Gems of famous quotes give us insights—words that move the heart and stir the soul.
When are the moments our hearts are moved?
There may be countless times—like when we encounter something we never imagined, or when our hearts are unexpectedly set free.
But in reality, it may also be true that such moments are hard to come by in everyday life.
So this time, we’ve compiled a list of quotes under the theme of moving, inspiring words.
Each phrase will surely move you—offering insights, courage, and more.
Gems of Famous Quotes Bring Us Insights: Moving, Heart-Stirring Words (1–10)
It’s easy when you’re on the ascent and riding momentum. A person’s true worth is determined when they’re in a tight spot.NEW!Taihō Kōki
Everyone feels good when they’re on a roll.
It feels like everything is going your way.
But life isn’t an endless uphill climb.
Even Taihō, who left us these words, lost the bout that would have given him a record 69 consecutive wins.
That match is known as the century’s great misjudgment and led to the introduction of video review.
There was an official objection to the decision, but after deliberation, Taihō was handed the loss.
He naturally had regrets, but after the bout he said, “It was my fault for fighting like that.” A person’s true worth is decided when they’re in a tight spot… a quote worth remembering.
Unless the whole world becomes happy, individual happiness is impossible.NEW!Kenji Miyazawa
These are words by Kenji Miyazawa, the poet and writer of children’s stories famous for the poem “Be Not Defeated by the Rain.” Kenji Miyazawa is also known for works such as Night on the Galactic Railroad, The Restaurant of Many Orders, and Matasaburo of the Wind.
All humans live by supporting one another.
Even if we feel as though we live on our own, it’s hard to completely separate ourselves from others.
In other words, unless those around us are happy and the entire world becomes happy, our own happiness cannot truly exist.
Not only do we want our own happiness, but we also want the people around us and people across the world to be happy—these are words to keep close to heart.
It is the heart that makes a world without amusements into an interesting one.NEW!Shinsaku Takasugi
“Make an unamusing world amusing”…
It is said that Shinsaku Takasugi composed only this upper line.
Shinsaku Takasugi was a feudal retainer of the Choshu domain at the end of the Edo period and is known as the founder of the Kiheitai militia.
He fell ill before fulfilling his ambitions, and this is the verse he composed at that time.
The lower line, “It is the heart that makes a place livable,” is said to have been composed by Nomura Botoni, who was nursing him.
Takasugi wrote that whether one lives amusingly in a world that is, by nature, not amusing depends on one’s state of mind, while Nomura Botoni answered that whether the world feels unamusing or not also depends on one’s own feelings.
It’s a verse through which you can enjoy the differing values of Shinsaku Takasugi and Nomura Botoni.
What we truly need is the courage to stand up for someone.NEW!Taro Yamamoto
These are words that appeal to a politician’s core conviction: wanting every citizen to feel happiness and acting to make that happen.
They speak about mustering the courage to act for someone else’s sake and moving forward with strong resolve as what matters most.
The message applies not only to politics but also to everyday life, teaching the importance of compassion and the courage to take the first step.
It also conveys a call to turn a chain of compassion into a powerful force.
In life, there is no such thing as being frozen forever. Winter will inevitably turn into spring, and when the time comes, beautiful flowers will bloom.NEW!Joseph Murphy
Joseph Murphy, an Irish clergyman, advocated the laws of the subconscious mind.
He published several self-help books, including “The Power of Your Subconscious Mind” (also known as “How to Succeed While You Sleep”).
This quote leaves a very positive impression.
Just as the seasons inevitably change, the bad things in life don’t last forever.
Thinking this way gives us hope for the future.
Especially during tough times, why not look around you and try turning small changes into sources of joy?
To be brave is to love someone unconditionally, without expecting anything in return.NEW!Madonna Louise Ciccone
Madonna Louise Ciccone, an American singer-songwriter who holds a Guinness World Record as the best-selling female recording artist worldwide.
When we love someone, we often wish to receive the same amount of love in return.
That desire stems from a strong longing to be loved, but love is originally the embodiment of caring for another person.
Her famous quote states that love without expecting anything in return is truly courageous.
When you feel anxious, why not recall this quote and take another look at your own way of loving?
In the new year, even small things are fine—let’s set tasks for ourselves one by one and keep to them. Isn’t that the shortcut to building what we call our true selves?NEW!Kazuko Watanabe
This is a famous quote by Kazuko Watanabe, a Catholic nun.
Life refers to the time we have spent so far—but then, what is our true self? When we think about it, it’s difficult, isn’t it? She suggests a shortcut to creating our authentic selves: bring change to yourself.
It could be habits in daily life or goals for your life—anything is fine.
What matters is expanding your own potential and discovering what is important to you.
The accumulation of that may, before you know it, become your true self.