The Most Memorable Quotes From The Shawshank Redemption

Today we’ll be chatting about the Most Memorable Quotes

from “The Shawshank Redemption”.

Well, at least for me…

I love the Shawshank Redemption, it is one of those classic movies I watch when I need some inspiration... I watch it when the chips are down and I need encouragement... I watch it when things are going well and I feel thankful and hopeful... and I also watch it for no reason at all, except that it is a timeless classic that deserves a special place in everyone’s heart. I have selected a few quotes from the movie that move me and connect me to my core values and fundamental beliefs.

The Shawshank Redemption is a movie that inspires hope,

and gives you the belief that success is possible regardless of the injustices life deals you from time to time.  The quotes I have chosen represent Hope, Overcoming Fear,  Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone, Tenacity, Patience, Self-belief and other characteristics necessary for you to break the shackles that are holding you back from fulfilling your dreams.

And so we begin…

This place is called your Mind.  In your mind you can create any reality you want, you can shape the world to be exactly the way you want to experience it – you are in total control.  And so it’s your duty to get off your behind and translate this internal image into your physical reality.

  The popular saying goes,

“If you can dream it and believe it, you can achieve it.” 

As you may have experienced though, it takes a lot more than just dreaming and believing.  It takes courage and character - the courage to articulate, plan and take action towards changing your circumstances - the character to not lose faith in yourself when you encounter challenges and obstacles – the character to believe despite the setbacks and betrayals you face daily – the character to not let circumstances dictate the direction of your life - the character to remain true to who you are and to maintain your resolve even in the shittiest of circumstances.

This is the most empowering quote, in my opinion.  Even though this was a fatal scene in the movie, I still maintain that the principle of this quote, if taken in good faith and applied to your life, could be a life-changing moment:  The decision to not stay in a disempowering situation – the decision to tackle your fears and claim back your life – the decision to break the chains of your limitations and proceed in faith towards your destiny is the best decision you can make.

Fear is a dream killer – don’t let it take over your life.  There is power in making a decision and sticking to it, deciding on a destination you want to reach and not looking back, deciding to experience the joy of the challenge. The decision to inspire your life with new excitement and enthusiasm for the upcoming adventure is extremely liberating.

Your comfort zone is a trap - it is a prison.  It gives you the illusion of safety and contentment, but in reality, it delays your progress, steals your excitement, and slowly but surely puts you in the grave.  You keep spinning your wheels without really moving forward.  You keep exerting energy without growing or accomplishing anything.  The illusion you call comfort is fear.  And you know that fear, masquerading as contentment, prevents you from living life to the fullest.  You fear the risk that comes with starting a new business, so you stay in the dead-end job you hate so much.  Your fear of rejection prevents you from approaching that cute colleague you’ve been secretly eyeing for the past 16 months.  Don’t allow yourself to be a loser – step up and claim what you want!

Whatever goals you have set for yourself will not be achieved easily.  Anything that is worthwhile takes time to accomplish.  It will not come to you without effort and sacrifice.  Jim Rohn says that discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.  Discipline is keeping the faith, exercising patience and tenacity, and applying the necessary pressure so you accomplish all your greatest aspirations.  You need to take the required actions and apply the necessary pressure.  You need to be resilient to temporary setbacks and seeming failures.  You need to persevere beyond the pain and the hardships.  You need to keep hustling – keep breaking the chains – keep knocking on the doors and don’t falter until your goal is achieved.  Rest if you must, but don’t quit!  Don’t lose heart when the mountain is steep and the climb is slow.  Exercise patience and, in due course, you will reach your destination. Haste only leads to waste.  Focus on achieving your goal. Think positively and clearly when planning your path to your success.

Your salvation lay within you. You are responsible for making your dreams a reality.  You are responsible for your current state of life. If you are not happy with where you are in life, it is entirely your responsibility to pull yourself up, to raise your standards and to do what needs to be done to get to where you want to be.  Les Brown once said, “Someone’s opinion of you doesn’t have to become your reality.”  Are you letting someone else dictate your life or are you living on your own terms?

In his legendary book, The Success Principles, Jack Canfield shares a powerful formula for taking responsibility for your own life: E+R = O (Events + Responses = Outcomes).  In simple terms, he says that your responses to the events of your life determine your outcomes.  Your present life is the outcome of your reactions to the events in your life.  When you change your responses to life’s events, you change your life.

Have you ever had an idea that had the potential to change your life but were too much of a coward to do anything about it?  Have you ever seen the idea you once had being implemented by someone else who made tremendous profit from it?  How much money is your fear costing you?  How much depression is your procrastination causing you? How many opportunities has your idleness cost you?

What will you do about it?

I believe you are that bird.  I believe that your ideas want to fly free – don’t lock them inside you – release them into the world and let them brighten the sky, let them change your view and lead you to beautiful, bright and radiant horizons.  Never lose sight of your dreams and goals. Even in the worst possible situation, keep believing, keep moving forward.  Get involved in the action, you will never know how high you can soar if you keep hiding in the cage of your imaginary limitations. Remember, in I Moved Your Cheese, we learned multiple ways to break free from the limitations of our minds? Choose your path and fly free, beautiful bird.

Will it be you?  Things are always tough when you’re starting a new venture. will you break down and quit the first time things get rough?  Will you give up without a fight? Or will you be the warrior who stands the test of time and succeeds in building an empire?  The power is in your hands.  Decide now - your success is entirely up to you.

Be informed.  Know yourself – Know your enemy – know your environment. And don’t think that asking for help is a sign of weakness.  You need to associate with people who add value to your life.  Stop wasting time with losers or you will end up a loser, too.  Jim Rohn says that you are the average of your 5 closest acquaintances.  If you want to improve your life, you need to start spending time with quality people and stay away from the negative Nancys.

There you have it. My list is complete.  Can you think of more memorable quotes from The Shawshank Redemption that I missed? Let me know in the comments section below.