Life moves fast. Each moment slips by, often unnoticed. Yet, there’s a gentle beauty in just being present. This is a gift many of us overlook.
Quotes about being present can remind us of this simple truth. They can help us slow down and truly experience life. Here are some of the best quotes to inspire mindfulness and presence in your daily journey.
Quotes for Everyday Mindfulness
“Wherever you are, be all there.” – Jim Elliot
“The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha
“Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.” – Mother Teresa
“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.” – Henry David Thoreau
“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.” – Swami Sivananda
“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.” – Eckhart Tolle
“Forever is composed of nows.” – Emily Dickinson
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, which is why we call it the present.” – Bil Keane
“Live in the moment, just take it all in. Pay attention to everything, right there and right then.” – Lauren Daigle
“Mindfulness is about being fully awake in our lives. It is about perceiving the exquisite vividness of each moment.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
“The art of life is to live in the present moment.” – Emmet Fox
“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.” – Maya Angelou
“The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle.” – Tara Brach
“Don’t count the days, make the days count.” – Muhammad Ali
“Look at everything always as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time: Thus is your time on earth filled with glory.” – Betty Smith
“Nothing is worth more than this day.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“Being present means living as if your life depended on it.” – Author Unknown
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” – Robert Brault
“The here and now is all we have, and if we play it right it’s all we’ll need.” – Ann Richards
“Life is a preparation for the future; and the best preparation for the future is to live as if there were none.” – Albert Einstein
“Mindfulness isn’t difficult. We just need to remember to do it.” – Sharon Salzberg
“Let go of the past and go for the future. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined.” – Henry David Thoreau
“Every moment is a fresh beginning.” – T.S. Eliot
“One today is worth two tomorrows.” – Benjamin Franklin
“The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.” – Abraham Maslow
“Be like a tree, stay grounded, connect with your roots, turn over a new leaf, bend before you break, enjoy your unique natural beauty, keep growing.” – Joann Raptis
“Do every act of your life as though it were the very last act of your life.” – Marcus Aurelius
“Peace is this moment without judgment. That is all. This moment in the heart-space where everything that is, is welcome.” – Dorothy Hunt
“The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
“just three things matter: How well we have lived; How well we have loved; How well we have learned to let go.” – Jack Kornfield
Quotes to Center Your Mind
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.” – A.A. Milne
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha
“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” – Omar Khayyam
“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.” – Marcus Aurelius
“Wherever you are, be all there.” – Jim Elliot
“The present moment is the only moment available to us, and it is the door to all moments.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“Forever is composed of nows.” – Emily Dickinson
“The best preparation for the future is to live as if there were none.” – Albert Einstein
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have.” – Eckhart Tolle
“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.” – Henry David Thoreau
“The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.” – Abraham Maslow
“Don’t let the past steal your present.” – Cherralea Morgen
“Now is the only time you have. Make the most of it.” – Oprah Winfrey
“The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle.” – Tara Brach
“The future depends on what you do today.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“One today is worth two tomorrows.” – Benjamin Franklin
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” – Oscar Wilde
“Do every act of your life as if it were your last.” – Marcus Aurelius
“The present was an egg laid by the past that had the future inside its shell.” – Zora Neale Hurston
“Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time,’ is like saying, ‘I don’t want to.’” – Lao Tzu
“Living in the moment brings you a sense of reverence for all of life’s blessings.” – Oprah Winfrey
“Life is a succession of moments, to live each one is to succeed.” – Corita Kent
“Life can be found only in the present moment. The past is gone, the future is not yet here, and if we do not go back to ourselves in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it.” – Eckhart Tolle
“it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln
“We are always getting ready to live but never living.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Happiness, not in another place but this place… not for another hour, but this hour.” – Walt Whitman
“Being present is the true art of living. In the now is where life is truly happening.” – Unknown
“There is no better time than the present moment to be happy.” – Unknown
“Time is a gift, the greatest treasure. Use it wisely.” – Unknown
“Presence is more than just being there.” – Malcolm Forbes
Quotes for Finding Inner Peace
“The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha
“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.” – Maya Angelou
“The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.” – Abraham Maslow
“Life is available only in the present moment.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have.” – Eckhart Tolle
“One today is worth two tomorrows.” – Benjamin Franklin
“The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
“Wherever you are, be all there.” – Jim Elliot
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.” – A.A. Milne
“Happiness, not in another place but this place… not for another hour, but this hour.” – Walt Whitman
“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.” – Henry David Thoreau
“Forever is composed of nows.” – Emily Dickinson
“The only real luxury is time. You can’t get time back.” – John Kapelos
“Look past your thoughts, so you may drink the pure nectar of This Moment.” – Rumi
“Be present, be conscious of what you are doing.” – Unknown
“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“The here and now is all we have, and if we play it right it’s all we’ll need.” – Ann Richards
“Presence is more than just being there.” – Malcolm Forbes
“Mindfulness isn’t difficult, we just need to remember to do it.” – Sharon Salzberg
“A day at a time. An hour at a time.” – Unknown
“just three things matter: How well we have lived. How well we have loved. How well we have learned to let go.” – Jack Kornfield
“Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today.” – Will Rogers
“The future belongs to those who live intensely in the present.” – Soren Kierkegaard
“All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
“Meditation is not evasion; it is a serene encounter with reality.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh
“Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act.” – Leonard Cohen
“When you realize nothing is lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” – Lao Tzu
“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh
“In today’s rush, we all think too much—seek too much—want too much—and forget about the joy of just being.” – Eckhart Tolle
“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh
“Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time.” – Betty Smith
Quotes on Living in the Moment
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” – Alan Watts
“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” – Omar Khayyam
“Life is available only in the present moment. If you abandon the present moment, you cannot live the moments of your daily life deeply.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.” – Bil Keane
“Forever is composed of nows.” – Emily Dickinson
“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“You have to let go of who you were to become who you will be.” – Candace Bushnell
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life.” – Eckhart Tolle
“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.” – Amit Ray
“The journey is what brings us happiness, not the destination.” – Dan Millman
“Mindfulness isn’t difficult, we just need to remember to do it.” – Sharon Salzberg
“Life is a preparation for the future; and the best preparation for the future is to live as if there were none.” – Albert Einstein
“Living in the moment means letting go of the past and not waiting for the future. It means living your life consciously, aware that each moment you breathe is a gift.” – Oprah Winfrey
“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.” – Erma Bombeck
“The here and now is all we have, and if we play it right it’s all we’ll need.” – Ann Richards
“There is only one time that is important—NOW! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power.” – Leo Tolstoy
“We know nothing of tomorrow; our business is to be good and happy today.” – Sydney Smith
“Lost time is never found again.” – Benjamin Franklin
“Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next.” – Gilda Radner
“We are always getting ready to live but never living.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“Be here now.” – Ram Dass
“Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed.” – Wayne Dyer
“One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.” – Dale Carnegie
“The past presents itself as a memory. The future presents itself as an expectation. It is only the present moment that is the canvas of our life.” – William Shakespeare
“Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.” – Napoleon Hill
“Simple is good.” – Jim Henson
“Wherever you are, be all there.” – Jim Elliot
“The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.” – Richard Bach
“Happiness, not in another place but this place…not for another hour, but this hour.” – Walt Whitman
“Dance. Smile. Giggle. Marvel. Trust. Hope. Love. Wish. Believe. Most of all, enjoy every moment of the journey, and appreciate where you are at this moment instead of always focusing on how far you have to go.” – Mandy Hale
Quotes for Calm and Clarity
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have.” – Eckhart Tolle
“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” – Omar Khayyam
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present.” – Alice Morse Earle
“The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.” – Abraham Maslow
“Life is available only in the present moment.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh
“Living in the moment brings you a sense of reverence for all of life’s blessings.” – Oprah Winfrey
“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” – Mother Teresa
“The only way to survive eternity is to be able to appreciate each moment.” – Lauren Kate
“Do every act of your life as though it were the last act of your life.” – Marcus Aurelius
“Forever is composed of nows.” – Emily Dickinson
“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.” – Henry David Thoreau
“One today is worth two tomorrows.” – Benjamin Franklin
“Dance. Smile. Giggle. Marvel. Trust. Hope. Love. Wish. Believe. Most of all, enjoy every moment of the journey, and appreciate where you are at this moment instead of always focusing on how far you have to go.” – Mandy Hale
“Nothing is more precious than being in the present moment. Fully alive, fully aware.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh
“This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.” – Maya Angelou
“The past and future are in the mind only – I am now.” – Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
“Wherever you are, be all there.” – Jim Elliot
“Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” – Buddha
“Your real life is in the here and now.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh
“Don’t count the days, make the days count.” – Muhammad Ali
“The present is a present to be cherished.” – Unknown
“Peace can be found in the pause of the present moment.” – Willow Green
“Hold to the now, the here, through which all future plunges to the past.” – James Joyce
“No amount of regret can change the past, and no amount of worrying can change the future.” – Roy T. Bennett
“The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.” – Richard Bach
“Why not just live in the moment, especially if it has a good beat?” – Goldie Hawn
“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.” – Erma Bombeck
“Be where you are; otherwise you will miss your life.” – Buddha
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” – Dr. Seuss
“The future depends on what you do today.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Quotes to Ground Your Thoughts
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.” – Bil Keane
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha
“The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.” – Abraham Maslow
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life.” – Eckhart Tolle
“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon
“Forever is composed of nows.” – Emily Dickinson
“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.” – Henry David Thoreau
“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.” – Seneca
“The only time you ever have in which to learn anything or see anything or feel anything or express any feeling or emotion or respond to an event is in this moment, because there never is any time except the present moment.” – Marianne Williamson
“I have realized that the past and future are real illusions, that they exist in the present, which is what there is and all there is.” – Alan Watts
“It is only possible to live happily-ever-after on a day-to-day basis.” – Margaret Bonnano
“The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh
“My true wealth is not in the things I own but in the moments I live.” – Meena Chowdhury
“There is just one life for each of us: our own.” – Euripides
“Do every act of your life as if it were your last.” – Marcus Aurelius
“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.” – Maya Angelou
“No valid plans for the future can be made by those who have no capacity for living now.” – Alan Watts
“Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments.” – Rose Kennedy
“We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time, and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves. And we’ll also have a lot more joy in living.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh
“Rejoice in the things that are present; all else is beyond thee.” – Michel de Montaigne
“The present time has one advantage over every other — it is our own.” – Charles Caleb Colton
“Happiness, not in another place but this place…not for another hour, but this hour.” – Walt Whitman
“Anecdotally, the more present we are, the richer our lives are.” – Kalina Silverman
“The here and now is all we have, and if we play it right it’s all we’ll need.” – Ann Richards
“Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time’ is like saying ‘I don’t want to.’” – Lao Tzu
“The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
“Living in the moment brings you a sense of reverence for all of life’s blessings.” – Oprah Winfrey
“Now is the only time we have, and the only time we have any control over.” – Richard Carlson
“Yesterday is but today’s memory, and tomorrow is today’s dream.” – Khalil Gibran
“Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.” – Nathaniel Hawthorne
“Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment, I know this is a wonderful moment.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh
Uplifting Quotes for Present Awareness
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.” – Bil Keane
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have.” – Eckhart Tolle
“Forever is composed of nows.” – Emily Dickinson
“The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle.” – Tara Brach
“The present moment is the only moment available to us, and it is the door to all moments.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“Wherever you are, be all there.” – Jim Elliot
“Life is available only in the present moment.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.” – Mother Teresa
“Happiness, not in another place but this place… not for another hour, but this hour.” – Walt Whitman
“The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
“One today is worth two tomorrows.” – Benjamin Franklin
“Look past your thoughts, so you may drink the pure nectar of This Moment.” – Rumi
“Presence is the key to freedom, so you can only be free now.” – P.T. Barnum
“The future depends on what we do in the present.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” – Charles Dederich
“The present time has one advantage over every other – it is our own.” – Charles Caleb Colton
“Eternity is not something that begins after you are dead. It is going on all the time. We are in it now.” – Charlotte Perkins Gilman
“Mindfulness is the art of being present in the moment, waking up to what is happening right in front of you.” – Mark Williams
“The moment is all we have, and it is enough.” – Rebecca Scritchfield
“What we are doing now is the only truth.” – Jane Roberts
“Live life now, this moment is all you have.” – Dr. SunWolf
“The here and now is all we have, and if we play it right it’s all we’ll need.” – Ann Richards
“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.” – Henry David Thoreau
“Mindfulness isn’t difficult, we just need to remember to do it.” – Sharon Salzberg
“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.” – Maya Angelou
“Life is not meant to be easy, my child; but take courage – it can be delightful.” – George Bernard Shaw
“Be here now. Be someplace else later. Is that so complicated?” – David Bader
“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Being present means living as close to reality as you can in order to not be carried away by the waves of time.” – Yours Truly
“Do everything as if it were the only thing you would ever do.” – Marcus Aurelius
The Conclusion
Being present is a gift we can give ourselves each day. The quotes we’ve shared offer simple, yet powerful reminders to live in the moment. They encourage us to focus on what’s happening now instead of getting lost in thoughts of the past or worries about the future.
Whether it’s taking a deep breath, appreciating the beauty around us, or listening intently to a loved one, these quotes inspire us to make the most of each moment. Hopefully, you’ve found a quote or two that speaks to you. Keep them in mind as you go through your day, and let them bring a sense of peace and presence to your life.
