The 101 Most Inspiring Sailing Quotes For Your Next Adventure
Looking for the best sailing quotes.
Sailing is one of the oldest and most captivating activities in history, so there are a whole lot of sailing quotes all over the internet. You’ll find quotes from famous authors, poets, songwriters, and actors, everyone has something to say about sailing and we don’t blame them!
With every passing year, more people are turning to sailing as a way to find respite from their everyday routines – and as they do, an increasing number of inspiring sailing songs and quotes about sailing have been shared by adventurers around the world.
Perhaps we need to get adding to the list as we embark on our fifth year of living on a sailboat!
In this blog post we’ll explore some of these sailing quotes. Most of them are great for Instagram captions (I know, I’ve used a lot of them!) or you can write them in the front of books when you gift them to people.
Or you can just read and enjoy! It’s totally up to you!
Famous Sailing Quotes
These are timeless sailing quotes that you’re likely to see over and over again, and for good reason. Some of these famous quotes are our absolute favourites!
- “A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” John A. Shedd, American Author
- “I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.” Louisa May Alcott, American Poe t
- “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than those you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain, American Writer
- “One’s destination is never a place, but always a new way of seeing things.” Henry Miller, American Writer & Artist
- “Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.” Van Morrison, Irish Singer-Songwriter
- “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” William Arthur Ward, American Writer
- “Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.” Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd U.S. President
- “You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” Christopher Columbus, Italian Explorer
- “A man is never lost at sea.” Ernest Hemingway, American Writer
- “If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.” Seneca, Roman Philosopher
- “A bad day sailing is 100 times better than a good day at work.” Unknown
- “I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.” William Ernest Henley
- “How inappropriate it is to call this planet Earth, when clearly it is Sea.” Arthur C. Clarke
- “The good seaman weathers the storm he cannot avoid and avoids the storm he cannot weather.” Unknown
Sailing Quotes About Freedom
These quotes will be sure to instill that feeling of freedom and adventure that you find when you’re out sailing. Warning – reading these may well encourage you to head off on a sailing adventure of your own!
15. “It is not that life ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better.” Sir Francis Drake, English Explorer
16. “The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.” Vincent Van Gogh, Dutch Post-Impressionist Painter
17. “I wanted freedom, open air, and adventure. I found it on the sea.” Alaine Gerbault, French Sailor
18. “The days pass happily with me wherever my ship sails.” Joshua Slocum, First Person to Single-Hand Circumnavigate
19. “Home is where the anchor drops.” Unknown
20. “It’s remarkable how quickly a good and favorable wind can sweep away the maddening frustrations of shore living.” Ernest K. Gann, American Sailor & Author
21 “On life’s vast ocean, diversely we sail. Reasons the card, but passion the gale.” Alexander Pope, English Poet
22 “Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit.” Brooks Atkinson
23. “There is nothing more enticing, disenchanting, and enslaving than the life at sea.” Joseph Conrad, Polish-British Writer
24. “Flying might not be all plain sailing, but the fun of it is worth the price.” Amelia Earhart, American Aviation Pioneer & Author
25. “For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it’s always our self we find in the sea.” E.E. Cummings, American Poet & Author
26. “A sailor is an artist whose medium is the wind. Live passionately, even if it kills you, because something is going to kill you anyway.” Webb Chiles
27. “The sail, the play of its pulse so like our own lives: so thin and yet so full of life, so noiseless when it labors hardest, so noisy and impatient when least effective.” Henry David Thoreau, American Poet & Philosopher
28. “On a day when the wind is perfect, the sail just needs to open and the world is full of beauty.” Rumi
Weathering Storms Quotes
Sailors face some pretty tough conditions out there, and some great quotes have come from those reflecting on the strength and courage that storms at sea have given them. Sailing can be dangerous . These sailing quotes are great life quotes as well.
29. “There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.” Willa Cather, American Writer
30. “Confronting a storm is like fighting God. All the powers in the universe seem to be against you and, in an extraordinary way, your irrelevance is at the same time both humbling and exalting.” Francis LeGrande
31. “The most challenging times bring us the most empowering lessons.” Karen Salmansohn
32. “The sea finds out everything you did wrong.” Francis Stokes
33. “Any fool can carry on, but a wise man knows how to shorten sail in time.” Joseph Conrad, Polish-British Writer
34. “The sea speaks a language polite people never repeat. It is a colossal scavenger slang and has no respect.” Carl Sandburg
Cruising Quotes
Our favourite sailing quotes sum up what life is really like as a full-time cruiser. It’s not always glamorous, but it’s always an adventure.
If you’re thinking of becoming a full-time liveaboard then we’ve got the ultimate guide for you . Go from landlubber to salty sea dog in no time!
35. “The goal is not to sail the boat, but rather to help the boat sail herself.” John Rousmaniere, American Author
36. “There is no better tool or equipment you can have on board than a well-trained crew.” Larry Pardey , Sailor
37. “A sailing vessel is alive in a way that no ship with mechanical power ever be.” Aubrey de Selincourt
38. “Only two sailors, in my experience, never ran aground. One never left port and the other was an atrocious liar.” Don Bamford, Sailor & Author
39. “We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” Ernest Hemingway
40. “If you are going to do something, do it now. Tomorrow is too late.” Pete Goss, British Sailor
41. “To be successful at sea, we must keep things simple.” Pete Culler, Author & Renowned Wooden Boat Builder
42. “Go small, go simple, go now.” Larry Pardey, Sailor & Writer
43. “To desire nothing beyond what you have is surely happiness. Aboard a boat, it is frequently possible to achieve just that. That is why sailing is a way of life, one of the finest of lives.” Carleton Mitchell
44. “At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much.” Robin Lee Graham, American Sailor
45. “The lovely thing about cruising is that planning usually turns out to be of little use.” Dom Degnon, Freelance Writer
46. “Cruising is fixing your boat in exotic locations.” Unknown
Sailing Quotes From Novels
Nothing quite matches the feeling of waking up on a sailboat or yacht in the middle of an ocean and living life at its most adventurous.
Sailing quotes from books and novels demonstrate that this kind of experience has been inspiring adventure seekers for decades, expressed by writers who want to capture the unique freedom only found while sailing.
Whether you are just getting started with your sailing journey, or have a lifetime’s worth of experiences, these classic quotes will reconnect you to what makes such an activity so special!
47. “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” Ernest Hemingway
48. “I was amazed that what I needed to survive could be carried on my back. And, most surprising of all, that I could carry it.” Cheryl Strayed
49. “Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.” Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi
50. “Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made, for somewhere deep in their oaken hearts the soul of a song is laid.” Robert N. Rose
51. “To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, To gain all while you give, To roam the roads of lands remote, To travel is to live.” Hans Christian Andersen, The Fairy Tale of My Life: An Autobiography
52. “I knew that if I allowed fear to overtake me, my journey was doomed. Fear, to a great extent, is born of a story we tell ourselves, and so I chose to tell myself a different story from the one women are told. I decided I was safe. I was strong. I was brave. Nothing could vanquish me.” Cheryl Strayed, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
53. “The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” Christopher McCandless, Into the Wild
Sailing Quotes From The Movies
A love for sailing often stirs within us when the wind picks up and we smell the salty sea. Movies have captured the allure of setting sail, taking that adventurous voyage across a vast ocean, and embracing what lies beyond.
Here is a collection of some of our favorite sailing quotes from the movies – motivating you to get out on open waters!
Whether you’re trying to motivate yourself to jump on an upcoming journey or just appreciate a beautiful day at sea, these sailing lines will undoubtedly hit close to home.
Here’s your invitation: suit up, let down your sails, drop anchor, and join us as we explore these famous words with our inspirational takeaways. Let’s set sail!
Top tip: Watch some of the best sailing YouTube channels to get inspired!
54. “Not all treasure is silver and gold.” Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean
55. “They say home is where the heart is, and for most people that consists of four walls and a welcome mat. But for me, it’s the ocean, with the warmth of the sun on my skin.” Bethany Hamilton Soul Surfer
56. “Now…bring me that horizon.” Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean
57. “The ocean doesn’t help you. You help yourself!” Dwayne Johnson (as Maui), Moana
58. “It’s not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that’s what a ship needs but what a ship is…what the Black Pearl really is…is freedom.” Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean
Quotes About The Ocean
With the vastness of the ocean and its many mysteries, it’s no surprise that people have been writing about this enchanting body of water for centuries.
From ancient Greek philosophers to modern-day songwriters, each quote captures something different and provides an interesting perspective on this seemingly endless expanse of blue.
Whether you’re looking for inspiration on how to appreciate the beauty of nature or simply need a reminder to savor life’s little moments, read ahead to discover some insightful quotes about the ocean.
Or if you’re looking for something more short and snappy you’ll be wanting the best ocean captions for Instagram .
59. “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” Jacques Yves Cousteau, French Naval Officer
60. “When your life is moving too fast and you find yourself in chaos, introduce yourself to each color of the sunset.” Christy Ann Martine
61. “We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came.” John F. Kennedy, 35th U.S. President
62. “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Philosopher
63. “At the beach, life is different. Time doesn’t move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by currents, plan by the tides, and follow the sun.” Sandy Gingras, Writer & Illustrator
64. “Dance with the waves, move with the sea, let the rhythm of the water set your soul free.” Christy Ann Martine, Canadian Poet
65. “If there’s a heaven for me, I’m sure it has a beach attached to it.” Jimmy Buffett, American Singer-Songwriter
66. “Every time I slip into the ocean, it’s like going home.” Sylvia Earle, American Marine Biologist
67. “The sea is a desert of waves, a wilderness of water.” Langston Hughes, American Poet
Quotes To Encourage You To Untie The Docklines
Have you ever had a burning desire to strike out on your own but were too afraid or held back by the safety and security of staying within the confines of what’s comfortable?
Maybe it was a job, maybe it was a relationship, or perhaps you yearned for exploration – whatever it may be, know that you’re not alone. The uncertainty and fear associated with leaving comfort zones is felt by many.
To provide some motivation on your journey, here are some inspiring quotes to encourage you to untie those docklines and let the current take hold!
68. “Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” T.S. Eliot
69. “Don’t be afraid to fail. Be afraid not to try.” Michael Jordan
70. “In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.” Lewis Carroll
71. “If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet.” Rachel Wolchin
72. “No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit.” Helen Keller
73. “You can. You should. And if you are brave enough to start, you will.” Stephen King
74. “Until you step into the unknown, you don’t know what you’re made of.” Roy T. Bennett
75. “I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” Mary Anne Radmacher
76. “It feels good to be lost in the right direction.” Anonymous
77. “And after two days in civilization we realized we could never stay for long and started to plan our next adventure.” Bob Bitchin (Letters from the Lost Soul)
78. “You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” Christopher Robin
79. “Jobs fill your pockets, but adventures fill your soul.” Jaime Lyn
Short Sailing Quotes For Instagram
Feel free to pair these quotes with your favorite sailing photos for a touch of inspiration and adventure on your Instagram feed! ⛵️📸✨
80. “Sail away into the horizon and let your worries drift away.” ⛵️✨
81. “Life’s roughest storms prove the strength of our anchors.” ⚓️💪
82. “Smooth seas never made skilled sailors.” 🌊⛵️
83. “Every adventure requires a first step. Mine was setting sail.” 🌟⛵️
84. “Find your direction and set sail towards your dreams.” 🌅⛵️
85. “The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination, and brings eternal joy to the soul.” 🌊❤️
86. “Sail with the wind, explore the unknown, and embrace the journey.” 🌬️⛵️
87. “In the waves of change, we find our true direction.” 🌊🧭
88. “Life is better on a boat.” 🚤💙
89. “Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ⛵️✨
90. “The ocean is calling, and I must go.” 🌊⛵️
91. “Saltwater heals everything.” 🌊💙
92. “Sailors have the best stories.” ⚓️📖
93. “Life is a journey. Enjoy the sail.” ⛵️✨
94. “Let the sea set you free.” 🌊⚓️
95. “Wind in my sails, salt in my veins.” 🌬️⛵️
96. “Sail more, worry less.” ⛵️😌
97. “Sailing is the ultimate freedom.” ⛵️🌅
98. “Adventure awaits where the sea meets the sky.” 🌊🌌
99. “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor, but it sure makes for a great day on the water.” 🌊⛵️
100. “Life’s a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.” 🎶⛵️
101. “Happiness comes in waves.” 🌊😊
Conclusion: The Best Sailing Quotes
The best sailing quotes can provide guidance to help any sailor out on the open sea. These quotes range from statements of encouragement to lessons of caution; they provide advice and inspiration that can be appreciated by anyone who loves sailing and exploring the open water.
Even seasoned sailors may find the motivation to push further in the waves after reading these insightful words. You never know when you may need a bit of extra courage and resolve to reach your goals.
No matter what your sailing aspirations are, keep peace within yourself, sail with passion, and hold high hopes for all your upcoming voyages!
Similar Posts
The 13 Best Sailing Bags 2024: Waterproof And Rugged Bags For Sailboats
Sailboat Keel Types: Pros And Cons 2024
What Is A Sailboat Mast?
Lateen Sails – What Are They And Why Are They Important?
Sailing With A Baby: Essential Guide 2024
What Is The Draft Of A Boat?
- Search Search Hi! We’re Emily, Adam and Tiny Cat, liveaboard sailors travelling the world on our 38ft sailboat and writing about it as we go. We hope we can inspire you to live the life you’ve always dreamed, whether that’s exploring the world or living a more simple way of life in a tiny home. Find out more. Patreon
- Privacy Policy
The 74 Best Sailing Quotes
Ever since its inception, sailing has been linked to a sense of freedom and drive for adventure out on the sea. For many centuries, sailors were considered to be bold and courageous people willing to risk their lives for fortune and honor.
Many people have tried to express the freedom and enjoyment of sailing through words and quotes.
Many great men and women have fallen in love with sailing over the years, giving birth to a practically endless series of funny, happy and inspirational quotes.
Below you will find a comprehensive list of our personal favorites.
Inspirational Sailing Quotes
Our favorite inspirational sailing quotes to get you inspired and motivated are below.
“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than those you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” -Mark Twain
“You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore” -Christopher Columbus
“Sailors, with their built-in sense of order, service and discipline, should really be running the world.” -Nicholas Monsarrat
“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” -William Arthur Ward
“A bad day sailing is 100 times better than a good day at work.” -An Unknown Sailor
“Who is staring at the sea is already sailing a little” -Paul Carvel
“There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.” -Willa Cather
“I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky. And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.” -John Masefield
“To be successful at sea we must keep things simple.” -Pete Culler
“The sea is the same as it has been since before men ever went on it in boats.” -Ernest Hemingway
“Nothing comes sailing by itself” -Alexander Dale Oen
“The goal is not to sail the boat, but rather to help the boat sail herself” -John Rousmaniere
“Until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore, you will not know the terror of being forever lost at sea.” -Charles Cook
“A ship in the harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are built for.” -William Sheed
“To young men contemplating a voyage I would say go” -Joshua Slocum
“To desire nothing beyond what you have is surely happiness. Aboard a boat, it is frequently possible to achieve just that. That is why sailing is a way of life, one of the finest of lives.” -Carleton Mitchell
“What can we gain by sailing to the moon if we are not able to cross the abyss that separates us from ourselves? This is the most important of all voyages of discovery, and without it, all the rest are not only useless, but disastrous.” -Thomas Merton
“I wanted freedom, open air and adventure. I found it on the sea.” -Alain Gerbault
“There is nothing more enticing, disenchanting, and enslaving than the life at sea.” -Joseph Conrad
“To reach a port we must set sail - Sail, not tie at anchor - Sail, not drift.” -Franklin D. Roosevelt
“The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.” -Vincent Van Gogh
“If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.” -Lucius Annaeus Seneca
“Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.” -Fitzhugh Dodson
“Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.” -Syrus Publilius
“Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.” -African proverb
“Can't control the wind but I can adjust the sail.” -Ricky Skaggs
“We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn topsail in high winds.” -Aristotle Onassis
“He who lets the sea lull him into a sense of security is in very grave danger.” -Hammond Ines
“Sailing is just the bottom line, like adding up the score in bridge. My real interest is in the tremendous game of life.” -Dennis Conner
“Thought is the wind, knowledge the sail, and mankind the vessel.” -Augustus Hare
“No literature is richer than that of the sea. No story is more enthralling, no tradition is more secure.” -Felix Riesenberg
“The man who has experienced shipwreck shudders even at a calm sea.” -Ovid
“There is but a plank between a sailor and eternity.” -Thomas Gibbons
“At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much.” -Robin Graham
“The lovely thing about cruising is that planning usually turns out to be of little use.” -Dom Degnon
“I cannot not sail” -E. B. White
“The art of the sailor is to leave nothing to chance” -Annie Van De Wiele
“When all seems to be against you, remember, a ship sometimes has to sail against the current, not with it.” -Matshona Dhliwayo
“In a calm sea, every man is a pilot.” -John Ray
Happy Sailing Quotes
Below are our favorite sailing quotes that will make you happy.
“Never in my life before have I experienced such beauty, and fear at the same time.” -Ellen MacArthur
“The days pass happily with me wherever my ship sails.” -Joshua Slocum
“Mackerel skies and mares tails, soon will be time to shorten sails” -Sailors Proverb
“Sailing a boat calls for quick action, a blending of feeling with the wind and water as well as with the very heart and soul of the boat itself. Sailing teaches alertness and courage, and gives in return a joyousness and peace that but few sports afford.” -George Matthew Adams
“Success soon palls. The joyous time is when the breeze first strikes your sails, and the waters rustle under your bows.” -Charles Buxton
“Instead of sailing off into the sunset, he hopes to sail into the next century.” -Dave Anderson
“I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth, a nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present. In this limitless nation, this nation of wind, light, and peace, there is no other ruler besides the sea.” -Bernard Moitessier
“You haven't lived until you've sailed.” -David Sedaris
“It is not that life ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better.” -Sir Francis Drake
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” -Jacques Yves Cousteau
“The wind and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigator.” -Edmund Gibbon
“Sailor is an artist whose medium is the wind. Live passionately, even if it kills you, because something is going to kill you anyway.” -Webb Chiles
“I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it - but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.” -Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
“It is not the ship so much as the skillful sailing that assures the prosperous voyage.” -George William Curtis
“For the most part, a sailboat navigates through its world of wind and water not leaving a single trace of its passage. Nothing is consumed. Nothing is altered. The winds and the water are left in exactly the same condition for the next user. Sailing is forever.” -Michael B. McPhee
“Wonders are many, and none is more wonderful than the power that crosses the white sea, driven by the stormy wind, making a path under surges that threaten to engulf him.” -Sophocles
“The planning stage of a cruise is often just as enjoyable as the voyage itself, letting ones imagination loose on all kinds of possibilities. Yet translating dreams into reality means a lot of practical questions have to be answered.” -Jimmy Cornell
“The cabin of a small yacht is truly a wonderful thing; not only will it shelter you from a tempest, but from the other troubles in life, it is a safe retreat” -Francis Herreshoff
“And after two days in civilization we realized we could never stay for long and started to plan our next adventure.” -Bob Bitchin
“Sail Now, Work Later” -An Unknown Sailor
Funny Sailing Quotes
Below are our favorite funny sailing quotes that will make you laugh.
“Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Give him a fishing lesson and he'll sit in a boat drinking beer every weekend.” -Alex Blackwell
“Any damn fool can navigate the world sober. It takes a really good sailor to do it drunk.” -Sir Francis Chichester
“When a man comes to like a sea life, he is not fit to live on land.” -Dr. Samuel Johnson
“The cure for anything is saltwater - sweat, tears, or the sea.” -Isak Dinesen
“Out of sight of land the sailor feels safe. It is the beach that worries him.” -Charles Davis
“Sailing – The fine art of slowly going nowhere at great expense while being cold, wet and miserable.” -Irv Heller
“The only way to get a good crew is to marry one.” -Eric Hiscock
“Only two sailors, in my experience, never ran aground. One never left port and the other was an atrocious liar.” -Don Bamford
“Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit.” -Brooks Atkinson
“Thing about boats is, you can always sell them if you don't like them. Can't sell kids.” -Lin Pardey
Sad Sailing Quotes
Below are our favorite sad sailing quotes that are deeply thoughtful.
“As we sail through life, don't avoid rough waters, sail on because calm waters won't make a skillful sailor.” -Unknown
“The ocean has taken everything from me and yet I still love her.” -Unknown
“Only the guy who isn't rowing has time to rock the boat.” -Jean-Paul Sartre
These are our favorite sailing quotes to get you inspired, motivated and happy.
Some of these quotes are deeply thoughtful whilst others are more light- hearted and funny.
What's your favorite quote?
IMAGES
VIDEO