Millions upon millions of words, spanning countless books, have been written on the subject of travel, but sometimes all it takes is a single sentence to encapsulate one of life’s greatest pleasures. If you are in need of ideas or inspiration for your next globetrotting adventure, then check out these 10 quotes about wandering the world.
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“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu
All too often would-be travellers have wild dreams of far-flung adventures, but they don't actually do anything about it. Sometimes the hardest aspect of travelling is simply taking the plunge and setting off, but trust us – once you do, you’ll never look back.
“I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” – Mark Twain
You’re preaching to the choir, Mark. Travelling has the uncanny ability to turn friends into enemies, enemies into friends, and everything in between. Live in someone’s pocket for weeks on end and you’ll soon find out more about them than you ever thought possible, whether you want to or not.
“Too often I would hear men boast of the miles covered that day, rarely of what they had seen.” – Louis L’Amour
We’ve all met that annoying person who reels off a list of countries they have visited, but when pressed as to what they did while there suddenly has very little to say. Travelling is about experiencing different cultures, meeting new people, and learning more about yourself, not ticking countries off a checklist of ‘places to visit’ as quickly as possible.
“Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkein
The travel addicts amongst you will know all too well the disapproving glances regularly received from friends and family who simply don’t understand your insatiable need to explore new places instead of settling down. The above quote from J.R.R. Tolkein, creator of the wondrous fantasy universe of ‘Middle Earth’, perfectly encapsulates the mind-set of travellers who are at their happiest when exploring and discovering what the world has to offer.
“A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.” – John Steinbeck
How many disenchanted spouses are sullenly nodding their heads right now? One of the biggest pit-falls for the first-time traveller is fretting over every little detail of a journey to the point of insanity. Let the chips fall where they may and you’ll soon find that some of your best travel adventures stem from going with the flow when things don’t go to plan.
“Travel makes one modest, you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Gustave Flaubert
Seeing the vast expanse of things the world has to offer can make travellers realise just how small they really are in the grand scheme of things. Rather than causing panic or depression, this usually serves to make your problems seem a lot less consequential, allowing you to stop worrying about the little things and focus on what is really important in life.
“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard
Having an enjoyable holiday is all well and good, but the most precious journeys are those that still affect you long after you have returned home. You might find yourself reflecting on your travel experiences for years to come, and even changing the way you think about things and the way you live your life.
“It is not down in any map; true places never are.” – Herman Melville
We all know that Paris has the Eiffel Tower, Cairo has the pyramids and New York has the Empire State Building, and while these are all incredible sights, they have become predictable tourist attractions over the years. The true joy in travelling is found off the beaten path, by exploring your destination and discovering the hidden gems that it has to offer to the inquisitive traveller.
“I dislike feeling at home when I am abroad.” – George Bernard Shaw
Comfort and complacency should be the enemy of any serious traveller. If you want to experience all the comforts of home when you go abroad, then why not just stay where you are and save yourself a whole lot of time and money? On your next journey challenge yourself, try new things, and take full advantage of the opportunity to spend some time away from the day-to-day routine of your regular life.
“I travelled each and every highway, and more, much more than this, I did it my way.” – Paul Anka
Paul Anka’s song ‘My Way’, made famous by Frank Sinatra, is all about living your life to the full in the way that you want to do it. Don’t let other people (even us!) tell you exactly how and where you should be travelling – go where you want to go, see what you want to see and do what you want to do.
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