Encouraging quotes for when you're feeling down. Words that give you the strength to rise again.
I messed up at work, I got a bad grade on a test, I had a fight with a friend…
When we’re living our lives, there are bound to be times when we feel down.
In this article, we’ll introduce famous quotes we hope you’ll read when you’re feeling low.
We’ve gathered words that offer meaning to failure, encourage you by saying there’s no need to be discouraged, and remind you to cherish yourself—messages that can lift you up from many different angles.
When you want some gentle words of encouragement, be sure to check these out!
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Inspiring quotes to lift you up when you’re feeling down: words that give you the strength to rise (21–30)
Beyond the clouds, the sky is always blue.Louisa May Alcott
These are the words of Louisa May Alcott, an American novelist, speaking to the idea that if we endure even in painful times, brighter days are sure to come.
Even when the sky is covered with clouds, there is blue sky beyond them—this conveys the fact that with time, hardship will pass.
If we think of the bright essence as merely hidden by clouds, it may help us remember that brightness.
The message is hopeful: suffering doesn’t last, and there is surely something bright ahead.
Do not laugh at those who have fallen. They tried to walk.Seiichiro Yonekura
These are the words of Seiichiro Yonekura, expressing how wonderful failure can be, even though many people laugh at it.
If you fell, it means you had been walking up to that point—failure is proof that you took action.
It also feels like a question directed at those who laugh at someone who has fallen: are they really moving forward themselves, and do they have the right to laugh at failure? It’s the kind of message that affirms the effort someone has made up to their setback and gives them the courage to keep walking.
It’s never too late to become the person you wanted to be.George Eliot
These are words left to us by George Eliot, who was active as a writer in Britain and is known for works such as Adam Bede and Middlemarch.
While many people give up feeling they’ve missed the right moment, she shows a way of thinking that asks whether now might be the time to begin.
When starting something, the very desire to begin is what matters most—she conveys a message urging us to take the plunge with resolve.
Even when it feels like the timing has slipped away, the strength of your intention can carry you through; her words also communicate the importance of willpower.
No matter how many times you fall, you can start over as many times as it takes. “Failure” isn’t falling down; it’s not getting back up.Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford, a leading actress of the silent film era who also helped found the film production company United Artists, was someone who knew the countless challenges behind success.
Her words resonate with hearts that might hesitate for fear of failure when starting a new life.
Anyone can stumble; what truly matters is the will to stand up again.
Even on days when things don’t go as planned in an unfamiliar environment, her message reminds us that life allows us to start over as many times as we need.
It’s a quote that gives us the courage and the push to keep looking forward.
If other people can do it, there’s no way you can’t.From Fujiko Fujio's Doraemon
These are words from Doraemon, a manga loved across generations as one of Japan’s most iconic works.
They face head-on the feelings of discouragement that come from comparing yourself to others.
When you feel you’re not good at studying, it can seem like you alone are inferior, but differences in ability are born from accumulated effort and experience.
Before deciding you can’t do something, it’s important to adopt a mindset of trying.
Everyone has potential, and if you believe and move forward, the path will open.
It’s a famous quote that encourages positive action without denying yourself.
Even if my life is a losing battle, I want to fight until the very end.Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh was an artist who worked in the Netherlands, and many of his works, including Sunflowers, were only recognized after his death.
This is a famous quote attributed to that great artist—who had a profound influence on twentieth-century art—that conveys the strength to keep fighting to the very end.
It expresses a desire to fight even when you know you will lose, and it seems possible that this very attitude led to his posthumous acclaim.
It gives the impression that throwing yourself wholeheartedly into anything may lead to great achievements beyond defeat.
The greatest glory in living is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela, who also served as President of the Republic of South Africa, is known for his efforts in abolishing apartheid.
This is a quote from that great leader, who devoted himself to equality and peace for all people, and it conveys a strong will to keep taking on challenges.
When we strive to achieve something great, we inevitably face difficulties; even if we fail, what truly matters is to keep trying and overcome them.
Even on a path where we often stumble, it makes us believe that if we press on without giving up, brilliant results await us.
If you admit defeat, you lose. Even if you acknowledge how bad the situation is, as long as you are determined to see it through to the end, a chance to win will emerge.
If you admit defeat, you lose…
If you read just that part, it gives the impression of being stubborn and unwilling to give up, but if you read on, you can understand what President Trump is trying to say.
Admitting defeat means giving up on that fight.
Once you give up the fight, the path that leads to the future is cut off.
But as long as you don’t give up, there may be a chance to turn the situation around.
It’s important to acknowledge failures and unfavorable circumstances while maintaining a strong, unwavering heart that doesn’t give up.
You only realize your own strength once you’ve overcome your anxieties and concerns.Serena Williams
These are the words of Serena Williams, who has etched her name in the history of women’s tennis.
The road to the top is never smooth; it is a continuous struggle with anxiety and doubt.
When studying, everyone has moments when they lose confidence in their abilities and feel like stopping.
It is precisely at such times that the experience of facing your anxieties rather than fleeing from them becomes essential.
Only after overcoming difficulties can you recognize strengths beyond what you imagined.
It’s a quote that accepts the emotional turbulence that comes with challenge and gives you the courage to move forward.
You don’t have to make yourself small for the sake of others.Beyoncé
Beyoncé, an American singer-songwriter who debuted as a member of Destiny’s Child and has also been active as a dancer, music producer, and actor.
Her famous quote, “You don’t have to shrink yourself for others,” serves as a reminder to value yourself.
In Japan especially, where service and endurance are often considered virtues, people tend to sacrifice themselves.
But this message teaches us that it’s your life, and you shouldn’t hold yourself back too much for others.
