How about the following?

```ruby
  def self.length_limits
    length_limits = {:first_name => 11, :last_name => 11, :title => 40, :organization => 40, :inspiration1 => 45, :inspiration2 => 45, :inspiration3 => 45}
  end

  User.length_limits.keys.each do |key|
    validates key, :length => { :maximum => length_limits[key], :too_long => "%{count} characters is the maximum allowed" }
  end
```
Then in each form input...
```ruby
:maxlength => User.length_limits[:first_name]
```