The beginning of this school year, like always, is rife with excitement and commitment. But in this hopeful environment, many students quickly tip from overwhelmed with possibilities to overwhelmed with responsibilities. We know from experience, it can be easy to put way too much on your plate, and then spend the next four months questioning how you thought you could manage this. But if you’re already feeling overtaxed, don’t worry. To give you that extra push you need to roll into a successful semester, we’ve compiled a list of the best, most relevant quotes from famous Harvard alums. Whatever state of being you’ve found your academic self in at this point in time, these quotes will serve as the added motivation you need to be the awesome Harvard student you know you are.
“If you work hard and meet your responsibilities, you can get ahead, no matter where you come from, what you look like, or who you love.” -Barack Obama
“The biggest risk is not taking any risk… In a world that changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.” -Mark Zuckerberg
“Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.” -Bill Gates
“I don’t love studying. I hate studying. I like learning. Learning is beautiful.” -Natalie Portman
“Just because a situation is grim doesn’t mean you don’t have every right to smile.” -Rashida Jones
“And most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself.” -Elle Woods