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Pay It Forward Quotes to Help You Live a Better Life

Stephanie Kirby, Content Writer
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These Pay It Forward quotes show how the concept from the movie is the right way to live.

The movie Pay It Forward first premiered in 2000 starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osment.

The story is about a boy, Trevor, who is assigned a school project of finding a way to better the world.

He starts something called “Pay it Forward” where you do a favor for someone and then ask them to pay it forward to three people instead of repaying the favor so the movement will continue to spread.

While the movie gained a lot of attention, the idea of paying it forward has always been around.

Many wise people throughout history have pointed to this concept as one of the things that life is all about. Keep reading these Pay It Forward quotes to see why.

Don’t forget to also check out these giving quotes that will make your heart melt.

Also, check out our most popular quote article, a list of short inspirational quotes for daily wisdom. 

See the rest of our quote database for even more inspirational ideas and thoughts.

Inspirational Pay It Forward Quotes

1. “If you can’t pay it back, pay it forward.” – Catherine Ryan Hyde

Pay It Forward quotes if you can’t pay it back, pay it forward

2. “I hope the fruits of my labor are ripe for many generations to come.” – Donovan Nichols

Pay It Forward quotes about the fruits of my labor are ripe for many generations to come

3. “For it is in giving that we receive.” – St. Francis Assisi

Pay It Forward quotes about it is in giving that we receive

4. “I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.” – Maya Angelou

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Pay It Forward quotes about you need to be able to throw something back

5. “Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Gandhi

Pay It Forward quotes about be the change you want to see in the world

6. “Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

Pay It Forward quotes about everyone can be great, because everyone can serve

7. “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill

Pay It Forward quotes about we make a life by what we get; we make a life by what we give

8. “It takes each of us to make a difference for all of us.” – Jackie Mutcheson

Pay It Forward quotes about it takes each of us to make a difference for all of us

9. “One can never pay in gratitude: one can only pay ‘in kind’ somewhere else in life.” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Pay It Forward quotes about one can only pay in gratitude

10. “Spread good energy. Pay it forward.” – Brittany Maynard

Pay It Forward quotes about spread good energy

11. “A life lived for others, is the only life worth living.” – Albert Einstein

Pay It Forward quotes about a life lived for others, is the only life worth living

12. “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” – Ronald Reagan

Pay It Forward quotes about we can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone

Motivational Pay It Forward Quotes from the Movie

13. “I thanked him and there were some very specific orifices in which I was told to shove my thanks. He told me, ‘Just pay it forward.’ Three big favors for three other people. That’s it.” – Mr. Throsen

Motivational Pay It Forward quotes from the Movie

14. “Is that what you want for your birthday? Everybody to pay it forward?’ – Chris Chandler

Pay It Forward quotes that what you want for your birthday

15. “You’re giving me a brand-new Jaguar, and you don’t want anything?” – Jay Mohr

Pay It Forward quotes about you’re giving me a brand-new Jaguar, and you don't want anything

16. “I just want to see if the world would really change.” – Trevor McKenney

Pay It Forward quotes about I just want to see if the world would really change

17. “I guess it’s hard for people who are so used to things the way they are – even if they’re bad – to change. ‘Cause they kind of give up. And when they do, everybody kind of loses.” – Trevor McKenney

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Pay It Forward quotes about kind of give up

18. “What did you tell my son to make him bring a homeless man into my house?” – Arlene McKenney

Pay It Forward quotes about what did you tell my son to make him bring a homeless man into my house

19. “Hey, you did good work. Look at me, I’m proud of you, Trevor. I’m proud of you. And anyway for what it’s worth, I’m grading you on the effort, not the result.” – Eugene Simonet

Pay It Forward quotes about I'm proud of you

20. Trevor McKenney: “Are you saying you’ll flunk us if we don’t change the world?”

Eugene Simonet: “Well, no. But you might just scrape by with a C.”

Pay It Forward quotes about changing the world

21. Eugene Simonet: “I will always care — about you, always.”

Trevor McKenney: “Yeah. You’re my teacher. They pay you to.”

Pay It Forward quotes about I will always care about you

Pay it forward quotes about helping others

22. “You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” – John Wooden

Pay It Forward quotes on perfect day

23. “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day, someone might do the same for you.” – Princess Diana

Pay It Forward quotes about expectation of reward

24. “A purposeful act or extension of kindness is never wasted, for it always resides in the hearts of all.” – Molly Friedenfeld

Pay It Forward quotes about a purposeful act or extension of kindness is never wasted

25. “Learning to pay it forward can add a tremendous sense of meaning and dignity to our lives. Simply put, it feels good to give to others, whether we get back or not.” – Greg Epstein

Pay It Forward quotes about learning to pay it forward

What did you learn from these pay it forward quotes?

Spoiler Alert: At the end of the movie, Trevor is injured while defending a friend from bullies.

He dies from his injuries.

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This seems like it would be a dark ending to what could be an inspiring movie but there’s more.

His mother and teacher hold a vigil for Trevor and hundreds of people show up who have been directly impacted by the Pay It Forward movement.

It shows how one little act can multiply and spread far beyond yourself.

So now for the real challenge—take inspiration from the quotes above and find a way to Pay It Forward in your day.

Choose to be the first person to start spreading the idea of paying it forward in your own area.

And you can point people back to these Pay It Forward quotes and sayings to encourage them to do the same.

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