Quotes from great figures that give us the power to live

Last updated:2026/2/2

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.

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 strength to live (1–10)

Walls (obstacles) only appear to those who are capable.Ichiro (Suzuki Ichiro)

Ichiro Suzuki, formerly a professional baseball player who achieved numerous accomplishments not only in Japan but also in Major League Baseball.

His disciplined dedication to the game captivated people and influenced many who followed.

One of his famous quotes is, “Walls only appear to those who can overcome them.” In other words, obstacles come only to those capable of surpassing them—when you face a wall, it’s a chance.

Most of us tend to dislike the walls that stand in our way, but let’s see them as opportunities for growth and strive to overcome them!

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sasashina

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The fence isn’t built by others; it’s built by yourself.NEW!Aristotle

These words point you toward the idea that the feeling of others keeping their distance might actually be something you’re creating yourself.

When you sense hostility or a wall from someone, it’s important to face your own heart; by shifting your perspective, that wall may dissolve.

It conveys an encouraging message that precisely when you’re troubled by walls, you should broaden your thinking flexibly and find solutions.

It also seems like guidance that can prompt self-reflection, facing your inner self, and serve as a catalyst for growth.

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kappamaki

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We must not forget that everyone thinks they are superior to others in some respect.NEW!Dale Carnegie

These words convey that what makes someone outstanding differs from person to person, and that recognizing those differences is a key point in understanding others.

They express the idea that both we and others possess areas where we excel more than other people, and that acknowledging those strengths and their importance—and showing respect—brings us closer.

While it’s a way of describing how to win hearts, the focus on differences between people can also serve as a cue to affirm yourself and move forward positively.

It also seems like a message to carefully analyze and affirm not only others’ strengths but your own, and to spread kindness.

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kappamaki

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It’s not over when you lose. It’s over when you quit.NEW!Richard Nixon

These words speak to the importance of continuing to move forward even when many people stop after defeat or failure.

Losing is not the end of life; if you refuse to give up and keep going, there’s still a chance to grasp the results you seek.

It tells us that the moment you falter and stop challenging yourself is the true defeat, and it embodies an indomitable spirit that persists until the results come.

It prompts us to consider the importance of resetting our mindset and the value of perseverance.

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kappamaki

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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.NEW!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.

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kappamaki

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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.NEW!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.

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Hane Keisuke

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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.NEW!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.

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sasashina

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