Robert Louis Stevenson—what a guy! Known best for his timeless adventure novels like Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Stevenson was more than just a writer of high-seas adventures and dual personalities. He was a thinker. A deep, philosophical thinker whose words continue to inspire, challenge, and make us stop in our tracks. His quotes? Well, they’re packed with wisdom, humor, and insight that still resonate today.
So, buckle up as we dive into 50 of Robert Louis Stevenson’s most memorable quotes, each one as deep as the last. And don’t worry, there’s no need for a reflective mood here—just some friendly musings on why these quotes matter, with a dash of humor and a sprinkle of that ol’ Scottish wit.
1. “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”
Ah, the classic “life is a marathon, not a sprint” quote. Stevenson knew that success isn’t measured by instant results. It’s about the effort you put in today, even if the payoff comes later. Kind of like making your bed—sure, you don’t see the benefit until you crawl back into it at night, but boy, is it worth it.
2. “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.”
Stevenson must have been a restless soul—someone who couldn’t stay put for long. This quote reminds us that sometimes it’s not about where you’re headed, but the sheer joy of the journey itself. Like scrolling through social media at 2 AM: you’re not looking for anything specific, but you’re enjoying the ride.
3. “Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well.”
This one’s for all the underdogs out there. It’s not about the luck you’re dealt, it’s how you handle it. Basically, if life hands you lemons, make lemonade…or at least learn to juggle with them.
4. “You cannot run away from a weakness; you must sometimes fight it out or perish. And if that be so, why not now, and where you stand?”
Stevenson’s no fan of procrastination, apparently. Avoiding your problems won’t make them go away, so face them head-on. Like laundry—it doesn’t just fold itself, you know?
5. “To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life.”
Philosophical, right? Stevenson believed that life’s purpose isn’t to be perfect, but to become the best version of yourself. Sort of like upgrading your phone. You’re already good, but there’s always room for improvement.
6. “An aim in life is the only fortune worth finding.”
Forget money. Stevenson tells us that having a goal is the real treasure. Like setting your GPS to “success”—you’ve got to know where you’re headed, or you’ll end up circling the block.
7. “We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.”
Stevenson nails it. Life’s chaotic, unpredictable, and wild—but having a true friend to share the journey with makes all the difference. It’s like trying to assemble IKEA furniture: much easier with a buddy.
8. “Everyone lives by selling something.”
Now, before you start thinking this is some early version of a sales pitch, remember: Stevenson wasn’t talking about eBay. He’s saying that everyone has something to offer, whether it’s talent, time, or experience. We’re all in the market, just hawking different wares.
9. “Compromise is the best and cheapest lawyer.”
Here’s some sage advice: don’t rush to the courtroom—settle things before they escalate. Stevenson was ahead of his time in promoting peaceful resolutions. Maybe he’d have been a fan of mediation apps or family meetings around the dinner table.
10. “Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others.”
Sharing your worries? Nah, that’s not Stevenson’s style. Instead, spread bravery like butter on toast—thick and to everyone. He knew that courage is contagious, so why not be a little reckless with it?
11. “The cruelest lies are often told in silence.”
It’s the unspoken words that hurt the most. Ever given someone the silent treatment? Yeah, Stevenson would probably give you a raised eyebrow for that one. Speak up—it’s kinder in the long run.
12. “A friend is a gift you give yourself.”
You know that feeling when you find someone who just gets you? That’s the real treasure Stevenson’s talking about. Friends are like those rare collectibles—they might be hard to find, but when you do, they’re priceless.
13. “So long as we are loved by others, I would almost say that we are indispensable; and no man is useless while he has a friend.”
More friend wisdom from the man himself! Stevenson was big on friendship. As long as someone cares about you, you’ve got a place in the world. You’re needed, and that’s a good feeling.
14. “The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.”
Life’s filled with wonders—more than enough to make anyone happy. It’s like walking through a buffet of experiences, with Stevenson suggesting we should fill our plates with everything.
15. “Perpetual devotion to what a man calls his business, is only to be sustained by perpetual neglect of many other things.”
A work-life balance quote if there ever was one. Stevenson wasn’t into the idea of grinding yourself into the ground. Sure, hard work’s great, but if you’re constantly “on,” you’re missing out on life’s little pleasures. Like taking a nap. Or pizza.
16. “There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.”
Stevenson was a global citizen before it was cool. Wherever you go, people are people. If you feel out of place, it’s just because you’re the newcomer. His advice? Learn to blend in, and the world will feel like home.
17. “It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanates from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.”
Ever gone for a walk in the woods and felt your soul take a deep breath? That’s what Stevenson’s talking about. There’s something magical about nature that revives you. No Wi-Fi needed.
18. “Wine is bottled poetry.”
Well, I don’t know about you, but Stevenson would be the kind of guy to enjoy a glass of red. He’s saying that just like a good poem, wine is something to be savored and appreciated. Preferably on a balcony somewhere scenic.
19. “You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving.”
Love isn’t just about feeling—it’s about action. You can be generous with your time or money without really caring, but when you truly love someone, giving becomes second nature.
20. “The body is a house of many windows: there we all sit, showing ourselves and crying on the passers-by to come and love us.”
This one’s deep. Stevenson paints a picture of humanity as a house with windows—transparent, vulnerable, and always seeking connection. It’s poetic, almost like an early metaphor for social media, but with more charm and less selfies.
21. “There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy.”
Stevenson wasn’t just an adventurer, he was a happiness advocate. Sometimes we think happiness is a luxury or something we’ll get to later. But he argues it’s a duty—a responsibility we owe to ourselves.
22. “The saints are the sinners who keep on trying.”
Now here’s some encouragement for all of us. You don’t have to be perfect; you just have to keep at it. In other words, we’re all saints in training, even if we trip over ourselves from time to time.
23. “Our business in life is not to succeed, but to continue to fail in good spirits.”
Failure’s not the end; it’s part of the process. Stevenson had a cheery take on falling short. The key is to fail with a smile—because eventually, those failures add up to something greater.
24. “Every man is his own doctor of divinity, in the last resort.”
You don’t need a degree to figure out your beliefs. According to Stevenson, you’re the ultimate authority on your own life philosophy. This is your permission to question, rethink, and define what spirituality means for you.
25. “All speech, written or spoken, is a dead language until it finds a willing and prepared hearer.”
Communication’s a two-way street. It doesn’t matter how brilliant your words are unless someone’s listening. It’s like a podcast with no subscribers—great content, but no audience. Get yourself a crowd who’s ready to hear you out.
26. “Marriage is like life – it is a field of battle, not a bed of roses.”
Stevenson wasn’t here to sugarcoat things. Marriage is hard work. It’s not all smooth sailing, but the victories you win together? Worth every struggle.
27. “To forget oneself is to be happy.”
Happiness comes from stepping outside your own little bubble. When you stop obsessing over yourself, you make room for joy. It’s like the universe saying, “Relax, you’re doing great!”
28. “In marriage, a man becomes slack and selfish, and undergoes a fatty degeneration of his moral being.”
Ouch! Stevenson’s humor shines through here. Marriage, he claims, can make people lazy—if they’re not careful. His message? Don’t let the relationship turn into a rut.
29. “There is but one art, to omit.”
Ah, the art of omission. Whether in writing or life, Stevenson says that what you leave out is just as important as what you include. Sometimes, simplicity is genius.
30. “To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.”
Stevenson believed that the act of hoping and dreaming was better than achieving the goal itself. It’s the journey that matters, not the destination. Like waiting for pizza delivery: the anticipation’s half the fun.
31. “Fiction is to the grown man what play is to the child; it is there that he changes the atmosphere and tenor of his life.”
Escaping into a good story is just like kids playing pretend. Fiction lets us step into a different world for a while, recharge, and come back feeling refreshed. Stevenson clearly had a soft spot for the magic of storytelling.
32. “Quiet minds cannot be perplexed or frightened, but go on in fortune or misfortune at their own private pace, like a clock during a thunderstorm.”
A calm mind is unshakable. Stevenson suggests that if you can keep your cool, nothing will knock you off course. Be the clock in the thunderstorm, ticking away no matter what.
33. “The web, then, or the pattern, a web at once sensuous and logical, an elegant fabric for the mind.”
Stevenson wasn’t talking about the internet, but he might as well have been. The mind is a complex web of logic and feeling—he valued that intricate balance between sense and sensibility.
34. “Books are good enough in their own way, but they are a mighty bloodless substitute for life.”
Books? Great. Life? Even better. Stevenson wasn’t saying to skip out on reading, but he believed real-life experiences trump the written word. Sometimes, you’ve got to close the book and dive into life headfirst.
35. “Absences are a good influence in love and keep it bright and delicate.”
Stevenson clearly understood the power of missing someone. Absence, as they say, makes the heart grow fonder. It’s like seasoning—just enough, and everything’s tastier.
36. “You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us.”
As a dog lover, this one hits home. Stevenson believed that our furry friends had a VIP pass to the pearly gates. And really, isn’t that the comfort we all need?
37. “Do not write me down in rank among the heretics of life who believe that charity begins and ends at home.”
Stevenson wasn’t about that selfish charity life. Giving shouldn’t be limited to your inner circle. He was all about spreading the wealth—whether that’s love, time, or resources.
38. “The truth that is suppressed by friends is the readiest weapon of the enemy.”
Stevenson warned against sugarcoating the truth, especially among friends. If you hold back honest criticism, it can come back to bite you. Better to hear the truth from a friend than an adversary.
39. “When the teeth are shut, the tongue is at home.”
A Scottish proverb that reminds you to think before you speak. Sometimes, silence is golden. Other times, well, it just keeps you out of trouble.
40. “There is only one difference between a long life and a good dinner: that, in the dinner, the sweets come last.”
Life’s like a great meal—you’ve got to save the best parts for last. Stevenson’s metaphor reminds us to enjoy the journey, knowing the sweetest rewards are yet to come.
41. “Politics is perhaps the only profession for which no preparation is thought necessary.”
Clearly, Stevenson had some thoughts on politics. It’s a profession where anyone can jump in, whether they’re prepared or not. Wonder what he’d say about today’s political landscape?
42. “We live in an ascending scale when we live happily; one thing leads to another in a gracious chain of harmony.”
Happiness is like a chain reaction—once you get it started, it just keeps growing. It’s the domino effect of joy, and Stevenson was all about keeping that chain going.
43. “The world is full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.”
A joyful outlook on life’s endless wonders. There’s so much to see, do, and experience—why not be as delighted as royalty?
44. “That man is a success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much.”
Stevenson sums up success in three simple actions: living fully, laughing frequently, and loving deeply. If you’ve ticked all those boxes, you’re doing life right.
45. “The difficulty of literature is not to write, but to write what you mean.”
The real challenge in writing? Clarity. Stevenson knew that it’s easy to put words on a page, but much harder to say something meaningful. Writing’s like a jigsaw puzzle—you’ve got to fit everything together just right.
46. “Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant.”
Plant the seeds today, and the rewards will come later. Stevenson’s version of long-term investment—whether it’s kindness, effort, or love—always pays off eventually.
47. “It is better to lose health like a spendthrift than to waste it like a miser.”
Stevenson’s telling us to live life fully—don’t hoard your energy or health like you’re saving up for a rainy day. Use it while you’ve got it. Life’s for the living, after all.
48. “There is no foreign land; it is the traveler only that is foreign.”
A reminder that the world is open and welcoming; it’s us, the travelers, who feel out of place. Stevenson knew that the sense of foreignness is all in the mind—every place can feel like home if you approach it with the right mindset.
49. “He who sows hurry reaps indigestion.”
Rushing through life? You’re bound to get some metaphorical (or literal) heartburn. Stevenson advocates for a slower pace—take your time, enjoy the process, and let life unfold naturally.
50. “It is the mark of a good action that it appears inevitable in retrospect.”
Good deeds often seem obvious after the fact. In the moment, they might not be so clear. Stevenson suggests that a truly good act feels like the only possible choice when you look back on it.
Conclusion: What We Can Learn from Robert Louis Stevenson
Stevenson’s words transcend time. They reflect a life of adventure, curiosity, and a deep understanding of human nature. His quotes are both profound and lighthearted, proving that you can be wise without taking yourself too seriously. Whether you’re navigating life’s challenges, seeking happiness, or simply looking for a bit of humor in everyday situations, Stevenson has a quote for you.
For more on his literary brilliance, check out the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum or explore into his classic works like Treasure Island. You’ll find that his insights aren’t just confined to quotes—they’re woven through everything he touched.
FAQs About Robert Louis Stevenson Quotes
1. Why are Robert Louis Stevenson’s quotes still relevant today?
Stevenson’s wisdom on life, friendship, and courage speaks universal truths that resonate across generations. His insights into human nature are timeless.
2. What is Robert Louis Stevenson’s most famous quote?
One of his most well-known quotes is, “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” It’s a reminder to focus on effort rather than immediate results.
3. Did Robert Louis Stevenson write any motivational quotes?
Yes, many of his quotes are motivational, encouraging readers to embrace life’s journey, face challenges with courage, and focus on personal growth.
4. How can Robert Louis Stevenson’s quotes help in daily life?
His quotes inspire resilience, the importance of friendship, and living authentically. They’re perfect little pick-me-ups when life gets tough.
5. Where can I read more of Robert Louis Stevenson’s works?
You can explore his novels like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde or Treasure Island. Libraries and online platforms like Project Gutenberg offer free access to many of his works.
Explore more about Robert Louis Stevenson and his work on the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum website.
