Recommended as life tips! A collection of short, memorable quotes from great figures
Many people who have achieved great things throughout human history have left behind quotes that symbolize their legacy.
These words often capture their guiding principles or philosophies, and many can serve as hints for living well even in the modern day.
Here, we present a selection of short yet profound quotations left by great figures.
Whether you have dreams and goals, or are troubled or uncertain about something, you’re sure to find words that fit your situation.
Please use them as a reference.
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Recommended as life tips! A collection of short, memorable quotes from great figures (61–70)
If we were just one minute earlier, we could save one more person.Calvin Coolidge
Let me introduce a powerful quote from Calvin Coolidge: “If you are one minute early, you can save one more person.” Calvin Coolidge was an American politician who also served as President.
This saying—“If you are one minute early, you can save one more person”—was apparently an American firefighting slogan that was introduced to Japan when the American Red Cross used it in 1923 (Taisho 12) to appeal for aid following the Great Kanto Earthquake.
These powerful words that crossed the ocean truly strike a chord, don’t they?
It wasn’t by chance that we made it back alive. This is our mission.Sandwich Man
These are words from Sandwichman, a comedy duo from Sendai, that express a determination to keep moving forward.
The key point is that at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, they happened to be in Kesennuma, Miyagi—one of the disaster areas—while filming a TV show.
They convey what it means that they survived: being alive in that place was both fate and a mission, and they believe they are called to walk forward and pass on the story to the future.
You can feel their love for their hometown and their resolve to carry it on their shoulders as they move ahead.
Honesty is always the best policy.George Washington
George Washington, who led the American Revolutionary War and laid the foundation of the nation as its first president, taught that honesty is the bedrock of trust and success.
His words show that a sincere attitude is important in everyday life as well.
Maintaining honesty in any situation is a crucial element in building long-term success and a stable life.
By facing things truthfully without lying, trust deepens and problems are resolved more smoothly.
It is a famous saying that can be seen as one guiding principle for living authentically in modern society.
Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison, known as the Wizard of Menlo Park, left behind numerous groundbreaking inventions such as the light bulb and the phonograph.
His words show that achieving great results requires not just a spark of inspiration, but overwhelming effort.
By persisting through many failures and conducting countless experiments, he ultimately produced great inventions—an attitude that comes through clearly.
This way of thinking conveys the truth that genuine success is only achieved when creativity is coupled with hard work.
It’s a famous quote that reminds us the path to success is supported by the steady accumulation of step-by-step effort.
Genius is nothing more than a mediocre person who works hard.Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein, who proposed the theory of relativity as a theoretical physicist and made great contributions to the advancement of science.
The words he left behind show that it is the accumulation of effort that brings talent into full bloom.
Precisely because these are the words of someone hailed as a scientific genius, they resonate deeply.
In studying or working, steadily taking small steps toward your goals leads to great results.
This quote teaches us that a persistent approach to anything builds confidence and ability, empowering us to enrich our lives.
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.Hideyo Noguchi
These words embody Hideyo Noguchi’s belief that the efforts and patience we practice in everyday life will, in the end, surely be rewarded.
When people can’t see results while they’re working hard, their spirits can waver, but this teaches us that by enduring that time, sweet fruits await in the future.
The words carry special weight because they come from someone who produced numerous achievements over a long career of research.
It conveys a strong message that sustained effort leads to later fulfillment and success.
It’s a quote to remember especially when you’re in the midst of hardship.
There are no coincidences in life. Don’t run away by blaming others or luck—let’s keep building our strength little by little.Kazu Miura
These are words from Kazu Miura that convey the idea that the difficulties we face in life are not a matter of chance or luck, and that it’s important to always be prepared.
They express the belief that if we recognize that everyone is destined to face hardships and build up our strength for them, we can overcome any challenge.
There’s also a message that blaming luck or others won’t lead to true strength, so it’s vital to accept reality and keep moving forward.
These words also reveal a determination to stay true to oneself and press on with strength, no matter the circumstances.
Beneath mud and earth lies solid rock; above clouds and mist shines the sun. At the height of discontent, there is still fortune, nor is hope absent.Kanzo Uchimura
I would like to introduce a famous saying by Kanzo Uchimura: “Beneath the mud lies bedrock; above the clouds and mist shines the sun.
Even at the height of complaint, happiness and hope are not absent.” Kanzo Uchimura was a Christian thinker active in the Meiji era.
Disasters can bring many hardships.
At such times, Uchimura left words he hoped we would remember.
It is said to mean that even when times are painful and difficult now, a stable and bright future surely awaits beyond.
He likens difficult situations to mud, and the bedrock represents the strength within us that lies beneath these serious problems.
Furthermore, he tells us that even when we feel or voice complaints, happiness and hope still exist.
Life brings all kinds of experiences, doesn’t it? Even so, we are reminded of the importance of maintaining a positive outlook.
Nature is an impartial and merciless enemy. Society is an unjust enemy with human sentiment.Soseki Natsume
Let me introduce a famous quote by Natsume Sōseki: “Nature is a fair yet ruthless enemy.
Society is an unjust yet compassionate enemy.” Natsume Sōseki was a Japanese novelist and scholar of English literature.
His major works include I Am a Cat, Botchan, Sanshirō, And Then, Kokoro, and Light and Darkness.
This line—“Nature is a fair yet ruthless enemy.
Society is an unjust yet compassionate enemy.”—appears in his work Reminiscences.
It’s a quote that encourages us not to underestimate nature and to prepare for natural disasters.
Natural disasters strike when we least expect them.Torahiko Terada
Here is a famous and important saying by Torahiko Terada: “Natural disasters strike when they have been forgotten.” Terada was a Japanese physicist, essayist, and haiku poet.
As a researcher, he was interested in disasters such as fires and earthquakes, and it is said that after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, he became even more deeply engaged with the subject.
This quote reminds us that the peaceful passing of everyday life without incident is not something to be taken for granted.
It is a phrase worth engraving in our hearts.