Wonderful quotes and sayings

Quotes on Effort: A curated selection of passionate messages left by great figures and famous people

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

To achieve our goals, to live better lives, and to become our ideal selves…

we are tested on our “effort” in many situations.

However, there are times when we grow tired of constantly striving, or when we can no longer find meaning in our efforts.

In this article, we’ve gathered quotes about “effort” from great figures and famous people.

Reading these quotes reminds us that the achievements of those we call geniuses were possible precisely because of their effort.

Take in these powerful messages and put them to use from here on out!

Quotes on Effort: A carefully selected collection of passionate messages left by great figures and famous people (91–100)

Those who do not advance will surely retreat, and those who do not retreat will surely advance.Yukichi Fukuzawa

Listen by audio: 'Yukichi Fukuzawa’s Famous Quotes' Episode 15

Those who do not advance will surely retreat, and those who do not retreat will surely advance. — Yukichi Fukuzawa

Watch “Those who do not advance will surely retreat, and those who do not retreat will surely advance. Yukichi Fukuzawa” on YouTube

Even if results don’t show up right away, if you stop there, that’s the end.

But if you keep going little by little without giving up, you’ll surely succeed.

I want to believe that if we move forward slowly, without rushing, even step by step, we’ll look back and realize we’ve come a long way.

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If you keep putting in the effort over enough time, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish.Helen Keller

Listen by audio: “20 Quotes by Helen Keller”

If you keep putting in the effort over enough time, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish. — Helen Keller

Watch “If you keep putting in the effort over enough time, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish. — Helen Keller” on YouTube

Helen Keller (1880–1968) is known as the “Miracle Worker” for overcoming the loss of her sight, hearing, and ability to speak in childhood and living with remarkable strength.

She teaches us that achieving anything depends on the accumulation of how we live each day.

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To become the best in the world, you need world-class effort.Keisuke Honda

Career and Quotes of Keisuke Honda, Japan National Soccer Team

To become the best in the world, you need world-class effort. Keisuke Honda

Everyone strives to achieve their dreams.

But the greater the goal you pursue, the more the quality of your effort will be tested.

It teaches us that unless we go beyond the kind of effort anyone can make, we cannot rise above others.

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You don’t need to worry about having fallen. What matters is how you get back up from there.Abraham Lincoln

20 Episodes of 'Lincoln’s Famous Quotes' to Listen to in Audio

You don’t need to worry about having fallen. What matters is how you get back up from there. —Abraham Lincoln

Watch on YouTube: “You don’t need to worry about having fallen. What matters is how you get back up from there. —Abraham Lincoln.”

Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the 16th president of the United States, is regarded as one of the “greatest presidents” for asserting the foundations of democracy and for achievements such as the emancipation of slaves in the American South.

We tend to brood over failures, but what matters is how we rise after them.

It’s important to keep moving forward without looking back and to persevere.

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Without goals and plans, no amount of effort and courage will do you any good.John F. Kennedy

President Kennedy Inaugural Address (Subtitled Translation) 1/2

Without goals and plans, no amount of effort and courage will do you any good. — John F. Kennedy

Watch on YouTube: “Without goals and plans, no amount of effort and courage will do you any good. — John F. Kennedy”

No matter how hard you try, if you don’t have a clear goal to aim for or a plan for what to do, it’s easy to lose sight of the purpose of your efforts.

If you have a concrete dream—like “I want to become this kind of person”—you can focus more intensely and work toward it with greater determination.

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Don’t listen to people who say, “You can’t do it.” If you want to accomplish something yourself, and you fail, don’t blame others—take responsibility yourself.Magic Johnson

[NBA] Magic Johnson's Truly Amazing Skill

Don't listen to people who say, "You can't do it." If you want to accomplish something yourself and you fail, don't blame others—take responsibility yourself. —Magic Johnson

Watch on YouTube: “Don’t listen to people who say, ‘You can’t do it.’ If you want to accomplish something yourself, and you fail, don’t blame others—take responsibility yourself. — Magic Johnson.”

Magic Johnson (born 1959) is a Hall of Fame player from the American professional basketball league (NBA).

He captivated many with his play, including contributing to five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.

He teaches us that even if others tell you it’s impossible, you shouldn’t give up.

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Suppose there’s a wall that will break if you hit it 100 times. But since no one knows how many hits it takes, they give up partway through—even when they’ve already made it to the 99th hit.Shuzo Matsuoka

Quotes of great people: Shuzo Matsuoka

Suppose there’s a wall that will break if you hit it 100 times. But since no one knows how many hits it takes, they give up partway through—even when they’ve already made it to the 99th hit. — Shuzo Matsuoka

Watch on YouTube: “Suppose there’s a wall that will break if you hit it 100 times. But since no one knows how many hits it takes, they give up partway through—even when they’ve already made it to the 99th hit. Shuzo Matsuoka.”

These are the words of Shuzo Matsuoka, a former professional tennis player known as a passionately spirited man.

His message is for those who feel like giving up because their efforts haven’t borne fruit: don’t do that—if you keep working hard, you will surely achieve your goals.

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Our lives are worth only as much as the effort we put into them.François Mauriac

[Great Person’s Maxim] 57 Mauriac #shorts #maxim

Our lives are worth only as much as the effort we put into them. François Mauriac

Watch “Our lives are worth only as much as the effort we put into them. François Mauriac” on YouTube

François Mauriac (1885–1970) was a French writer who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1952.

His notable works include Thérèse Desqueyroux.

Although a life without effort is impossible, we all tend to seek ease and avoid troublesome things; these words encourage us that this is not the way we should be.

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The only kind of “doping” I know is just one thing: hard work.Roberto Baggio

[Shocking] Must watch again! Italy’s hero Roberto Baggio – Legendary Play Collection!

The only kind of “doping” I know is just one thing: hard work. Roberto Baggio

Watch “The only kind of ‘doping’ I know is just one thing: hard work. Roberto Baggio” on YouTube

Roberto Baggio (born 1967) is a soccer player known as the “Treasure of Italy,” with many fans in Japan as well.

There’s nothing more to say.

If you want to accomplish something, there’s no other way but to work hard—his words assert this and inspire us.

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Once you have set your aspiration, take only those measures that advance you toward it, and never allow yourself to falter. Even if you cannot achieve your goal, you should be prepared to die on the path toward it.Ryotaro Shiba

Precisely now is the time to once again lend an ear to the words of Ryotaro Shiba.

Once you have set your aspiration, take only those measures that advance you toward it, and never allow yourself to falter. Even if you cannot achieve your goal, you should be prepared to die on the path toward it. Ryotaro Shiba

Watch on YouTube: “Once you have set your aspiration, take only those measures that advance you toward it, and never allow yourself to falter. Even if you cannot achieve your goal, you should be prepared to die on the path toward it. — Ryotaro Shiba.”

No matter what difficulties await you, you must not abandon things halfway; rather, it is better to breathe your last in the midst of your efforts.

We often find ourselves thinking midway, “I can’t go on anymore—maybe I should just give up,” and that happens to anyone.

This is a phrase to remember at such times.

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