The vast and endless expanse of the sea has long been a source of inspiration for many. From poets to philosophers, the sea has provided a canvas upon which they have painted some of their most profound musings.
Short Sea Quotes and Sayings
Even short quotes about the sea can hold great meaning, conveying deep truths about life, love, and the human experience. These simple yet powerful quotes are easy to remember and can serve as motivational mantras for us to live by.
They’re also perfect for adding to Instagram captions or slogans to adorn things like t-shirts, reminding us of the beauty and majesty of the sea.
Here is our best list of some of the most inspiring and beautiful short sea quotes and sayings.
The Best & Most Inspirational Quotes About The Sea
The cure for anything is salt water—sweat, tears, or the sea. – Isak Dinese
Karen Blixen, known by her pen name Isak Dinesen, is a highly acclaimed modern author from Denmark.
“I wanted freedom, open air and adventure. I found it on the sea.” – Alain Gerbeault
Alain Jacques Georges Marie Gerbault was a French Sailor, writer, and tennis champion who circumnavigated the world as a single-handed sailor. He eventually settled in the islands of the South Pacific Ocean, where he wrote several books about the islanders’ way of life.
“For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it’s always our self we find in the sea.” – E. E. Cummings
Edward Estlin Cummings, also known as E. E. Cummings, was an American poet, painter, essayist, author, and playwright. He wrote approximately 2,900 poems, two autobiographical novels, four plays, and several essays.
“Take me to the ocean. Let me sail the open sea. To breathe the warm and salty air and dream of things to be.” – Erica Billups
Erica Billups is a writer, owner, and lead artist of Liberty and Lilac, a boutique design studio located just outside Atlanta, GA.
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”– Jacques Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a French naval officer, oceanographer, filmmaker, and author who co-invented the Aqua-Lung, the first successful open-circuit self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. This invention helped him produce some of the first underwater documentaries.
“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came…” – John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy, commonly known as JFK or Jack, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963.
“How foolish to believe we are more powerful than the sea or the sky.”– Ruta Sepetys
Ruta Sepetys is a best-selling Lithuanian-American author of historical fiction. She has won the Carnegie Medal and The Josette Frank Award for Fiction.
“The ocean is a mighty harmonist”– William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth, an English Romantic poet, co-launched the Romantic Age in English literature with Samuel Taylor Coleridge through their joint publication of Lyrical Ballads.
“Eternity begins and ends with the ocean’s tides.”— Unknwon
“A SMOOTH SEA NEVER MADE A SKILLED SAILOR.”– FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, also known as FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States, serving from 1933 until he died in 1945.
“Life’s roughest storms prove the strength of our anchors.“– Unknown
“Family is a life jacket in the stormy sea of life.“– J.K. Rowling
British author and philanthropist J.K. Rowling is known for her seven-volume Harry Potter fantasy series published from 1997 to 2007.
“Great sea captains are made in rough waters and deep seas.“– Kathryn Kuhlman
Kathryn Kuhlman was an American evangelist who hosted healing services and gained fame as a ‘faith healer.’
“The ocean makes me feel really small and it makes me put my whole life into perspective.” – Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles, an American singer, songwriter, and businesswoman, is widely recognized for her boundary-pushing artistry, vocals, and performances as “Queen Bey.”
“The waves of the sea help me get back to me.” – Jill Davis
Jill A. Davis, an American author and television writer, is a proud Writers Guild of America member. She earned five Emmy award nominations for her impressive six-year tenure as a writer for David Letterman. Her debut novel, Girls’ Poker Night, also achieved great success as a bestseller on the coveted New York Times list.
“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson, known as Waldo, was an American philosopher, essayist, poet, lecturer, and abolitionist who led the transcendentalist movement in the mid-19th century.
“No matter how rough the sea, I refuse to sink.“– Unknown
“In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans.” -Kahlil Gibran
Gibran Khalil Gibran, commonly known as Kahlil Gibran, was a Lebanese-American writer, poet, and visual artist. Although some considered him a philosopher, he rejected the title himself.
“Storms draw something out of us that calm seas don’t.“– Bill Hybels
William Hybels is a highly esteemed figure in the American church community, renowned for his exceptional leadership skills and insightful writings. He is the founding and former senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, located in the picturesque town of South Barrington, Illinois. This church is widely regarded as one of the most well-attended in North America, with a staggering average attendance of almost 24,000 as of late 2018.
“In a calm sea, every man is a pilot.“– John Ray
John Ray FRS was a highly respected naturalist from England who is recognized as one of the earliest parson-naturalists from the country. Interestingly, prior to 1670, he went by the name John Wray, but later opted to use ‘Ray’ after investigating that his family had used this name before him. Ray was a devout Christian, and his passion for natural science was deeply rooted in his faith, which led him to produce many influential works in the field during his lifetime.
“At night, time becomes a calm sea. It goes on for ever.“– Francoise Sagan
Françoise Sagan was a French playwright, novelist, and screenwriter. She was famous for writing about wealthy and disillusioned bourgeois characters with strong romantic themes. Her most famous work is her debut novel, Bonjour Tristesse, which she wrote as a teenager.
“The sound and smell of the sea cleanses my soul.”– Unknown
“The sea lives in every one of us.”– Robert Wyland
“The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination, and brings eternal joy to the soul.”– Robert Wyland
American artist and conservationist Robert Wyland is renowned for creating over 100 Whaling Walls. These murals are large outdoor artworks that showcase life-size images of whales and other ocean creatures. Wyland intends to raise awareness about the challenging situation that whales face worldwide.
“We dream in colors borrowed from the sea.”– Unknown
“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“That the sea is one of the most beautiful and magnificent sights in Nature, all admit.”– John Joly
John Joly was an Irish physicist and geology professor at the University of Dublin. He is recognized for contributing to the development of radiotherapy in cancer treatment.
“Dear ocean, thank you for making us feel tiny, humble, inspired, and salty…all at once.”– Unknown
“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.” – Sarah Kay
Sarah Kay, the American poet, is the founder and co-director of Project V.O.I.C.E., a group that uses spoken word for education and inspiration.
“The calming movement of the sea along with the restless ocean breeze gently caresses me creating a soothing trance which lulls me to a place of peace.” – M. L. Borges, By The Sea
“The oceans roar is music to the soul.”– Unknown
“A sailor is an artist whose medium is the wind.”– Webb Chiles
Webb Chiles, an American sailor and author, has completed six circumnavigations, some single-handed, and written seven books.
“If the ocean can calm itself, so can you. We are both salt water mixed with air.”– Nayyirah Waheed
Nayyirah Waheed is a poet and author who has published two books of poetry and has been described as “perhaps the most famous poet on Instagram.” While Waheed is a reclusive writer who doesn’t reveal many details about her life, her poetry is frequently shared through social media accounts.
“Your heart is like the ocean, mysterious and dark.”– Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter. Generally regarded as one of the greatest songwriters ever, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his 60-year career.
“One’s ships come in over a calm sea.“– Florence Scovel Shinn
Florence Scovel Shinn was an American artist and book illustrator who later became a spiritual teacher and writer on metaphysics in her middle age. She is well-known in the New Thought community for her first book, The Game of Life and How to Play It.ay It.ay It.
“No matter how rough the sea, I refuse to sink.“– Unknown
“That the sea is one of the most beautiful and magnificent sights in Nature, all admit.”– John Joly
“Dear ocean, thank you for making us feel tiny, humble, inspired, and salty…all at once.”– UnknoWN
“By the ocean there are endless horizons and untold stories.” – UNKNOWN
“We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds.” – Aristotle Onassis
Aristotle Onassis was a Greek-Argentine businessman who owned the world’s largest private shipping fleet and was one of the wealthiest and most well-known men.
“The oceans roar is music to the soul.”– Unknown
“With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you’re connected to the sea. No matter where on Earth you live.” – Sylvia Earle
Sylvia Alice Earle is a marine biologist, oceanographer, author, and lecturer. She has been a National Geographic Explorer at Large since 1998.
“I find comfort in the rhythm of the sea”– Charlotte Eriksson
Charlotte Eriksson is the founder of Broken Glass Records and is also an artist, author, and songwriter.
“Dance with the waves, move with the sea, let the rhythm of the water set your soul free.”– Christy Ann Martine
Christy Ann Martine is a Canadian poet and author of the poetry books “She’ll Find the Sky” and “The Light You Need.” I’m a mother, nature lover, and wife of poet John Mark Green
“My soul is full of longing for the secrets of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and educator. His original works include the poems “Paul Revere’s Ride”, “The Song of Hiawatha”, and “Evangeline”. He was the first American to translate Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy completely and was one of the fireside poets from New England.
“For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it’s always our self we find in the sea.” – E. E. Cummings
“Your thoughts, feelings and sensations are the waves of the ocean – coming and going. There are big strong waves and there are soft gentle waves; they are all water and all part of the ocean.” – Rose-Marie Sorokin, The Miracle of Yes
Rose-Marie Sorokin is a Swedish writer and teacher of yoga, meditation, and personal development currently residing in the UK.
“Looking out over the ocean you can see reflections of God.”– Catherine Pulsifer
Catherine Pulsifer, a Canadian poet, was born in Saint John, NB, Canada in 1957. Her first book, “Wings of Wisdom,” was published in 1998. Around the same time, she started her website and continued to expand her work. Pulsifer’s poetry has inspired people worldwide, and her popularity continues to grow.
“Limitless and immortal, the waters are the beginning and end of all things on earth.” – Heinrich Zimmer
Heinrich Robert Zimmer, a German Indologist, linguist, and historian of South Asian art, is renowned for his works on Indian art and civilization, including Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization and Philosophies of India. He is considered the most significant German scholar in Indian Philology since Max Müller.
“The ocean has always been a salve to my soul…the best thing for a cut or abrasion was to go swimming in salt water. 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
James William Buffett was a renowned American musician and singer-songwriter who gained popularity for his tropical rock music. His music often conveyed a message of living life fully and following one’s passions.
“Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.” – Van Morrison
Sir George Ivan Morrison, better known as Van Morrison, is a Northern Irish singer, musician, and songwriter who has been recording music for over seven decades.
“Life is like the ocean, it goes up and down“– Vanessa Paradis
Vanessa Chantal Paradis is a French singer, model, and actress. Paradis became a star at 14 with the international success of her single “Joe le taxi.”
Vanessa Chantal Paradis is a French singer, model, and actress. Paradis became a star at 14 with the international success of her single “Joe le taxi.”
“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.“– Ryunosuke Akutagawa
Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, also known by his art name Chōkōdō Shujin, was a prominent Japanese writer who lived during the Taishō period in Japan. He is highly regarded as the pioneer of the Japanese short story genre, and his legacy lives on through the prestigious Akutagawa Prize, which is named in his honor.
“Let the waves carry you where the light can not”– Mohit Kaushik
“Sometimes in the waves of change, we find our true direction”– Unknown
“Let the sea set you free” – Unknown
“The sound and smell of the sea cleanses my soul.” – UNKNOWN
“At night, when the sky is full of stars and the sea is still you get the wonderful sensation that you are floating in space.” – Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood was an American actress who started her film career at a young age and smoothly transitioned into playing young adult roles. She began acting at the age of four and was cast as a co-star in Miracle on 34th Street when she was eight.
“WHEN ANXIOUS, UNEASY AND BAD THOUGHTS COME, I GO TO THE SEA, AND THE SEA DROWNS THEM OUT WITH ITS GREAT WIDE SOUNDS, CLEANSES ME WITH ITS NOISE, AND IMPOSES A RHYTHM UPON EVERYTHING IN ME THAT IS BEWILDERED AND CONFUSED.” – RAINER MARIA RILKE
Rainer Maria Rilke, an Austrian poet and novelist, is widely recognized as a significant writer in the German language due to his idiosyncratic and expressive style.
“The ocean is calling and I must go”– Unknown
“You will love the ocean. It makes you feel small, but not in a bad way. Small because you realize you’re part of something bigger.” – Lauren Myracle
Lauren Myracle is a prolific American author of young adult fiction, best known for her “IM” trilogy: ttyl, ttfn, and l8r, g8r.
“Sometimes in the waves of change, we find our true direction” – Unknown
“The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths it has its pearls too” – Vincent van Gogh, The Letters of Vincent van Gogh
Vincent Willem van Gogh was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. In just over a decade he created approximately 2100 artworks, including around 860 oil paintings, most of them in the last two years of his life.
“Doesn’t it seem to you that the mind moves more freely in the presence of that boundless expanse, that the sight of it elevates the soul and gives rise to thoughts of the infinite and the ideal?” – Gustave Flaubert
Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880) is best known for his masterpiece Madame Bovary (1857), which showcases his precise style and dispassionate portrayal of psychological detail.
“The sea is a desert of waves, A wilderness of water.”– Langston Hughes
James Mercer Langston Hughes, from Joplin, Missouri, was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one of the pioneers in developing jazz poetry and is renowned for his leadership during the Harlem Renaissance.
Closing thoughts
Life often gives us beautiful moments like a sunset or a crash of waves on a beautiful day at a beach, and no two are alike. We often try to reflect and capture these beautiful events in our memories and put them into words.
I hope these wonderful sea quotes and saying bring you back to those moments in your life and inspire new ones.
