| For those who have the experience in preparing the CPA exam (or any board exam for that matter), you’ll understand the huge amount of time, effort and sacrifice for this exercise, and at some point, we all need something to cheer us up to continue the quest.I have taken the time today to write down my favorite exam quotes (written on post-its around the desk and monitor) that have encouraged me all the way to CPA exam success. |
I hope you will find them helpful. I also think that it’s important to know the person behind these famous quotes so please take the time to skim through the bio summary. Big thank you to Frits Ahlefeldt (a.k.a Hiking Artist) for the illustrations.
These motivational exam quotes are organized into these 6 attributes of success:
- Diligence
- Persistence
- Taking the Initiative
- Learning from Failure
- Facing Challenges
- Living A Fruitful Life
Exam Quotes For The CPA Exam
Exam Quotes On Diligence
“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work learning from failure.” ~ General Colin Powell
Colin Powell (1937 – ) is a retired four-star general in the US Army and the 65th United States Secretary of State (and the first African American appointed to this position) serving under President George W. Bush from 2001-2005.
“Few minds wear out; most rust out.” ~ Christian Nextell Bovee
Christian Nextell Bovee (born 1820) was an American author from New York City. Many widely circulated quotes from him comes from his two publications, Thoughts, Feelings, and Fancies, and Intuitions and Summaries of Thought.
“Strength of mind is exercise, not rest.” ~ Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope (1688 – 1744) was a famous eighteenth century English poet best known for his quotes and for his translation of Homer. He is the third most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, after Shakespeare and Tennyson.
“Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven’t planted.” ~ David Bly
David Bly (1852-) is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives representing District 25B.
Exam Quotes On Persistence
![]() |
Robert Collier (1885 – 1950) was an author of self help, and New Thought metaphysical books in the 20th century. |
“A lot of us would like to move mountains, but few of us are willing to practice on small hills.” ~ Anonymous
“The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.” ~ Chinese Proverb
Exam Quotes On Taking The Initiative
“Recipe for success: Study while others are sleeping; work while others are loafing; prepare while others are playing; and dream while others are wishing.” ~ William A. Ward
William A. Ward (1921 – 1994) is one of America’s most quoted writers of inspirational maxims. He is the author of Fountains of Faith.
“The best way to finish an unpleasant task is to get started.” ~ Anonymous
![]() |
|
Napoleon Hill (1883 – 1970) was an American author who was one of the earliest producers of the modern genre of personal-success literature. His most famous work, Think and Grow Rich, is one of the best-selling books of all time.
“You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi (1869 – 1948) was the pre-eminent political and spiritual leader of India during the Indian independence movement.
“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” ~ Conrad Hilton
Conrad Nicholson Hilton was (1887 – 1979) was an American hotelier and founder of the Hilton Hotels chain.
“Everything you want is out there waiting for you to ask. Everything you want also wants you. But you have to take action to get it.” ~ Jules Renard
Jules Renard (or Pierre-Jules Renard) (1864 – 1910) was a French author and member of the Académie Goncourt, most famous for the works Poil de Carotte (Carrot Top) and Les Histoires Naturelles (Natural Histories).
Edward Young (1681 – 1765) was an English poet, best remembered for Night Thoughts. |
![]() |
“Try not. Do or do not, there is no try.” ~ Yoda
Yoda is the Jedi Master in Star Wars.
“If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.” ~ Nora Roberts
Nora Roberts (b. Eleanor Marie Robertson) (1950 – ) is a bestselling American author of more than 165 romance novels, and she writes as J.D. Robb for the “In Death” series. She also has written under the pseudonym Jill March, and some of her works were published in the UK as Sarah Hardesty.
Exam Quotes On Facing Challenges
“I’m not telling you it is going to be easy — I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it” ~ Art Williams
Arthur T. Williams (1939 – ) is a former professional basketball player in America.
“The most painful thing to experience is not defeat but regret” ~ Leo Bascaglia
Felice Leonardo “Leo” Buscaglia (a.k.a ”Dr Love”) (1924 – 1998) was an author and motivational speaker, and a professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Southern California.
“Doubt whom you will, but never doubt yourself.” ~ Christian Nestell Bovee
Christian Nestell Bovee (born 1820) was an American author from New York City. Many widely circulated quotes from him comes from his two publications, Thoughts, Feelings, and Fancies, and Intuitions and Summaries of Thought.
Exam Quotes On Learning From Failures
|
![]() |
Bernard Shaw (George Bernard Shaw) (1856 – 1950) was a talented Irish playwright of more than 60 plays. Nearly all his writings deal sternly with prevailing social problems, but have a vein of comedy to make their stark themes more palatable.
“Forget past mistakes. Forget failures. Forget everything except what you’re going to do now and do it.” ~ William Durant
William Durant (1861 – 1947) was a pioneering industrialist and founder of General Motors Corporation.
“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” ~ Carl Bard
Carl Bard (1907-1978) was a Scottish Theologian Religious Writer Broadcaster.
“You’re never a loser til you quit trying.” ~ Anonymous
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” ~ Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison (1847 – 1931) was an American inventor, scientist and businessman who developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb.
“Never give in. Never. Never. Never. Never.” ~ Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill (1874 – 1965) was a British politician known chiefly for his leadership of the United Kingdom during World War II. He served as Prime Minister from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955.
On Living A Fruitful Life
“Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. it’s not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it’s when you’ve had everything to do and you’ve done it.” ~ Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher (1925 – ) served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. She is the only woman to have held either post
“Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is for you.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882) was an American essayist, philosopher, and poet, best remembered for leading the Transcendentalist movement of the mid 19th century. His teachings directly influenced the growing New Thought movement of the mid 1800s.
“We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” ~ Max DePree
Max DePree is an American writer. A son of D.J. DePree, founder of Herman Miller office furniture company, he and his brother Hugh DePree assumed leadership of the company the early 1960s. He succeeded his brother Hugh as CEO in the mid-1980s and served in that capacity to 1990. His book Leadership is an Art has sold more than 800,000 copies. In 1992
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi (1869 – 1948) was the pre-eminent political and spiritual leader of India during the Indian independence movement.
“Learn something new every day under the sun. You will never get old if you do.” ~Lois Bey
“If we did all the things we were capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.” ~ Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison (1847 – 1931) was an American inventor, scientist and businessman who developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb.
Do You Have A Favorite Quote to Share?
I am gathering a next round of awesome motivational quotes… please let me know your favorite here:
















{ 39 comments }
Awesome quotes !!! Were Really helpful during my exams…..
Glad to know Dorothy — write your favorite one on post-it and stick it next to your monitor! Stephanie
nice..i love it..i had learned something from it!!
Thanks for your contribution Pradeep
Stephanie
Destiny Does’nt Matter , Journey Does……….
edalyn thanks for stopping by and all the best to your exam! Stephanie
I love em!! Thanks.
Need to go study now!!
Great! All the best to you Bob
Stephanie
Hi what a wonderful quotes!kudos…..prepare one so that i can worm up my sister who is taking KCSE this moment.reply via my submitted email.
Thanks Syengo dennis. Glad you find them helpful. Best of luck to your sister’s exam! Stephanie
they are superb and sooooooooo innovative.well quoted for my preparation.i even passed the link to all of my friends…….
Hi Priyanka, glad to know you find the quotes useful! Good luck to you and your friends on the exam! Stephanie
It inspired me both personally and professionally…
Thanks for uploading such nice quotes…. It is always so much helpful when we get motivated during our student life…thanx a lot
wow!, very motivate words!, especially for my two cousins who have just cleared class 8. Alice & Jane. Thanx guyz.
Faith, congrats to Alice and Jane!
Cheers, Stephanie
Very motivating thank you……………
“A Man can liv 4, 40days without food!
3days without water!
8mins without air
But not a second without hope!
so Nevr lose ur hope”
-Dr A.P.J. ABDUL Kalam.
Eminent scientist,Former president of India
Hi Indra thanks for sharing your quote. Stephanie
thank u.. for the collection
These are the best exam’s quotes that i haver read till now.Thank you very much.
God bless you for this motivational messages. this will help students who are preparing for their final examinations and the general public as a whole. it is my prayer that any body who reads through this motivational messages would be blessed.
Thanks, this helped.
Thanks …. The quotes are great …. !!!
Great motivative quotes helpful at the period when we need confidence .Thanks
thank u 4 your collection .i know a’m going to improve.
I really appreciate your work.
Thanks for all these quotes, It really inspires me…
Great motivative quotes helpful at the period when we need confidence. I really Love this QOUTES.TY!!!
The motivations keeps me focus on studies thanks.
I really feel motivated after reading these quotes….itz gud for us to ve u!..thankyou
superb quotes 4 me to send my dear students to keep them focus to their studies….
Glad to know many of you love these quotes. All the best! Stephanie
i just want to thank for inspiring exam quotes. they have totally changed my attitude towards studying and also towards life in general. THANKS again Stephanie
thank you so much stephanie, these quotes are so helpful God bless you!
Fantastic xams quotes, i’m inspired by your lovely quotes.
This is really helpful and inspiring ! Thanks for sharing them
OMG! These are amazing.
I had to make these for my Teacher so that she could give them to the whole school.
Thank God I found this Site. =D
This is AMAZING!
Thank You so much for sharing ‘em!
These Quotes were highly Innovative, Motivating and really Inspiring. This will definitely help students who are preparing for their examinations and the general public as a whole. I really appreciate the good work you are doing Stephanie. God Bless You.
These quotes are brilliant and a few have helped me through my exams, thank you for taking the time to do this you are truly inspirational yourself.
Here is a couple which helped me in tough times:
1) “The Future is for those who prepare for it today”- Malcom X
2) “Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”- Rocky Balboa (I just love this quote)