J. Cole may be known as the rapper who went platinum with no features, but he's most revered for his poetic lyrics. It's no small wonder that his work is filled with reminders of all the positive things we've come to love about him.

1. "I seen a baby cry seconds later she laughs. The beauty of life, the pain never lasts."

In Cole's "The Badness," he expresses a beautiful sentiment: nothing lasts forever, including pain. A baby, even after bawling their eyes out, can be immediately brought back to joy and laughter. Be the baby.

2. “If you place your importance on appreciation and love, that is enough."

In a 2017 interview with Angie Martinez, J. Cole talked about how he avoids the common obsession with getting the next thing. If you want $1 million you'll want five. If you're addicted to success, you'll never appreciate the goals you've already met. The key is to center yourself in gratitude and love, that way you'll never want for anything.

3.“They say time is money but really it’s not. If we ever go broke, then time is all we got. And we can’t make that back, no you can’t make that back."

Following the tragic, shocking death of 41-year-old NBA legend Kobe Bryant, many of us have been forced to evaluate our priorities. In the rat race to gain material wealth, time is actually the most precious thing we have. Once we lose it, we can't get it back. Cole reminds us of this in "Mr. Nice Watch."

4. "People congratulate me. I just tell them God is good."

In "Show Me Something," the 35-year-old acclaimed lyricist tells us why people congratulating him doesn't carry that much weight. Even though he's done the work, he recognizes that good fortunes aren't obtained by yourself. It's always a good time to remember to count your blessings.

5. “Hard to move on when you always regret one.”

In 2010 a then-unknown R&B artist teamed up with an up-and-coming young rapper and made a hit that still knocks and reminds us to not take the person of our dreams for granted. In "All I Want Is You," Cole and Miguel trade off on the forlorn ballad that reminds us that sometimes comparisons come up short next to the real-life partner you're with.

6. "Love yourself girl, or nobody will."

Lord knows it's hard enough trying to keep your self-esteem up, especially as a Black woman. "Crooked Smile" speaks directly to women and reminds us love starts from within.

7. “No such thing as a life that’s better than yours, no such thing."

J. Cole's reputation as a verbal assassin is made all the better because his music is conscious, honest and encouraging. "Love Yourz" is an ode to self-love and gratitude, and we couldn't thank him enough for sharing these gems with us.

J.Cole-Quotes

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