How to Embed Quotes in an Essay (MLA Examples to Ace)

Introduction

Quotes have the power to crystallize ideas, spark emotion, and give authority to an argument. When writing an essay—whether following MLA or another style—well-chosen quotes can introduce themes, support claims, and leave readers with a memorable closing thought. Use these quotes as opening hooks, textual evidence, topic-sentence boosters, or concluding flourishes to strengthen your essay and inspire your audience.

Motivational Quotes

• "Start before you're ready; action is the bridge between idea and achievement."
• "Progress happens in small, consistent steps—keep walking."
• "Turn setbacks into lessons and your next move into momentum."
• "Energy follows focus; decide where you aim and the rest aligns."
• "Fear tells stories about what could go wrong; courage writes plans for what can go right."

Inspirational Quotes

• "A single honest idea can outshine a thousand borrowed comforts."
• "When you share your light, others find a path they thought was lost."
• "Dreams become real when you give them time, attention, and work."
• "The bravest thing you can do is start with what you have and do your best."
• "Hope is not waiting; it is building, step by steady step."

Life Wisdom Quotes

• "You are not the same person every year—allow yourself the grace to change."
• "Clarity comes from experience, not from waiting for perfect conditions."
• "Measure life by the moments that make you kinder, wiser, and more curious."
• "Listen more than you speak; wisdom often arrives in the quiet between words."
• "Simplicity is not less; it's choosing what truly matters and letting the rest go."

Success Quotes

• "Success is the sum of small efforts repeated until they shape your future."
• "Ambition without discipline is a wish; ambition with routine is a plan."
• "Define success by the courage to keep learning, not by applause alone."
• "Failure is a rough draft of success—rewrite it with intention."
• "Build progress into your days so achievement becomes an inevitable byproduct."

Happiness Quotes

• "Happiness is a practice, not a destination—cultivate it daily with gratitude."
• "Joy grows when shared; the same small kindness doubles when given away."
• "Find contentment in the present while reaching for a better tomorrow."
• "Pleasure fades; satisfaction remains when actions align with values."
• "Let moments of calm remind you that peace is available even in motion."

Daily Inspiration Quotes

• "Make today a beginning, not a continuation of yesterday's hesitations."
• "Small acts of consistency create a life that feels purposeful and calm."
• "Wake up with intention; go to bed with accomplishment, however small."
• "Anchor your day with one deliberate choice that moves you closer to your goals."
• "If you can imagine it, you can practice it; if you practice it, you can become it."

Conclusion

Quotes can change how you think and how you write. By choosing lines that resonate with your thesis and placing them thoughtfully—at the start of a paragraph, as supporting evidence, or to close with resonance—you give your reader clarity and emotion. Use these quotes to strengthen essays, inspire action, and transform daily mindset into purposeful momentum.