The Secret Formula for Writing an Inspirational Quote Inspirational sayings don't have to be, well, "inspired." Knowing what will resonate with others is an art and a science.

Have you ever seen an inspirational quote go viral on LinkedIn and wondered, How can I write a quote like that? Good news! There's an actual science and art to great quote writing, which makes the craft attainable — even if snappy one-liners don't come naturally to you.

That's according to Jonathan Fader, Ph.D., a performance psychologist who has worked with the New York Mets, New York Giants, and other athletes, performers, and entrepreneurs, many of whom are in the motivational space. He describes motivational quotes as very, very short stories. Like any good fable, they consist of a beginning, middle, and end. There is a narrative arc that takes the reader on a journey.

Related: 22 Successful Entrepreneurs Share What Inspires Them to Keep Going

"What you're doing with a quote is a shift in perspective," he says. This means that the more powerful, inspirational quotes typically give the reader some sort of control or help them refocus, especially when they're feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or facing some kind of adversity. Fader says a great quote should function like a flashlight, guiding the reader through darkness. And finally, like any great story, it needs to be edited and refined. Fader used the famous Billie Jean King quote "Pressure is a privilege" to underscore these ideas. "If you focus on pressure being a privilege rather than a threat, you're probably in a better place to accomplish [your goal]," he says.

This all sounds great, but how does someone actually write a great quote? Fader offers a simple recipe: Context plus syntax equals inspirational quote.

For the context, a great quote should speak to a universal truth. In order to find a universal truth, think about some of your own core values. For instance, are you motivated by compassion? Existentialism? Generosity? Balance? Harmony? "Values are both universal and personal," Fader says. In addition to a universal truth, he says, a great quote is also short and catchy. The phrasing should please the ear. Consider that Billie Jean King quote: "It has alliteration," Fader says. "It has a brevity to it that's powerful." This has even been studied. In a 2000 study in the journal Psychological Science, researchers found that people considered aphorisms more accurate if they rhymed.

Related: How to Go From Procrastination to Inspiration

Perhaps most importantly, an inspirational quote should come from within. Motivational quotes risk becoming cliché when they don't somehow relate back to the quote-writer. "It has to come from a place of meaning," says Fader. "It can't be empty." He also believes that inspirational quotes should move the reader to the point of perhaps even giving them a physical reaction. "A great quote just makes you say in your head an all-caps "YES!'" he says. "That's really what a quote does — it reminds you that you're alive."

But inspirational quotes aren't just nice words to read. They can even move people to action or change their behaviors. In 2018, a team of researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Mississippi State University studied designers as they worked to solve problems. They found that the designers generated more ideas if they'd been exposed to motivational content, versus designers who weren't.

Finally, Fader says, there's no harm in just trying out some material and learning from the response. So the next time you're noodling on a potential quote and want to try it on an audience, just post it…and see who's inspired.

Five inspirational people share one of their most popular social media posts and explain why they think it resonated so strongly.

I've done the work to understand who my audience is, and they are very much a reflection of me. I know the things they need to hear, because they are what I need to hear myself. And moments of vulnerability and the lessons I'm learning can really help others." — Luvvie Ajayi Jones (IG: @luvvie), author of Professional Troublemaker

This resonates with so many people because all the way through life, I and others like me have been told we're not good enough. Words can make a massive impact on your life. For most people, they're not listening to their intuition. We need to lead to our inner voice, protect our dreams, and follow through until results happen." — John Lee (IG: @john_lee_official), author of Business Hack

This quote is popular because it gives a quick insight or reminds us in the moment of something we already know. The challenge is that inspiration and ideas alone are not power; they have the potential to be power when integrated and implemented. We must practice what we post." — Jim Kwik (IG: @jimkwik), author of Limitless

It hit because most of us are exhausted from seeking external validation. What many of us truly crave is more freedom and time to create." — Marie Forleo (IG: @marieforleo), author of Everything is Figureoutable

Self-doubt is the killer of dreams. Developing the skill of belief is so powerful — the skill of fully loving and accepting where you're at. When you heal the past, you can have calm inside of you and take on the challenges that require courage." — Lewis Howes (IG: @lewishowes), author of The School of Greatness

Related: 3 Creative Quotes That Illustrate the Difference Between Imitation and Inspiration