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

Sometimes you need to practice intensely without overthinking it.Seiji Hirao

These are words said to be about the direction of training by Seiji Hirao, who is also known as a rugby legend.

Basically, technical and logical practice is important, but he says that at times training that goes beyond pure rationality is necessary.

By deliberately making practice tough and developing the mental strength to endure hardship, that experience becomes a source of support for the heart.

It also conveys the importance of a broad mindset—the idea that, at times, unreasonable circumstances can become a catalyst for growth.

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Effort is always rewarded. If there is effort that isn’t rewarded, then it can’t yet be called effort.Sadaharu Oh

No matter how hard you try, things still don’t go well… At times like that, it might simply mean you haven’t put in enough effort yet.

Sadaharu Oh—who achieved numerous great feats in his playing days and later managed the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and the Japan national team—may be speaking from the weight of the effort behind his accomplishments.

While he suggests that seemingly unrewarded effort might still be lacking, there’s hope in his belief that effort will surely be rewarded.

If you’re struggling without seeing results, let these words give you the strength to push just one step further.

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The distance you’ve run will never betray you.Mizuki Noguchi

Mizuki Noguchi, the marathon runner who won a gold medal at the Athens Olympics.

This quote teaches us that effort and the volume of training we put in will never betray us—they’re truly meaningful.

You can sense both the great distances she must have run in pursuit of gold and the strength of her will.

Even when we have a goal, it isn’t easy to keep putting in the effort, but knowing this quote makes us realize that steady, persistent work is what really matters and gives us a reason to believe in ourselves.

When you feel like stopping, remember these words and try rekindling your inner fire once more.

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We read “failure” as “success.”Katsuya Nomura

These are words by Katsuya Nomura—renowned in professional baseball as a player, manager, and strategist—expressing his view on failure.

He tells us that continual growth is vital to achieving success, and that failure can be a powerful catalyst for that growth.

Rather than giving up by focusing only on the outcome, it’s important to analyze the causes of failure and apply what you learn next time.

It’s a famous quote that conveys a positive mindset: don’t lament failure—keep moving forward without giving up.

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Don’t rush, don’t panic, don’t give up. Precisely because of all you’ve built upSara Takanashi

It’s a famous quote that teaches us the importance of an unwavering spirit and steadily putting in the hard work especially when times are tough.

These are the words of ski jumper Sara Takanashi, spoken when she finally won at a Nordic Ski World Cup after a season of struggles without many victories.

When our efforts don’t seem to pay off, anyone can feel anxious—but it may be precisely then that it’s vital to keep moving forward, step by step, along the path you believe in.

When things aren’t going well and you feel lost, remember this quote.

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Fight with soul, every single throw.Sayaka Yoshimura

Japan’s women’s curling team fought hard, but sadly couldn’t advance past the preliminary round.

Even after elimination was confirmed, Sayaka Yoshimura vowed to give her all in the remaining two games—such passionate words.

Ever since first attempting to reach the Olympics in high school, competing at the Games has been her long-held dream.

Stories about her determination are endless, such as “I was so frustrated I didn’t watch the Sochi Olympics on TV,” and “I went all the way to the Pyeongchang venue to fire myself up, telling myself I want to stand here.” She must be someone driven by an Olympic passion stronger than anyone else’s.

A person who studies three, four, even five times more than anyone else—that is a genius.Hideyo Noguchi

Hideyo Noguchi (Japanese Great Figures/History Animated Picture Book)

Hideyo Noguchi (1876–1928) was born in a poor farming village in Fukushima.

As a child, he suffered severe burns in a hearth fire that left his left hand impaired.

When he became discouraged after being mocked by those around him, his mother is said to have told him, “Study and prove them wrong.” From then on, Noguchi worked harder than anyone, later becoming a physician and engaging in bacteriological research, achieving notable results in his studies of yellow fever and syphilis.

His words teach us through his own life that unwavering perseverance and effort are everything.