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 as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is 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 curated selection of passionate messages left by great figures and famous people (21–30)

On cold days when nothing blooms, stretch your roots deeper and deeper. In time, a great flower will bloom.Naoko Takahashi

A professional attitude learned from Naoko Takahashi

On cold days when nothing blooms, stretch your roots deeper and deeper. In time, a great flower will bloom. - Naoko Takahashi

Watch on YouTube: “On cold days when nothing blooms, stretch your roots deeper and deeper. In time, a great flower will bloom. Naoko Takahashi.”

Naoko Takahashi is the gold medalist in the women’s marathon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the first female athlete to receive the People’s Honor Award.

As for her motto, it is said to be words given to her by her high school track and field coach.

Daily efforts that may seem to bring no change will one day blossom into a magnificent flower.

It’s a profound saying that resonates in any field.

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Genius is an ordinary person who makes an extraordinary effort.Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein, who proposed the theory of relativity and is often called the greatest physicist of the 20th century.

This quote teaches us that genius isn’t reserved for those born with special talent; rather, true talent lies in those who can steadily put in the effort.

The same goes for studying for entrance exams: even if you feel it’s not your thing, the determination to keep going without giving up becomes your strength.

More important than test scores is the progress of “understanding a little more than yesterday.” Einstein himself, celebrated as a genius, was someone who accumulated failures and trial-and-error.

These words offer support to students who want to believe in themselves as they keep working hard.

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Quotes on Effort: A Carefully Selected Collection of Passionate Messages from Great and Famous Figures (31–40)

Do not fear change. It is part of growth.Elon Musk

Elon Musk is an entrepreneur who has continued to take on fields many consider difficult, such as electric vehicles and space development.

What his approach conveys is that he values the courage to choose change over the comfort of staying the same.

In studying, too, it’s natural to feel anxious when you review your methods or tackle a new field, but that first step leads to growth.

You might fail, and the results may not be what you hoped.

Even so, it’s those who keep moving who can expand their possibilities.

These are words that believe in that forward-looking strength.

It’s a message that gently nudges anyone who wants to go just a little beyond who they are now.

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As long as you keep challenging yourself, failure does not exist.Mark Zuckerberg

These are the words of Mark Zuckerberg, who founded Facebook and greatly influenced the fabric of society.

Through a series of innovative challenges, he has experienced a great deal of trial and error.

When we try to avoid mistakes and failures in studying for exams or taking tests, we end up reducing the very act of challenging ourselves.

As long as we keep taking action, we learn from it, leading to the next improvement.

Failure is not the end, but a process along the path of growth.

This quote shows that a persistent spirit of challenge opens up the future and encourages proactive action.

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Nothing is impossible.Muhammad Ali

These are the words of Muhammad Ali, who symbolized an era as the world heavyweight champion and left behind many legendary bouts.

This short phrase embodies his stance of believing in his own potential without being bound by conventions or others’ evaluations.

In studying as well, if you decide from the start that something is impossible, the seed of growth will never sprout.

It is precisely when you face difficult challenges that a spirit of taking them on can change your future.

Even walls that seem insurmountable can, through steady effort, turn into realistic goals.

It is a famous quote that strips away preconceptions and gives us the courage to act.

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Those who strive speak of hope; those who are lazy speak of complaints.Yasushi Inoue

Numazu Literary Walk: Summer Grass, Winter Waves; The Northern Sea by Yasushi Inoue

Those who strive speak of hope; those who are lazy speak of complaints. Yasushi Inoue

Watch “Those who strive speak of hope; those who are lazy speak of complaints. Yasushi Inoue” on YouTube

These are the words of the Japanese literary master, Yasushi Inoue.

Some of you might kind of understand what he means.

People who are lazy give all sorts of reasons and voice their complaints, don’t they? It seems that such people don’t become lazy because they have complaints; rather, they look for complaints because they want to be lazy.

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99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspirationThomas Alva Edison

[King of Invention] A Collection of Words and Famous Quotes Thomas Edison Left to History

99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspirationThomas Alva Edison

When you think of inventors, the first historical great that comes to mind is Thomas Edison.

He left the world with numerous inventions we still use today, such as the telephone, the phonograph, and the incandescent light bulb.

Known as a genius of inspiration, Edison famously said, “Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.” In a world where showing your hard work is often seen as uncool, maybe it’s actually cooler to be able to say, “I worked hard,” rather than to put on an air of “I didn’t even try.”

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