22 Best Pieces of Advice Ever

Never look back in regret.

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Sir Richard Branson, entrepreneur"My mother, Eve, always taught me never to look back in regret but to move on to the next thing. A setback is never a bad experience, just another one of life’s lessons."

Give it your all and give it all the time.

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Cliff Richard, singer"When I was getting serious about singing, my father told me that if I didn’t make it there was still a life to be lived. Then, when I recorded Move It, he asked me: “Do you really want this? If you do then give it your all and give it all the time.” "

Make things happen for yourself.

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Gordon Ramsay, chef"Put your head down and work hard. Never wait for things to happen, make them happen for yourself through hard graft and not giving up."

Don’t die wondering.

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Michael Vaughan, former England cricket captain"Darren Lehmann, a team-mate of mine at Yorkshire, told me to make sure I ended my career with no regrets. He meant “don’t die wondering”. I took that attitude into Strictly Come Dancing."

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.

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Ghandi

The sky’s the limit.

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 Cervantes in Don Quixote

Sleep for 8 hours, work for 8 hours, play for 8 hours.

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 Mary Keen, garden designer"My tutor at Oxford told me to: “Sleep for 8 hours, work for 8 hours, play for 8 hours.” I didn’t, and my work-life balance would be better if I had."

The man who never made a mistake never made anything.

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Peter Barron, head of external relations for Google"All the best advice I received was from my father, and I even took some of it. My favourite is: “The man who never made a mistake never made anything.” "

There are no stumbling blocks in life – just stepping stones in disguise.

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Christine Hamilton, public speaker"My father used to say: “There are no stumbling blocks in life – just stepping stones in disguise.” "

When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

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Richard Dunwoody, former Champion jockey"One of my trainers once told me: “When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.” "

Never grow old.

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Matt Pritchett, Telegraph cartoonist"Advice from my grandmother: “Never grow old.” "

Get on with it.

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Lionel Shriver, author"Sage advice from my old friend Ruth Dudley Edwards is “Get on with it”, a sound approach to everything. If you have the leisure to think about it, you have time to do it."

If not now, when?

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Esther Rantzen, journalist and founder of ChildLine"I like this 2,000 year old advice by Rabbi Hillel: “If I am not for me, who will be? If I am only for me, what am I? If not now, when?” I think it means: “Sort yourself out, protect yourself and ensure your own survival – if you don’t, you can achieve nothing. However, selfishness is empty, so ensure that you make a positive difference to others, and do it now.” "

Always look for something nice to say about someone.

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Jilly Cooper, author"My darling grandmother told me: “Whenever you meet anybody, look for something nice to say about them, because even if they’ve got a hideous face they might have fantastic ankles or lovely hair, and compliments do cheer people up enormously.” She did cheer people up and I always wanted to emulate her."

There are two sorts of people in life, those that do and those that sit on the sidelines and snigger.

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Brian Moore, former England rugby player and Telegraph columnist"An admonishment from Mr Hoyle, my English teacher: “Moore, there are two sorts of people in life, those that do and those that sit on the sidelines and snigger. Do I have to tell you which one is more worthy?” "

If you don’t believe in what you are doing, why would anyone else?

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Matthew Williamson, designer"My co-founder and CEO, Joseph Velosa, said to me years ago: “If you don’t have passion, then you have nothing. If you don’t believe in what you are doing, why would anyone else?” "

Be confident and not arrogant, and don’t be arrogant and unconfident.

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Dominic Dromgoole, artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe"My mother once said to me before an interview: “Be confident and not arrogant, and don’t be arrogant and unconfident”, which just about hit the nail on the head with me. "

Make new friends but stick to old, one is silver, the other gold.

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Tim Rice, lyricist and author"My mum, circa 1955, told me: “Make new friends but stick to old, one is silver, the other gold”."

Sleep on it.

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 Rachel Khoo, cookery presenter and writer"My mother still tells me to “sleep on it” if I have any dilemmas. A night’s sleep puts things in perspective."

Seize the day.

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Quintus Horatius Flaccus (65 BC – 8 BC)

Always strive to be a better man.

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 Chris Larkin, actor " “Always strive to be a better man.” Kiplingesque words given to me by my stepfather, Bev."

The greatest danger in life is to not take the adventure.

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Brian Blessed, actor and explorer“The greatest danger in life is to not take the adventure,” from Harry Dobson, one of my teachers.