When things look bleak, we can all make do with a few simple words to remind us about what is truly important in life. While words from famous historical figures like Buddha, Gandhi, Aristotle, and Einstein are frequently quoted in instances like these, aren’t they a little too mainstream?

Bruno Adam/unsplash. “Happiness is an inside job” – Mandy Hale

For this list, we have looked at some of the most iconic fictional characters in films and television series for some words of wisdom. Sometimes, understanding the true meaning of life and happiness might just be one inspirational quote away.

Barney Stinson, How I Met Your Mother – “True Story. If I’m unhappy, I stop being sad and be awesome instead.”

From dating advice to words of wisdom about life in general, if we delve into inspirational quotes from Barney Stinson in “How I Met Your Mother,” we might be here all day folks. Although the quote also has a humorous side to it, it speaks to the power of one’s mindset.

Brimming with self-confidence and self-belief, one could definitely take a page out of Barney’s book of life to understand the true meaning of happiness. While we are, by no means, condoning his womanizing and self-centric behavior, it’s important to take inspiration from the positive traits of his awesome personality nonetheless.

3194556/pixabay. No medicine cures what happiness cannot

Sam Gamgee, Lord of The Rings – “Even darkness must pass. In the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow;.”

No matter how dark it is outside and the gravity of your circumstances, know that there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. Sam Gamgee from “The Lord of The Rings” says this inspirational line when he and Frodo Baggins are on their biblical quest to rid the world of evil but have the odds stacked against them. If you’re ever feeling like it’s you against the world, let the wise words of Sam guide you through this period until the storm has finally passed.

Pezibear/pixabay. “Happiness is a warm puppy.” – Charles M. Schulz

Galadriel, Lord of The Rings – “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”

This might be one of our favorite quotes from a film or TV series ever. This is because there might be times when our sadness and sorrow are perpetuated by our comparison to someone else. In instances like these, Galadriel reminds us that it’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog that can actually make a big difference. It’s important to remember that even the smallest of things can end up making a huge difference in not only our lives but the lives of other people too.