Remember these when you're unsure at work: short, powerful quotes and sayings that hit home.
When you’re struggling at work or hit a wall, the words of those who came before us can sometimes become a source of comfort.
Short phrases in particular, while simple, often carry deep meaning and have a way of quietly reaching our hearts even in the busyness of daily life.
Here, we’ll share brief quotes from great thinkers and notable figures that gently give you a push when you’re stuck or feeling unsure at work.
They’re sure to help you approach and think about your work in a more positive way.
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Remember these when you're unsure at work! Short, impactful quotes and sayings (21–30)
Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.Theodore Roosevelt
The politician Theodore Roosevelt, who served as the 26th President of the United States and also earned fame as a soldier, writer, hunter, explorer, and naturalist.
His famous quote, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are,” is quintessentially Roosevelt, a man of many facets.
If we refrain from taking action because of what we can’t do or don’t have, nothing will ever happen.
This quote teaches the importance of doing as much as we can with the resources at hand—wisdom to keep in mind for any kind of work.
Always strive to take one step forward. To stand still is to fall behind.Tokushichi Nomura
Tokushichi Nomura, an entrepreneur known for founding Resona Bank and Nomura Securities.
His famous saying, “Always strive to take one step forward; to stop means to fall behind,” is something worth recalling not only at work but in all aspects of life.
The message that standing still isn’t maintaining the status quo but actually moving backward reminds us of the importance of making daily progress.
Of course, there are times when we truly need rest, but it’s a phrase to keep in mind when you’re unsure about your work and other endeavors.
When you feel lost at work, remember these! Short, hard-hitting quotes and sayings (31–40)
The secret of ideas is persistence.Hideki Yukawa
Physicist Hideki Yukawa, who inscribed his name in history as the first Japanese Nobel Prize laureate.
From his famous quote, “The secret of ideas is tenacity,” we learn that great ideas never emerge from nothing.
It’s because we face a single matter head-on, with strong conviction and passion, that inspiration strikes—a message we should keep in mind in the workplace as well.
Precisely because these are the words of Hideki Yukawa, who achieved great feats, they are all the more convincing—powerful words indeed.
Work is a team sport.Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs, an American entrepreneur known as a founder of Apple and Pixar Animation Studios, famously said, “Work is a team sport.” This quote reminds us that individual play has its limits in any field.
It makes us realize that performance improves when we leverage each person’s strengths and compensate for one another’s weaknesses.
It’s a quintessential Steve Jobs statement—he openly said he modeled business after the Beatles—and it’s a quote that should be embraced in every workplace.
Start with the most important thing.Peter Drucker
Peter Drucker, an Austrian-born management scholar known as the inventor of modern management and often called a futurist.
His famous saying, “Start with what’s most important,” may be the secret to achieving better results at work.
Not only in work but in many areas of life, people tend to feel that the more important something is, the harder and more troublesome it seems, and they end up putting it off.
However, he teaches us that by finishing the things that absolutely must be solved first, we can move through the remaining tasks more smoothly.
It’s a quote I’d like to offer to those facing many problems and challenges—it may reveal a clue to finding solutions.
Nothing has survived in an organization without progress.Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale, a British social entrepreneur known as the “founder of modern medical statistics and nursing statistics” and the “mother of modern nursing education.” Her famous quote, “No organization has ever survived without progress,” warns of the dangers of complacency and maintaining the status quo.
Even outside of work, organizations that refuse to consider progress or improvement will sooner or later come to an end.
It is a cautionary message that teaches us that unremitting effort is always essential for continuity.
True work lies in breaking the established conventions of the world.Ryoma Sakamoto
Ryoma Sakamoto, a great figure who played a key role in achieving the Meiji Restoration as a Tosa-domain activist and who also excelled as an entrepreneur.
His famous saying, “Breaking the world’s established notions is the true work,” conveys a deep conviction about work and a lofty sense of purpose.
He insisted that mere imitation or rehashing precedents is not work; true work is surpassing the products of the past.
Coming from Ryoma Sakamoto—who demonstrated his managerial prowess at the end of the Edo period—this message carries particular weight.
It is a timeless quotation that underscores the importance of taking on challenges, resonating even today.