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 for when you're feeling down. Words that give you the strength to stand back up (51–60)
People stumble their way toward success.Mary Kay Ash
Mary Kay Ash, the entrepreneur known as the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics in the United States, once said, “People stumble toward success.” This quote teaches us that it’s only natural to stumble precisely because the path is difficult.
If we walk an easy, level road, we can move forward without change or hardship, but it’s hard to keep going the same way on a long and rugged journey.
People tend to feel broken or give up when they stumble, but if we can believe it’s because we’re on the right path, we may find the courage to hold our ground and push forward.
There is no piece that cannot move forward.Makoto Nakahara
Makoto Nakahara, a shogi professional who won five lifetime titles and defined an era in the shogi world.
His famous words, “There is no piece that cannot advance,” are a perspective unique to a shogi player.
No matter what kind of personality a piece has, it still moves forward; this reminds us that whether our pace is fast or slow, it’s fine to proceed in our own way.
It’s a quote that gives you a gentle push—one to recall when you find yourself comparing with others or when things aren’t going as you hoped and your spirit is about to break.
If you keep looking down, you won’t be able to find a rainbow.Charles Chaplin
Charles Chaplin, a comedian known as a leading figure of the silent film era, wore many hats: film actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and composer.
His famous quote, “You’ll never find a rainbow if you’re looking down,” offers a message of courage for moments when we feel our spirits breaking.
When people are down, they tend to look downward both emotionally and physically.
Yet this gentle maxim teaches that unless we look ahead and up, we risk missing what is important and beautiful.
I want to turn both the reality of the good and the reality of the bad into nourishment for what comes next.Naoko Takahashi
Former track and field athlete Naoko Takahashi, known as the gold medalist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the first woman in Japanese sports to receive the People’s Honor Award.
Her famous quote, “I want to turn both the reality of good things and the reality of bad things into nourishment for what comes next,” is quintessential Takahashi, whose radiant smile stood out even through the rigors of competitive life.
If we can turn everything that happens to us into power, we should be able to keep growing.
It’s a positive saying that encourages viewing both the good and the bad in a constructive light.
Even if you get hurt, it’s far more fun than a life where you can’t even fail.Naoko Takahashi
“Failure teaches success.” was later translated as “Failure is the mother of success,” and it has continued to give courage to many people.
I’ve heard it attributed to Edison.
When he was searching for a suitable filament material, Edison failed in a hundred consecutive experiments.
Even then, he took those failures positively, saying, “We’ve discovered a hundred materials that aren’t suitable for filaments.” You can sense the same kind of positivity in Mr.
Takahashi’s words, can’t you? “If only I had picked up the pace a bit then,” “If only I had gone a bit wider on the outside”—regrets like these can surely be turned into the next success.
If you want to see a rainbow, you have to put up with a little rain.Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton, a singer-songwriter known as a leading figure in country music and active across many fields as an actor, writer, entrepreneur, and humanitarian, once said, “If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” From these words, we can learn the mindset needed to pursue our goals.
Dreams are dreams precisely because they’re difficult enough that we’re not sure we can achieve them, and we can’t obtain them without effort or hardship.
It’s a memorable quote that reminds us everyone is working toward their own dreams.
Do not abandon the hero within your soul.Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche, a classical philologist often interpreted as a representative thinker of existentialism.
His famous words, “Do not abandon the hero in your soul,” convey the importance of valuing yourself.
Everyone possesses talents and potential within, but when we compare ourselves to others or face a string of setbacks, our spirits can break.
However, if you give up on yourself, that’s when everything truly ends.
These words teach us to believe in ourselves to the very end.
Even if you’re knocked down 99 times, all you need is to stand up the 100th time.Vincent van Gogh
If you’re pursuing your goals and dreams, you’ll probably fail many times.
When you fail, you can lose confidence and think, “It’s impossible for me.
I should just quit.” At times like that, remember this quote from Van Gogh: “If you fall down 99 times, get up the 100th.” With that attitude, you can overcome any failure.
They say failure is the mother of success and essential for growth, so don’t be afraid to fail—keep challenging yourself.
What matters is not that you never fall, but that you get back up quickly.Shigeta Saitō
Known affectionately as “Mota,” psychiatrist Shigeta Saito was also an essayist and a dynamic public speaker.
His famous saying, “What matters is not avoiding collapse, but getting back up quickly,” teaches us what true strength is.
In life, we may face obstacles and hardships that knock us down.
At such times, rather than condemning ourselves as weak and giving up, this message reminds us that what truly matters is the strength to stand up again and again.
The only people who never make mistakes are those who do nothing.Theodore Roosevelt
I think everyone has experienced being paralyzed by the fear of failure.
Once you start thinking, “What if I fail…?” your thoughts spiral in a negative direction, and you end up even less able to do anything.
However, Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, said, “The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.” In other words, as long as you take action, everyone will inevitably fail to some extent, so there’s no need to fear failure.
If you’re struggling to take action toward your dreams or goals, or if you’re feeling down after a setback, let these words encourage you to look forward.
