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11 of the Best Inspirational Walking Quotes from Classic Literature

Here is a list of inspirational walking quotes from famous authors, poets, and philosophers to brighten your day.

walking quotes featured image collage: Lucy maud montgomery, jane austen, and north and south book cover

One of the most “romantic” things we can do in this world is to connect to nature. One way to do that, even in the city, is to go on daily walks. Walks improve your health, of course, but they also provide opportunities to think, imagine, create, and even grow closer to others and the Earth. And here at The Silver Petticoat Review, we love living the more “romantic” way.

I first fell in love with reading flowery, romantic descriptions of nature, and walking when I was a girl consuming everything I could from L.M. Montgomery’s books. I’m not sure anyone writes about nature quite the magical way she does.

The way she wrote about walking, nature, trees, the wind as if they were her friends spoke to my similar romantic nature as a child. And I continue to feel that way now. Those passages of the “wind woman” and lakes of “shining waters” inspired this list.

However, while I could write an entire article devoted to Montgomery walking quotes, I chose to expand to select inspirational walking quotes from various classic authors.

Now, classic literature is an endless trove of inspiration, so picking only 11 quotes was a challenge. However, I uniquely made my selection. Sure, I include the expected quotes about the health benefits of walking or the enjoyment of it. However, I’ve also included inspirational walking quotes about romance, individualism, walking your own path, and even the significance of recognizing beauty all around you as you stroll.

Ultimately, I hope these literary quotes about walking will inspire, motivate, and spark your imagination as you walk.


Inspirational Walking Quotes From Classic Literature


1. Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

“Reflection must be reserved for solitary hours; whenever she was alone, she gave way to it as the greatest relief; and not a day went by without a solitary walk, in which she might indulge in all the delight of unpleasant recollections.”

Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice quote with flowers; inspirational walking quotes

Ah, the joy of solitary walks. Elizabeth Bennet, more introverted than on the first impression, revels in her solitary daily walks as she gathers her thoughts and recharges her energy. Solitary walks are the perfect time to reflect, imagine, and even create. 

2. L.M. Montgomery, Anne of the Island

“Gilbert drew her close to him and kissed her. Then they walked home together in the dusk, crowned king and queen in the bridal realm of love, along winding paths fringed with the sweetest flowers that ever bloomed, and over haunted meadows where winds of hope and memory blew.”

Anne of the Island

While I have numerous favorite Montgomery walking quotes, what’s special about this one is how romantic it is. So, this is the perfect inspirational quote for all the couples out there. How beautiful is the writing of Anne and Gilbert walking home together with nature all around them? It’s a lovely passage of hope for the future.

3. William Wordsworth, Lines Written a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey

“Therefore let the moon

Shine on thee in thy solitary walk;

And let the misty mountain-winds be free

To blow against thee:”

William Wordsworth Quote

I couldn’t have a list of inspirational walking quotes without including Wordsworth. Like Montgomery, he has a way with words and beautiful descriptions of nature. This quote captures the beauty of solitary walks in the moonlight. 

4. Emily Brontë

“I’ll walk where my own nature would be leading:

It vexes me to choose another guide:”

Emily Bronte poem

This quote by Emily Brontë is about walking your own path and staying true to yourself than it is about nature walks. What I love about this poem from Emily is that it puts the spotlight on individualism and staying authentic. It’s better to follow your heart and inner guide than follow the path someone else has laid out for you.  

5. Seneca

“We ought to take outdoor walks, to refresh and raise our spirits by deep breathing in the open air.”

Seneca quote

Some good, old-fashioned advice from an ancient philosopher with this quote. Its simplistic message is a good one. Fresh air and outdoor walks can rejuvenate our spirits.

6.  Elizabeth Gaskell, North and South

“He knew how she would love. He had not loved her without gaining that instinctive knowledge of what capabilities were in her. Her soul would walk in glorious sunlight if any man was worthy, by his power of loving, to win back her love.”

North and South quote

Gaskell’s quote is the most swoon-worthy walking quote from the list. Here, Mr. Thornton reveals his feelings for Margaret in a heart-stopping passage, sure to take your breath away. Distinctive on the list, this walking quote is about how Thornton sees Margaret’s inner soul and how he imagines she would love. Well, it might just be one of the most romantic passages ever written. What’s inspirational about this passage is how much it inspires one to love more or to walk with one’s soul shining brightly. 

7. Henry David Thoreau

“An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.”

Thoreau inspirational walking quote

Simple but true. Thoreau is one of the greatest writers about nature and walking, and this famous quote shows why. I love to walk in the early morning in time to watch the sunrise. If possible, or when you can, early morning walks are a fantastic way to start the day. It’s also quieter and a lovely time to think and meditate.

8. Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca

“A dreamer, I walked enchanted, and nothing held me back.”

Quote from Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

What I love about this quote is how dreamy it is. The passage also happens to come from one of my all-time favorite books! I love the imagery of walking as if enchanted and free. It evokes feelings of childhood, but each person can find their own meaning.

9. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nature and Walking

“Never miss an opportunity of noticing anything of beauty …”

Emerson quote about nature and walking; inspirational walking quotes

Emerson is another favorite of mine. A friend of Thoreau, Emerson also loved to write about nature. This short quote is good advice. Take the time to notice the beauty around you. You might be surprised by what you find.

10. Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus 

“When falsehood can look so like the truth, who can assure themselves of certain happiness? I feel as if I were walking on the edge of a precipice, towards which thousands are crowding and endeavouring to plunge me into the abyss.”

Frankenstein quote

This is a strange quote, but I like it. I read it as a reminder to be wise and to be careful of falsehoods. How accurate in today’s world. So, watch where you choose to tread. 

11. Alice Walker, The Color Purple

“I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it.”

Inspirational walking quote from Alice Walker's The Color Purple.

If you’ve read The Color Purple, then you know purple represents different things in the novel. But one meaning is about how God describes beauty. So, this could even be about recognizing the beauty in others as well as yourself. Therefore, let’s notice the color purple in ourselves, in nature, in others, and all around us.

Do you have favorite inspirational walking quotes from classic literature? Do you enjoy walking?


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By on May 24th, 2020

About Amber Topping

Amber works as a writer and digital publisher full-time and fell in love with stories and imagination at an early age. She has a Humanities and Film Degree from BYU, co-created The Silver Petticoat Review, contributed as a writer to various magazines, and has an MS in Publishing from Pace University, where she received the Publishing Award of Excellence and wrote her thesis on transmedia, Jane Austen, and the romance genre. Her ultimate dreams are publishing books, writing and producing movies, traveling around the world, and forming a creative village of talented storytellers trying to change the world through art.

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6 thoughts on “11 of the Best Inspirational Walking Quotes from Classic Literature”

  1. Really enjoyed this. Taking walks across the ages in a sense. Lots of authors I admire. That simple activity. I recall two of Miss Read’s characters wanting to take a turn about the garden together like in a Jane Austen novel.

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