16 Quotes For Boys On Their Journey To Teenage and Manhood

There’s a lot that can be said about raising a young boy and no shortage of quotes for boys dedicated to these little thrill seekers.

“Choose your friends with caution, plan your future with purpose, and frame your life with faith.” — Thomas S. Monson
“A fairly bright boy is far more intelligent and far better company than the average adult.” — John B. S. Haldane
“One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, but needs some practice to be a good one.” — Charles Dudley Warner
“Nothing is particularly hard if you break it down into small jobs.” — Henry Ford
“It always seems impossible until it is done.” — Nelson Mandela
“The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.” — Samuel Johnson
“There are two ways of spreading light. To be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it.” — Edith Wharton
“The world has the habit of making room for the man whose words and actions show that he knows where he is going.” — Napoleon Hill
“Not being heard is no reason for silence.” — Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
“The most effective way to do it, is to do it.” — Amelia Earhart
“Older people sit down and ask, ‘What is it?’ but the boy asks, ‘What can I do with it?’.” — Steve Jobs
“A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money.” — John Rushkin
“Happiness doesn’t come from being rich, nor merely from being successful in your career, nor by self-indulgence. One step towards happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong while you are a boy so that you can be useful and so you can enjoy life when you are a man.” — Robert Baden-Powell
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” ― Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere’s Fan
“There comes a time in every rightly constructed boy’s life that he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure.” — Mark Twain

The task of raising a young boy is never an easy one. Boys are mischievous thrill seekers and lovers of adventure, always out to explore the world regardless of the dangers and uncertainties. Even the most diligent of parents can find themselves chasing after an over-zealous little boy who’s ready to take on the world, even if he’s ill-equipped to do it!

It’s not the job of parents to squash this sense of adventure, but instead to encourage it. By helping your son explore the world and dive into the unknown adventure of life, you’re preparing him to become a man. His adventures and lessons as a boy will stay with him as he grows up, helping to shape the man he becomes.

One of the best things any parent can do for their growing son is to help him navigate the world by giving him the characteristics that life will demand of him. Through lessons at an early age and wise quotes for boys, you can instill in him the traits that will come to define him as he begins to make his way in the world.

There are a lot of things you can teach your son in his early, formative years. The best lessons you can pass along to him are those that will help him flourish as an individual. Help him realize that life will always be an adventure and equip him with the traits and mindset needed to make sure he enjoys it fearlessly, even deep into his adult years.

Quotes for boys as a source of joy

Raising a young boy has been a source of joy and frustration for parents since the beginning of time—just read the stories about a young Teddy Roosevelt or listen to the escapades of Steve Irwin as a boy!

There’s no end to the funny boy quotes that recount the trials of raising a young man.

But raising a little boy is about more than just putting up with his endless mischief and troublemaking—it’s also about giving him the qualities he needs to make it in the world as a man. Take a look at some of the lessons worth teaching him:

While you skim through these quotes for boys, keep in mind your own son and the traits that he embodies. You might just find a few quotes that resonate with him and that inspire him to be the best version of himself as he grows up.

Boy quotes to cherish your younger years

From the moment your son is born, he’s an adventurer. Each item his tiny hands grasp, each inch he eventually crawls and every new noise he makes is a foray into the unknown. He never stops exploring! And while every day brings something new, it also means there’s a little less mystery in the world for both you and him.

It’s why so many baby boy quotes remind us to cherish the young years of childhood.

It’s important to let your little boy be just that: a little boy. Let him explore and get into trouble. Let him take chances and explore new things. It can be easy to try and keep him in a bubble, where he’ll never skin his knees or break his arm but without the opportunity to adventure, he might not grow up with the confidence he needs to make it in the world.

Cherish the younger years, but don’t deprive your son of adventure. There’s so much out there for him to discover and so much exploring to be done!

Instead, share quotes for little boys that encourage your son to be his adventurous self, but always remind him of the consequences of his actions. When he’s young, it’s okay to make mistakes, as they’ll help him avoid bigger mistakes with bigger consequences later in life.

Quotes for boys help share that he should never be afraid of hard work

The world was built by the hands of men who weren’t afraid to put them to work. Calloused hands are the hands of someone who has made something of themselves by working hard to earn their place in the world.

It’s important for your son to carry on this tradition: a tradition of being a good, hard worker.

Some of the most important boy quotes are those that encourage a young man to embrace work, rather than reject it. Teach him to do a good job and be willing to work hard. Help him find value in a job well done and instill in him a pride for doing good work.

All of these traits will take him as far as he wants to go in life, because there’s always work to be done. When he steps up to take on the job, he’ll distinguish himself as someone worth the reward of that job.

The right quotes for boys’ attitude can teach your son to embrace any work he does, whether he’s swinging an ax or typing in computer code. Teach him that every job has value and that every job deserves to be done to completion. As he learns to welcome work, he’ll slowly become a provider for himself, his future spouse and the family that will come to revere him in the future.

Respect is earned when it’s given

Respect is among the most important and influential traits you can teach your son. Respect for others will get him far in life and eventually, earn him the respect of those around him. Teaching him how to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ and to act with courtesy and kindness towards others is a sign that he values those around him.

This respect will propel him into high esteem with all those who know him.

The best quotes for boys also teach him respect in a different sense: respect for things that don’t directly command it. Teach him to value and appreciate all things and he’ll be the example that other people admire. For example, respecting the property he owns by keeping a tidy lawn or respecting a grocery store cashier he may never speak to again show the markings of a gentleman and a person worth knowing.

There are many quotes about boys being jerks, too. Use these as an example to show your son how not to behave. The world will always be filled with people who lack respect or believe it’s due to them for no reason. Teach your son to stand apart from these individuals and retain his sense of respect and honor at all times.

Always make your voice heard

Your son doesn’t have to have a deep, booming voice to be heard. Instead, teach him to make himself heard through the insightful words he speaks. Some of the best boy quotes from mommy are those that teach him how to articulate himself.

If everyone else is shouting, he can stand apart by calmly delivering a measured appeal. His voice may not be loud, but it will be powerful and respected.

Teaching your son to make his voice heard is an inspirational exercise, because it helps him make sense of the world he’s always trying so hard to explore. Help him learn how to examine things and question them, and how to frame those questions to get the attention of others. Make sure he knows how to object to injustice and propose solutions. And, teach him how to learn about and convey his feelings directly and honestly.

All of these things will make sure his voice is heard and that people pay attention when he speaks, because he will be saying things worth hearing.

Do your best in everything you pursue

Your son may know exactly what he wants to do with his life from the moment he learns how to speak or it might take him a lifetime to figure it out! Whatever he does decide to pursue, make sure he’s pursuing it whole-heartedly and passionately.

Be sure to read him inspirational quotes for boys that show the power of passionate pursuit of one’s dreams.

More than just pursing what he’s interested in, make sure your boy puts his best foot forward. He doesn’t necessarily have to be the very best at everything he does, but he should make an effort or attempt with no reservations.

A life filled with hesitation is a life filled with regrets, make sure your son has neither.

Instead, let him know that even if he fails at something, it’s worth doing fully and completely. At least you know you tried your very best if you come up short.

There are many quotes for boys that talk about success. Let your son know that success is defined by each and every person, and it comes when you invest yourself in whatever you do.

Your team may not win the game, but if you played your heart out during the game, it’s a personal success that has a profound effect on your sense of self.

Recognize the important things in life

A lesson every parent should teach to their son is the value of knowing what’s important in life. Read little boy quotes from mommy to illustrate where the true meaning of value is and what forms it takes. As an adult it might take the form of cars and money, but as a child the concept is so much simpler: it’s your family, friends and experiences.

Instilling a sense of sentimentality in your son will make sure he remembers the important things throughout his life, even as he accumulates material goods.

A focus on recognizing the important things in life can lead to inspirational developments in your son. For example, he might dedicate himself to a job he’s passionate about, rather than one that offers more money. Or, he might live modestly so he can travel the world, making memories with his significant other.

Understanding life’s most important treasures from an early age will make sure your son prioritizes his adult life. And, it means he won’t compromise who he is or what he values for all of life’s temptations, of which few have little true value.

Never leave your dreams behind

Your son, the adventurer, will eventually have to grow up. The most important thing you can do as a parent is to make sure he’s raised in such a way that he never loses his thirst for exploration.

Whether it’s changing jobs to pursue a new passion, moving to a new part of the world or meeting new friends, he should always embrace adventure and never shy away from the unknown.

Taking the time to read him inspirational boy quotes from a young age will ensure his thirst for adventure is never quenched and that he views the world with eager eyes. Even when he’s grown up and established as his own man, he’ll carry with him the lessons he learned as a young boy.

He might not be skinning his knees or breaking any more bones as an adult, but he’ll certainly be reaping the rewards of a fruitful and fulfilling life.

Make sure your son always knows that his dreams are within reach. You’ve given him strong traits and instilled within him the teachings he needs to do anything he wants to. All he needs to do is go out there and pursue them! He’s likely to find that, thanks to his boyhood adventuring and the lessons you’ve left him with, the world is still full of opportunities to explore and discover.

We hope you were inspired by the above inspirational quotes for boys, which are part of our family quotes series.

What are the best inspirational boy quotes you know? Share them with us in the comments below to inspire others to find the same positivity you’re working toward!