New year quotes 2017: 6 inspiring and funny sayings to kick off the new year

As the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year of 2016 finally draws to a close, here are some inspiring and funny quotes to ramp up your optimism that 2017 will be a little less punishing and a little more wonderful.

This moment from Hillary Clinton's concession speech

And to all of the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.

Author Neil Gaiman's 2011 New Year's wish:

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Benjamin Franklin on self-improvement:

Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.

A Prince quote about bravery:

There are no accidents. And if there are, it's up to us to look at them as something else. And that bravery is what creates new flowers.

This quote from Kurt Vonnegut's The Sirens of Titan on the least we all can do: 

A purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved.

And last but not least, we would be remiss to not include this gem:

John Oliver's explosive goodbye to 2016 on Last Week Tonight:

Fuck you, 2016.

For more new year inspiration, check out these empowering quotes — or pretty much anything Beyoncé has ever said.