Great figures who have etched their names into history have left behind stirring words along with their achievements.
The strength to overcome adversity, profound insights that pierce the essence of life, and an unwavering belief in the future.
The words of those who have colored world history contain something that resonates across time.
Would you like to encounter the cool, spine-straightening quotes of these great individuals? In this article, we introduce quotations from historical figures that will ignite your spirit.
Surely, they will give you the courage to take a step forward starting tomorrow.
Cool quotes from historical figures! A collection of timeless sayings by great people that resonate across the ages (1–10)
To conquer oneself is the greatest victory.Plato
To conquer oneself is the greatest victory. — Plato #quote
The philosopher Plato, said to have also been active as a wrestler while exerting a great influence on later Western philosophy.
His famous quote, “The first and best victory is to conquer oneself,” teaches us what the true, formidable opponent—one we must battle forever—really is.
If the opponent is someone else, we can sometimes win by surpassing them in ability or effort.
But this message reminds us that it is truly valuable to overcome and triumph over our own weaknesses and temptations.
There is no such word as ‘impossible’ in my dictionary.Napoleon Bonaparte
Dictionary of Historical Quotations #2: “The word ‘impossible’ does not exist in my vocabulary.”
Napoleon Bonaparte, the military leader who was venerated as a hero for restoring order after the revolution and who ascended as Emperor of the First French Empire.
His famous quote, “Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools,” is something most people have likely heard at least once.
The strength of will to declare that nothing is impossible for oneself or for the world is evident when we look at his great achievements.
While, taken the wrong way, it can come across as overconfident, it’s also a saying that makes you feel that such a mindset is necessary to accomplish anything.
Something might happen even to those who merely wait, but it will be only the leftovers from those who made the effort.NEW!Abraham Lincoln
Do not wait for leftover fortune; seize it yourself. —Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, is also known as the “Father of Emancipation.” This quote teaches us the importance of taking initiative.
Many people hope for change yet fail to take action, often out of fear of failure or concern about risks.
However, if you want to seize great success or opportunities, you must think for yourself, put in the effort, and take action.
If you realize you’ve only been waiting, now is the time.
Step to the front yourself and carve out the path to success!
Love is accepting someone as they are without asking them to change.NEW!Diego Fabbri
Love is not asking the other person to change, but accepting them exactly as they are. — Diego Fabbri (Italian playwright) #quote
Are you unconsciously imposing your own ideal by saying, “Wouldn’t it be better if you did it this way?” Even if you mean well, it might be causing the other person stress.
If that strikes a chord, keep in mind a famous quote by Diego Fabbri—also known for receiving the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
Just because you feel connected doesn’t mean you should expect too much.
Accepting the other person as they are is also a form of love.
Some people are always seeking change, while others believe unchanging constancy is happiness.
Life isn’t all about speeding up.NEW!Mahatma Gandhi
Life isn’t all about speeding up.
Mahatma Gandhi, known as the “Father of Indian Independence,” advocated nonviolent civil disobedience and led India, then a British colony, to freedom.
As part of the civil disobedience movement, he organized boycotts of British goods and staged a protest against the British salt tax known as the Salt March.
He was imprisoned multiple times for these actions, yet he never changed his beliefs and chose the path of patience.
This famous quote reflects that very stance.
These are words that could only come from someone like him, who, over a long period, earned the trust of the people and patiently sought a path to success.
Even if my life is a losing battle, I want to fight to the very end.Vincent van Gogh
Even if my life is a losing battle... a quote by Van Gogh
An artist from the Netherlands who had a profound impact on the art world of the 20th century and a leading figure of Post-Impressionism, Vincent van Gogh.
His famous quote, “Even if my life is a losing battle, I want to keep fighting until the end,” carries particular weight precisely because he was not widely appreciated during his lifetime.
It’s a message that conveys a resolve and determination to follow the path one believes in, regardless of winning or losing, and it likely resonates across time with many people.
It’s a quote to remember when you feel lost in life.
When an enemy becomes a friend, can’t we say the enemy has been vanquished?Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, is hailed as the “Father of Emancipation” and “the greatest president in history.” His famous quote, “Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?” has startled many with its perspective.
An enemy is someone who bears malice or harmful intent toward us; if friendship can be built with such a person, the enmity disappears and there is no longer any reason to fight.
It is a message that extols the virtue of seeking the path of peace, rather than focusing on how to defeat the other side.
