Best One Word & Short Tattoo Quotes
These short phrases & sayings are perfect for your next tattoo
When it comes to tattoo quotes, often a short saying has more impact than a long one. A great tattoo artist can make a word or short phrase into a work of art by adding a stylistic treatment to the font and other graphic flourishes to emphasize the sentiment of the tattoo.
Or you may choose to go with a minimalistic tattoo. Here are many one-word and short phrase ideas that are perfect for your next tattoo, or your first!
Inspirational short tattoo quotes & sayings
The most powerful message can sometimes be communicated with the fewest words. In that spirit, here is a list of quotes, phrases, and sayings that may inspire the perfect tattoo. Choose a category from the menu below or browse through the list of phrases and let the message come to you!
1. Positive Tattoo Sayings
Everyone can use a positive reminder to lift them up when times are tough.
Without the dark, we’d never see the stars.
Fly me to the moon.
The world at my feet.
With pain comes strength.
Think positive.
We are all broken—that’s how the light gets in.
Happy thoughts.
Think happy thoughts.
Be happy.
Fight like a girl.
Every day is a second chance.
Focus on the good.
Lights will guide you home.
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Even more short positive sayings and quotes
Never lose hope.
Have courage and be kind.
Follow your heart.
Be you.
Now is all you have.
You are my sunshine.
Turn your pain into power.
Good vibes
Flaws make perfection
She flies with her own wings
You are enough
We got this
Through every dark night, there is a brighter day
Victory is in my veins
Positive one word tattoos
Sometimes one word is all you need to express yourself in ink. Here are some powerful words that are great tattoo ideas.
- Strength
- Determined
- Kindness
- Fearless
- Laugh
- Spark
- Courage
- Grattitude
- Joy
- Happiness
- Shine
- Power
- Sparkle
2. Inspirational Tattoo Quotes
These inspirational sayings make great motivational tattoos. Let their message be a reminder of your greater goals in life.
We can be heroes, just for one day.
The rest is still unwritten.
It’s never too late to be who you want to be.
To live without risk is to risk not living.
Fall down seven times—stand up eight.
Fear cuts deeper than swords.
Never give up.
La vie est belle.
With every heartbeat
Never stop dreaming.
Be the change.
Inspiration is beauty, madness is genius.
She believed she could, so she did.
But the fighter still remains.
Learn to roar.
Shine like the stars.
Well behaved women rarely make history.
I am enough the way I am.
Wish upon a star.
Always a lesson, never a failure.
Stay strong.
Stars can’t shine without darkness.
Create yourself.
Never a failure, always a lesson.
Keep going.
Without struggle, there is no progress.
Being strong is the only option.
Inhale the future, exhale the past.
Where words fail, music speaks.
Nothing is promised.
Don’t be afraid to be great.
I was not built to break.
Still, I rise.
Tell me I can’t and I’ll show you I can.
The wolf you feed is the wolf who wins.
Inspirational one-word tattoos
- Imagine
- Grow
- Alive
- Magnifique
- Forever
- Dream
- Win
- Today
- Always
- Confidence
- Success
- Brave
- Hope
- L’espoir (French for “hope”)
- Wonder
3. Beauty Tattoo Phrases
See the beauty in yourself and in others with these sayings about appreciating what we have.
Everything has beauty, but not everyone can see it.
Beautiful people do not just happen.
Be your own kind of beautiful.
A beautiful thing is never perfect.
Your beauty leaves me speechless.
Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.
There’s beauty in simplicity.
Count every beautiful thing.
Where there is no light, there is no beauty.
Beauty one word tattoos
- Beautiful
- Elegant
- Magnificent
- Belle (French for “beautiful”)
- Superb
- Flawless
- Bellissimo
- Alluring
- Perfect
- Glamorous
4. Love Tattoo Quotes
An expression of love is the voice from the heart. Find your perfect love tattoo saying here.
Love never fails.
The ones that love us never really leave us.
Live Laugh Love.
When you love what you have, you have everything you need.
Two hearts in love need no words.
Dream without fear. Love without limits.
Happily ever after.
Love yourself.
Wild hearts can’t be broken.
I love you today.
Love is always better.
One love forever.
All you need is love.
Love keeps her in the air.
You have to keep breaking your heart until it opens.
Love yourself first.
What is done in love, is done well.
One love.
For those I love I wil sacrifice.
Don’t forget to love yourself.
You make me love.
Love me for who I am.
Fire starts with sparks.
Love hurts, love heals, love hard.
Love one-word tattoos
- Blissful
- Unconditionally
- Passion
- Love
- Amore
5. Meaningful Tattoo Quotes
For the more philosophically-minded, here is a list of meaningful sayings and quotes that make great tattoos.
Don’t dream your life, live your dream.
Everything happens for a reason.
You become what you think about.
Only you.
Fate doesn’t care about plans.
Lose yourself in the music.
No regrets.
I can, therefore I am.
The earth has music for those who listen.
Every flower must grow through dirt.
Be brave.
I exist as I am, that is enough.
A dream is a wish your heart makes.
Even more short meaningful and deep sayings
Not broke, just bent.
Little by little, one travels far.
Question everything.
Be still.
I am flawed if I’m not free.
I’m the hero of this story.
Not all those who wander are lost.
Meaningful one-word tattoos
- Simplicity
- Forgive
- Creativity
- Purity
- Resilience
- Survive
- Listen
- Enough
- Balance
- Focus
- Loyalty
6. Tattoo Quotes About Life
Honor your life, family, and relationships with a quote tattoo about living.
Life is what you make of it.
I’m a mess, I confess.
Family is my strength.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Come what may.
Each day is a gift and not a given right.
The past is practice.
Life is not a journey—life is time.
Carpe diem.
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
All is well.
We’re all mad here.
Live a little.
Let it be.
You only live once.
If you stumble, make it part of the dance.
Even more short quotes about life and living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone.
Que sera sera.
No rain, no flowers.
This too shall pass.
One life.
Nothing lasts forever.
Even angels fall.
Old ways won’t open new doors.
Breathe in, breathe out, move on.
Live free.
And miles to go.
Check out these short quotes about life, love, friendship and more.
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.
Pain changed me.
One day at a time.
Just imagine.
Enjoy the journey.
Live the adventure.
Be here now.
Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.
Just breathe.
Enjoy the little things.
Live and let live.
We part only to meet again.
I forgive you.
Let it go.
Death smiles at everyone—only the brave smile back.
One word tattoos about life & living
- Freedom
- Peculiar
- Wanderlust
- Adventure
- Breathe
- Namaste
- Free
- Appreciate
- Smile
- Serendipity
- Family
- Ohana (Hawaiian for “family”)
- Home
- Self
7. Spirituality / Faith Tattoo Quotes
These sayings are perfect for those who are guided by faith and spirituality.
Faith can move mountains.
Only God can judge me.
Saved by grace.
He walks with me.
Always put your hope in God.
I believe.
The secret to having it all is knowing you already do.
There is a light that never goes out.
I am blessed.
Have faith.
Pray and let God worry.
Everything comes to you at the right time.
He will provide.
Faith in God includes faith in His timing.
When fear knocks, answer with faith.
Be a light in this world.
Stay true.
Things happen for a reason—just believe.
Live by faith, not by sight.
God is great.
Shut your eyes and see.
May angels fly with you wherever you roam.
Walk by faith.
God is never in a hurry, but God is never late.
Lord teach me what I cannot see.
Let your faith be bigger than your fears.
Don’t give up on faith.
Spirituality / Faith one word tattoos
- Trust
- Blessed
- Believe
- Faith
- Light
- Hallelujah
- Karma
- Glorified
- Saved
Check out these short quotes, sayings, and phrases.
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