationship you have, the amount of money you make, or the number and value of the material things you possess. But what really makes an individual truly happy is his state of mind. It is quite a fact that people in developing countries are happier than people in well-developed ones, as seen with their huge suicide rates and low life satisfaction. This is because people in well-developed countries always strive for the best things, while people in developing countries learn to be content with what they have as they enjoy the present without ceasing to work for a better life in the future. 

On being grateful 

The more you are in the state of gratitude, the more you will attract things to be grateful for.

On laughter, imagination, and dreams

Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, dreams are forever.

This is one of the most popular quotes from Walt Disney as it serves as his mantra throughout his life and career. He believed in these three things and allows them to guide him as he is quick to laugh, ran his imagination to the fullest, and dreamed of many big things even after he succeeded. It does not definitely hurt to copy these words as your everyday beacon. Write and put in on a place that you can see every day so that you will always be reminded not to take things seriously and remember to laugh, keep your mind busy, and always let your imaginations run wild. And last but definitely not the least, dream big and do the things you think will take you to this dream. 

On growing up

That’s the real trouble with the world. Too many people grow up.

Biologically and technically, every human being grows up and gets old in terms of physicality, knowledge, emotion, and even spirituality. However, as our days on Earth get longer, we tend to forget the things that we learned while exploring the world as a young child. While we become adults and are packed with more responsibilities and obligations, we forget how to be truly happy and have fun. Most adults are engrossed in making a lot of money, climbing up the hierarchical ladder, or acquiring things that make them superior to the rest. Long gone are the days of childhood bliss, which is actually more important than ever. What is the use of experiencing those things early in life if not to balance things in the later times?

On worries

Worry is a waste of imagination.

 A lot of people worry even about the most mundane and unimportant things that they fail to see the silver lining even if it is already under their noses. This causes them to be unhappy and unappreciative of all the good things happening around. If you worry too much and too long about something, it does not just waste your time but also hinders you from thinking about the perfect solution to your problem. So, instead of griping and whining about the things beyond your control, why don't you try to think of ways on how to control the situation? It could be a bit difficult to think about it, but if you learn how to turn a crisis into an opportunity to be better, you will be able to cruise through life smoothly and comfortably.

On doing the impossible

It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.

On reality

When we do fantasy, we must not lose sight of reality.

Walt Disney's work in the entertainment industry required a lot of imagination and time spent in the fantasy world. Nevertheless, he made sure that he still keeps in touch with reality as he dealt with employees, partners, and customers. Many successful people lost grasp of the real world and blew up their heads thinking they are the best in the world. And more informed individuals know that this is the perfect recipe for disaster. No matter what you achieve in life, always be humble and never forget the people who helped and took you to where you are. Karma is real, and if you are not very careful, it may hit you without knowing and the next thing you know, you are back on square one, or worse. 

On doing what you do

Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends. 

Sometimes, we do things that we do not like to do, and if you are doing what you love, then you are one hell of a lucky dude. But Walt Disney tells us that no matter what you do—whether you like it or not—do it well. This can be quite true and a helpful advice, as what you are doing right now, if done well, can bring good opportunities and favorable circumstances in the future. If you are fortunate enough to be doing the things that make you happy, you should not waste this chance and always show your best every time. Make sure there is no time to slack off, so you won't miss any chance that will make your life better or an opportunity that you do not realize you needed until you have it.

On curiosity

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.

On being unique

The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique.

Being yourself is a hard thing to do, especially in the kind of conformist society that we are living nowadays. People would constantly tell you to act a certain way or to like a certain thing, even if you do not like it or you have other preferences. This results to individuals having identity crises or hating what they have become as they follow what others tell them to do. In order to be unique and truly happy in life, you have to know yourself well and love what you are. Every person is one-of-kind with various strengths and different weaknesses. If you are able to strengthen what you are good at and accept the things you cannot do, you will be able to complement other people and build great relationships.

On having a good idea

Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it’s done right.

A lot of people fail at turning their ideas into the next big thing. One of the best reason for this is because they throw it away immediately once a difficulty occurs. We are now living in a disposal world; relationships become flings, friendships become hangout buddies, technologies become fads, businesses become start-ups, quality becomes quantity, and ideas become just ideas. Gone are the days when people toil from sunrise to sundown in order to come up with things that are truly innovative and beneficial to humanity. If you want to build a business or do something that would last longer more than 5 years, you have to do things with unending passion and ruthless perseverance until you are able to build a strong foundation.