Amongst one group of colleagues, in one area of my life, we have a favourite inspirational quote. I don’t think you can get more inspirational than this quote, but I’d love to hear others that are equally inspirational. If possible, even inspirationaller:
We are all broken.
That’s how the light gets in.
You need to say it very solemnly … and then have a moment of quiet. That’s the way to get the full effect.
Never heard that before - it wouldn’t inspire me to do anything, other than look at you quizzically. 
I know your quote from a Leonard Cohen song, Anthem.
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.
A wonderful folk trio, The Once, from Newfoundland, Canada do a great version of it on their debut album. There is a live video version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPNHPRDuB8g
“The best revenge is not to be like that.” — Marcus Aurelius
Don’t know if that’s what you had in mind, Ben. As you can see below, normally I hold up quotes to take a crack at 'em. But for me, yer man Aurelius is hard to beat. 
An artist must have the freedom to express himself. Edward Weston.
I’ve just found one that I really, really like:
“Everything you’ve always wanted is on the other side of fear.” - George Addair. (Who he?)
I have to say, this thread isn’t going the way I anticipated …
The late motivational speaker and founder of an apparently still-functioning self development program called Omega Vector. I know nothing more about him, and it, than that.
How so?
I don’t think they play at all fairly,’ Alice began, in rather a complaining tone,and they all quarrel so dreadfully one can’t hear oneself speak–and they don’t seem to have any rules in particular; at least, if there are, nobody attends to them–and you’ve no idea how confusing it is all the things being alive…"
- Lewis Carroll
My absolute favorite is from (IIRC) Henry Ford:
Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
Another favorite is from Neil Simon. I just looked it up, as I couldn’t remember it word for word. Here’s the real one:
Don’t listen to those who say, you are taking too big a chance. Michelangelo would have painted the Sistine floor, and it would surely be rubbed out by today.
I have an old handwritten note from my graduate advisor on a corkboard in my office. We’d just written a short invited article, and he was conveying the referee/editor’s reports to me. He wrote: “(very famous physicist) liked it so well he says it should be in textbooks!” So when I feel like an idiot (or lose my enthusiasm), I look at that highlighted sentence and think I must not be as stupid as I think.
To counter that a little “… remember that courage and strength are nought without prudence, and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste; look well to each step; and from the beginning think what may be the end” Edward Whymper.
I was going to balance that with “Just do it” but even though I know it was used before the shoe people trademarked it I can’t find it in print.
So your previous discussion went as expected?
I believe that was my dad.
When you asked why you had to take out the garbage?
On a more serious note, this is on my inspiration playlist: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgx_fVAkuiw.
It’s as good an example as any. Let’s just say I was … spirited.
Like.
Profound, that is. I could use that as a complete guide to how to live my life.
That’s excellent. Almost a song about inspirational quotes as well as being reasonably inspirational. 
Er no. 
Thanks to a certain pair of clowns. Actually, I was very happy with the way it went, even though it did go off at a slight tangent.
A refreshing take on motivational posters… I picked one at random
More here if you want… If the supplier had not been on the wrong side of the pond I would have bough a set of mugs for the works canteen.
Salvador Dali:
“At the age of six I wanted to be a cook. At seven I wanted to be Napoleon. And my ambition has been growing steadily ever since.”
John Wooden:
“Trying hard does not guarantee success, but not trying hard guarantees failure.” (I know, not exactly inspirational, but certainly motivational.)
One of Wooden’s disciples, Geno Auriemma, said something that should be in the heart of every musician: “We don’t practice till we get it right, we practice till we can’t get it wrong.”
That’s absolutely excellent Phill! Not exactly along the lines I was thinking, but I’m going to enjoy going through those! 
I’ve always known that as (unattributed) something like ‘the difference between amateurs and professionals is that amateurs practise till they get it right whereas professionals practise till they can’t get it wrong.’ Though that seems harsh on amateurs in the true, original sense, and I’ve probably never known a professional who can’t get it wrong! (They’re generally pretty professional about covering up inevitable mistakes and not advertising them to audiences through body language.)