Bethany Hamilton: the surfer is inspiring the world with her quotes and sayings

Bethany Hamilton is one of the most inspirational athletes in the world. Her life story and famous quotations have been encouraging several generations of surfers and non-surfers.

The most famous quotes by Bethany Hamilton have already changed lives. Her motivational thoughts, sayings, and ideas are full of emotions, beliefs, and passion for surfing and life.

From the classic, simple, and direct "I'm just a surfer" to "Courage means you don't let fear stop you," Bethany Hamilton is the queen of surfing quotes.

On October 31, 2003, the 13-year-old surfer girl was enjoying the pleasure of riding waves with friends when, all of a sudden, a shark attacked her left arm.

Despite losing over 60 percent of her blood, Bethany Hamilton survived and began inspiring millions of Americans and worldwide surfing fans.

Today, when she speaks, the planet listens.

From her teenage days to her young adulthood, Hamilton wrote inspirational books and helped produce successful movies about her life story.

Hamilton has faith in God, one of her main driving forces. When you watch videos featuring her slashing the waves, you immediately see why she is truly special and gifted.

That is why she is widely known as the "soul surfer." Bethany shares a passion for surfing with every one of us.

So, what are the most famous Bethany Hamilton quotes? Let the survivor, hero, and leader speak out:


Be a Light to God and the whole world.

Being able to turn to Jesus after the shark attack kept me alive.

Being creative on the waves is challenging, but we each create art in our own way.

Being present means living your actual life, accepting it for what it is, and making the absolute most of it. Cut out the constant barrage of distractions so you can be truly present with the people and things that matter most.

Compassion can drive us to do amazing things and give us perspective.

Courage doesn't mean you don't get afraid. Courage means you don't let fear stop you.

Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That's what little girls are made of; the heck with sugar and spice.

Fear is something that can really hold us all back from different things in life. It's important to notice what your fears are and try to conquer them.

Find your Why. Reach goals. Live each day to the fullest.

Forgiveness has been the greatest strengthener for my marriage and other relationships.

God did have something bigger planned for me. What we all needed to do was trust... and believe.

God gave us strength and unity to push through all this stuff that we never knew would happen.

God has a lot more to give and to offer than the world has to give.

Going out in public is a bit different; I'm even more noticed, but my heart is in surfing, and it always will be.

Gratitude is a theme in my life. Appreciation is how I was able to quickly shift my mindset after losing my arm. Instead of focusing on what I didn’t like about my body or my limitations, I chose to be grateful for the remarkable body that I have.

Having the opportunity to learn from others is a privilege that I'm truly thankful for. I love soaking up everything my coaches/mentors tell me. If I have one piece of advice for you today, it's to be coachable.

How we function when no one is looking will shape who we are. The choices we make behind closed doors and the daily actions we put toward our future shape our lives, trust, and faith! 

I am so stoked on my life. I have been through a lot and have learned a lot. I feel very blessed with everything that I'm able to do - especially being able to surf. I try to keep it simple and just be the best person I can be, and if it makes a difference in other people's lives, that's great!

I believe in God. I don't mean that I believe in Him like a person might believe in, say, gravity or the sun coming up in the morning. Those are just facts that don't mean anything. I mean, I really believe in God.

I could never have embraced these many people with two arms.

I don't know what other girls do before they go out in a heat, but for me, the routine is pretty simple: I pray. I pray for everyone's safety, and I pray for wisdom in my wave selection and ability to be at the right place at the right time.

I don't pretend to have all the answers to why bad things happen to good people, but I do know that God knows all those answers, and sometimes He lets you know in this life...

I don't really want people looking to me for inspiration. I just want to be a sign along the way that points toward Heaven.

I don't want easy - just possible.

I have this thought every second of my life - Why me? Not negatively, like, 'Why did this terrible thing happen to me'? But more like, 'Why did God choose me, and what does He have in mind for me?'

I see that God is able to use my story to help others. Once, a girl came up and told me that she had had cancer. When she learned my story, it made her realize that she didn't need to give up.

I think sharks are beautiful creatures, and I don't think we should stop going into the ocean because of them. You drive down the road, and you get in an accident, but most people end up driving down the road again. Surfing is you going into their home, and it's just a natural part of life.

I think that if I can help other people find hope in God, then that is worth losing my arm for.

I wouldn't change what happened to me because then I wouldn't have this chance, in front of all of you, to embrace more people than I ever could have with two arms.

I'm happy with the way that I look, and I don't need an arm to be beautiful.

I'm just a surfer.

I'm looking forward to seeing what comes my way.

I've learned life is a lot like surfing. When you get caught in the impact zone, you need to get right back up because you never know what's over the next wave... and if you have faith, anything is possible, anything at all.

If we have food on our plates, we have much to be thankful for. If we have love to wake up to, let's embrace that and love well back. We can seek to live this life to the fullest each day and in each moment.

In the end, my love for surfing helped me overcome my fear of sharks.

It is all about the message - believe in your dreams.

It was a terrible thing that happened to me, but so many good things have come out of it that it has turned into a beautiful thing.

It's been amazing to touch people's lives.

It's hard for me to describe the joy I felt after I stood up and rode a wave in for the first time after the attack. I was incredibly thankful and happy inside. The tiny bit of doubt that would sometimes tell me you'll never surf again was gone in one wave.

Knowing I can make a difference helps me push myself harder.

Love is bigger than a tsunami, stronger than any fear.

My belief is where I get my strength. When I'm struggling with something, I can go to God for help, and I'm excited to share that.

My friend Sarah says that I get to be the voice of God. I usually roll my eyes when she says it because if I were God, I would never have chosen me, of all people, to speak for him.

My only real fear was that I would not be able to surf again because I was concerned that I would not physically be able to do it. I knew that if I wasn't able to surf, then my life would really change.

My passion for surfing was more than my fear of sharks.

My strength came from my relationship with Christ and the love and encouragement of my family and friends.

Our country is pretty out of control when it comes to making unhealthy choices, and we rarely think about all the artificial sweeteners, trans fats, bad salts, an overload of sugar, and all processed foods we put into our bodies on a daily basis. I think that the best way to combat our national health crisis is proper education.

People can do whatever they want if they just set their heart to it, and just never give up, and just go out there and do it.

Surfing has been one of my passions for most of my life, and that's why I knew I would get back on the board after I lost my arm. God gave me my love for the ocean & I honor him when I delight in that passion!

The paramedic whispered in my ear: "God will never leave you or forsake you."

To make mistakes is human, but to forgive is a gift from God. I believe forgiveness is the most beautiful gift we can receive from God or from others, & also a gift we can share.

We don't grow when things are easy. We grow when we face challenges.

We're all not perfect. We all have something that we think is wrong with us, but all it takes is a little love.

When people ask me what my faith in Christ means to me, I usually answer in just one word - everything! This was true before and after the shark attack.

You fall off the horse, and you get back on.

Your looks do not define who you are.

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