American ultra marathon runner and former US Navy SEAL member David Goggins has inspired millions of athletes, reflected in these motivational David Goggins quotes.
After serving in the military in the Iraq War, Goggins went on to become one of the best runners in the country, competing in the toughest 24-hour marathons.
Continue reading, and discover the famous David Goggins quotes that will inspire you to up your game and perform at the top level.
The best inspirational David Goggins quotes
Before David Goggins earned his international reputation as a world-class runner, he served in the United States Navy SEALs from 2001.
During his military service, Goggins endured the tough training and discipline necessary to become a SEAL, through which he served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
While serving in the forces, Goggins racked up an impressive list of accomplishments that few others have been able to achieve.
This included completing the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL course, U.S. Army Ranger School, and Air Force tactical air controller training.
With a reputation in the military as the toughest man alive, Goggins retired from the forces and turned his attention and skills to long-distance running.
Since his first race in 2005, David Goggins has accomplished many athletic achievements, with a combined distance of thousands of kilometers.
He’s not averse to sharing how to achieve the most productive frame of mind with his fans, with his official Instagram account boasting over 6 million followers.
Let’s dive into how he achieves success and self-discipline with these popular David Goggins quotes.
1. “Never let people who choose the path of least resistance steer you away from your chosen path of most resistance.”
– David Goggins
2. “A lot of us surround ourselves with people who speak to our desire for comfort. People who would rather treat the pain of our wounds and prevent further injury than help us callous over them and try again. We need to surround ourselves with people who will tell us what we need to hear, not what we want to hear, but at the same time not make us feel we’re up against the impossible.”
– David Goggins
3. “Breaking the shackles and stretching beyond our own perceived limits takes hard fucking work—oftentimes physical work—and when you put yourself on the line, self-doubt and pain will greet you with a stinging combination that will buckle your knees.”
– David Goggins
4. “Life will always be the most grueling endurance sport, and when you train hard, get uncomfortable, and callous your mind, you will become a more versatile competitor, trained to find a way forward no matter what.”
– David Goggins
5. “If you’re not physically and mentally prepared for what life is going to throw at you, then you’re just going to crumble, And then, you’re no good to nobody.”
– David Goggins
6. “A warrior is not a person that carries a gun. The biggest war you ever go through is right between your own ears. It’s in your mind. We’re all going through a war in our mind, and we have to callus our mind to fight that war and to win that war.”
– David Goggins
7. “I had a rough childhood coming up, and I just took all that negative energy and made it very positive for myself to drive me. I’m a very driven person. I have passion that almost scares people, just to be successful and make it no matter what.”
– David Goggins
8. “No matter who you are, who your parents are or were, where you live, what you do for a living, or how much money you have, you’re probably living at about 40 percent of your true capability.”
– David Goggins
9. “We all need small sparks, small accomplishments in our lives to fuel the big ones. Think of your small accomplishments as kindling. When you want a bonfire, you don’t start by lighting a big log. You collect some witch’s hair—a small pile of hay or some dry, dead grass. You light that, and then add small sticks and bigger sticks before you feed your tree stump into the blaze. Because it’s the small sparks, which start small fires, that eventually build enough heat to burn the whole fucking forest down.”
– David Goggins
10. “The Buddha famously said that life is suffering. I’m not a Buddhist, but I know what he meant and so do you. To exist in this world, we must contend with humiliation, broken dreams, sadness, and loss. That’s just nature.”
– David Goggins
11. “I knew that the confidence I’d managed to develop didn’t come from a perfect family or God-given talent. It came from personal accountability which brought me self-respect, and self-respect will always light a way forward.”
– David Goggins
12. “Human beings change through study, habit, and stories… when you’re driven, whatever is in front of you, whether it’s racism, sexism, injuries, divorce, depression, obesity, tragedy, or poverty, becomes fuel for your metamorphosis.”
– David Goggins
13. “If you have any mental toughness, if you have any fraction of self-discipline; The ability to not want to do it, but still do it; If you can get through to doing things that you hate to do: on the other side is greatness.”
– David Goggins
14. “It takes great strength to be vulnerable enough to put your ass on the line, in public, and work toward a dream that feels like it’s slipping away.”
– David Goggins
15. “There is no more time to waste. Hours and days evaporate like creeks in the desert. That’s why it’s okay to be cruel to yourself as long as you realize you’re doing it to become better.”
– David Goggins
16. “There is no better way to grow as a person than to do every day something you hate.”
– David Goggins
17. “The path to success will leave you callused, bruised, and very tired. It will also leave you empowered.”
– David Goggins
18. “Everybody comes to a point in their life when they want to quit. But it’s what you do at that moment that determines who you are.”
– David Goggins
19. “Your entitled mind is dead weight. Cut it loose. Don’t focus on what you think you deserve. Take aim on what you are willing to earn!”
– David Goggins
20. “If you want to be one of the few to defy those trends in our ever-softening society, you will have to be willing to go to war with yourself and create a whole new identity, which requires an open mind.”
– David Goggins
21. “Back in the day, what motivated me was overcoming myself. Now I believe in being a leader. I’ve done it all – I’m good. Now, it’s about setting an example for others to follow. I can’t just talk it – I have to live it.”
– David Goggins
22. “Having lived the life I’ve lived, and seeing the other side, not being afraid to attack what was in front of me has made me happy.”
– David Goggins
23. “If you want to get better, do the things that no-one else wants to do. Do the things that no one is even thinking about doing.”
– David Goggins
24. “Human beings change through study, habit, and stories… when you’re driven, whatever is in front of you, whether it’s racism, sexism, injuries, divorce, depression, obesity, tragedy, or poverty, becomes fuel for your metamorphosis.”
– David Goggins
25. “Are you an experienced scuba diver? Great, shed your gear, take a deep breath and become a one-hundred-foot free diver. Are you a badass triathlete? Cool, learn how to rock climb. Are you enjoying a wildly successful career? Wonderful, learn a new language or skill. Get a second degree. Always be willing to embrace ignorance and become the dumb fuck in the classroom again, because that is the only way to expand your body of knowledge and body of work. It’s the only way to expand your mind.”
– David Goggins
Final thoughts on the David Goggins quotes on discipline
David Goggins has enjoyed huge success over his life, both as a member of the Navy SEALs serving his country and as an ultra marathon runner.
His dedication to achieving optimal performance and the processes he goes through while training can help athletes of all types improve their game.
Whether you’re an athlete yourself or want to apply the mindset outlined in these David Goggins discipline quotes, his insights can help you to achieve your goals.
