170 Encouraging Words for Friends (Messages, Quotes & Poems)

Friends add colour to our lives.

They have our back, make us laugh, and fill our days with fun.

Some research even suggests they extend our lifespan!

That’s why it’s so natural to want to offer encouraging words for friends whenever they’re feeling down.

Unfortunately, finding the right words of encouragement for a friend isn’t always easy! Know the struggle?

Keep reading for a list of 170 awesome encouragement words for friends and encouraging quotes for friends that should come in handy.

[Last updated: April 2023]

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170 Encouraging Words for Friends

Here we go then: words of encouragement for a friend to call upon whenever you know someone who needs a lift. I hope they help!

My Favourite Encouragement Words for a Friend

1. “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” – John Lennon

2. “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right!” – Henry Ford

3. Remember, where you are now is not where you’ll be forever.

4. “The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow. Don’t give up.” – Robert Tew

5. “Dance, when you’re broken open. Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you’re perfectly free.” ― Rumi

6.

“For the world is in a bad state, but everything will become still worse unless each of us does his best.”

7. “What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.” – Richard Bach

8. “A ship in harbour is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” – John Shedd

9. “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” – Thomas Edison

10. “Everyone has inside them a piece of good news. The good news is you don’t know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is.” – Anne Frank

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Brief Words of Encouragement for a Friend

11. You are enough.

12. I appreciate you.

13. “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.” – Henry Thoreau

14. There’s greatness in your future, I know it.

15. Never change.

16.

“You are not your resume, you are your work.”

17. You deserve to celebrate yourself.

18. “Bad decisions make good stories.” – Ellis Vidler

19. Thank you for being you.

20. You’ve got this. I believe in you.

Funny Word of Encouragement for a Friend Quotes

21. “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas Edison

22. “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” – The Dalai Lama

23. “Those who say it can not be done, should not interrupt those doing it.” – George Bernard Shaw

24. “Whatever you do, always give 100%. Unless you’re donating blood.” – Bill Murray

25. “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar

26.

“If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving definitely isn’t for you.”

27. “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” – Will Rogers

28. “The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs, one step at a time.” – Joe Girard

29. “People who wonder whether the glass if half empty or half full are missing the point. The glass is refillable.” – Unknown

30. “Optimist: someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it’s more like a cha-cha.” – Robert Brault

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Uplifting Words of Encouragement to a Friend Feeling Down

31. “You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – A.A. Milne

32. Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, remember how far you’ve come.

33. “Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.” ― Rumi

34. “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” – Thomas Edison

35. “You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” – Gandhi

36.

“You have more strength than you could ever possibly know.”

37. Remember, greatness never comes from comfort zones.

38. “Forget safety. Live where you fear to live. Destroy your reputation. Be notorious.” ― Rumi

39. Your potential is near limitless. It’s time to do something with it.

40. “Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same.” – Carlos Castaneda

Memorable Encouraging Words for a Friend Feeling Down

41. “When you come to a roadblock, take a detour.” – Mary Kay Ash

42. “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” – Viktor Frankl

43. “It is better to light a candle than to curse the dark.” – Unknown

44. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

45. The best is yet to come. Trust in the process.

46.

“Take a deep breath. It’s a bad day, not a bad life.”

47. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lau Tzu

48. “Strive not to be a success but rather to be of value.” – Albert Einstein

49. “Nothing in this world is impossible to a willing heart.” – Abraham Lincoln

50. “If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again.” – Flavia Weedn

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Best Encouragement for Friends Quotes

51. “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein

52. “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” – C.S. Lewis

53. “You could be the world’s best garbage man, the world’s best model; it don’t matter what you do if you’re the best.” – Muhammad Ali

54. “When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot, and hang on.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

55. “If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not making decisions.” – Katherine Hepburn

56.

“It always seems impossible until it is done.”

57. “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius

58. “And you ask ‘What if I fall?’ Oh but my darling, what if you fly?” – Erin Hanson

59. “Defeat is simply a signal to press onward.” – Helen Keller

60. “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” – Michael Jordan

Inspirational Encouraging Quotes for Friends

61. “Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.” – George Patton

62. “It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you. Always.” – Oprah Winfrey

63. “At any given moment you have the power to say: This is not how the story is going to end.” – Christine Mason Miller

64. “Refuse failure. No matter how difficult the obstacles, find a way to around them.” – JJ Goldwag

65. “Even if happiness forgets you a little bit, never completely forget about it.” – Jacques Prevert

66.

“The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall.”

67. “Practice like you’ve never won. Perform like you’ve never lost.” – Bernard Asuncion

68. “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” – Maya Angelou

69. “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” – Charles Darwin

70. “Don’t get discouraged. It’s often the last key in the bunch that opens up the lock.” – John Wooden

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Insightful Encouraging a Friend Quotes

71. “Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” – Stephen King

72. “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” – Corrie Boom

73. “Winning is coming in fourth, exhausted, and encouraged – because last time you came in fifth.” – Denis Waitley

74. “Courage isn’t having the strength to go on. It is going on when you don’t have strength.” – Napoleon Bonaparte

75. “Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

76.

“People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.”

77. “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

78. “Between you and every goal that you wish to achieve, there is a series of obstacles, and the bigger the goal, the bigger the obstacles…Sometimes your greatest asset is simply your ability to stay with it longer than anyone else.” – Brian Tracy

79. “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” –Gandhi

80. “You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality in the mind next to honour.” – Aristotle

Heartfelt Messages for Encouraging Friends

81. I am so very proud to call you my friend.

82. I hope you find a way to love yourself as much as we do.

83. It’s okay. You’re okay. We’re here for you now and always.

84. I’ll be there with you every step of the way.

85. Draw strength from the fact things always get better.

86.

“I respect and admire your strength, wisdom, and grace. Never stop being yourself.”

87. Swap that judgment for self-love, replace that hate with self-compassion.

88. In good times and bad, you can count on me for support.

89. Now and always, I’m your biggest fan! Stay positive.

90. Whatever you need, you know where to find it. I’ll always be there to support you.

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Supportive Messages of Encouragement for a Friend

91. “Positive anything is better than negative nothing.” – Elbert Hubbard

92. Remember, what seems bad doesn’t have to stay that way. You can reframe everything negative into a positive!

93. Stick your chin up, chest out, and shoulders back. You can do this.

94. Everybody fails. Not everybody keeps on trying. Be the anomaly!

95. Your life is your message to the world. Make it inspiring!

96.

“Hold firm. Hold fast. Be unmovable. All of your efforts will not be in vain. ”

97. Know that anything is possible. Live your dream life!

98. “All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

99. Don’t quit. Don’t quit. Don’t QUIT! Think of how far you’ve come.

100. “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” – Milton Berle

Caring Quotes to Comfort a Friend

101. “No one is perfect. That’s why pencils have erasers!” – Wolfgang Riebe

102. “A man does not have to be an angel to be a saint.” – Albert Schweitzer

103. “Never give up hope. All things are working for your good. One day, you’ll look back on everything you’ve been through and thank God for it.” – Germany Kent

104. “…When the world is falling apart around you, it’s time to take down the drapes and make a new dress.” – Karen Moning

105. “There are no quick fixes to grief. No easy answers. Every expression of grief that wants to be felt and honoured and given its space, must be allowed…in order to heal.” – Tom Zuba

106.

“Every day may not be good…but there’s something good in every day.”

107. “Don’t let the muggles get you down.” – J.K. Rowling

108. “You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream.” – Les Brown

109. “Come friends, it’s not too late to seek a newer world.” – Alfred Tennyson

110. “The past is gone, the future is not here, now I am free of both. Right now, I choose joy.” – Deepak Chopra

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Comforting Words to a Friend in Need

111. Never forget: I’m only ever a phone call away.

112. Anything you need, I’ll be there.

113. Keep your chin up. You never know what’s around the corner.

114. Go easy on yourself, my friend. You don’t deserve to beat yourself up.

115. Who do you need me to be for you right now?

116.

“Whether it’s a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen, I’m here for you.”

117. Whatever it is, let me know.

118. Trust me, you are more beautiful, courageous, talented, and intelligent than you’re giving yourself credit for. Believe in yourself.

119. Remember, the night’s always darkest just before dawn.

120. “You always pass failure on the way to success.” – Mickey Rooney

Encouraging Words for Your Best Friend

121. Keep on rolling, babe.

122. I may not always be there with you. But I will ALWAYS be there for you.

123. Believe in yourself as much as I do and nothing will ever stop you from achieving your dreams.

124. “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

125.

“You have everything you already need to get to where you want to go. ”

126. I want you to be so happy that other people get happy just by looking at you!

127. See the obstacles and feel the pain. But don’t dwell on them. With the right mindset, nothing in life is insurmountable.

128. If you fall, I will pick you up…after I stop laughing.

129. Every single time you struggle is another chance to grow.

130. Hold on and help yourself to hope and happiness. Neither are limited resources!

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Encouraging Best Friend Quotes

131. “In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. That means we have 1,440 daily opportunities to make a positive impact.” – Les Brown

132. “A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.” – Maya Angelou

133. “The sun himself is weak when he first rises, and gathers strength and courage as the day gets on.” – Charles Dickens

134. “No matter how dark it is right now, remember that the battle will end, the sun will rise, and you will find your joy again.” – Winnie Mathenge

135. “Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today.” – Jordan Peterson

136.

“ Wherever you go, no matter the weather, always bring your own sunshine.”

137. “True belonging doesn’t require us to change who we are. It requires us to be who we are.” – Brené Brown

138. “The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” – Dolly Parton

139. “Have a good time. Life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged. You have to keep moving. You have to keep going. Put one foot in front of the other, smile, and just keep on rolling.” – Kobe Bryant

140. “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Poems of Encouragement for a Friend

141. “You’re off to great places, today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.” – Dr. Seuss

142. “And even though it’s hard, and I may struggle through it all, you may see me struggle…But you will NEVER see me fall.” – Joyce Alcantara, You Will Never See Me Fall

143. “When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, when the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, when the funds are low and the debts are high, and you want to smile but you have to sigh, when care is pressing you down a bit – rest if you must, but don’t you quit.” – Edgar Guest, Don’t Quit

144. “Hold fast to dreams/ For if dreams die/ Life is a broken-winged bird/ That cannot fly/ Hold fast to dreams/ For when dreams go/ Life is a barren field/ Frozen with snow.” – Langston Hughes, Dreams

145. “Out of the night that covers me, black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be, for my unconquerable soul.” – W.E. Henley, Invictus

146.

“You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.”

147. “Did you tackle that trouble that came your way, with a resolute heart and cheerful? Or hide your face from the light of day, with a craven soul and fearful? Oh, a trouble’s a ton, or a trouble’s an ounce, or a trouble is what you make it, and it isn’t the fact that you’re hurt that counts, but only how did you take it?” – Edmund Cooke, How Did You Die?

148. “The sun is up, the sky is blue, it’s beautiful and so are you!” – Unknown

149. “If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; if I can ease one life the aching, or cool one pain, or help one fainting robin unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain.” – Emily Dickinson, If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking

150. “Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” – Dylan Thomas

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Even More Encouraging Words for Friends Ideas!

151. Whatever you need, we’re all here for you.

152. Don’t look at how far there is left to go. Focus us how far you’ve come.

153. We love you.

154. I wish you could appreciate yourself in the same way I appreciate you.

155. Comparison is the thief of joy. Be kind to yourself.

156. It’s okay to feel down. Sometimes the best way to feel better is to stop trying to change the way you’re feeling.

157. We’re cheering you on, every step of the way!

158. We’re so proud of you for facing this head-on. You got this.

159. Whatever it is, it’s going to be okay.

160. You are so much stronger than you think.

161. No matter how bad it gets, remember everything’s temporary.

162. Don’t stop now – you’re so so close!

163. In the wise words of Rob Schneider, “You can do it!”

164. You’re not alone. We’re in this together.

165. You’re awesome! When you think you’re at your limit, you’re only halfway there.

166. You’re doing so well! Don’t give up.

167. It might not feel like it, but you’re not alone. There are so many people here who love and support you.

168. It might not be easy, but you can do it! You’ve got this.

169. You’re capable of more than you know. Keep pushing!

170. Good luck today. You don’t need it, but good luck!

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Remember These Encouragement Words for a Friend!

Good friends are there for each other, no matter what.

So, when someone you care about goes through a tough time, you automatically want to say something encouraging to raise their spirits, right?

Right.

The hard part’s deciding exactly what to say to make them feel better.

With any luck, the encouraging words for friends in this post will help in these situations. I hope, somewhere on this list of 170 encouragement for friends quotes, messages, and poems, there’ll be something that does the trick!

Looking for more ideas on what to say? Click here to learn how to say friendship and friend in different languages.

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