But there are still plenty of great quotes that aren't very long. In this article, we'll present 20 short English quotes that are just 10 words or less — perfect for people whose English isn't quite fluent yet. We hope you find something useful and inspiring here!

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”

Who said it: Oscar Wilde, Irish poet and playwright 

What it means: Accept and appreciate what makes you unique instead of trying to copy others. (Here, "taken" means "unavailable.")

“People change and forget to tell each other.”

Who said it: Lillian Hellman, American playwright

What it means: Our thoughts and feelings can change, but we don't always communicate these changes to one another, which can lead to misunderstandings.

“Nothing will work unless you do.”

Who said it: Maya Angelou, American poet and civil rights activist

What it means: Even great plans and ideas need action to become successful.

“Never to suffer would never to have been blessed.”

Who said it: Edgar Allen Poe, American writer and poet

What it means: Experiencing challenges is a basic part of life, but these challenges lead to growth and wisdom that would not be possible without them.

What matters most in life is often invisible.

Who said it: Unknown

What it means: Emotions, experiences and relationships are often more valuable than things like money or physical objects.

“We can only learn to love by loving.”

Who said it: Iris Murdoch, British writer and philosopher

What it means: Love cannot be understood by studying or observing. Instead, it requires a direct, personal experience.

“Genius is the recovery of childhood at will.”

Who said it: Arthur Rimbaud, French poet

What it means: Great intelligence and ability come from remembering the special creativity and curiosity that all children have.

“Wisdom begins in wonder.”

Who said it: Socrates, Greek philosopher

What it means: In order to become wise, we first must look at and question the world around us.

“And still I rise.”

Who said it: Maya Angelou

What it means: No matter what challenges we experience, the power of hope and determination can help us to achieve success.

“Be curious, not judgmental.”

Who said it: Walt Whitman, American poet

What it means: Instead of criticizing other people, we should keep an open mind and try to understand people whose experiences are different from ours.

“Everything you can imagine is real.”

Who said it: Pablo Picasso, Spanish painter

What it means: Our thoughts and ideas can have a big effect on the reality that we experience every day.

“You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.”

Who said it: Indira Gandhi, former Indian Prime Minister

What it means: Good communication with others requires everyone to let go of aggressive feelings. (“Clench” is a verb that means "to close tightly.")

“You can disagree without being disagreeable.”

Who said it: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, American lawyer and Supreme Court justice

What it means: It's possible to communicate with respect, even when you do not share the same opinions as others.

"Think big thoughts, but relish the small pleasures."

Who said it: H. Jackson Brown, Jr., American author

What it means: Having large ideas and ambitions is OK, but don't forget the nice, small things that life can give us every day. (The verb "relish" means "to get great enjoyment from something.")

"Have no fear of perfection; you'll never reach it."

Who said it: Salvador Dali, Spanish painter

What it means: Perfection is impossible, but true growth and artistry come from always working to improve.

"The greatest danger to our future is apathy."

Who said it: Jane Goodall, American primatologist (a person who studies primates) 

What it means: We must be passionate about something in order to have a bright future. ("Apathy" is the feeling of not being interested in or enthusiastic.)

"If you're going through hell, keep going."

Who said it: Winston Churchill, former British Prime Minister

What it means: Don't stop moving, even if you are in the middle of a very difficult situation. Never give up!

"Despite the forecast, live like it's spring."

Who said it: Lilly Pulitzer, American fashion designer and businessperson

What it means: Keep a positive and hopeful attitude (like the feeling of spring) even if challenges come (forecast).

"Whatever you are, be a good one."

Who said it: Abraham Lincoln, former US president

What it means: Always try to be the best you can be, no matter what your job or position is.

"Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning."

Who said it: Gloria Steinem, American writer and feminist

What it means: Dreaming and imagining your future is the first step in the planning process.

Wrap-up

Quotes don't need to be long to have a powerful effect on us. Have any of the quotes we've covered in this article "spoken" to you?

We hope these have motivated you to think differently or to accomplish something new — whether it's learning English or improving your life in some other way. If you ever feel like you're lacking motivation, come back to this article for a boost!

And if you're interested in more English quotes, we have plenty for you to explore:

Popular Movie Quotes Used in Daily Conversation

10 Inspirational MCU Quotes for English Learners

Written by Sana, adapted by David

The post 20 Short English Quotes for Quick Motivation [Updated] appeared first on Engoo Blog.

After introducing these phrases, we will take a look at some related vocabulary and a short list of quotes related to modesty. Read on to learn more!

What is modesty?

Merriam-Webster defines "modesty" as "the quality of not being too proud or confident about yourself or your abilities." Modest people do not brag about themselves, what they have or what they can do.

If you don't want to appear too confident, try using one of the phrases introduced below.

Common phrases

I dabble.

“Dabble” is an informal word that means to do something lightly or not seriously. It’s often used when someone wants to suggest that they are not very skilled at something — even if that isn't completely true.

A

Do you cook?

B

Well, I dabble a bit.

You’re too kind.

You can use this short phrase after receiving a compliment. It has a slightly formal feeling and is sometimes used in a joking way.

A

You look great tonight.

B

You’re too kind.

I do OK. / I’m comfortable.

These phrases are common when someone wants to avoid speaking about money or salaries directly.

A

Do you make a lot of money at your new job?

B

I do OK.

It’s nothing (really).

This is a classic modest response to praise. However, you need to be careful; the other person may misunderstand and think you are saying that something was easy for you to do. Adding “really” helps this to sound more genuinely modest.

A

Your piano performance was very good.

B

Thank you, but it was nothing, really.

While these phrases are useful for taking some attention away from yourself, remember that your body language, expression and tone of voice also communicate to the people around you.

If you use these expressions without really meaning them, it may seem like false modesty, so be sure to use them carefully.

Related vocabulary

Modest

Don't forget that you can also use the adjective "modest" to describe people, spaces or things like fashion that are not flashy or attempt to attract attention.

Humble

"Humble" is an adjective meaning "not thinking too highly of one's own achievements, qualities, etc."

The noun version is "humility."

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.

C.S. Lewis (UK writer and scholar)

Down-to-earth / Grounded

Arrogant people and daydreamers may spend a lot of time believing or thinking about ideas that may not actually be true. People who are grounded or down-to-earth, however, think more practically and realistically.

Both of these terms are often used for people who are successful in some way but are still modest.

Play up/down

When you "play something up," you are trying to enhance its appeal or others’ interest in it. For example, companies want to play up their products to customers, and politicians want to play up themselves to voters.

The opposite of this expression is “play down.” It means to make something seem less important than it actually may be.

Like the example above, it can be used for modesty but also for information people want to keep secret.

Quotes on modesty

We’ll end this article on modesty by sharing a few related quotes from well-known and historical people. We hope you can find something useful or interesting among them.

"It’s far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help."

Judith Martin (US writer and etiquette expert)

"He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good."

Confucius (Chinese philosopher)

"Modesty should be typical of the success of a champion."

Major Taylor (US cyclist and writer)

"Let us be absolutely clear about one thing: we must not confuse humility with false modesty. …"

Paulo Coelho (Brazilian novelist)

"False modesty can be worse than arrogance."

David Mitchell (UK novelist and screenwriter)

"Modesty and unselfishness: these are the virtues which men praise — and pass by."

André Maurois (French author)

Wrap-up

Modesty is a tricky thing: having too much or too little of it can be negative. In the end, everyone has their own unique personality. Regardless, hopefully this article has prepared you to speak about it with a little more confidence — but not too much!

The post "It's Nothing, Really." Modesty in English (Phrases and Quotes) appeared first on Engoo Blog.

This article will share 10 quotes from films throughout the series. Each of them can be a source of motivation as well as a way to help you practice your English. We hope you find something here that will inspire you!

What is the MCU?

"MCU" is the short name for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Beginning with Iron Man in 2008, the MCU has continued to expand with more characters and events that combine to form one connected story. 

All of the stories in these films are based on comic books that were produced by Marvel Comics starting as early as the 1930s.

For years, these comics have had a passionate group of fans, but they have not had much mainstream success. However, starting from the very first release, Marvel's films became a worldwide phenomenon, making billions of dollars and creating a new generation of movie stars.

Today, the MCU consists of more than 30 movies featuring world-famous heroes such as the Avengers, Spider-Man and Black Panther.

Related article: English Expressions That Come from Comics

10 quotes from the MCU

Although they are known for action-packed fights and funny dialogue, Marvel films have more to offer.

Some of the MCU's best scenes are quiet moments shared between characters far from a battlefield. Many of the quotes highlighted below comment on universal themes such as identity, sacrifice and the importance of personal strength to overcome challenges. Some are also a great demonstration of a particular point of English usage.

So whether or not you are a fan of superheroes, you can get something positive from these stories.

"... Stay who you are, not a perfect soldier, but a good man." - Dr. Erskine

Captain America is known as the leader of the Avengers, a group of people with incredible powers and abilities.

In Captain America: The First Avenger, Steve Rogers was originally a small young man who was too weak to join the army. However, his desire to help his country was strong enough to impress one important person, Dr. Erskine.

Dr. Erskine performs a unique procedure on Steve that changes him into a soldier with amazing strength and speed. However, with this quote, he reminds Steve that what makes him special is not his new abilities, but his courage and passion for helping others. 

Kindness and compassion are things that we should all try to show in our lives. They are true superpowers that all people are capable of using.

"I choose to run towards my problems and not away from them." - Thor

This line from Thor, "the mightiest Avenger," is spoken in the film Thor: Ragnarok.

When Thor asks for another character's help, she tells him strongly that she is not interested in fighting or dealing with painful memories from her past. Thor responds to her with this quote.

These words express the idea that being a hero is not about having physical strength or special abilities. Instead, what is important is being brave enough to face challenges and deal with problems directly and without fear.

"Just because something works doesn't mean it can't be improved." - Shuri

Shuri is the younger sister of T'Challa, the Black Panther. She is also a brilliant scientist and one of the most intelligent characters in the MCU.

When showing her brother new equipment she's developed in Black Panther, T'Challa responds by saying the older versions work fine. As a scientist, Shuri rejects this idea and instead believes that improvements can always be made. 

Even if things are already "good," if we do not push ourselves to do better, we can never make progress. As an English learner, this quote should be very inspirational!

"He may have been your father ... but he wasn't your daddy." - Yondu

This quote from Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 demonstrates an important difference in nuance between two similar words. 

Many English learners may think that "father" and "dad" (or "daddy") are the same. But as we'll see below, one includes much more meaning than the other.

Peter Quill, the main character of this film, struggles with his feelings about two important men in his life. One man is his biological father, which means the two share the same blood and are family in the literal sense. This man, however, was gone during most of Peter's life, so they do not have a close relationship. 

On the other hand, Yondu is the man who raised Peter and helped him to grow. Although he is not related to Peter by blood, he had a much bigger impact on Peter's life and the two share a much closer bond. 

This quote, therefore, shows that "dad" includes a feeling of closeness and familiarity that "father" often does not. It also shows us that it is the experiences we share with others that show us who our true "family" is.

By the way, the same differences mentioned above also exist between "mother" and "mom."

"Vengeance has consumed you ... I'm done letting it consume me." - T'Challa

One of the themes of Captain America: Civil War is the power of revenge to motivate people and also to destroy them.

T'Challa spends the film searching for the person responsible for the death of someone close to him. But when he finds them, he has seen the negative effects revenge, or vengeance, has had on himself and on others around him. As T'Challa says, it has "consumed" them, or covered them completely.

This quote reminds us that negative emotions like vengeance and anger will eventually hurt us and result in even more trouble. In order to live the best lives we can, we need to free ourselves from these unhealthy feelings and replace them with positive ones.

"I can't control their fear, only my own." - Wanda Maximoff

The third Captain America film begins with a tragedy that many in the public blame on the character of Wanda Maximoff. Their anger is mixed with fear of her strange abilities.

After entering a depression, Wanda eventually decides that she can no longer let others' feelings about her control her life.

This quote can apply to all of us. There may always be people who have negative opinions about us. But instead of worrying about things we have no power to change, it would be better to focus on accepting ourselves and trying to be the best people we can be.

"Don't waste it. Don't waste your life." - Ho Yinsen

This quote comes from the very first film in the MCU, Iron Man.

Early in the film, Yinsen sacrifices himself in order for Tony Stark to escape a dangerous situation. When he says this line, he inspires Stark to become Iron Man, perhaps the biggest hero in the MCU.

This simple, powerful quote tells us that life is a gift that should be treated with care. No one lives forever, so we all have limited time to live the most positive life we can for ourselves and for others.

"If you're nothing without the suit, then you don't deserve it." - Tony Stark

In the first Spider-Man film of the MCU, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter Parker desperately wants to become a hero like his mentor Tony Stark/Iron Man. Tony gives Peter a high-tech suit to help him.

But when Peter begins to rely on this suit too much, Tony decides to take it away. Peter begs Tony to change his mind, saying he is nothing without it. Tony then responds with this quote.

Similar to the earlier quote from Captain America, this expresses the idea that our choices and actions are what make us who we are. Fancy items, money and status can help us, but they cannot be a replacement for who we truly are inside.

In other words, before we can be trusted with valuable things, we must first be the kind of people who deserve to have them.

"What is grief if not love persevering?" - Vision

Instead of a film, this quote comes from WandaVision, a television series connected to the MCU which can be watched on the Disney+ streaming service. 

"Persevere" is a verb that means to continue doing something even though it is very difficult and there is little chance of success.

Wanda, whom we mentioned earlier, experiences many difficulties throughout the MCU. One of the biggest relates to a character named Vision, to whom she has a very close relationship.

As Wanda deals with her grief, or extreme sadness because of loss or tragedy, Vision encourages her with these words.

It can be easy to give up when we face difficult situations, but grief is a sign that we are trying to move past our sadness and continue living as best we can. It also expresses that our love for the people close to us can remain and continue on even if those people are gone.

"With great power comes great responsibility." - Uncle Ben

This is perhaps the most famous quote in all of Marvel's history. Although it is not spoken in the MCU, it is closely connected to Spider-Man, who does appear in the films.

When Peter Parker first receives his amazing abilities, he uses them in a selfish way. However, this selfishness results in the death of Uncle Ben, the most important person in Peter's life.

Starting from this moment, Peter accepts that having his special power comes with a price: he must use it to protect and help the people he can. 

The choices we make can have very big effects — and the more power we have, the bigger the effects can be. Therefore, we must always be careful to act with wisdom and with compassion for the people our actions influence.

Assemble!

Despite their popularity, some people dislike Marvel films; they say they don't have deep characters or stories that good films should.

But if you look beyond the visual effects and big explosions, many films in the MCU have strong characters and themes that can entertain us while also giving us interesting things to think about.

If you have never seen an MCU film, give one a try — you might enjoy it! We recommend starting at the beginning with the first Iron Man.

If you have seen one, try rewatching it in English to help improve your listening and vocabulary skills. It's a fun way to learn!

Finally, if you're looking for more great quotes, try the following articles:

Popular Movie Quotes Used in Daily Conversation

20 Short English Quotes for Quick Motivation

The post 10 Inspirational MCU Quotes for English Learners appeared first on Engoo Blog.

However, these are only two examples of the many movie lines that are used in English-speaking countries on a regular basis.

In this article, we'll introduce some other well-known lines and how they are used in everyday life.

"There’s no place like home."

• Movie：The Wizard of Oz

This is perhaps the most famous line from the hit movie The Wizard of Oz, which was released in 1939.

One day, a girl named Dorothy gets caught in a tornado and is taken to a magical land. She meets many different characters and experiences many fantastic things, but her goal remains to return home. This is a phrase she says over and over again to gain her wish.

Nowadays, this line is often said by people who have been traveling for a long time or are living away from home.

This line is used in a very similar way to the expression "Home, sweet home."

"You’re gonna need a bigger boat."

• Movie：Jaws

This line is said by Chief Brody in the 1975 movie Jaws when he first sees the shark he is hunting. He realizes that the shark is much larger than he imagined, and that even if he could catch it, it would be impossible to put it on the boat.

Now, it's a line that can be used when you are in a bad situation that is beyond your control, or when the situation is more difficult than expected.

Sophia

The boss wants all of this work done by tomorrow...

Cassie

We're going to need a bigger boat.

Another phrase related to sharks is "to bite off more than you can chew." It means trying to do more than you are capable of doing!

"You talking to me?"

• Movie: Taxi Driver

This famous phrase was improvised by the famous actor Robert DeNiro. That means it was not in the movie's script, so he thought of it at that moment, without preparation. It has become perhaps the most well-known scene in Taxi Driver!

Travis, the movie's mentally troubled main character, says this line in front of a mirror to practice for an argument or fight. It basically means "What did you say?" or "Excuse me?" However, the tone is aggressive and the nuance is closer to "Do you want to fight?"

People say this line when joking with good friends, family members or colleagues as a way to challenge them.

Jim

Hey, go grab me a beer from the fridge.

Maggie

You talking to me? Go get one yourself!

"You can’t handle the truth."

• Movie：A Few Good Men

This line appears in a tense courtroom scene between Kaffee, a lawyer, and Colonel Jessep, played by Jack Nicholson. When Kaffee demands the truth about the death of a soldier, Jessep responds with this phrase in a very firm voice.

This line is commonly used to refer to information that the listener may not be prepared to hear or accept. It's often used to protect the listener, such as when you don't want to hurt the other person with this knowledge. However, it's more frequently used in a joking way to tease friends with something they want to know.

Frank

Just tell me already!

Will

No. You can’t handle the truth.

"I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse."

• Movie：The Godfather

The Godfather is the first in a famous series of films about a family in the Italian mafia. This line is spoken by Don Vito Corelone, the head of the family, played by Marlon Brando.

Corleone is the godfather of Johnny Fontane, a singer who badly needs a job. Johnny believes that performing in an upcoming Hollywood film will be a big help for his career. However, the head of the movie studio refuses to hire Johnny.

Corleone says he will convince the studio boss to give him the job, and it is at this point he says this famous line. Even though it is not said directly, it implies that the boss will be hurt if he doesn't agree.

You can use this phrase in a situation in which you are sure that you will get what you want. It's another way of saying, "I won't let them say 'no.'"

Alex

You signed the contract?

Clea

Yes. They're paying so much money, it was an offer I couldn't refuse.

In this case, the offer was so good that Clea had to accept it.

*To "beat up" means to attack or hit repeatedly.

Unlike the first example, this usage of the phrase is a threat of punishment if someone does not do a certain thing.

"Houston, we have a problem."

• Movie：Apollo 13

This line is unique on this list because it's based on an actual event. It comes from a radio communication between two astronauts and NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston, Texas, during the spacecraft Apollo 13's flight in 1970.

What the astronauts actually said was not this line, which has become very popular; he actually said, "OK, Houston, we've had a problem here."

You can use this line when you have an unexpected problem or when you are in a very difficult situation.

Julie

Is everything going OK?

Juni

Houston, we have a problem...

"As if!"

• Movie：Clueless

This line became famous after appearing many times in this romantic comedy from 1995. In this scene, Cher, the main character, is surprised when a male student suddenly hugs her. When she yells "As if!" it basically means "No way!" or "Absolutely not!"

Clueless takes place in the Beverly Hills neighborhood of California, USA. Women living in Southern California, including Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, are sometimes called "Valley girls," and their unique way of talking is quite well known across America. Some of the most unique things about their speech includes overuse of the words "like," "totally" and "whatever."

"As if" is normally followed by a statement to make a complete sentence, but Valley girls only use these first two words! It can be used as a joke by both men and women, but it is used more often by women. These days, you will not be seen as a Valley girl if you use it.

Travis

Did Mark clean the house today?

Claire

As if! He hasn’t even left his room yet.

"Say hello to my little friend!"

• Movie：Scarface

This line is yelled by Tony Montana, played by Al Pacino, in the classic gangster movie Scarface.

Part of the reason this line is so memorable is because the "friend" (a machine gun) is not little at all! Over the years, it has been used in a variety of places, including TV shows and other movies.

It's often said as a joke when revealing weapons or dangerous objects. For example, someone playing a video game may say it when using a powerful new item against their rivals. But it can also be used when revealing something you are proud of, or when showing someone something amazing, even if it is not dangerous.

Francis

Say hello to my little friend…

Jake

Cool! When did you get a new guitar?

"I love the smell of napalm in the morning."

• Movie：Apocalypse Now

Apocalypse Now is a famous 1979 film about the Vietnam War. Napalm is a type of bomb developed during World War II that can be dropped from planes to burn and destroy large areas.

Lieutenant Kilgore says this phrase as explosions happen in the distance. Kilgore's enjoyment of such a hard and dangerous environment made the line and the scene very memorable. After all, people normally prefer the smell of coffee and breakfast in the morning!

These days, this line is often used in a variety of situations, changing the word "napalm" for something that shows a person's sarcasm or their enthusiasm for something. For example, if you ever wake up in the morning and someone is burning bread, you can use this word substitution:

Obviously, this is a very sarcastic thing to say, since the "burnt" smell is not something people usually enjoy!

"What we've got here is a failure to communicate."

• Movie：Cool Hand Luke

This famous line was used in the beginning of the song Civil War by the American rock band Guns N' Roses, so you may have heard it even if you haven't seen the movie.

In the film, a cruel police captain says this line when he tries to demonstrate his power over a prisoner who does not want to obey. 

Now you can say it when you are arguing with someone or when you have trouble reaching an agreement. Be careful not to use it in a business or formal situation!

Wrap-up

Using famous quotes from movies in your daily conversations is a great way to sound more like a native speaker. Plus, learning these lines means you will be able to understand clearly when someone says one of them to you. Study these phrases well and give one of them a try the next time you're chatting with friends!

Written by Sana, adapted by David

The post Popular Movie Quotes Used in Daily Conversation appeared first on Engoo Blog.