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 figures that give us the power to live (81–90)
It wasn’t by chance that we made it back alive. This is our mission.Sandwich Man
These are words from Sandwichman, a comedy duo from Sendai, that express a determination to keep moving forward.
The key point is that at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, they happened to be in Kesennuma, Miyagi—one of the disaster areas—while filming a TV show.
They convey what it means that they survived: being alive in that place was both fate and a mission, and they believe they are called to walk forward and pass on the story to the future.
You can feel their love for their hometown and their resolve to carry it on their shoulders as they move ahead.
I have not failed. I’ve only found 10,000 ways that don’t work.Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison, one of the inventors who represent the United States, is also remembered by the nickname “the Wizard of Menlo Park.” This is a famous quote by an inventor who left achievements of global importance, expressing the value of continuing to take on challenges.
While the words may look like an excuse for failure, they clearly convey that by learning from those failures and continuing to try, one can ultimately reach success.
It’s a message that gives us courage to keep challenging ourselves, reminding us that even a person with countless accomplishments experienced many failures.
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.
If you endure, you will surely become a strong person.Senichi Hoshino
These are the words of Senichi Hoshino, who excelled as a player for the Chunichi Dragons during his career and later made his mark as a manager for the Chunichi Dragons, the Hanshin Tigers, and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
During the Great East Japan Earthquake, he was the manager of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, the team from the disaster-stricken region, and his words are remembered for inspiring many people.
He conveys that no matter what difficulties you face, you should give your all in the present and confront them head-on—that strength lies along the path you advance by doing so.
Because these are the words of Hoshino, who rebuilt teams whose results had faltered, they carry real persuasive power; they are words that lift your spirits and make you want to keep pushing forward.
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.
Yoshida Shōin, the thinker and educator who founded the Shōka Sonjuku, is said to have nurtured figures like Takasugi Shinsaku and Itō Hirobumi.
Let me share one of his famous sayings: “There is no success for those without dreams.” Having a dream doesn’t necessarily guarantee success, but people who succeed usually have one.
Without a dream, you won’t make the effort, nor will you aspire to grow.
If you want to succeed, first have a dream.
What kind of dream do you hold, and how do you want to let your life blossom?
Anyone who follows their own path is a hero.Hermann Hesse
Hermann Hesse, a writer who produced many works depicting a gentle way of life and who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
His famous quote, “Anyone who follows their own path is a hero,” is a message that gives a push to those setting out on a new journey, isn’t it? No matter what you aim for or what kind of life you choose to lead, these words affirm that anyone who follows the path they have chosen is a hero, and many people may find courage in that.
It’s an uplifting quote that I recommend as a send-off message, one that can save the heart.
