Tattoo Ideas: Words & Sayings IV
Try, fail, repeat
Inspiration From a Quote
The other day, I was watching a documentary on VH1 called RockDoc: The Last Days of Lisa Lopes. Lisa Lopes, better known as "Left Eye" from the all-girl hip-hop group TLC, was killed in a car crash on April 25, 2002, when she and her crew were driving around in Honduras.
They were at the tail end of a 30-day retreat, led by Lisa, that encouraged practicing yoga, fasting, and drinking only concoctions that would cleanse their bodies. A camera crew had been with the entourage the entire time, intent on producing a documentary about the spiritual and physical awakenings the group experienced. There was also a particular focus on Lisa's interest in numerology, and her belief that every day of the year could be broken down to a number from 1 through 9, with 9 being the day of greatest change. The never-before-seen footage ends when the vehicle the cameraman was traveling in (along with Lisa and six others) swerves off the road and crashes.
Earlier in the film, Lisa spoke of the trials she'd faced in her life, her battle with alcoholism and the media frenzy that ensued when she accidentally burned down the expensive home of boyfriend Andre Rison, football player for the Atlanta Falcons. Regarding the obstacles she'd endured and challenges she had faced, Lisa said, "Every struggle is just a preparation for what's to come."
Instantly, I knew that I wanted those words tattooed on my body somewhere prominent. And it got me thinking about all the other people in this world who connect so strongly with a word or a phrase that it becomes imperative that they ink the saying permanently on their skin. To quote the lovely Anaïs Nin: "Before, I almost used to think there was something wrong. Everybody else seemed to have the brakes on. A voice, a phrase was not for them volcanic. I never feel the brakes. I overflow." If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a word must be worth a million stories.
Tattoo Ideas: Words & Phrases
More Words...
© 2007 Jaclyn Popola
Comments
Robyn Grzetic on July 19, 2013:
*Forgiveness fallen down on those who chose to wait..
*Look into the sun and see your soul is dying,
Used to feel the faith but now you're tired of trying,
Should have left alone what you have stolen from everyone.
Theses are two that have great meaning to me.
meme.. on May 02, 2013:
Winners Find A Way...Loosers Find An Excuse
Laura on September 24, 2012:
I remember watching shawshank redemption years ago and I'll never forget this line from Morgan freeman, which I think would be an awesome tat ~Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying~Love It!
mile on May 21, 2012:
I have ''I fly with my own wings'' on my ribs and ''to be irreplaceable you have to be different'' across my back and i love love it.!
jason on May 03, 2012:
i have on my chest you cant put arms around a memrey
DramaQueen on March 20, 2012:
I LOVE these quotes. Some are from songs, others from books. But, they all are absolutely great. Here-
This Too Shall Pass
2. Every scar has a story
3. Let go. Breathe.
4. Why waste a second, not loving who you are.
5. Defy expectations. Go beyond.
6. Coveted.
7. Love forever.
8. A Thousand Splendid Suns.
9. Beautiful disaster.
10. Are we human, or are we dancers?
11. This heart will start a riot in me.
12. Groan. And forget it.
13. Sunshine comes along.
14. Cry Freedom.
15. Human, after all.
16. Move on.
17. Dare To Be Remarkable.
18. When you stop dreaming, you die.
19. Let your joy, scream against the pain.
20. I took the road not taken.
21. Dust thou art, to dust thou shalt return.
Samy on March 12, 2012:
My faves
•‘Action speak louder than words, so believe what you see and forget what you heard.’
•'The light will always shine again'
•"Take your broken wings & learn how to fly."
•‘No matter how dark the night, the sun will always rise.’
•‘Through the thorns to the stars’
•‘The best way out is always through’
•‘The light will always shine again’
•‘Don’t follow the path, make one’
•‘There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going’
•‘Fall seven times, stand eight’
•‘Live To Regret, Not Regret To Live’
•‘Everything I’m not makes me everything I am’
•‘Karma is a Bitch’
•'The rain makes the sun shine brighter'
•‘The stronger the rain the stronger the sun’
•‘The harder the RAIN the brighter the SUN’
•‘One Life, One Chance’
•‘It Is What It Is’
•‘It’s not about surviving the storm but learning how to dance in the rain’
•‘LIVE for something or DIE for nothing"
I believe the lows in life are matched by highs. So dwelling on the past just delays the chances to live life the way it’s suppose to be lived. Don’t waste opportunities to make highs even higher and do all you can to shallow the lows.. Live is about living so live life to its fullest.
Nicolas on February 22, 2012:
Hey, i'm getting this for my 18 birthday on my ribs:
"If you ask me
What I came into
This world to do
I will tell you
I came to live out loud"
Any thoughts!???
pinkmini on February 21, 2012:
I simply CANNOT believe someone has to advertise for a d&m (deep & meaningful) phrase to be cut into their body. I agree with one post here - Get A Life!
Tye on February 21, 2012:
I have inked on my thigh; for everyday I rise I thank you, no longer scared to die here, shed my last tears, conquered all fears, see you when I get there
Charlie on February 13, 2012:
Hey guys I just got a tattoo swirling down and around my left leg on script saying " Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind" looks great
Brianna Makatura on February 12, 2012:
I really liked a phrase from earlier in the post
"the greatest love is to love yourself"
but I'm thinking of getting it in Hungarian as
"A legnagyobb a szerelem a szeretet magad"
ricky^racoon on February 07, 2012:
i had one at my right foot
'A WALK TO REMEMBER '
Jenny on February 06, 2012:
The bond between a mother & child will never fall apart, Always bound together by the beating of one anothers heart.
Lee on February 05, 2012:
"Death is only hard on the living"
I am going to get "R.I.P Steve" under it :)
ashley on January 31, 2012:
"kill em' with kindness"
Ashley on January 30, 2012:
Not sure when I'll get it, but when I do, my tattoo is going to say "watch your words spread hope like fire". It's lyrics from an Angels & Airwaves song :) Love it!
gugumi on January 29, 2012:
time for me
kelly on January 27, 2012:
nothing about love really but what about 'keep holding on' avril lavigne
Beth on January 26, 2012:
so i want a little quote or lyric from a song about true love. its going to go on my side and i don't want nothing too long.
Sophiie on January 20, 2012:
I have read allyour comments and honestly tears came to my eyes, ive sufferd a hell of a lot over the past years, deaths in family and also death of my baby. I have scars from which i have survived fights with my family mentally and physically, im looking for a quote to do with bravery and also something can prove no matter how many scars i have i can live my life asif i haven't any??? It'll mean a lot to me if yoou give suggestions. x
kindle on January 19, 2012:
Thanks for the wonderful tattoo ideas, I am getting one in four days. This post has some wonderful suggestions.
My boys x on January 18, 2012:
I am planning to get my first tattoo for my 2 sons! Any1 got any ideas for a tattoo for me- My 2 little boys are the best thing that has ever happened to me.... Any ideas?
mrRight on January 17, 2012:
"C'est toujours un autre coeur qui nous fait sentir le notre" - It's french, and it basically means: It's always another heart that makes us feel our own.
I like that saying!
Roxana on January 10, 2012:
'She has wings to fly'
Sarah on January 09, 2012:
I want a tattoo on the inside of my forearm but need to choose from these quotes:
No matter how dark the night, the sun will always rise
Through the thorns to the stars
The best way out is always through
The light will always shine again"
Don’t follow the path, make one
There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going
Fall seven times, stand eight.
Have faith
Only the strong survive
Even the best fall down sometimes
what one do you thinks the best
Clayton on January 08, 2012:
"You can learn to love anything, even a bird in a cage will sing a song, even if its wrong, even if it kills you in the end"
Emily on January 03, 2012:
I'm turning 16 in march and want to get a tattoo for my mom nd grandma . My grandmas a 10 ur cancer surviver nd my mom Is 7year survive also. I want to get on that says
"take your broken wings & learn how to fly." I want this on my side along with a bird flying . But I'm afraid it's tacky, and ideas ?!
Part of a poem I wrote on December 31, 2011:
"A tortured soul, bound by chains and set free by faith, now living in his grace"
hayli on December 28, 2011:
natasha,
i have a tattoo in memory of my dad.
i have daddy on the top of my right wrist with a cross.
Floyd on December 28, 2011:
My wife and I have a deal. Which ever dies first the living spouse gets a tattoo on the left ass cheek that says "LEFT BEHIND"
lee on December 15, 2011:
Some people wonder why I do the things I do, I wonder why they don't.
Chambers05 on December 11, 2011:
all above is helpful and exciting to read but my grandad has recently passed away :( and im getting a tattoo to remember him by which is a cross with wings high lighted in red from shoulder blade to shoulder blade am just thinking of a quote such as
"God Has Taken You, May Your Sole Rest In Peace, One Day We Will Meet Again"
"I Will Always Believe In You, Forever & Always"
and one that i read above n loved it "Because He Loved Me, I Stand Strong"
(hope these help others too) but is there any more that are better than these? please help
thank you
matty on December 05, 2011:
im 16, and im getting my first tatto in a few months on my peck where your heart is, i want something meaningful yet inspirational about love and life, can anyone help ,i want it to be a short quote. any help please ? maximum of 8 words
Troy on November 27, 2011:
"Happiness"
Troy on November 27, 2011:
I have got on my left arm which is a sleeve ... On my tricep I have ... "pocket full of dreams" and on my forearm I have "serendipity .. Hapiness will find you" they mean a lot to me and I love them.
Emma on November 27, 2011:
Don’t let today’s disappointments cast a shadow on tomorrow’s dreams
Love the life you live, Live the life you love.
Live...Love and suffer...But never learn to surrender
If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.
Dream as if you live forever.Live as if you die today
Everything im not makes me everything i am
Life is a beautiful struggle
Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself
Love yourself for untill you do no one else can
Can anyone translate any of these into Latin? would really appreciate it as i'm getting my tattoo on thursday.Thankss :) x
Anirudh on November 25, 2011:
can someone please suggest words or lines for a father to describe his love for his just born daughter. A line, when shes grows up makes sense to her and understand the pain her father took to describe how much she loves her and will love her.
Me on November 22, 2011:
Steph84 i love it !! So strong and powerful :)
I am going to get "Telle est la vie" which is "such is life" on my back/shoulder!!
cant wait!
Love all the comments, so helpful.
All the best x
steph84 on November 16, 2011:
what does every one think about this one....
a life lived lying is a life half lived????
vinny on November 15, 2011:
Tatoo quote pleas?
4 small words for the edge of my outer arm?
Dawn on November 12, 2011:
saying "always listen to your inner voice" or
"your inner voice is aways right" I don't know which one yet?
gray on November 11, 2011:
so excited to have mine in a couple of days..it'll say LOVE IS WAR IM A SOLDIER lyrics from the song bed by j.holiday.its from my mid chest til my shoulders like the one samuel larsen has..;)
albi on November 07, 2011:
hey guys! I'm from albania...i want to do a tatto in my hand,a short phrase...can you give me any ideas??
brian on November 04, 2011:
''no brightness shine like the light of hope, in the clear wide eyes of a child''
Sophie on November 04, 2011:
I have
''Love is the only passion that does not suffer past or future'' on my ribs in french.
Want something for my foot about the hope of a child? not sure what to get though?
Newby on November 03, 2011:
What do you guys think of "while u breathe.. I believe"
Janine on October 27, 2011:
I have 8 tattoos I love them so much. I have 2 on my belly, shooting stars either side of my belly button. I have 'Mum' on the back of my left shoulder and 'Dad' on the back of my right shoulder. I have one going down my right hand from my little finger and round my wrist, one on my left wrist and the biggest one across the base of my back. The last one on the top of my right shoulder. Most of them have stars involved in them as stars have a personal meaning to me.
There has been a tattoo I have wanted to get now for a few years and I want it to be my last tattoo (unless I have children.)
The saying that I want is:
'Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.'
The only problem I am having is I have no idea where to put it on my body. The thing with me is that I like to have tattoos where I can see them. I am aware that this may not be possible with this tattoo as it contains 13 words and can be classed as a long saying. I am slim and just cannot think where I could put this tattoo where it will not look bad or manly.
Any comments and suggestions would be helpful. I am a bit stuck on ideas.
Cheers
Kenzee on October 26, 2011:
The only text one I have so far is "Because she loved me, I stand strong" on the top of my foot with a purple iris for my great grandma. It was her favorite flower and she was an amazing person. I have an ambigram that says love one way and pain the other and I want another one that says dream/faith. Also, i have an old gnarled oak tree with the roots showing because oak trees represent strength, wisdom, and courage and in some races its a symbol of love and trust and family. I'm getting a quote with it but I can't decide between two.
-"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us."
-"Wisdom ceases to be wisdome when you're too grave to laugh, too proud to weep, and too selfish to seek other than yourself."
I'm about to get a tattoo with my bestfriend (corny yes i know but she is more family to me than my family has been) which will have a quote derived from one on here. I love tattoos and the meaning behind them! I love sites like this where people with tattoos or getting one can come and discuss
sarah on October 26, 2011:
"stand on the shoulders of giants"
"To fear the future is to hate the past"
"The light will always shine again"
"There is a thorn with every rose"
"Every rose has a thorn"
"Don't regret, don't forget, Move forward "
"Strength it to smile when inside you're crying"
"My eyes have seen so many things, My heart been broken into two, But all that matters now, Is that God gave me you"
brad c on October 23, 2011:
love all
trust none
across my chest
Tyler on October 06, 2011:
i have shit happens and life goes on inside my left arm
Mary on October 05, 2011:
My idea:
No lies Just love..( i want to make on my back)
Everybody leave...
Action speak louder than words,so believe what you see and forget what you heard.
Aroura on October 05, 2011:
Hey I'm looking to get my second tattoo on my ribs. I want a rest in peace saying or quote for my brother who died. Anyone have any ideas?
Haley on September 23, 2011:
If you don't stand for something ull fall for anything :-)
Tyndalltkd on September 21, 2011:
Hey guys,
I have 'life starts now' on my lower back (from the Three Days Grace album of the same name)
And I'm getting the lyrics to 'if today was your last day' by Nickelback on my ribs next :)
Angel on September 20, 2011:
i have on my leg "Just because a person doesn't love you the way you want....doesn't mean they don't love you with all that they have..."
i also have "live for something or die for nothing"
and "when the rich wage war its the poor who die"
i love them but deffo want another in my chest
Chelsea on September 11, 2011:
getting "I need you like water in my lungs" tatted under my left boob on ribs this month woohooooo
all terrible on September 05, 2011:
ALL TERRIBLE! only God can judge me is soooo used
claire on August 12, 2011:
i only have one tattoo of my childrens names on my wrist.but going to get "live for today as tomorrow is never promised" on my side across my ribs.
sashh on August 12, 2011:
"inspired by lovers, motivated by haters"
Pellle on August 09, 2011:
This too shall pass..
On my left sholder.
Bye, bye Pelle
Kandace on August 08, 2011:
I'm planning on getting one in couple of months, when I turn 18. But I'm not sure what I want it to say. I want it short and either on my rib cage, under my boob, or on my wrist. I want it to be like "Be Strong" or "Peace" in a different language or something like that. I just want to stay strong and not to let things bother me so much... just peace. It can be a quote or bible verse. I don't care. Just help! :)
die hard taig on July 26, 2011:
Tiocfaidh Ar La!!!
mharú go léir Protastúnaigh!!!!!!!!!
KAH
Tom on July 25, 2011:
-Never forgive never forget
-You reap what you sow
Ely. on July 23, 2011:
Im Only 13 At The Moment,But By 17 My Mother Is Letting Me Get ONE Tattoo.
And Ive ALWAYS Wanted To Get "Imperfection Is Perfection"
But Either On My Wrist,Or On The Side Of My Arm.
Is That A Good Idea?
Oh,Im Just SO Into The Tattoo/Piercing Idea.
Samantha on July 21, 2011:
I'm 18 and I'm getting a tattoo in a couple weeks.
I'm getting it on my left side (hip).
I want like a quote or a word, but I can't decide on which one.
"Shipwrecked but Unsinkable"
"What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger"
"It's not about surviving the storm but learning how to dance in the rain"
"Everything Happens for a Reason"
Believe
"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die tomorrow."
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
"Giving up doesn't always me you're weak, sometimes it just means you're strong enough to let go"
kel on July 20, 2011:
walk on with hope in your heart & you will never walk alone.
N on July 18, 2011:
* Who I was yesterday made me who I am today* down the side of my rib/stomach area.
Its more of a live and learn phrase, knowing that everything happens for a reason
Any comments?
Kailyn on July 14, 2011:
I want the saying "Love is the only reality."
I heard it one day, and it just hit me. I heard it after my husband and I were going through a rough time. It just really struck me as a perfect saying in the time I needed it.