Certain poetry and song lyrics can have a profound affect on your life. Some hold meanings in the literal sense, while others seem to perfectly sum up your personal philosophy. Favorite poems and song lyrics make excellent tattoos, though they can often be lengthy and hard to read. If you know a line that "gets you" every time, or that you would proudly wear every day, perhaps it's the line you want to live with for the rest of your life.
Tattooing the names of loved ones, relatives and friends has been a common practice for generations. Some mothers and fathers proudly wear their children's names across their chests, while others honor their lost loved ones by displaying their names, birth dates and death dates on their arms. No matter the reason, honoring anyone with a tattoo of their name shows a deep level of respect and pride.
Many people have personal expressions tattooed on their bodies to remind them that no matter where they go or what they do, certain truths will always be true. This is particularly motivating for people who have been through trauma, are particularly religious or belong to a group or club they are proud of. There is really little difference between having "God Will Provide", "Persevere", "Semper Fi" or your fraternity letters on your body, as long as you're expressing yourself and those words mean something to you.
Many people who are particularly proud of their heritage choose to get tattoos that reflect that pride. For some, it may be as simple as the word "Italia", while others may want a Norse hammer engraved with their last name. While one has to belong to a certain ethnic group to base their tattoo on heritage, just being enamored or appreciative of any culture is enough to justify some words of wisdom or insight that that culture has brought to you.