The Enneagram offers a profound framework for understanding human personality through nine distinct types. Each type possesses its own unique motivations, fears, and worldview. One of the best ways to grasp the "voice" and core identity of each type is to listen to the words and ideas that resonate with them.
These quotes, from individuals often associated with each type, capture the essence of their wisdom, values, and driving passions. They serve as windows into nine different, valid ways of experiencing the world.
The Reformer (Enneagram Type 1)
The wisdom of the Reformer is rooted in integrity, purpose, and a relentless drive for improvement. Their quotes often reflect a deep sense of responsibility and a desire to make the world a better, more just place.
- "Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence." - Vince Lombardi
- "Let your conscience be your guide." - Jiminy Cricket (A classic fictional Type 1)
- "Strive for perfection in everything you do. Take the best that exists and improve it. When it does not exist, design it." - Sir Henry Royce
The Helper (Enneagram Type 2)
The Helper’s wisdom is relational, generous, and heartfelt. These quotes speak to the power of compassion, connection, and the profound joy that comes from giving and serving others.
- "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou
- "No one has ever become poor by giving." - Anne Frank
- "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." - Mahatma Gandhi
The Achiever (Enneagram Type 3)
The wisdom of the Achiever is ambitious, motivational, and goal-oriented. Their words inspire action, highlighting the value of striving for excellence and turning potential into tangible reality.
- "The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra." - Jimmy Johnson
- "The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
- "Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible." - Tony Robbins
The Individualist (Enneagram Type 4)
The Individualist’s wisdom is authentic, deep, and beautifully expressive. These quotes capture the value of being true to oneself and finding profound meaning in both joy and melancholy.
- "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
- "There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." - Leonard Cohen
- "I am my own muse. I am the subject I know best. The subject I want to know better." - Frida Kahlo
The Investigator (Enneagram Type 5)
The wisdom of the Investigator is found in curiosity, depth, and the pursuit of understanding. These quotes champion the power of the mind, the value of knowledge, and the importance of questioning the world.
- "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." - Albert Einstein
- "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." - Socrates
- "The mind is everything. What you think you become." - Buddha
The Loyalist (Enneagram Type 6)
The Loyalist’s wisdom is built on courage, commitment, and a deep sense of community. Their words reflect the importance of trust, preparation, and finding the resilience to stand by what you believe in, even in the face of doubt.
- "Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway." - John Wayne
- "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear." - Mark Twain
- "Trust is built in drops and lost in buckets." - Joel Brown
The Enthusiast (Enneagram Type 7)
The wisdom of the Enthusiast is rooted in joy, possibility, and a boundless appetite for life. These quotes celebrate adventure, optimism, and the pursuit of new and enriching experiences.
- "The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience." - Eleanor Roosevelt
- "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." - Helen Keller
- "Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans." - John Lennon
The Challenger (Enneagram Type 8)
The Challenger’s wisdom is powerful, decisive, and protective. Their words are often calls to action, championing justice, truth, and the inner strength to take control of one's own destiny.
- "The best way to predict the future is to create it." - Peter Drucker
- "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill
- "The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off." - Gloria Steinem
The Peacemaker (Enneagram Type 9)
The wisdom of the Peacemaker is found in connection, acceptance, and the deep, steady pursuit of internal and external harmony. Their words remind us of the power of presence and inclusive understanding.
- "Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means." - Ronald Reagan
- "The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions." - Thich Nhat Hanh
- "Nothing is more important than reconnecting with your bliss. Nothing is more important than feeling good." - Esther Hicks
While these quotes offer a glimpse into each Enneagram type, the true wisdom comes from self-observation. Use these words as inspiration to notice your own core motivations and to better understand the diverse perspectives of the people around you. This understanding is the first step toward genuine personal growth.
