201+ Best Korean Quotes (with Commentary)

Korean culture has deeply enriched the world with its art, philosophy, and beautiful language. Known for its poetic expressions, Korean quotes reflect wisdom, love, heartbreak, and perseverance. These phrases, often drawn from centuries of tradition, resonate with deep emotion and profound meaning. Whether drawn from historical figures or modern-day influences, Korean quotes carry powerful messages.

The unique structure of the language allows for nuances that often leave an everlasting impact. In this collection, we explore some of the best Korean quotes, offering insights into life, love, family, and self-reflection. These quotes provide a glimpse into the beauty of the Korean worldview.

Each one carries a lesson that transcends time and culture. Let these Korean quotes inspire you to reflect on your own journey, encouraging you to seek happiness, wisdom, and growth. As you read, let each word linger and evoke emotions that connect the past with the present. Dive into these 201+ quotes, and discover the richness they offer in understanding life through the lens of Korean thought.

Top Korean Quotes

• “Life is a long lesson in humility.” — James M. Barrie
• “In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.” — Lewis Carroll
• “A man is not finished when he is defeated; he is finished when he quits.” — Richard Nixon
• “In times of crisis, you can only count on yourself.” — Anonymous
• “It’s not how many times you fall, but how many times you get back up.” — Anonymous
• “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
• “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs
• “Fear is the enemy of progress.” — Anonymous
• “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” — Confucius
• “Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life.” — Anonymous
• “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” — African proverb
• “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill
• “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” — Confucius
• “Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” — Steve Jobs
• “The road to success is always under construction.” — Lily Tomlin
• “Courage is grace under pressure.” — Ernest Hemingway
• “The best revenge is massive success.” — Frank Sinatra
• “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” — Beverly Sills
• “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” — Maya Angelou
• “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Korean Quotes on Love and Romance

• “True love never fails.” — Anonymous
• “Love is a journey that lasts forever.” — Anonymous
• “In love, there’s no right or wrong, only feelings.” — Anonymous
• “The heart has its reasons that reason knows not of.” — Blaise Pascal
• “Where there is love, there is life.” — Mahatma Gandhi
• “A moment of true love is worth a lifetime of affection.” — Anonymous
• “Love is not something you look for; love is something you build.” — Anonymous
• “To love is to live, and to live is to love.” — Anonymous
• “You are my today and all of my tomorrows.” — Anonymous
• “I never want to be your whole world; I just want to be your world.” — Anonymous
• “Love is like the wind; you can’t see it but you can feel it.” — Nicholas Sparks
• “In love, you don’t need a reason. You need feelings.” — Anonymous
• “The best feeling in the world is knowing someone is looking out for you.” — Anonymous
• “Love makes everything possible.” — Anonymous
• “No matter what happens, I will always love you.” — Anonymous
• “You are the one I want to spend forever with.” — Anonymous
• “Love is the only reality, and it is not a mere sentiment. It is the ultimate truth at the heart of the universe.” — Rabindranath Tagore
• “I love you, not for who you are, but for who I am when I am with you.” — Anonymous
• “Love is not about how many days, months, or years you have been together. Love is about how much you love each other every single day.” — Anonymous
• “I have found the one whom my soul loves.” — Anonymous

Korean Quotes from K-Dramas

• “Sometimes, you need to go through tough times to appreciate the good times.” — Boys Over Flowers
• “You are my everything.” — My Love from the Star
• “I’ll protect you, no matter what.” — Descendants of the Sun
• “You have to live as if you were to die tomorrow.” — Boys Over Flowers
• “It’s okay not to be okay.” — It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
• “I’ll wait for you, no matter how long it takes.” — Goblin
• “Love is like a star. It’s always there, even when you can’t see it.” — Pinocchio
• “If you’re happy with the person you’re with, then that’s enough.” — What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim
• “No one can predict what the future holds.” — The Heirs
• “I wish I could turn back time, but I can’t.” — Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
• “You’re my star, you’re my everything.” — Playful Kiss
• “Every love has its time.” — My ID is Gangnam Beauty
• “Even though I’m not perfect, I still want to be with you.” — Reply 1988
• “In love, we all hurt. That’s the price you pay.” — While You Were Sleeping
• “No matter how hard it gets, don’t give up.” — Vagabond
• “The more you love, the more you hurt.” — Pinocchio
• “I don’t want to live a life of regrets.” — The King: Eternal Monarch
• “I love you, no matter what happens.” — Crash Landing on You
• “Even when I’m not with you, I’ll still love you.” — Boys Over Flowers
• “I’ll always be by your side, even if you don’t know it.” — Strong Woman Do Bong Soon

Korean Quotes on Friendship

• “A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” — Elbert Hubbard
• “True friends stab you in the front.” — Oscar Wilde
• “A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” — Walter Winchell
• “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'” — C.S. Lewis
• “A friend to all is a friend to none.” — Aristotle
• “Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.” — Aristotle
• “Good friends are like stars. You don’t always see them, but you know they’re always there.” — Anonymous
• “A true friend is somebody who can make us feel better no matter how bad things may be.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.” — Jim Morrison
• “Friends are the siblings God never gave us.” — Mencius
• “Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.” — Woodrow Wilson
• “There are no strangers here; only friends you haven’t yet met.” — William Butler Yeats
• “It’s not what we have in life, but who we have in our life that matters.” — Anonymous
• “True friendship comes when the silence between two people is comfortable.” — David Tyson
• “The best time to make friends is before you need them.” — Ethel Barrymore
• “There’s nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.” — Linda Grayson
• “A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” — Walter Winchell
• “A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down.” — Arnold H. Glasow
• “Friendship is a sheltering tree.” — Samuel Taylor Coleridge
• “A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.” — Jim Morrison

Korean Quotes from Historical Figures

• “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” — George Santayana
• “History is written by the victors.” — Winston Churchill
• “History is a vast early warning system.” — Norman Cousins
• “We are not makers of history. We are made by history.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
• “The more you know of your history, the more liberated you are.” — Maya Angelou
• “In history, there are no coincidences.” — Albert Einstein
• “History is philosophy teaching by examples.” — Thucydides
• “Study the past if you would define the future.” — Confucius
• “To know nothing of what happened before you were born is to remain forever a child.” — Cicero
• “The history of the world is but the biography of great men.” — Thomas Carlyle
• “History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time.” — Cicero
• “History teaches everything, including the future.” — Lamartine
• “History has its eyes on you.” — Hamilton
• “History repeats itself.” — Anonymous
• “In history, truth is often stranger than fiction.” — Anonymous
• “We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.” — Winston Churchill
• “History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon.” — Napoleon Bonaparte
• “The study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
• “He who controls the past controls the future.” — George Orwell
• “The past is a ghost, the future a dream, and all we ever have is now.” — Bill Cosby

Korean Quotes on Beauty and Nature

• “Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.” — Kahlil Gibran
• “Nature is the art of God.” — Dante Alighieri
• “The earth has music for those who listen.” — William Shakespeare
• “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” — John Muir
• “The beauty of nature is in its simplicity.” — Anonymous
• “To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon the verdure is the most perfect refreshment.” — Jane Austen
• “Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” — Lao Tzu
• “Everything in nature is a reflection of beauty and perfection.” — Anonymous
• “The mountains are calling, and I must go.” — John Muir
• “One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” — William Shakespeare
• “Beauty is the promise of happiness.” — Stendhal
• “The poetry of the earth is never dead.” — John Keats
• “Take only pictures, leave only footprints.” — Anonymous
• “Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” — Gary Snyder
• “The best view comes after the hardest climb.” — Anonymous
• “In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect.” — Anonymous
• “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” — Albert Einstein
• “Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.” — Gerard De Nerval
• “The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.” — John Muir

Korean Quotes on Learning and Education

• “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela
• “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs
• “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” — Benjamin Franklin
• “Learning is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” — William Butler Yeats
• “Education is the key to unlocking the golden door of freedom.” — George Washington Carver
• “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.” — Aristotle
• “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” — John Dewey
• “A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read.” — Mark Twain
• “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” — B.B. King
• “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” — Lao Tzu
• “Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
• “Learning never exhausts the mind.” — Leonardo da Vinci
• “Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.” — Will Durant
• “What we learn with pleasure we never forget.” — Alfred Mercier
• “The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.” — Albert Einstein
• “It is what we know already that often prevents us from learning.” — Claude Bernard
• “You can never be overdressed or overeducated.” — Oscar Wilde
• “Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” — Chinese Proverb
• “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.” — Albert Einstein
• “Education is the movement from darkness to light.” — Allan Bloom

Korean Quotes on Modern Life and Technology

• “Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.” — Christian Lous Lange
• “The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.” — B.F. Skinner
• “Technology is best when it brings people together.” — Matt Mullenweg
• “The future of technology is not about the tools, but about how we use them.” — Anonymous
• “Technology should improve your life, not become your life.” — Billy Cox
• “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” — Steve Jobs
• “It’s not that we use technology, we live technology.” — Godfrey Reggio
• “You’re only as good as your last technological breakthrough.” — Anonymous
• “The internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.” — Bill Gates
• “Technology is not only a tool, it’s an art.” — Anonymous
• “The great myth of our time is that technology is communication.” — Libby Larsen
• “The advance of technology is a great thing, but it should not replace human interaction.” — Anonymous
• “We’re changing the world with technology every day.” — Anonymous
• “You can never go back to the past, but you can build the future with technology.” — Anonymous
• “In the age of technology, we are closer to each other, but further from ourselves.” — Anonymous
• “Modern technology owes ecology an apology.” — Alan M. Eddison
• “Technology will never replace great teachers, but technology in the hands of great teachers can be transformational.” — George Couros
• “Technology alone is not enough.” — Steve Jobs
• “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.” — Peter Drucker
• “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes, thanks to technology.” — Andy Warhol

Korean Quotes on Food and Cooking

• “Food is the ingredient that binds us together.” — Anonymous
• “Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.” — Harriet Van Horne
• “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” — Virginia Woolf
• “You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces—just good food from fresh ingredients.” — Julia Child
• “Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate.” — Alan D. Wolfelt
• “The only thing I like better than talking about food is eating.” — John Walters
• “Good food is the foundation of genuine happiness.” — Auguste Escoffier
• “Cooking is an art, but all art is not food.” — Anonymous
• “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” — Harry S. Truman
• “The secret of good cooking is, first, having a good sense of taste.” — Anonymous
• “People who love to eat are always the best people.” — Julia Child
• “Food is not just eating energy. It’s an experience.” — Anonymous
• “There’s no sincere love than the love of food.” — George Bernard Shaw
• “Cooking is an act of love, a gift, a blessing.” — Anonymous
• “Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.” — Ernestine Ulmer
• “You are what you eat.” — Anonymous
• “Food for the body is not enough. There must be food for the soul.” — Dorothy Day
• “A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.” — Thomas Keller
• “Food is the most rudimentary form of comfort.” — Anonymous
• “There is no love sincerer than the love of food.” — George Bernard Shaw

Korean Quotes on Happiness and Contentment

• “Happiness depends upon ourselves.” — Aristotle
• “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” — Dalai Lama
• “Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have.” — Anonymous
• “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” — Mahatma Gandhi
• “The only way to find true happiness is to risk being completely cut open.” — Chuck Palahniuk
• “Happiness is not having what you want. It is appreciating what you have.” — Anonymous
• “Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty.” — Socrates
• “Happiness is the highest good.” — Aristotle
• “True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future.” — Lucius Annaeus Seneca
• “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.” — Albert Schweitzer
• “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” — Marcus Aurelius
• “Happiness is the art of never holding in your mind the memory of any unpleasant thing that has passed.” — Anonymous
• “Contentment is the greatest form of wealth.” — Anonymous
• “The only way to find true happiness is by being content with yourself.” — Anonymous
• “The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.” — Mark Twain
• “True happiness comes from the inside, not the outside.” — Anonymous
• “Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt
• “Being happy never goes out of style.” — Anonymous
• “The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions—the little, soon-forgotten charities of a kiss, a smile, a kind look.” — Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Final Thought

In every culture, quotes have a way of encapsulating wisdom that transcends time. Korean quotes, with their deep connections to nature, life, and spirituality, provide us with powerful lessons.

Whether it’s the quiet reflection of a poem or the inspirational words of a modern-day philosopher, these quotes remind us to find beauty in the world, seek peace in ourselves, and cultivate wisdom with every experience.