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.
Quotes from great people that give us the strength to live (111–120)
No matter how dark it is, the stars are shining.Ralph Waldo Emerson
No matter how dark it is, the stars still shine. — Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson, known as a leading figure of Transcendentalism and also an essayist who wore many hats as a thinker, philosopher, writer, and poet.
His famous quote, “Though we may travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not,” reminds us that even when hope is invisible, it certainly exists.
Real stars can sometimes be hidden by temperature or weather, but that doesn’t mean the stars themselves disappear.
Even if our circumstances or feelings make things seem invisible, this quote helps us realize that hope never truly goes away.
When you give up, that’s when someone else wins.Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant, who played for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and was affectionately known as the Black Mamba, left many memorable words as a great basketball player.
Among them are words that express how giving up affects outcomes.
They directly confront the fact that when you give up your own victory, you let someone else win.
His words remind us that to claim victory for ourselves, we must not give up—we must stay firmly committed to winning.
There is no piece that cannot move forward.Makoto Nakahara
Today's Quote #11 'Pieces' by Makoto Nakahara (Shogi Player) [#shorts]
Shogi player Makoto Nakahara, who holds five Lifetime Titles and also served as president of the Japan Shogi Association.
His famous saying, “There is no piece that cannot move forward,” truly reflects the unique perspective of a professional shogi player.
The eight types of pieces used in shogi each have different characteristics, but whether a piece is weak or strong, they all share the ability to move forward.
The message that anyone can make progress regardless of their abilities or circumstances can be a great source of courage for those on the verge of breaking.
It’s a quote to remember before you give up on something.
Imagine being in the depths of despair; whining and giving in to hopelessness only hinders your success and, moreover, disturbs your peace of mind.Hideyo Noguchi
These words teach us that it’s precisely in hard times that it’s important to keep looking forward.
When people face painful events, they tend to want to complain or voice their weakness.
But repeating that won’t improve the situation; if anything, it unsettles the mind and makes it even harder to move ahead.
Rather than being trapped by despair, calmly thinking about what you can do now and putting it into action is the first step to opening up the future.
If you turn the time spent grumbling into effort, the situation should gradually change.
It’s a quote that encourages proactive, positive action.
Being a person with a disability is not a problem in academia.Hideyo Noguchi
These words convey the message that physical disabilities are irrelevant to learning.
Hideyo Noguchi suffered severe burns as a child and lost the full use of his left hand, yet he overcame that hardship to become a world-renowned bacteriologist.
What matters in scholarship is not the state of one’s body, but the will and effort to keep seeking knowledge.
It’s not others who impose limits on us, but our own minds.
There is no need to give up because of a disability; in fact, great achievements await beyond the challenges we overcome.
This is a famous saying that nurtures a spirit of challenge at all times.
Do not anticipate difficulties. Do not trouble your mind over things that may never happen. Always keep sunshine in your heart.Benjamin Franklin
Do not anticipate difficulties. Do not trouble your mind over things that may never happen. Always keep the sun in your heart.
Benjamin Franklin, a meteorologist who contributed to American independence and wore many hats as a politician, diplomat, writer, and physicist.
His famous quote, “Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen.
Keep in the sunlight,” reminds us of the importance of taking that first step.
When you’re about to start something new, do you ever find yourself imagining only the worst? Caution isn’t a bad thing, but this is a quote to remember when overthinking leaves you stuck.
I never dreamed about success. I just worked for it.Estée Lauder
These are words by Estée Lauder, who was deeply involved in founding the American cosmetics brand Estée Lauder.
Focusing on dreaming and moving toward success, they make us feel that the direction of our efforts matters.
They convey that success cannot be achieved by wishing alone; you need to work toward it to reach success.
Once you envision success, all that remains is to keep working toward it—words that seem to express a straightforward, experience-based attitude of steady effort.
One of the secrets to success in life is to be prepared for when opportunity comes.Benjamin Disraeli
Benjamin Disraeli, who also served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, is often remembered more for his political career than for his work as a novelist.
This is a famous quote from a figure who made major contributions to British politics, expressing an attitude toward seizing opportunities.
It tells us that preparation is essential for success, and that being thoroughly prepared for the moment opportunity arrives leads to achievement.
Rather than merely waiting for chances, we should keep preparing until they come—words that also point us toward steady, continuous effort.
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.
