Quotes that save your heart in times of pain or hardship

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.

Everyone, regardless of generation—whether it’s relationships, work, or for students, entrance exams and club activities—has some kind of worry.

When you can’t feel positive or you feel like throwing everything away, what can you do to bounce back? This time, we’ve compiled a list of quotes that will stay by your side during tough times.

From words that accept who you are right now to those that help shift your mindset forward, we’re sharing a wide range.

We hope you’ll find a quote that rescues your heart.

Quotes that save your heart in tough and painful times (11–20)

Failure is a wonderful opportunity to try again in a better way.Henry Ford

I’d like to share a quote by Henry Ford, the American entrepreneur and founder of Ford Motor.

There are few people who can say they’ve never failed, to a greater or lesser extent, in their lives.

When we fail at something we try for the first time, it’s natural to feel discouraged.

At times like that, remember Henry Ford’s words.

It’s rare to succeed perfectly on your first attempt.

What matters is how you view the failure at that moment.

If you see failure as an opportunity and keep trying without giving up, it can lead to success.

When you fail, recall this quote and don’t just try once—challenge yourself again and again.

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To have been born into this world—that in itself is the greatest opportunity, isn’t it?Ayrton Senna

Ayrton Senna, who excelled as a racing driver, achieved numerous accomplishments, including winning the Formula 1 World Championship.

This is a famous quote from the man often called “the greatest F1 driver in history,” expressing his view of what a chance truly is.

The very fact that we are alive in this world is, first and foremost, a great opportunity; as long as we are alive, we have the potential to accomplish anything.

It conveys an encouraging, forward-looking mindset.

These words remind us that everyone holds untapped potential and can take on any challenge.

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kappamaki

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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.

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kappamaki

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Life is about doing lots of seemingly meaningless things.Tomozō Sakura (Chibi Maruko-chan)

These are wise words from Tomozo Sakura, Maruko’s grandfather in the anime Chibi Maruko-chan.

He tells us that a long life is built on layers of seemingly meaningless moments, and that by steadily piling them up, life becomes fulfilling.

It feels like a gentle invitation to relax, directed at those who think they must constantly achieve something and end up tensing themselves.

It’s a kind message that reminds us to take life at an easy pace and to approach various things gently and gradually.

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kappamaki

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If you want to get out of your struggles, learn to relax and not be so tense.Shigeta Saitō

Dr.

Shigeo Saito, who was active as a psychiatrist and essayist and affectionately known as “Mota,” drew great attention for his words.

Among the many sayings he left behind, this is a famous quote that focuses on how to break free from hardship.

When we are in the midst of struggle, we tend to tense up unnecessarily, and he tells us that releasing that tension in our shoulders is the first step to getting out of hardship.

It conveys the message that relaxation is especially important when times are tough, encouraging us to stay calm and move forward.

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kappamaki

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Anyone who has never experienced failure has never tried anything new.Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein, who distinguished himself as a theoretical physicist, proposed a variety of theories that had a profound impact on later generations of physics.

These are the words of that great figure—often called the greatest physicist of the 20th century—speaking to the importance of maintaining a challenging spirit.

He tells us not to lament and stop when faced with setbacks, but to take pride in them as proof of our attempts and continue to take on challenges.

A person with no setbacks is simply someone who has never tried; his words convey a strongly positive attitude that urges us to first take pride in the fact that we dared to challenge ourselves.

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kappamaki

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Quotes that save the heart in tough and painful times (21–30)

I’m not interested in where you stumbled. I’m concerned with how you rise from it.Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation and achieved the reunification of the United States in the Civil War, is known as a great figure who served two terms as President of the United States.

Here is one of his famous quotes.

As you strive toward your dreams and goals, there will be times when you stumble and feel unable to move forward.

In such moments, your attention tends to focus only on failure, but that is precisely when you should recall these words.

You’ll find yourself thinking about how to stand up and move forward again—and feeling a renewed sense of positivity.

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