For many people, tattoos are a means of self-expression – and there is no more direct way to express yourself than through words. Quote tattoos can highlight the person’s attitude and nature, serve as a reminder of values that guide them, or hold personal sentimental importance.
Significance of quote tattoos
Quote tattoos are some of the most personal, individualized designs out there. While a tattoo with a symbolic imagery can stand for certain values and meanings, a well-chosen quotation can become the most unique way to express the intended values and sentiments.
Quotes can be used in tattoos to stand for just about any meaning and significance. Popular uses for quotes include:
- Inspirational quotes – these are usually meant to serve as reminders of what the person finds important in life, meant to serve as guidance in accordance with personal values. They can also be considered motivational or uplifting. ‘Wishing is not enough, we must do’ (Goethe) is one example of an inspirational quote. Others include sayings such as ‘Failure builds character’ (anonymous), or ‘Today’s accomplishments were yesterday’s impossibilities’ (Schuller) – you get the idea. Whatever sentence hits home and holds particular meaning to you could be a good choice for an inspirational quote tattoo.
- Religious tattoos – quotations from religious texts are a common choice of tattoo for those wishing to underline their faith.
- Quotations from books, poems, movies, and songs – sometimes, a phrase from literature, a movie or a song just hits home. Maybe it helps to express your values or opinions in a concise way, maybe it’s amusing, or maybe it holds some special, personal meaning to you. We all have cultural-reference quotes that we identify with. Having a tattoo with this type of quote will also be a worthy homage to the author.
- Personal quotes – a tattoo quote doesn’t necessarily have to be an actual quotation from something! It can be a phrase of your own creation, such as a saying that you have or simply a text that you write specifically for the tattoo. There’s hardly a more unique tattoo design than a quote of your own invention.
Choosing a font
If you’ve decided on the words to include in your quote tattoo, the next step is figuring out how the design is going to look. While the actual words constitute the meaning of your tattoo, the font you choose will determine the style of the finished piece.
Popular choices of font for tattoos include cursive/handwriting and gothic-style lettering. Broadly speaking, the first one is a top choice for women, while the second one appears most often in men’s quote tattoos. Typewriter fonts are also a good choice – they look great and are easy to read.
If your quote has deep personal meaning, you could opt for using your own handwriting, or that of a loved one. This option makes for an extra-special and unique tattoo. If this ends up being your choice, make sure to check with your tattoo artist whether they’re able to create an appropriate stencil.
Assuming you don’t already have a font style in mind, a good way to find one is by using a text editor such as Word. Type in your chosen phrase and see how it looks in different fonts – something’s sure to catch your eye! At the very least, this should give you some idea of the style of font to look for.
Another option for finding a font is browsing through an online font library, preferably one that shows you samples based on your phrase. For example, 1001 Fonts allows users to type in their phrase and see it displayed in thousands of different text styles.
Whatever font you end up choosing, make sure that it’s readable and well-suited for the tattoo size you’re aiming for. Decorative, intricate fonts will be difficult to read if the letters are too small.
Other things to consider when getting a quote tattoo
Besides the text and the lettering style, there are a few more things to consider when deciding on your quote tattoo design. Most importantly:
- Color – there’s no denying that the vast majority of quote tattoos are done in black. This helps the text stand out clearly against your skin – meaning the quote is easier to see and to read. Still, this is not the only option – color quote tattoos can look great, too. You don’t have to settle for a single color, either. For instance, bold lettering can have a black outline and a colorful fill. Colors and shades can also be blended, so for example, your quote could start off red and gradually blend into orange. This could affect how readable the quote is, though, and not all colors will look good together. Experiment with different ideas on paper and see what strikes your fancy!
- Language – think about whether you’d like your quote tattoo to be written in your native language, or a different one. There are a number of reasons why people opt for foreign languages for their tattoos. For instance, the language could hold particular personal significance, or could be the native language of the author of the quote (say you’re using a quote from a book written by an Italian author – why not have it in the original Italian?). If you don’t want the meaning of your quote to be instantly understandable to everyone around you, choosing a foreign language is the best way to make it more private. You could even choose a different alphabet, for example by translating the phrase into Greek. If you don’t speak your chosen foreign language yourself, just make sure to get the final wording checked by someone who does. Google translate can’t always be trusted!
- Design – are there any other elements that could be added to your tattoo to underline its meaning and make the design more appealing to you? Writing looks awesome in tattoos on its own, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be combined with other images. Animals, symbols, and floral imagery are all popular choices.
- Permanence – never forget that the tattoo will stay on your skin forever. This is an important consideration with any tattoo, but particularly so where it comes to writing. Before getting a quote tattooed, think about whether it’s likely to still be relevant and important to you five, ten, or twenty years from now.
- Spelling – check, double-check, and check again the spelling of the phrase. Remember that the tattoo artist can be the one who makes a mistake, so always pay attention to the stencil and check that everything is correct, before and during the tattooing process. One misspelled word can make your tattoo go from meaningful and inspiring to a bit of an embarrassment, as everyone will assume you’re the one who got it wrong.
Popular design options
Quotes make great stand-alone tattoos, but they can also be used as part of a larger design. Popular choices for combining different elements with writing in tattoos include:
- Feather tattoos with quotes – feathers are a common feature in quote tattoos. They can be added as a separate element next to, above, or below the writing, or they can be worked into the lettering. For the second option, it’s best to use a large, curved font, so that the feather can look natural as part of a letter.
- Quote tattoos with birds – birds appear in tattoos often, owing both to their symbolic meaning of freedom and perspective and to their aesthetic appeal. Adding a bird (or several) to your quote tattoo is a great way to include some color in the design. Hummingbirds in particular are a great choice for quote tattoos, especially common among women.
- Quote tattoos with symbols – symbols such as arrows, hearts, anchors, the infinity sign, and countless others can be worked into the design for deeper meaning. Word tattoos for guys in particular often include anchors, though of course this is not a rule.
- Quotes on paper or in books – longer quotes can be used as part of a design intended to look like a page from a book. This could either mean a single page, a scroll, or a book laying open. This makes for a more complex and larger design.
- Quotes with cultural reference images – for quotes that come from popular books or movies, it’s an interesting choice to add symbolic imagery from the original to the design. For example, Harry Potter quote tattoos often include the lightning symbol (for Harry’s scar) or the Deathly Hallows symbol, synonymous with the franchise and instantly recognizable.
Popular design examples
Placement guide
The placement of quotes tattoo is, like all other tattoo designs, largely dependent upon its size. Larger tattoos look good on large areas such as the back, stomach, arms, ribs, chest, thighs, legs, and hips. Smaller ones are ideally done on ankles, wrists, back of the neck, behind the ear and even on fingers.
As we’ve already seen, the length of your quote won’t be the only determining factor for the size of the tattoo. Even a short quote may need to be big if you opt for a complex font or large additional elements.
While deciding on where to have your quote tattoo, consider whether you want it to be constantly visible to everyone around you. For deeply personal wording that you want to keep more private, choose an area that you can easily cover up with clothing.
Final words
Every tattoo is some kind of statement, and quote tattoos make the boldest statements of all. The particular appeal of word tattoos comes from the clarity of meaning and the potential to be inspiring both to the wearer and to those around them.
Take a look through our gallery below to see what quotes others have chosen for their tattoos – there’s bound to be something here to inspire you to create your own!
21. Family like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions.
22. By the strength within I shall succeed.
23. Don’t worry be happy
24. My soul corrupted by vengeance hath endured torment…
25. She is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain.
26. And though she be but little, she is fierce
27. Happiness depends upon ourselves.
28. So dear love him,that with him all deaths could endure…
29. Beneath the makeup and behind the smile, I am just a girl…
30. For every dark night, there’s a brighter day.
31. Do not go gentle into that good night…
32. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
33. Don’t dream your life, live your dream.
34. Sometimes when you fall you fly
35. Through every dark night, there is a brighter day
36. Some say I’m going the wrong way…
37. Take a breath and be strong
38. It’s only life after all
39. Flowers only last so long
40. The ultimate measure of a man is not who he stands in the moments of comfort…
41. The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.
42. Do what you love
43. With His love there is nothing I cannot do.
44. Every moment overflows with power, 66 thousand miles an hour.
45. You be the Anchor that keeps my feet on the ground… and I’ll be the wings….
46. Hate without reason
47. Who is more real?
48. Life goes on
49…. and the world will be yours
50. You believe lies so you must learn to trust no one but yourself.
51. Get busy living or get busy dying
52. We are the graceless and dumbfounded, insane with our own insatiable desire…
53. Don’t test the ones you love, it will only tear us down.
54. If you want peace, prepare for war
55. Lead me not into temptation
56. Walk by faith, not by sight
58. If you don’t live for something, you’ll die for nothing
59. She flies by her own wings
60. Art never comes from happiness
61. This is your life and it’s ending one minute at a time…
62. When the power of love overcomes the love of power then the world will know peace
63. Dream as if you’ll live forever
64. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…
65. Reality is wrong, dreams are for real
66. If I lay here if I just lay here, would you lie with me…
67. You get what you give
68. It’s only forever… not long at all
70. In a world of my own
71. This too shall pass
72. What type of harvest will September bring
73. Life is not measured by the number of breaths…
74. Fate fell short
75. Never a failure always a lesson.
76. Betrayer, where is your head. Betrayer, where is your heart.
77. Until forever fades away
79. Strength Respect Loyalty
80. Hope Love Family Believe Strength Dream
81. Dear lover, give me one last painful kiss
82. Never compromise. Not even in the face of armageddon.
83. Heart means everything
84. Never forget who you are
85. Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change…
86. You are what you love and not what loves you back
87. Wars begin in the minds of men
88. If you can dream it you can do it
89. With pain comes strength
90. To die would be an awfully big adventure
91. Be the one to guide me but never hold me down
92. I will fear no evil for you are with me
93. Live each day as if it were your last
94. Faith Hope and Love
95. She was no more no less, than anything but herself
96. Dream Believe Dare Do
98. A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages
99. To err is human; to forgive is divine.
100. Uncertain, intrepid, possibly immortal decidedly in love
101. I brought down the sky for you but all you did was shrug
102. Forget your past, forgive yourself, and begin again
103. You don’t know what you’re alive for until you know what you would die for
104. Fearfully and wonderfully made
105. To sleep, perchance to dream…
106. Be the change
107. The worst part about being lied to is knowing you weren’t worth the truth
108. I listened to the brag of my heart I am I am I am
109. Miss me little but not too long.
110. One Life One Love
If a body catch a body coming through the rye
Always on my mind forever in my heart tattoo
And in that moment I swear we were infinite.
Dear lover give me one last painful kiss.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
For by grace you have been saved through faith
Fall down seven times stand up eight
Dream as if you’ll live forever Live as if you’ll die today.
Do not regret growing old, it is a privilege denied to many.
Happily ever after
happiness depends upon wishes.
I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.
I could really use a wish right now
I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful at night
Laugh as much as you breathe. Love as long as you live
It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live
Reality is wrong. Dreams are for real
So dear – Love him, that with him all deaths – Could endure, without him live no life.
Some say I’m going the wrong way . . . when it’s just a way of my own . . . away from the rest.
Take a breath & be strong
Those who are wise shall shine as bright as sky And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever
We accept the love we think we deserve.
We are the graceless and dumbfounded, insane with our own insatiable desire for another time and place.
What matters most is how well you walk through the fire.
Fall down seven times, stand up eight
Fate fell short
For every dark night, There’s a brighter day
In the beginning……… (The first verses of the Bible.)
“Nec Aspera Terrent” (“Don’t Terrify the Rough Ones”)
Grant me the Serenity to Accept the things I cannot change…
Dear Lover, Give me One Last Painful Kiss (Famous line in the song Dear Lover by Social Distortion.)
Oh, How seldom we belong but how elegant our kiss (From the song “Memphis Will Be Laid to Waste” by Norma Jean)
How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot! ~ Alexander Pope
I am enough the way I am…
I am not afraid I was born to do this
I am the architect of my own Destruction
I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul
If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out
i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart.)
I’m gonna fight for what’s right…
I mourn for those who never know you
I must learn to love the fool in me..
Isaiah 1:18
Aut Viam Inve’niam Aut Faciam
Join us in the shadows where we stand vigilant
Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass..
I should have been a pair of ragged claws…
lay down, lay down and wait like an animal
Learn from yesterday Live for today Hope for tomorrow
Let it out, Let it in
Life goes on
life is not measured by the number of breaths we take..
Live the life you have imagined
Live Laugh Love
Live Laugh Love
Live each day as if it were your last
Like a twister I was born to walk alone
Look after my heart I’ve left it with you.
lord have mercy
Love is all you need..
Love without cause
or else, shall we & why not
Anna, only you in my heart
never forget who you are
My life is my message
Our death is not an end if we can live on in our children and the younger generation
And so the lion fell in love with the lamb…
She flies by her own wings
So dear I love him, that with him all deaths I could endure…
Sometimes you need to let things go..
The Greatest Thing You will ever learn is to love and be loved in return
That which does not kill me makes me stronger
Thanks for kissing me that day, thanks for slapping me
take care of the sense, and the sound will take care of themselves
Take a chance, they don’t come much bigger than this
the only dreams that matter are the ones you have when you’re awake
there is always hope
The woods are lovely dark and deep…
This Above all, To thine ownself be true
This heart beats for only you
we live with the scars we choose
we found love
we accept the Love We think we Deserve
To live would be an awfully big adventure
To die would be an awfully big adventure
Quello che voi siete, not eravamo. Quello che noi, siamo voi sarete. (“We were what you are; and what we are, you will be.”)
Quod me nutrit, me destruit
With pain comes strength
If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world?
you are what you love and not what loves you back
You Only Live Once
