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.
- Recommended as life tips! A collection of short, memorable quotes from great figures
- Heartfelt! Inspiring Quotes Left by Great Figures of Japan
- Words I want to make my motto that always inspire me
- Quotes that save your heart in times of pain or hardship
- Mottos that are sure to lift your spirits and keep you positive!
- Short, heart-stirring words of encouragement! Courageous quotes that push you to take a step toward tomorrow.
- Encouraging words that give you strength. Words you’ll want to share with those around you.
- Short quotes that reach your heart in an instant. Words to encourage you right now.
- Gives you the power to overcome entrance exams! Short quotes by great and famous people.
- Words that strongly push you forward and give you energy
- Cherish each and every day! Let your life shine with profoundly moving, supreme quotes.
- For those striving in their studies! A collection of inspiring quotes about giving your best that speaks to the heart.
- Powerful yet gentle, words that save the heart... Encouraging words that lift you up in tough times.
Quotes from great figures that give us the strength to live (41–50)
Effort is always rewarded. If there is effort that isn’t rewarded, then it can’t yet be called effort.Sadaharu Oh
Everyone has probably heard the phrase “hard work pays off” at least once.
But many people wonder, “Does it really?” That’s because sometimes hard work doesn’t get rewarded.
However, Sadaharu Oh, the baseball legend known for his one-legged batting stance, left us these words: “Effort that doesn’t pay off can’t yet be called effort.” Once you learn about the grueling, blood-and-sweat effort behind his story, you’ll surely be convinced.
When success feels out of reach, let’s take it positively as a sign that there’s still room to push our effort further.
Quotes from great figures that give us the power to live (51–60)
If you laugh, the world laughs with you. If you cry, you cry alone.Ella Wheeler Wilcox
These are the opening words of “Solitude,” a work by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, a poet who was active in the United States.
They express the connection between sorrow and loneliness and also convey how important it is to stay positive.
When you are laughing, people gather; when you are sad, you are alone—this encourages us to be as positive as possible so that people will come together.
It also stirs the courage to face hardship, reminding us that it is we ourselves who overcome suffering.
It is precisely because there are restraints that I can fly. It is precisely because there is sorrow that I can soar high. It is precisely because there is adversity that I can run. It is precisely because there are tears that I can move forward.Mahatma Gandhi
This is a famous quote left by Mahatma Gandhi, also known as the Father of Indian Independence, expressing an indomitable spirit that turns adversity into strength.
It seems to convey the driving force that propelled the struggle toward independence, suggesting that the greater the hardship, the greater the power to confront it.
It also depicts the march of the struggle, in which each encounter with difficulty builds strength and gradually leads to great success.
The content reveals the power born of constraint and the intensity of the yearning for freedom.
Unless one has eaten bread with tears, one cannot know the taste of life.Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
These are words that appear in Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who was active as a poet in Germany.
They speak to the idea that life is not composed only of joyous times, but also includes deep sorrow and loneliness, and that it is precisely these experiences that lead to the richness of life.
It expresses that life’s depth is revealed through negatives such as sadness, suffering, and solitude—that they are not merely bad.
It also suggests that rather than stopping and seeing suffering as something purely negative, it is important to move forward from it.
Beyond the clouds, the sky is always blue.Louisa May Alcott
These are the words of Louisa May Alcott, an American novelist, speaking to the idea that if we endure even in painful times, brighter days are sure to come.
Even when the sky is covered with clouds, there is blue sky beyond them—this conveys the fact that with time, hardship will pass.
If we think of the bright essence as merely hidden by clouds, it may help us remember that brightness.
The message is hopeful: suffering doesn’t last, and there is surely something bright ahead.
Face great sorrows with courage, and face small sorrows with patience. After you finish the day’s work through hard effort, sleep in peace. The rest is in God’s hands.Victor Hugo
These are the words of Victor Hugo, who was active as a poet in France, offering advice on how to strive day by day.
From the idea that when suffering is great you need courage, and when it is small you need patience, you can sense a message encouraging us to overcome difficulties with the strength that suits the situation.
It also gives the impression of portraying the importance of rest after making an effort, and conveys a powerful call to move forward with faith.
The words express a gentle reminder not to take on too much, that it’s important to stay composed and proceed calmly.
It’s okay to feel regret, to cry, to rejoice. That’s what it means to be human.Shuzo Matsuoka
These are the words of Shuzo Matsuoka, speaking to the idea that humans have a range of emotions—joy, sadness, and more—and that we don’t have to hide them.
As we go through each day, our emotions naturally shift; instead of suppressing them, expressing them as they are is part of being human.
It also conveys the message that even when we accept and move forward with our more vulnerable feelings, they can become the strength that carries us to the next step.
You can feel a strong wish for each person to affirm their own humanity, believe in themselves, and keep moving forward.