While many heroes have become a source of inspiration in the world of DC Comics, one, in particular, seems to shine above the rest. A hero who embodies the essence of hope and fights to give humanity the spark it needs to resist the destruction of that said hope. That hero is Superman.

The last son of Krypton and Earth's greatest hero not only embodies hope but is filled with wisdom both from his life on Earth and the history of his people on Krypton. Here are the ten most inspirational quotes from the Man of Steel himself, Superman.

Updated on August 13th, 2020 by Josh Davison: Superman was the first true superhero. He defined the genre and is the standard by which a character would be compared for decades to come. He's a character who has survived over 80 years and is still one of the most recognizable and iconic fictional characters to have ever been conceived. He is also one of the most inspirational; he is a being with unfathomable power, but all he wants to do with it is help people, save lives, and right wrongs. He's also pretty darn good at giving speeches and trying to rally people. Whether they be fellow superheroes on the Justice League or just ordinary people, Superman knows how to put words together that will lift peoples' spirits. That's why 10 entries just weren't enough for this list, so we've added a few more gems.

15/15 "You're right! Taking lives is something I definitely find offensive!"

This is one is fairly straightforward and maybe even a bit corny, but it's also intentionally funny. This one comes from an issue of Action Comics by Marv Wolfman that finds Superman facing down H.I.V.E. One of their members yells out to Superman that "You'd never kill us!"

Superman says this quote in response, and it's so simple and straightforward. Above all else, a hero should preserve life, and Superman is all about doing that. He doesn't kill even his worst enemies. He just wants to protect and preserve lives, and that's what he does.

14/15 "I'm not an idiot, Black. I know there are bad men in power and the world is not an equitable place -- but you can't throw morality in the garbage just because life's tough!"

This comes from another issue of Action Comics, this time by Joe Kelly. It was during Superman's showdown with Manchester Black, a vicious antihero. He possessed telepathic and telekinetic abilities, and his actions, naturally, attracted the attention of Superman.

Black was a bit of a cynic and a nihilist, and Superman's unwillingness to kill disgusted him. After chastizing Superman about the pointlessness of Big Blue's vision of justice, Superman uttered this iconic line. It's a perfect quote for Supes too; he sees how the world really works. But that doesn't mean that he's going to go hog wild and become a super-powered judge, jury, and executioner. It also doesn't mean that he's just going to serve his base instincts. He still believes in people.

13/15 "There is a right and a wrong in the universe and the distinction should not be hard to make.

Kingdom Come

This one comes from Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross. It shows us an aged Superman trying to cope with a world taken over by reckless, dangerous, and ultimately careless young superheroes. Everything seems to have gone wrong around him, and he tries to just retire to a quiet life of farming.

However, he's ultimately spurred back into action, and he tries to reinstate his vision of justice. As he says, there is a true right and wrong, and even if the younger heroes thought they were on the side of right, that doesn't make it truly so. This sort of pairs with the prior quote responding to Manchester Black and speaks to Superman's vision of the world and his deeply ingrained sense of good and bad.

12/15 "To catch them if they fall."

This one comes to us from JLA by Grant Morrison. It comes from a low point for the Justice League, where the team seems to be questioning the very purpose of their existence. All seems lost, and they can't keep people from hurting each other.

Green Lantern Kyle Rayner asks "What's the point? Why should they need us at all?" Superman simply replies, "To catch them if they fall." It's another perfect encapsulation of who Superman is and what we should all strive to do: to catch one another if we fall.

11/15 "It's never as bad as it seems. You're stronger than you think you are. Trust me."

all-star-superman-regan-featured

All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely brings us an absolutely unforgettable moment in Superman history where the Man of Steel stumbles upon a troubled teenager who is getting ready to jump from a rooftop.

Superman arrives to comfort the kid, telling him that "It's never as bad as it seems. You're stronger than you think you are. Trust me," and the two hug. It's a tearjerker of a scene, and it reminds us that we are all stronger than we know -- even in the most trying, desperate, and hopeless seeming times. The power is within us to keep going.

10/15 "It doesn't take X-Ray Vision to see you are up to no good."

The first quote is a fun play on the hero's powers and the ability to see right from wrong all at once. Superman said, "It doesn't take X-Ray Vision to see you are up to no good." This quote is the perfect way to introduce the Man of Steel's wisdom.

This quote speaks of the basic need and desire to see the misdeeds of others. Saying one doesn't need superpowers to spot a villain, Superman shows that not only does evil lurk everywhere and in plain sight, but that anyone has the ability to be a hero and stop those who are up to no good.

9/15 "I once thought I could protect the world by myself. But I was wrong. Working together, we saved the planet. And I believe that if we stay together, as a team, we would be a force that could truly work for the ideals of peace and justice."

Sometimes one man or woman isn't enough to stop the bad guys. Sometimes it takes a team, a core group of people who share the strength of one another to take on the bad guys.

Superman himself said, "I once thought I could protect the world by myself. But I was wrong. Working together, we saved the planet. And I believe that if we stay together, as a team, we would be a force that could truly work for the ideals of peace and justice." This proves that even the Man of Steel gains his strength not just from the yellow sun of Earth, but his friends as well.

8/15 "The 'Amazing' can only be created by facing fear, risk, and failure during the process."

Whenever people look to iconic heroes like Superman, they use words like "amazing" to describe their abilities or endless battles for what's right. Yet the amazing cannot be achieved without enduring some difficulty or hardship. The truly spectacular aspects of life are endured through hard work and difficulty in life.

As the hero himself said, "The 'Amazing' can only be created by facing fear, risk, and failure during the process." This showcases how each of us in life must confront that which makes us afraid, take a risk and most of all be prepared for failure and be ready to move past it.

7/15 "So many of our dreams seem impossible, they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will they soon become inevitable."

One of the hardest things a person can do in their life is to not only find what they're dreams are and passions in life are, but to make them a reality. So often life gets in the way, and what were once goals become distant dreams that are never fulfilled.

Yet according to the Man of Steel, he says, "So many of our dreams seem impossible, they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will they soon become inevitable." This quote showcases the importance of overcoming the obstacles in the path of our dreams, and in that fight to achieve them we may find they just came true.

6/15 "I believe in second chances, I believe in redemption, but, mostly, I believe in my friends."

When it comes to the complex world of comics and our own world, giving people a second chance is a really difficult thing. Building trust in someone who has betrayed or created distrust between you two is a challenge to overcome, yet according to the hero from Krypton, strength can be found in second chances.

Superman said, "I believe in second chances, I believe in redemption, but, mostly, I believe in my friends.". This quote highlights the powerful nature of redemption and drawing strength from those who go on the path of redemption in order to not only build yourself up but to build them up as well.

5/15 "There is a superhero in all of us, we just need the courage to put on the cape."

When faced with a problem, whether it's a villain destroying your city or perhaps your cat is stuck up in a tree, facing these problems head-on is never an easy thing. It can be daunting to take up the task of being your own hero and stopping whatever problem is in your path.

Yet as Superman says, "There is a superhero in all of us, we just need the courage to put on the cape." Gathering up strength and courage to face the darkness and the problems of life can turn the most average of people into the heroes of their own story.

Fighting for a better world is never easy. Maintaining a goal or dream and seeing to fight for that dream to become a reality are some of the biggest challenges a person will face in their lifetime. Yet that is exactly what the Man of Steel represents, fighting for a dream.

As he says, "Dreams save us. Dreams lift us up and transform us. And on my soul I swear until my dream of a world where dignity, honor, and justice becomes the reality we all share, I'll never stop fighting. Ever!" This quote showcases the power of dreams and hope, and the battle to maintain that hope no matter what.

3/15 "You will be different, sometimes you'll feel like an outcast, but you'll never be alone."

One thing the Man of Steel is more familiar with than anyone else is the nature of loneliness and being an outcast. The world can be cruel to those who don't fit any one particular mold, and it can create a feeling of loneliness. Yet we must always fight to remember we are never truly alone.

As Superman said, "You will be different, sometimes you'll feel like an outcast, but you'll never be alone." This quote is not only a lesson he learned from his father Jonathan Kent but one he's imparted in modern times to his own son, showcasing the knowledge that comes with experience that one is never truly alone.

2/15 "Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith first, the trust part comes later."

It is not easy to rely on others or befriend someone when there isn't an established line of trust with that person. Yet the world doesn't wait for you and this other person to build that trust all the time. Sometimes, in order to protect or solve a problem, one must take a leap of faith.

As Superman said, "Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith first, the trust part comes later." This quote highlights the need for one to have faith in humanity as a whole, that deep down a person can step up to the plate and become the hero you need them to be.

1/15 "No matter where you go in life there's always going to be the one person that wants to bring you down, so stay strong and face your problems instead of running away."

Life's biggest lesson that one can learn is facing what troubles you and not running away from that which instills a sense of fear into you as well. The world is filled with individuals who will seek to bring you down or keep you from fulfilling your purpose in life.

Yet as the Man of Steel once said, "No matter where you go in life there's always going to be the one person that wants to bring you down, so stay strong and face your problems instead of running away." This showcases the cycle of life perfectly, highlighting the need to face our fears and problems head-on.

NEXT: Superman: 10 Best Villains That Have Never Been In A Movie, Ranked