57 Waves Quotes for Beach Moments & Life Journeys (2024)
Listening to the sound of ocean waves can bring comfort. As the water flows and crashes into itself, waves create an alluring presence. When you picture beach days, you most likely visualize the swelling sea. Elsewhere, fish glide amongst them, and their ferocity in a storm has bettered many a mariner over the years. Whether you love sitting by the beach to watch or enjoy riding the waves, you’ll find inspiring words in these wave quotes.
Quick links to our selection of quotes about waves:
Best waves quotes.
The entire ocean holds so much power. It also embodies strength amidst its vastness, as soft as water can be. For many people, the ocean stirs feelings of freedom and calm.
No matter what you feel, a trip to the beach and swimming in the waves can do you good. As you sit by the ocean, you can let the waves' sounds carry you to a space of peace. In this section, you’ll find a list of some of the best quotes about waves covering various qualities that ocean waves imbue.
Related: You might also like our curation of water quotes and rain quotes.
"I love the smell of rain, and I love the sound of the ocean waves."
- Amy Purdy
"God created the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the waves for our enjoyment. Surfing is just my way of worshipping Him."
- Bethany Hamilton
"Success comes in waves."
- Guy Pearce
"Dance with the waves, move with the sea. Let the rhythm of the water set your soul free."
- Christy Ann Martine
"Bliss is the ocean, a towel on the sand, the sun out, the chance to swim in waves or walk dragging a stick behind you, a good book, a cold drink."
- Deb Caletti
Quotes about the beauty of waves
Nature tends to create art engagingly and charmingly, and the ocean wraps the earth in life-giving water. Did you know that the ocean is never still? While the moon causes tides, which help create waves, the waves come about due to energy passing through the water. This movement creates a circular motion that we experience as waves.
Are you yearning to be beside the vast, deep blue sea, watching the waves flow? We can all appreciate the gorgeous waves' powerful presence, from the slightest wave for a serene paddle to the biggest one crashing down dangerously on a rocky outcrop. Check out these quotes about waves that reflect their beauty.
Related: You might also like our compilation of moon quotes and ocean facts.
"A low line of shore was visible at first on the right between the movement of the waves and fog, but when we came further it was lost sight of, and nothing could be seen but the mist curling in the rigging, and a small circle of foam."
- John Millington Synge
"What is more beautiful than a sea of water with a number of white-winged boats skirting its surface? Poetry and beauty contesting with the wind and the waves!"
- George Matthew Adams
"People think of waves as going in an orderly crash - whoosh - crash - whoosh, but in fact there are lots of different crashes and whooshes, all at different stages, and all going off at the same time."
- Craig Brown
"There is no new wave, only the sea."
- Claude Chabrol
Because there's nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it's sent away.
~ Nayyirah Waheed
Quotes about waves' power and strength
Waves serve as a beautiful metaphor for embracing tranquility contrasted with intense power. Watching waves reminds us of strength from the wild air to the powerful flow and crashing of water. As the wind flows with the water and we watch this movement, we experience strength in its finest form.
The ocean can be still and silent or intense, forceful, and loud. These scenarios show us how the sea can exhibit its strength at any moment. This wilderness of water can remind us of our own inner power. Here, let's explore some wave quotes about their strength and power.
"I love the sounds and the power of pounding water, whether it is the waves or a waterfall."
- Mike May
"Down below the broad, roaring waves of the sea break against the deep foundation of the rock. But high above the mountain, the sea, and the peaks of rock the eternal ornamentation blooms silently from the dark depths of the universe."
- Rudolf Otto
"When the wild wave meets the calm beach, when anger reaches tranquillity, anger disappears, serenity triumphs, the wave experiences enlightenment! "
- Mehmet Murat ildan
"I don't want to be a follower; I want to be a leader and create new waves."
- J Balvin
Waves quotes about life and living.
As we watch the ocean’s waves, we can be reminded of our waves through life situations that come and go yet have powerful effects on us. The ocean reminds us that the waves tossed on us in various situations are ones that will eventually disappear—looking for some life inspiration? Here, you’ll find some quotes about waves concerning life and living.
"Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire."
- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
"The winds and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators."
- Edward Gibbon
"He ploughs the waves, sows the sand, and hopes to gather the wind in a net, who places his hopes in the heart of a woman."
- Jacopo Sannazaro
"Be like the cliff against which the waves continually break; but it stands firm and tames the fury of the water around it. "
- Marcus Aurelius
"She made gentle the wild oceans of my soul."
- Atticus
"In a mind clear as still water, even the waves, breaking, are reflecting its light."
- Dogen
"The world is full of poetry. The air is living with its spirit; and the waves dance to the music of its melodies, and sparkle in its brightness."
- James Gates Percival
"People choose to struggle when people don't want to relax. Sometimes it is not on your side. Relax; calm down. No matter how hard the waves are, you will float on the ocean."
- Kubra Sait
The ocean has always been a salve to my soul…the best thing for a cut or abrasion was to go swimming in saltwater. Later down the road of life, I made the discovery that salt water was also good for the mental abrasions one inevitably acquires on land.
~ Jimmy Buffet
Some beach somewhere, there's a big umbrella casting shade over an empty chair. Palm trees are growing, warm breezes blowing. I picture myself there, some beach somewhere.
~ Blake Shelton
Waves of life quotes
If you’re looking for some words to get you through your day or week, you’ll find them here. Sometimes, we need a little pick-me-up or push to tackle challenges that present themselves to us.
Like how nature offers lessons in many forms, the ocean and its waves also serve as teachers. Like waves, we can learn to be flexible and tackle challenges head-on. As Danny Meyer said, “Life is a series of waves.” Below, you’ll find uplifting quotes about waves.
"Life is a series of waves to be embraced and overcome."
- Danny Meyer
"Let the waves carry you where the light can not."
- Alain Gerbeault
"Have you ever walked along a shoreline, only to have your footprints washed away? That's what Alzheimer's is like. The waves erase the marks we leave behind, all the sand castles. Some days are better than others."
- Pat Summitt
"Like as the waves make towards the pebbl'd shore, so do our minutes, hasten to their end."
- William Shakespeare
"I pray to be like the ocean, with soft currents, maybe waves at times. More and more, I want the consistency rather than the highs and the lows."
- Drew Barrymore
"A desire arises in the mind. It is satisfied immediately another comes. In the interval which separates two desires a perfect calm reigns in the mind. It is at this moment freed from all thought, love or hate. Complete peace equally reigns between two mental waves."
- Swami Sivananda
Her happiness floated like waves of ocean along the coast of her life. She found lyrics of her life in his arms but she never sung her song.
~ Santosh Kalwar
The waves of the sea help me get back to me.
~ Jill Davis
Waves sayings and quotes on thought and reflection.
Watching the sunset backdrop and listening to the water’s constant motion can soothe the soul and provide a clear headspace for thoughts and reflections. Here, you’ll find wave quotes that explore these moments and emotions further.
"Life has loveliness to sell, all beautiful and splendid things, blue waves whitened on a cliff, soaring fire that sways and sings, and children's faces looking up, holding wonder like a cup."
- Sara Teasdale
"Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering."
- Saint Augustine
"When they are gay, the waves echo their gaiety; but when they are sad, then every breaker, as it rolls, seems to bring additional sadness, and to speak to us of hopelessness and of the pettiness of all our joys."
- Baroness Orczy
"I like being in warm weather. I find that relaxes me. I like being near water. I like sitting on a beach and sort of hearing the water, watching waves break, looking at the shimmering. I find that really relaxing."
- Stephen A. Schwarzman
"When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing - just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the wind blowing the tree limbs, or waves rippling on a pond, a flickering candle or children playing in the park?"
- Ralph Marston
"Can ye fathom the ocean, dark and deep, where the mighty waves and the grandeur sweep?"
- Fanny Crosby
"We can speak without voice to the trees and the clouds and the waves of the sea. Without words they respond through the rustling of leaves and the moving of clouds and the murmuring of the sea."
- Paul Tillich
Life is a wave, which in no two consecutive moments of its existence is composed of the same particles.
~ John Tyndall
Love fragrances and colours the breath waves that inspire the heart language.
~ Ehsan Sehgal
To go out with the setting sun on an empty beach is to truly embrace your solitude.
~ Jeanne Moreau
Waves quotes from the arts and literature.
People have written about waves, from song lyrics to poems and prose. You can enjoy the quotes we've compiled below if you’re an avid art and literature connoisseur. You’ll find quotes about waves from the arts and literature fields here.
"I'm surfing the giant life wave."
- William Shatner
"But where, after all, would be the poetry of the sea were there no wild waves? "
- Joshua Slocum
"Sit in reverie and watch the changing color of the waves that break upon the idle seashore of the mind."
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
"Once more upon the waters! yet once more! And the waves bound beneath me as a steed. That knows his rider. "
- Lord Byron
"The waves fell; withdrew and fell again, like the thud of a great beast stamping."
- Virginia Woolf
"Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up."
- Muhammad Ali
"The waves broke and spread their waters swiftly over the shore. One after another they massed themselves and fell; the spray tossed itself back with the energy of their fall."
- Virginia Woolf
The waves were steeped deep-blue save for a pattern of diamond-pointed light on their backs which rippled as the backs of great horses ripple with muscles as they move. The waves fell; withdrew and fell again, like the thud of a great beast stamping.”
~ Virginia Woolf
Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.
~ Van Morrison
We may sink and settle on the waves. The sea will drum in my ears. The white petals will be darkened with sea water. They will float for a moment and then sink. Rolling me over the waves will shoulder me under. Everything falls in a tremendous shower, dissolving me.
~ Virginia Woolf
Quotes about riding the waves
If you love surfing, you probably already have the knack for physically riding the waves. You can view riding the waves literally or metaphorically. This activity can be liberating. You can ride life’s waves in this same light by learning to handle situations mindfully. This practice can support tackling problems effectively. Read on to discover some quotes about riding waves.
"A wave isn't like a skate ramp or mountain; everything's moving around, and you have to time how to move along with it. That's easier with a slow wave."
- Kelly Slater
"Surfing waves of water or clouds of powder snow is the best feeling on earth."
- Hannah Teter
"I was happiest between the waves."
- Gertrude Ederle
"Let the waves hit your feet, and the sand be your seat."
- Unknown
You never really know what's coming. A small wave, or maybe a big one. All you can really do is hope that when it comes, you can surf over it, instead of drown in its monstrosity.
~ Alysha Speer
Jen’s a passionate environmentalist and sustainability expert. With a science degree from Babcock University Jen loves applying her research skills to craft editorial that connects with our global changemaker and readership audiences centered around topics including zero waste, sustainability, climate change, and biodiversity.
Elsewhere Jen’s interests include the role that future technology and data have in helping us solve some of the planet’s biggest challenges.
