Top 10 Inspirational Jimmy Carter Quotes to Live By

At the age of 100, former President Jimmy Carter has died. He leaves behind an incredible legacy—a mixed bag of a presidency from 1977 to 1981, but a post-presidential life that most historians and pundits regard as impressive and groundbreaking. 

Overwhelmingly, Carter's ongoing quest for peace was not only laudable but impactful. Carter was a statesman, a farmer, a philanthropist, a father and, in many instances, a regular guy who just happened to wield an incredible amount of power and influence. As president he, negotiated lasting peace between Israel and Egypt in 1978, and well after he left office, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

Jimmy Carter was also the oldest former U.S. President ever, with a life that spanned generations. Because of that, it's safe to say Carter knew a thing or two about life. Here are some of the greatest things he said, proving his unique spirit can still inspire us all.

10. "I preferred to plow without wearing shoes, and I remember vividly the caress of the soft, damp, and cool freshly turned earth on my feet."

Famously, Carter grew up on a cotton farm, and later, became a peanut farmer. He understood the importance of food, and where it came from. He wasn't a politician who pretended to have been a farmer, but a farmer who happened to enter public office.

9. "You can do what you have to do, and sometimes you can do it even better than you think you can."

This one is brilliant because it's so simple: even just doing what is required of us can be better than we expect.

8. "It's not necessary to fear the prospect of failure but to be determined not to fail."

Facing up to failure is hard. But, sometimes to get to where we want to go, we have to make a plan not to screw up.

7. “Spirit is like the wind, in that we can't see it but can see its effects, which are profound.”

This is a beautiful sentiment. Whatever your own personal definition of spirit might be, Carter's point here is smart: Some of the most important forces in our lives are invisible. 

6. "Like music and art, love of nature is a common language that can transcend political or social boundaries."

Carter was one of the first U.S. presidents to pursue solar power and was ahead of his time when it came to ecological reform. The man's love of nature was infectious, and that enthusiasm is still grounding and essential today.

5. "When people are intimidated about having their own opinions, oppression is at hand."

Carter was a lifelong democrat, but was well-known for his ability to communicate with his political rivals. He probably accomplished that because he believed in speaking his mind, even if it didn't always make him popular.

4. "We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles.”

This one represents such an incredible ideal that, arguably, everyone struggles with. How to stick to your guns and follow your gut, but also be flexible over time? This quote says a lot, and Carter certainly embodied this philosophy throughout his life.

3. “Go out on a limb. That's where the fruit is.”

It's kind of a silly parable, but you know what he means. Carter sounds like your cool grandpa, because, basically, that's exactly what he was.

2. “We cannot change the history of the past."

Carter knew that accepting the contradictions and problems of history was part of how to move forward. He wasn't a guy who said "no regrets," but simply had a healthy way of knowing that certain things were beyond changing.

1. "We are attempting to survive our time so we may live into yours."

This quote comes from Carter's recorded message, which was placed onboard the Voyager 1 space probe. The idea was that some future generation or even extraterrestrial intelligence might hear the message. Carter was saying, in essence, that the human race needed to survive the problems of the present, so our voices could be heard in the future.