80 Most Famous Jordan Peterson Quotes To Blow Your Mind

ByKirsten Hill
80 Most Famous Jordan Peterson Quotes To Blow Your Mind

If you enjoy scrolling through TikTok and Instagram reels as a way of sweet escape from boring mundane life, chances are you have stumbled across some of Jordan Peterson’s inspirational speeches.

Today’s article brings you a collection of the 80 most famous and eye-opening Jordan Peterson quotes that will make you rethink your whole existence.

Jordan Peterson is a Canadian-born professor of psychology and one of the most influential modern-day philosophers.

You may agree or disagree with him, but one thing is sure – he will grab your attention in a split second. And probably keep you hooked and coming back for more.

Known for his sharp and critical way of thinking and willingness to tackle issues that are carefully approached by others, he has quickly gained worldwide recognition and fame.

Some years ago, while coming out from a challenging life phase, I discovered his newly published self-help book 12 rules for life: an antidote to chaos. The book left me with more questions than answers, but, in my opinion, that is exactly what it is supposed to do.

Seeing how popular Jordan Peterson is today has inspired me to make this article for you.

I’ve gathered the best Jordan Peterson quotes from different sources on the web. Let’s take a look!

Contents show

Top 10 Jordan Peterson Quotes

1. “Don’t compare yourself with other people; compare yourself with who you were yesterday.” — Jordan Peterson

Jordan Peterson quote about comparing yourself to other people.

2. “Truth is the handmaiden of love.” — Jordan Peterson

Jordan Peterson quote about truth.

3. “No one gets away with anything, ever, so take responsibility for your own life.” — Jordan Peterson

Jordan Peterson quote about responsibility.

4. “It took untold generations to get you where you are. A little gratitude might be in order.” — Jordan Peterson

Jordan Peterson quote about gratitude.

5. “In order to be able to think, you have to risk being offensive.” — Jordan Peterson

Jordan Peterson quote on risk.

6. “To suffer terribly and to know yourself as the cause: that is Hell.” — Jordan Peterson

Jordan peterson quote to make you think.

7. “People think they think, but it’s not true. It’s mostly self-criticism that passes for thinking.” ― Jordan Peterson

Jordan Peterson quote about thinking.

8. “We have to rediscover the eternal values and then live them out.” — Jordan Peterson

Jordan Peterson quote about rediscovering values.

9. “Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don’t.” — Jordan Peterson

Jordan Peterson quote about listening to people.

10. “Dreams shed light on the dim places where reason itself has yet to voyage.” — Jordan Peterson

Jordan Peterson quote about dreams.

See also: 120 Follow Your Dreams Quotes To Keep You On The Track

Famous Quotes By Jordan B. Peterson

1. “If you don’t say what you think then you kill your unborn self. When you have something to say, silence is a lie.” — Jordan Peterson

1. “If you don’t say what you think then you kill your unborn self. When you have something to say, silence is a lie.” — Jordan Peterson

2. “If you’re not going to be rewarded for your virtues, and instead you’re going to be punished for them, then what’s your motivation to continue?” — Jordan Peterson

If you're not going to be rewarded for your virtues, and instead you're going to be punished for them, then what's your motivation to continue

3. “Whether the gods are inside or outside makes very little difference to whether there are gods.” — Jordan Peterson

Whether the gods are inside or outside makes very little difference to whether there are gods

4. “You don’t get to choose to not pay a price. You get to choose which poison you’re going to take. That’s it.” — Jordan Peterson

You don't get to choose to not pay a price. You get to choose which poison you're going to take. That's it.

5. “It takes careful observation, and education, and reflection, and communication with others, just to scratch the surface of your beliefs.” — Jordan Peterson

It takes careful observation, and education, and reflection, and communication with others, just to scratch the surface of your beliefs

6. “It’s a luxury to pursue what makes you happy; it’s a moral obligation to pursue what you find meaningful.” — Jordan Peterson

It's a luxury to pursue what makes you happy; it's a moral obligation to pursue what you find meaningful

See also: Ultimate Collection Of 60 Do What Makes You Happy Quotes

7. “Men and women aren’t the same. And they won’t be the same. That doesn’t mean that they can’t be treated fairly.” — Jordan Peterson

Men and women aren’t the same. And they won’t be the same. That doesn’t mean that they can’t be treated fairly

8. “I act as if God exists.” ― Jordan Peterson

I act as if God exists

9. “It’s a good thing, not a selfish thing, to choose people who are good for you.” — Jordan Peterson

It’s a good thing, not a selfish thing, to choose people who are good for you

10. “If you fail to understand evil, then you have laid yourself bare to it. You are susceptible to its effects, or to its will.” — Jordan Peterson

If you fail to understand evil, then you have laid yourself bare to it. You are susceptible to its effects, or to its will

11. “No one unwilling to be a foolish beginner can learn.” — Jordan Peterson

No one unwilling to be a foolish beginner can learn

12. “In paradise, everyone speaks the truth. That is what makes it paradise. Tell the truth. Or, at least, don’t lie.” — Jordan Peterson

In paradise, everyone speaks the truth. That is what makes it paradise. Tell the truth. Or, at least, don’t lie

13. “Humility: It is better to presume ignorance and invite learning than to assume sufficient knowledge and risk the consequent blindness.” — Jordan Peterson

Humility It is better to presume ignorance and invite learning than to assume sufficient knowledge and risk the consequent blindness

14. “Change might be an opportunity, instead of a disaster.” ― Jordan Peterson

Change might be an opportunity, instead of a disaster

15. “You are important to other people, as much as to yourself. You have some vital role to play in the unfolding destiny of the world.” — Jordan Peterson

You are important to other people, as much as to yourself. You have some vital role to play in the unfolding destiny of the world

See also: 130 Self Worth Quotes To Remind You Of Your Greatness

Powerful Jordan Peterson Quotes To Inspire You

1. “Assume ignorance before malevolence.” ― Jordan Peterson

Assume ignorance before malevolence

2. “Romance requires trust – and the deeper the trust, the deeper the possibility for romance.” — Jordan Peterson

Romance requires trust - and the deeper the trust, the deeper the possibility for romance

3. “Don’t be a slave to stupid rules.” — Jordan Peterson

Don’t be a slave to stupid rules

4. “Every bit of learning is a little death.” — Jordan Peterson

Every bit of learning is a little death

5. “Discipline and transformation will nonetheless lead you inexorably forward.” — Jordan Peterson

Discipline and transformation will nonetheless lead you inexorably forward

See also: 200 Powerful Quotes About Transformation To Inspire Change

6. “Become aware of your own insufficiency.” — Jordan Peterson

Become aware of your own insufficiency

7. “Other people keep you sane. That is part of why it is a good idea to get married.” — Jordan Peterson

Other people keep you sane. That is part of why it is a good idea to get married

8. “Walk tall and gaze forthrightly ahead. Dare to be dangerous.” — Jordan Peterson

Walk tall and gaze forthrightly ahead. Dare to be dangerous

9. “You can only find out what you actually believe (rather than what you think you believe) by watching how you act.” — Jordan Peterson

You can only find out what you actually believe (rather than what you think you believe) by watching how you act

10. “Conscious human malevolence can break the spirit even tragedy could not shake.” — Jordan Peterson

Conscious human malevolence can break the spirit even tragedy could not shake

11. “Strengthen the individual. Start with yourself. Take care with yourself. Define who you are.” — Jordan Peterson

Strengthen the individual. Start with yourself. Take care with yourself. Define who you are

12. “Myths are the stories we tell ourselves about how we behave, when we don’t know how it is we behave or even why.” — Jordan B. Peterson

Myths are the stories we tell ourselves about how we behave, when we don’t know how it is we behave or even why

13. “Taking the easy way out or telling the truth – those are not merely two different choices. They are different pathways through life.” — Jordan Peterson

Taking the easy way out or telling the truth - those are not merely two different choices. They are different pathways through life

14. “You are, on the one hand, the most complex thing in the entire universe, and on the other, someone who can’t even set the clock on your microwave.” — Jordan Peterson

You are, on the one hand, the most complex thing in the entire universe, and on the other, someone who can’t even set the clock on your microwave.

15. “You cannot aim yourself at anything if you are completely undisciplined and untutored.” — Jordan Peterson

You cannot aim yourself at anything if you are completely undisciplined and untutored

See also: 150 Discipline Quotes To Unlock Your Potential And Success

Motivational Jordan Peterson Quotes

1. “We are all human. That means there is something about our experience that is the same. Otherwise, we would not all be human.” — Jordan Peterson

We are all human. That means there is something about our experience that is the same. Otherwise, we would not all be human

2. “Dare to be truthful. Dare to articulate yourself, and express (or at least become aware of) what would really justify your life.” — Jordan Peterson

Dare to be truthful. Dare to articulate yourself, and express (or at least become aware of) what would really justify your life

3. “Do what is meaningful, not what is expedient.” — Jordan Peterson

Do what is meaningful, not what is expedient

4. “Be grateful in spite of your suffering.” — Jordan Peterson

Be grateful in spite of your suffering

5. “Say only those things that make you strong. Do only those things that you could speak of with honor.” — Jordan Peterson

Say only those things that make you strong. Do only those things that you could speak of with honor

6. “Don’t underestimate the power of vision and direction.” — Jordan Peterson

Don’t underestimate the power of vision and direction

7. “When you start to realize how much of what you’ve constructed of yourself is based on deception and lies, that is a horrifying realisation.” — Jordan Peterson

When you start to realize how much of what you’ve constructed of yourself is based on deception and lies, that is a horrifying realisation

See also: 240 Disappointment Lies Quotes So You Can Start Anew

8. “We become stronger by voluntarily facing what impedes our necessary progress.”  ― Jordan Peterson

We become stronger by voluntarily facing what impedes our necessary progress

9. “If you’re going to insist on bending the world to your way, you better have your reasons.” — Jordan Peterson

If you’re going to insist on bending the world to your way, you better have your reasons

10. “There’s some real utility in gratitude. It’s also good protection against the dangers of victimhood and resentment.” — Jordan Peterson

There’s some real utility in gratitude. It’s also good protection against the dangers of victimhood and resentment

See also: 130 Gratitude Affirmations To Make Your Life More Joyful

11. “If you’re a monster and you don’t act monstrously, then that’s virtuous.” — Jordan Peterson

If you're a monster and you don't act monstrously, then that's virtuous.

12. “Can you imagine yourself in 10 years if, instead of avoiding the things you know you should do, you actually did them every single day? That’s powerful.” — Jordan Peterson

Can you imagine yourself in 10 years if, instead of avoiding the things you know you should do, you actually did them every single day That’s powerful

13. “We must each adopt as much responsibility as possible for individual life, society and the world.” — Jordan Peterson

We must each adopt as much responsibility as possible for individual life, society and the world

14. “A hurricane is an act of God. But failure to prepare, when the necessity for preparation is well known – that’s sin.” — Jordan Peterson

A hurricane is an act of God. But failure to prepare, when the necessity for preparation is well known - that’s sin

15. “You might be winning, but you’re not growing; and growing might be the most important form of winning.” — Jordan Peterson

You might be winning, but you’re not growing; and growing might be the most important form of winning

See also: 160 Winning Quotes To Celebrate Your Achievements

Jordan Peterson Quotes On The Purpose Of Life

1. “The purpose of life, as far as I can tell… is to find a mode of being that’s so meaningful that the fact that life is suffering is no longer relevant.” — Jordan Peterson

The purpose of life, as far as I can tell… is to find a mode of being that’s so meaningful that the fact that life is suffering is no longer relevant

2. “It’s in responsibility that most people find the meaning that sustains them through life. It’s not in happiness. It’s not in impulsive pleasure.” — Jordan Peterson

It's in responsibility that most people find the meaning that sustains them through life. It's not in happiness. It's not in impulsive pleasure

3. “You are by no means only what you already know. You are also all that which you could know, if you only would.” — Jordan Peterson

You are by no means only what you already know. You are also all that which you could know, if you only would

4. “Adopt responsibility for your own well-being, try to put your family together, try to serve your community, try to seek for eternal truth.” — Jordan Peterson

Adopt responsibility for your own well-being, try to put your family together, try to serve your community, try to seek for eternal truth.

5. “The secret to your existence is right in front of you. It manifests itself as all those things you know you should do, but are avoiding.” — Jordan Peterson

The secret to your existence is right in front of you. It manifests itself as all those things you know you should do, but are avoiding

6. “To stand up straight with your shoulders back is to accept the terrible responsibility of life, with eyes wide open.” — Jordan Peterson

To stand up straight with your shoulders back is to accept the terrible responsibility of life, with eyes wide open

7. “Making happiness the key pursuit in life is just hopeless. It’s just not a pursuit that’s going to fulfill itself.” — Jordan Peterson

Making happiness the key pursuit in life is just hopeless. It’s just not a pursuit that’s going to fulfill itself

8. “You must make friends, therefore, with what you don’t know, instead of what you know.” ― Jordan Peterson

You must make friends, therefore, with what you don’t know, instead of what you know

9. “If you will not reveal yourself to others, you cannot reveal yourself to yourself.” — Jordan Peterson

If you will not reveal yourself to others, you cannot reveal yourself to yourself

10. “Perhaps happiness is always to be found in the journey uphill, and not in the fleeting sense of satisfaction awaiting at the next peak.” — Jordan Peterson

Perhaps happiness is always to be found in the journey uphill, and not in the fleeting sense of satisfaction awaiting at the next peak

Thought-Provoking Quotes By Jordan B. Peterson

1. “Beauty shames the ugly. Strength shames the weak. Death shames the living – and the Ideal shames us all.” — Jordan Peterson

Beauty shames the ugly. Strength shames the weak. Death shames the living - and the Ideal shames us all

2. “There’s a worthy and noble ambition: strength in the face of adversity.” — Jordan Peterson

There’s a worthy and noble ambition strength in the face of adversity

3. “Perhaps you are overvaluing what you don’t have and undervaluing what you do.” — Jordan Peterson

Perhaps you are overvaluing what you don’t have and undervaluing what you do

4. “Ambition is often – and often purposefully – misidentified with the desire for power.” — Jordan Peterson

Ambition is often - and often purposefully - misidentified with the desire for power

5. “I don’t think that you have any insight whatsoever into your capacity for good until you have some well-developed insight into your capacity for evil.” — Jordan Peterson

I don't think that you have any insight whatsoever into your capacity for good until you have some well-developed insight into your capacity for evil

6. “True thinking is rare – just like true listening. Thinking is listening to yourself. It’s difficult.” — Jordan Peterson

True thinking is rare - just like true listening. Thinking is listening to yourself. It’s difficult

7. “Because these really are rules. And the foremost rule is that you must take responsibility for your own life. Period.” — Jordan Peterson

Because these really are rules. And the foremost rule is that you must take responsibility for your own life. Period

8. “When you dare aspire upward, you reveal the inadequacy of the present and the promise of the future.” — Jordan Peterson

When you dare aspire upward, you reveal the inadequacy of the present and the promise of the future

9. “You need to place one foot in what you have mastered and understood, and the other in what you are currently exploring and mastering.” — Jordan Peterson

You need to place one foot in what you have mastered and understood, and the other in what you are currently exploring and mastering

10. “Violence is the default. It’s easy. It’s peace that is difficult: learned, inculcated, earned.” — Jordan Peterson

Violence is the default. It’s easy. It’s peace that is difficult learned, inculcated, earned

11. “Those who fail to learn from the past doom themselves to repeat it. It’s partly fate. It’s partly inability. It’s partly an unwillingness to learn.” — Jordan Peterson

Those who fail to learn from the past doom themselves to repeat it. It’s partly fate. It’s partly inability. It’s partly an unwillingness to learn

12. “Without rules we quickly become slaves to our passions – and there’s nothing freeing about that.” ― Jordan B. Peterson

Without rules we quickly become slaves to our passions - and there’s nothing freeing about that

13. “Maybe I should at least wait, to help you, until it’s clear that you want to be helped.” — Jordan Peterson

Maybe I should at least wait, to help you, until it's clear that you want to be helped

14. “You are not morally obliged to support someone who is making the world a worse place. Quite the opposite.” — Jordan Peterson

You are not morally obliged to support someone who is making the world a worse place. Quite the opposite

15. “When the aristocracy catches a cold, as it is said, the working class dies of pneumonia.” — Jordan Peterson

When the aristocracy catches a cold, as it is said, the working class dies of pneumonia

Closing Thoughts

These brilliant, often provoking Jordan Peterson quotes show why he is one of the most influential and cited authors today.

If you are inspired by these quotes, I suggest listening to the Joe Rogan Experience podcast where he appeared as a guest.

Until next time!

Read next: Brilliant List Of 120 Light Quotes To Awaken Your Mind

80 Most Famous Jordan Peterson Quotes To Blow Your Mind