Quotes from great figures that give us the power to live
There are many people in the world called “great figures” who have astonished others, created useful technologies, and moved people’s hearts.
In this article, we carefully select and introduce famous quotes spoken by such great figures.
We’ve gathered quotes from a variety of perspectives—ones that give you the strength to face forward when you feel like giving up, ones that help you take one more step, and ones that let you feel love and dreams.
You might even come across a quote that supports your days—and your life.
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Quotes from great figures that give us the strength to live (71–80)
Do not think you’ve exhausted all options. Stand on the brink of a sheer cliff yourself. Only then will a new wind surely begin to blow.Konosuke Matsushita
These words say that even when faced with great hardship, you must not give up; what matters is taking that first step forward from there.
It expresses that precisely when you feel cornered, it is crucial to push on, because the outcome awaits beyond what may seem like a reckless challenge.
It also conveys that when you’re pressed to the limit, deliberately cutting off your escape routes enables bold actions and decisions.
It’s a message that teaches the mindset of turning adversity into strength and the importance of the courage to take that first step.
No matter how much we study and how diligent we are, things sometimes don’t go well. This is because the time is not yet ripe, so we must all the more encourage ourselves and endure.Eiichi Shibusawa
These are words left by Eiichi Shibusawa, whose portrait was also chosen for the 10,000-yen bill.
No matter how earnestly you pile up your efforts, there are times when things don’t go well.
However, that’s because the time isn’t ripe yet; his teaching is that you must encourage yourself and push through further.
In other words, it means to keep working without giving up until the time is right.
When you experience failure despite your efforts, it’s easy to give up then and there, but if the timing aligns, things should go well.
Let’s keep at it without losing heart until that moment arrives.
I believe that the true turning point for growth is whether you can keep moving forward step by step—without anxiety, without fear, and without hesitation—especially when you’re not seeing results.Yoshiharu Habu
These are words from the shogi player Yoshiharu Habu.
It’s frustrating when you’re working hard but not seeing results, isn’t it? You start to feel like you’re in the dark and lose sight of what to do.
But it’s precisely at times like these that you should keep steadily building your efforts, one step at a time.
Rushing ahead blindly out of impatience won’t lead to good outcomes.
Stay calm and keep moving forward, even little by little, along the path you believe in.
That very experience and strength will help you grow yet another step.
Let those who wish to leave, leave.Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great, monarch of the Kingdom of Macedon, one of the empires of ancient Greece.
Often called one of the most successful military commanders in history, Alexander the Great left behind numerous famous sayings.
Among them, this short yet resolute quote was addressed to the many soldiers who were exhausted by the long campaign.
It conveys the meaning: let those who wish to leave, leave; even if our numbers are few, we will continue the campaign with those who still have the will to fight.
Find a way. If there isn’t one, make one.Hannibal Barca
Hannibal Barca, renowned as Carthage’s great general who defeated the Roman army at the Battle of Cannae.
This famous quote is undeniably the powerful words of a true commander.
In 221 BCE, at the young age of twenty-six, he became the army’s commander and achieved numerous victories.
Perhaps this was because, as the quote suggests, he constantly sought ways to win, and if none could be found, he would create them himself.
His lofty ambition and unwavering resolve elevated him to a great general and made him a figure remembered and spoken of to this day.
Your happiness in life depends on the quality of your thoughts.Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, one of the Five Good Emperors and the 16th Roman emperor.
He is also known for leaving behind his work Meditations, and can be regarded as a model of a philosopher-king who preferred learning over war.
He was also a thinker within Stoic philosophy.
The happiness of life changes according to the quality of one’s own thoughts.
Controlling the mind and emotions through thought also affects how we ultimately interpret things.
In other words, a single way of thinking can make you happy—or unhappy.
People deserve praise or blame solely based on whether they have the perseverance to see things through.Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci, a master artist of the Renaissance known for The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa.
From this quote he left behind, we can sense the importance of perseverance.
The ability to carry through without abandoning what you have decided to do is essential for success.
By continuing to make efforts without giving up until the end, people earn praise and etch their names into history.
Leonardo da Vinci is known as a remarkably versatile figure, even called a “universal genius.” Perhaps it was precisely because he possessed this power of perseverance.