Need help coming up with a relatable, relevant, and not-corny quote for your next Instagram post?
We've curated 165 thought-provoking quotes across 17 different categories.
These quotes will help you get more engagement by inspiring and relating to your audience.
We'll also show you how you can better use quotes so you get even more Likes.
Feel free to skip to the section you're most interested in:
- The best quotes for Instagram by type:
- Where to use quotes for Instagram
- How to find IG quotes FAST
- The best quotes tool to make posting quotes easy
17 Types of Instagram quote ideas for engagement (165 examples)
Ask yourself these 3 questions before you post a quote:
- What type of content does my audience normally engage with?
- What is the overall tone of my profile? Does this quote fit the tone or not?
- Do I like this quote?
Use the answers to those questions to guide which quotes you choose for your Instagram posts.
Ready to get started?
Use these top 17 types of quotes to post on Instagram for inspiration!
1. Funny quotes
When’s the last time laughing made you mad?
Exactly!
Funny Instagram captions and quotes tend to do well because people love to laugh.
Truly comical material can be a refreshing break from an avalanche of selfies.
Examples:
- "My therapist says I have a preoccupation with vengeance. We'll see about that." — Unknown
- "I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not too sure." — Unknown
- "Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive." — Elbert Hubbard
- "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." — Thomas A. Edison
- "I’m not lazy, I’m on energy-saving mode."
- "If life gives you lemons, squirt someone in the eye."
- "With great power comes great electricity bill."
- "I need a six-month holiday, twice a year."
- "I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member." — Groucho Marx
- "People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day." — A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh)
- "Life is like a sewer… what you get out of it depends on what you put into it." — Tom Lehrer
2. Inspirational quotes
Inspirational quotes are the OG engagement post.
People have been sharing them since humans figured out how to write.
They were the first types of quotes to get popular on IG and Facebook.
As old school as they are, they STILL draw likes, comments, and follows.
Just look at the number of likes in this example:
Examples:
- "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." — Confucius
- "Dream big and dare to fail." — Norman Vaughan
- "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." — Steve Jobs
- "Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it." — Charles R. Swindoll
- "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." — Chinese Proverb
- "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." — Eleanor Roosevelt
- "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
- "It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get up." — Vince Lombardi
- "The best revenge is massive success." — Frank Sinatra
- "I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear." — Rosa Parks
- "Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going." — Sam Levenson
3. Motivational quotes
Remember the motivational posters that used to hang in offices and classrooms?
The new version of those posters is motivational Instagram quotes.
Examples:
- "Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion." — Michael Jordan, NBA legend
- "Believe you can and you're halfway there." — Theodore Roosevelt
- "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." — Mark Twain
- "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." — C.S. Lewis
- "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
- "Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever." — Lance Armstrong
- "You can't be paralyzed by fear of failure or you will never push yourself. You keep pushing because you believe in yourself and in your vision and you know that it is the right thing to do, and success will come." — Arnold Schwarzenegger
- "Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny." — C.S. Lewis
- "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." — Wayne Gretzky
- "Don’t count the days, make the days count." — Muhammad Ali
- "The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination." — Tommy Lasorda
4. Famous sayings
People love quotes from famous people (philosophers, scientists, celebrities, authors, etc.).
Why?
Famous people are well-known!
Your followers are likely to recognize their names.
And most people feel better about themselves when they see something familiar.
It makes them feel knowledgeable.
Make sure that you attribute the quote you’re posting to the RIGHT person.
After all, it would be embarrassing to attribute a Gandhi quote to Marilyn Monroe.
Examples:
- "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." — Helen Keller
- "In the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take." — Lewis Carroll
- "An unexamined life is not worth living." — Socrates
- "I think, therefore I am." — René Descartes
- "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." — Friedrich Nietzsche
- "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." — Mahatma Gandhi
- "Keep calm and carry on."
- "I have a dream." — Martin Luther King Jr.
- "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." — Muhammad Ali
- "Be like water, my friend. Water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend." — Bruce Lee
- "Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile." — Albert Einstein
5. Positive & self-love quotes
Sometimes a quote isn’t inspirational, motivational, or funny.
Instead, it’s just positive, happy, or encouraging.
Use positive quotes when:
- you post a selfie
- you post something to encourage your followers
- your picture doesn’t need a description, but you don’t want to leave the caption blank
Mental health, wellness, self-care, and life coaching brands can especially benefit from these types of quotes.
Examples:
- "To fall in love with yourself is the first secret to happiness." — Robert Morley
- "Loving yourself isn’t vanity. It’s sanity." — Katrina Mayer
- "Do your thing and don't care if they like it." — Tina Fey
- "Be yourself. An original is so much better than a copy."
- "Self-care is how you take your power back." — Lalah Delia
- "Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it." — M. Scott Peck
- "You deserve someone who makes you feel like the otherworldly creature you are. Yourself." — Amanda Lovelace
- "Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." — William James
- "You cannot pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first."
- "You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody." — Maya Angelou
- "Dare to love yourself as if you were a rainbow with gold at both ends." — Aberjhani
6. Song quotes
Over half of America’s population listens to music every single day.
Music is a massive part of most people’s lives.
It’s probably an essential part of your life, too!
That’s why quotes from songs (especially current hits) do so well!
Try to pick song quotes from music genres you suspect your audience enjoys.
Otherwise, choose quotes from popular songs that almost anyone would know.
Examples:
- "It's a beautiful day. Don't let it get away." — U2
- "Don't stop believin', hold on to that feeling." — Journey
- "Cause baby you're a firework, come on show 'em what you're worth." — Katy Perry
- "I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way." — Lady Gaga
- "You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime." — Eminem
- "Every little thing is gonna be alright." — Bob Marley
- "Hello from the other side." — Adele
- "Don't worry, be happy." — Bobby McFerrin
- "You can go your own way." — Fleetwood Mac
- "What a wonderful world." — Louis Armstrong
- "We are the champions, my friends, and we'll keep on fighting till the end." — Queen
7. Book quotes
Ever come across great book quotes your audience might enjoy?
Try to share quotes from books that your audience will find interesting.
There are multiple ways to share book quotes:
- Take a picture of the book itself.
- Find or create a picture of the quote from the book.
- Use a book quote as your caption or bio.
Always give credit to the author if you use any of their material on your Instagram page.
Examples:
- "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, "The Little Prince"
- "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." — Charles Dickens, "A Tale of Two Cities"
- "There is some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for." — J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Two Towers"
- "Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful." — Mary Shelley, "Frankenstein"
- "And so, with laughter and love, we lived happily ever after." — Gail Carson Levine, "Ella Enchanted"
- "There are years that ask questions and years that answer." — Zora Neale Hurston, "Their Eyes Were Watching God"
- "The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places." — Ernest Hemingway, "A Farewell to Arms"
- "Pain demands to be felt." — John Green, "The Fault in Our Stars"
- "My advice is, never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time." — Charles Dickens, "David Copperfield"
- "For you, a thousand times over." — Khaled Hosseini, "The Kite Runner"
- "So it goes." — Kurt Vonnegut, "Slaughterhouse-Five"
8. Movie quotes
Younger audiences usually relate more closely to movies than books.
If you’re targeting millennials and younger, movie quotes can be a great option.
When posting movie quotes, consider the following:
- The age of your audience. Post movie quotes from movies that your audience is old enough to be familiar with.
- The content of the quote. If it isn’t appropriate (or it isn’t relevant to your audience), don’t post it.
Finally, you may want to avoid posting quotes from incredibly obscure movies.
People usually don’t engage with movies they’ve never heard of.
Examples:
- "May the Force be with you." — Star Wars
- "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." — The Godfather Part II
- "I'll be back." — The Terminator
- "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." — Forrest Gump
- "It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me." — Batman Begins
- "There's no place like home." — The Wizard of Oz
- "Oh, yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it." — The Lion King
- "Just keep swimming." — Finding Nemo
- "You had me at 'hello.'" — Jerry Maguire
- "The stuff that dreams are made of." — The Maltese Falcon
- "A martini. Shaken, not stirred." — Goldfinger
9. Quotes from your own blog
Quoting your own material on Instagram is a SMART way to advertise your website.
Announcing a new blog post on IG can skyrocket the number of people who read it.
However, pictures that just say, “Check out our new blog post,” are pretty boring.
Instead, use an intriguing quote to get people interested in reading the rest.
You can make a picture out of it (more on that below) or put it in the caption.
For example, take a look at this post.
The beautiful picture grabs your eye and the quote makes you want to read more:
This Instagram content strategy pushes viewers to your website AND makes an engaging IG post!
It’s a win-win!
10. Customer quotes
Instagram is a great place to show off your happy customers!
People love seeing themselves on a brand’s feed.
Even better, potential customers will see that you already have many happy customers.
If you’re going to post user quotes, make sure that you:
- Introduce the user to your other followers.
- Use a high-quality picture (preferably one that includes the user).
- Get permission from the customer ahead of time. The last thing you want is to post a picture of a happy customer only to turn them into an angry one!
Reviews are already a great way to grow interest in your business.
Positive user quotes maximize the benefit of reviews (without looking self-obsessed).
11. Business quotes
Are your followers hustlers just like you?
Do they thrive on hard work, determination, and a relentless drive for success?
If so, they'll appreciate these powerful business quotes that inspire and motivate.
Share those words of wisdom to keep them focused, motivated, and always striving for greatness.
Examples:
- "The best way to predict the future is to invent it." — Alan Kay
- "I knew that if I failed I wouldn’t regret that, but I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying." — Jeff Bezos
- "It's fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure." — Bill Gates
- "Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great." — John D. Rockefeller
- "The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In a world that's changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks." — Mark Zuckerberg
- "If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late." — Reid Hoffman
- "You only have to do a few things right in your life so long as you don’t do too many things wrong." — Warren Buffett
- "I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." — Thomas Jefferson
- "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." — Walt Disney
- "If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time." — Steve Jobs
- "High expectations are the key to everything." — Sam Walton
12. Freaky & scary quotes
Sometimes spooky quotes are just what you need to send a chill down your audience's spine and evoke a sense of eerie fascination.
These quotes have a way of tapping into our deepest fears and unsettling emotions, making them perfect for those who enjoy a good scare.
Examples:
- "We all go a little mad sometimes." — Norman Bates
- "There is something haunting in the light of the moon." — Joseph Conrad
- "Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win." — Stephen King
- "Sometimes the things in our heads are far worse than anything they could put in books or on film." — C.K. Webb
- "I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity." — Edgar Allan Poe
- "To learn what we fear is to learn who we are. Horror defies our boundaries and illuminates our souls." — Shirley Jackson
- "Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise." — Victor Hugo
- "The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown." — H.P. Lovecraft
- "Reality is a prison, your mind can set you free." — Zack Snyder
- "Fear is only as deep as the mind allows." — Japanese Proverb
- "I delight in what I fear." — Shirley Jackson
13. Travel quotes
Travelers thrive on inspiration.
It's the fuel that ignites their wanderlust and drives them to explore new horizons.
Here are some popular travel quotes that are perfect for your vacation pic OR if you're a business in the travel industry.
Examples:
- "The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." — Saint Augustine
- "Not all those who wander are lost." — J.R.R. Tolkien
- "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." — Helen Keller
- "To travel is to live." — Hans Christian Andersen
- "I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list." — Susan Sontag
- "Take only memories, leave only footprints." — Chief Seattle
- "We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us."
- "One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." — Henry Miller
- "Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world." — Gustave Flaubert
- "Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before." — Dalai Lama
- "Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures." — Lovelle Drachman
14. Gratitude quotes
Gratitude quotes shift our focus from what we lack to what we have.
Everyone has something to be thankful for.
So regardless of who you are or why you're posting, your audience will value a good post that reminds them to cherish the positive things in life.
Examples:
- "When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around." — Willie Nelson
- "Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." — Oprah Winfrey
- "Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." — Marcel Proust
- "Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others." — Cicero
- "If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice." — Meister Eckhart
- "The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see." — Mary Davis
- "Gratitude is the wine for the soul. Go on. Get drunk." — Rumi
- "Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot." — Hausa Proverb
- "When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears." — Tony Robbins
- "The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention." — Oscar Wilde
- "Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance." — Eckhart Tolle
15. Nature quotes
If you're an outdoors lover or brand, you need to have a bunch of nature quotes on hand for your Instagram posts.
Whether you're showcasing breathtaking landscapes, wildlife encounters, or simply celebrating the wonders of nature, incorporating these quotes will add depth and meaning to your content.
Examples:
- "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." — John Muir
- "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." — Albert Einstein
- "Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." — Lao Tzu
- "The Earth has music for those who listen." — William Shakespeare
- "Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads." — Henry David Thoreau
- "The mountains are calling and I must go." — John Muir
- "Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature." — Gerard De Nerval
- "Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit." — Edward Abbey
- "Let us take our hearts for a walk in the woods and listen to the magic whispers of old trees."
- "Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully." — Kristen Butler
- "Let us take our hearts for a walk in the woods and listen to the magic whispers of old trees.
16. Fitness quotes
Use fitness quotes to motivate and inspire your followers to stay active, push their limits, and prioritize their health and well-being.
These are perfect if you're a fitness brand or if you're just trying to share your fitness progress.
Examples:
- "The only bad workout is the one that didn't happen."
- "Do something today that your future self will thank you for." — Sean Patrick Flanery
- "Fitness is not about being better than someone else. It’s about being better than you used to be." — Khloe Kardashian
- "The body achieves what the mind believes."
- "It’s not about having time. It’s about making time."
- "No pain, no gain. Shut up and train."
- "We do not stop exercising because we grow old — we grow old because we stop exercising." — Dr. Kenneth Cooper
- "Don’t limit your challenges, challenge your limits." — Jerry Dunn
- "Sweat is fat crying."
- "Strive for progress, not perfection."
- "Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever." — Lance Armstrong
17. Cute quotes
Not every quote you post on Instagram has to be super serious.
In fact, sprinkling in some cute quotes on your Instagram feed can add a touch of whimsy and charm to your content.
These adorable quotes are like little rays of sunshine that can brighten up your followers' day and bring a smile to their faces.
Examples:
- "All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt." — Charles M. Schulz
- "Where there is love, there is life." — Mahatma Gandhi
- "Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love." — Mother Teresa
- "I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." — Arthur Rubinstein
- "To the world, you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world." — Dr. Seuss
- "We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love." — Robert Fulghum
- "If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you." — A.A. Milne
- "A day without laughter is a day wasted." — Charlie Chaplin
- "The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." — Audrey Hepburn
- "It's not what we have in life, but who we have in our life that matters." — Unknown
- "Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart." — A.A. Milne
Where to use quotes for Instagram
Quotes are perfect for your pics, captions, and bio,
You could post quotes in other places (videos, stories, comments, etc.).
But the following places are the most VISIBLE and long-lasting.
Pictures
When you think of posting on Instagram, pictures probably come to mind.
Posting a quote WITHIN a picture combines the best of both content types.
Placing text in a visually interesting setting can get people to stop scrolling.
For example, take a look at THIS quote’s visual effect:
Using a hand as a background is way too cool to ignore.
That attention turns into engagement (note the over 55K likes this post got)!
Try to use an exciting background for your quote to maximize engagement.
Captions
Certain quotes might not belong in a picture.
Long quotes, testimonials, reposts, and excerpts are better placed in your caption.
Check out this example:
Here, the brand pairs a photo of one of their customers with that customer’s advice.
Get creative with how you use quotes in the caption of your Instagram pics.
They can make your captions more intriguing — the key to increased engagement.
Bio
Your bio is often the FIRST thing someone sees when they visit your IG profile.
An interesting quote can convince a viewer to hit that follow button.
Try the following when posting a quote in your bio:
- Use short quotes (20 words or less) in your bio.
- Pick something relevant to your brand (not just a random quote you like).
- Structure your bio to draw attention to the quote (think emojis and white space).
Your quote can’t replace essential info like your contact details and website.
Don’t forget to include those details in your bio, too!
How to make eye-grabbing Instagram quote posts with Post Planner
You can use Post Planner to automate your Instagram posting!
But you can also use Post Planner to find great quotes and captions.
Which you can then turn into eye-grabbing visuals that get MORE Likes.
This section will show you how.
Plus, we'll give you more tips that'll make your Instagram account even more successful,
Sign up for a free Post Planner account so you can follow along.
Consistently find AMAZING quotes
Want a QUICK way to ALWAYS have an amazing quote for Instagram?
Post Planner is an ever-growing content gusher with LOADS of quotes of all kinds.
Want a good quote for a caption?
No problem!
What about a good business quote already formatted as an image?
Post Planner has that too!
You can search for ANY type of quote in Post Planer.
And filter through to see the most popular quote posts by engagement.
These are perfect for reverse engineering to get more Likes!
Use AI to generate quote ideas
Here's a new one.
You can use AI to generate a quote that's exactly what you're looking for...
In seconds!
Post Planner users can use the AI Content just like this.
Feel free to use my prompt to get a better AI result:
- Give me 10 popular quotes that'll fit my Instagram post about [explain what your Instagram post is about]. Please give credit to the authors.
REMEMBER: The more specific your prompt, the more relevant your quote will be.
Design your own quote post to make it even more epic
Quotes make great Instagram captions.
But if you want your quote to be even more of a centerpiece to your post, design your own image post with Post Planner's Content Studio.
You can either use your own photo or choose a fitting image from Post Planner's free content library.
Quick design tip: Make sure your quote has easy-to-read text that contrasts with the background.
Schedule one-off Instagram posts
Want to quickly publish or schedule a single Instagram quote post?
1) Click on "Create Post."
2) Select the Instagram account that you want to publish to.
3) Write your Instagram post caption. Upload your Instagram photo.
4) Preview your post to make sure it's optimized for Instagram.
5) Choose whether to publish as a normal post or story. Optional: Add a first comment, tag other accounts, and add a location.
6) Click on the down arrow next to "Add to Queue" and select "Share Now" or "Schedule Post."
7) If you're scheduling your post, select your date and time. Then, click "Schedule."
Create your automated posting schedule
Consistency is the name of the game when it comes to growing your Instagram.
This is why you need to be scheduling your Instagram posts with Post Planner.
But before you can start automating your Instagram posts, you need to tell Post Planner when you want to post to your IG.
Go to the Posting Plans tab on the left-hand toolbar on Post Planner, then click the days of the week where you want to add a posting time.
Here, you can choose when you’ll allow Post Planner to post on your social media and what types of content to post at each time.
Post Planner uses “Buckets” to help you separate your content. When you’re adding content, just add each type of content to its respective Bucket, and then Post Planner will draw from the selected Bucket at each posting time.
Bulk schedule Instagram posts to save MORE time
You can take your time savings to the next level with bulk scheduling.
When you’re in the Content tool, simply select multiple pieces of content that you want to share with your social media followers. I’ve selected 10 pieces of content in the image below.
Now, bulk edit these posts in the Post Composer, making sure you optimize them for Instagram.
You can see below that these curated images and videos will turn into 10 POSTS in a matter of MINUTES!
Alternatively, you can bulk upload your own content by selecting "Multiple posts" from the Post Composer.
Then, upload your content in bulk.
Using bulk scheduling, you can easily plan a month’s worth of content in an afternoon.
How to recycle top-performing posts
Post Planner saves your past content, so you can repurpose your BEST posts and cash in on more engagement.
Instagram posts don’t get much easier than that.
Here’s how to review and repurpose your most engaging posts:
- Click on “History” on the left-hand toolbar
- Scroll through your posts, looking at the engagement statistics
- Pick one with high engagement, then select “Re-queue.”
Your old post is now added to your current scheduling queue! You can go to your posting plan and tweak the exact posting time if desired.
Ready to make your engagement explode?
You still have to manage the biggest challenge to a successful IG strategy:
The time commitment.
Using an Instagram management tool can DRAMATICALLY reduce the time it takes to find quotes.
It can also help you create a detailed social media schedule for ALL of your accounts!
So start your Post Planner free trial today to get started!
Good luck and happy quoting!
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