RAG Music - Quote A few words for life... carefully selected words to give One-Line Life Quotes: Carefully selected words that gently nudge you forward 10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminder kepiko 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 for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
Accompanist / Piano Instructor yuri Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.
The words of great figures—who have accumulated many experiences, wrestled with doubts, and taken action throughout their lives—are filled with wisdom for living richly.
One way to learn from them is by reading autobiographies.
But many people may find it hard to make time to read thick volumes packed with the intense lives of those who came before us.
So in this article, we’ve selected and shared some special messages from the famous quotes of various notable people that can serve as hints for life.
If you read them when you hit a wall or feel lost and unsettled, you’ll likely find your heart calming and your thinking becoming clearer.
Table of Contents One-Line Life Quotes: Carefully selected words that gently nudge you forward Preconceptions turn the possible into the impossible. Shohei Ohtani What is hard to gain and easy to lose is time. Yoshida Shōin Starting something is not scary. What’s scary is starting nothing. Michael Jordan Live as if you were to die tomorrow; learn as if you were to live forever. Mahatma Gandhi Today, too, is a day of a lifetime. Yukichi Fukuzawa God doesn’t want us to succeed; He only wants us to try. Mother Teresa Actually, there isn’t a single person who’s completely safe/harmless/without flaws. Gorgo Matsumoto The greatest glory in living is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. Nelson Mandela Thoughts become words, words become actions, actions become habits, habits become character, and character becomes destiny. Margaret Thatcher The dreams you hold tend to produce results roughly proportional to your life. Masayoshi Son There is only one way to succeed: never give up. Jeff Bezos Life is short, my friend, so we have no time to make a fuss or quarrel. John Lennon No matter how distant a dream you have, as long as you believe in your own potential, it’s within reach. Hermann Hesse I decided not to quit while I was still in my prime, but to keep throwing even if I fall from grace and end up in tatters. Hideo Nomo Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy. Anne Frank All misfortunes are nothing but stepping stones to the future. Thoreau Some believe that clinging makes you stronger. But sometimes, letting go is what makes you strong. Hermann Hesse The key to resisting stress is being moved—above all else. And it’s also the secret to a long life. Shigeta Saitō If you fail, you can try again. If trying again doesn’t work, think it through once more and try again. Konosuke Matsushita Beyond the clouds, the sky is always blue. Louisa May Alcott If you believe in yourself, there are no limits. Cristiano Ronaldo If you worry about what you don’t have, you’ll waste what you do have. Ken Keyes Jr. The most important thing is to find what you love. Kobe Bryant There are no solutions in life. What exists in life is only a force in motion. We have to create that force. The solutions will follow afterward. Saint-Exupéry Always be yourself, express yourself, and believe in yourself. Don’t imitate some successful person’s example. Bruce Lee Doing things without changing what I aim for Ryo Ishikawa I wonder what truly matters to me. Who are the people who are truly important to me? I feel like just sincerely pondering these two things is enough to lead a good life. Shigesato Itoi There’s no need to look back. There are countless paths ahead of you. Lu Xun Happiness is always decided by your own heart. Mitsuo Aida Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value. Albert Einstein I don’t resent at all that my start was an unfortunate one. Coco Chanel You only realize your own strength once you’ve overcome your anxieties and concerns. Serena Williams It is not noble to be superior to others. Ernest Hemingway If you carry out the result of gratitude first, the joy that causes it will arrive afterward. Tempū Nakamura Being honest doesn’t necessarily lead to having many friends. But it always leads to having true friends. John Lennon It’s not that we don’t try because it’s difficult. It becomes difficult because we don’t try. Lucius Annaeus Seneca What matters is not who you’ve been up to now, but who you’ll be from here on. Ella Fitzgerald Lifelong learning, lifelong youth. Mitsuo Aida Only one thing is necessary: believe you can do it. Anthony Robbins If you think you can, you can; if you think you can’t, you can’t. This is an unshakable, absolute law. Pablo Picasso Be true to the dreams of your youth. Friedrich von Schiller Dreams—nothing else creates the future. Victor Hugo Even when life doesn’t go well, it’s sometimes necessary not to blame yourself too much and to think that society is at fault. Sweat you shed never lies Chiyonofuji Mitsugu The fence isn’t built by others; it’s built by yourself. Aristotle Only the weak are unable to forgive; forgiveness is a sign of strength. Gandhi To challenge yourself is to grow. LeBron James Life and work outcomes = mindset × enthusiasm × ability Kazuo Inamori Your happiness in life depends on the quality of your thoughts. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus People deserve praise or blame solely based on whether they have the perseverance to see things through. Leonardo da Vinci No matter how much criticism I receive, I will stick to the path I believe in. Yoshihide Suga The attitude of refusing to listen to any criticism is wrong, but so is getting depressed when you hear it. Tarō Asō My soul will tell me when it’s time to move forward. Oprah Winfrey Don’t rush. But don’t give up. Shigeta Saitō Above all, the most important thing is to enjoy life, to feel happiness—that’s all that matters. Audrey Hepburn In life, “success” is not guaranteed. However, in life, “growth” is guaranteed. Yuji Nakazawa The best investment, in my opinion, is investing in yourself. Warren Buffett The loneliest are the strongest. Keita Goto Results will follow later. Ichiro Joy must have sorrow, and sorrow must have joy. Goethe The key to success is to start right now. Mark Twain I think you should do what you like. Seiji Chihara Success and failure mean the same thing. Seiji Chihara I want to teach the people booing me that in life, the time for revenge always comes. Juan Sebastián Verón Talent can change depending on how you choose to live your life afterward. Dragan Stojković You only get one chance. That’s why I’m always prepared. Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri The one who thinks it’s the beginning is me, and the one who thinks it’s already the end is also me. Federico Fellini Those who do not learn blame others. Those who are beginning to learn blame themselves. Those who understand what it means to learn blame no one. I want to be someone who keeps on learning. Kazu Miura If I can’t make it at 30, I’ll do it at 34—and if that doesn’t work, I’ll do it at 38. I’m never giving up. Masashi Nakayama May music lift the burdens from your life and help you share happiness with others. Ludwig van Beethoven Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. Thomas Alva Edison I want to aim for the place I couldn’t reach. Tanaka Marcus Tulio So that’s it—that’s the blue bird we’ve been searching for. We went so far to look for it, but it was really here all along. Maurice Maeterlinck It isn’t easy to surpass the great heroes of the past. But who can say for sure that you can’t? Dimitar Berbatov It’s in the worst situations that our humanity is truly tested. Don’t trust people who try to run away or hide in those moments. Alan Shearer Even if it means taking a bit of a detour, I believe that as long as you don’t forget your goal, you’ll get there someday. Shunsuke Nakamura What matters is not missing the moment. Even if a chance comes around, it’s meaningless if you don’t deliver results. Iker Casillas Fernández Only those who keep challenging themselves can seize success. W. Clement Stone If the system can win, there’s no need for a manager (or coach). Arthur Antunes Coimbra (Zico) Do not neglect self-discipline, or else human progress will come to a halt. Guus Hiddink Because there is a premise of happiness, we are able to find unhappiness. Kazlaser It’s okay. Let’s rebuild again. Akio Tadano If you endure, you will surely become a strong person. Senichi Hoshino Prepare pessimistically, act optimistically. Kazuo Inamori Humans will end up happy anyway. Kazlaser If you don’t give up on yourself, there is no such thing as losing in life. Shigeta Saitō Eliminate mental wavering by returning to the origin. Yuto Nagatomo Effort opens every door. Jean de La Fontaine You can just be yourself. Mother Teresa It’s important to honestly admit your own ignorance. If you do, someone will surely appear who will teach you enthusiastically. Walt Disney Think about a problem from every possible angle until you find a solution, but once it’s solved, never worry about it again. Dale Carnegie [One-Line Wisdom for Life] A carefully selected collection of gentle, encouraging words (21–30) If you believe in yourself, there are no limits. Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo has set numerous scoring records and won many titles on the world’s biggest stage.
Through strict self-discipline and relentless effort, he has always continued to believe in his own potential.
The moment you decide something is impossible for you, your learning and growth come to a halt.
Limits are not imposed by others; they are born from your own assumptions.
By believing in yourself and continuing to work hard, you can get closer to results beyond what you imagined.
This passionate quote highlights the importance of confidence that springs from within.
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If you worry about what you don’t have, you’ll waste what you do have. Ken Keyes Jr. People tend to focus on what they can’t do.
And it’s natural to feel envious of those who seem more talented.
But the same is true for others as well.
Everyone has their own individuality, with strengths and weaknesses.
People are people, and you are you.
You, too, surely have wonderful talents and value that others would envy.
Instead of fixating on what you lack, why not turn your attention to what you have? You’ll likely discover something new.
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The most important thing is to find what you love. Kobe Bryant These are the words spoken by former professional basketball player Kobe Bryant at a press conference after his retirement.
Basketball was his life itself—he even described it as something he was born to play.
That’s why many people were worried about him after he retired.
But he did a lot of soul-searching and seems to have found a next phase he could embrace—something he loved.
It’s a quote that supports the heart when you’ve lost something precious or when the path you were meant to follow is cut off.
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There are no solutions in life. What exists in life is only a force in motion. We have to create that force. The solutions will follow afterward. Saint-Exupéry Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the novelist who wrote The Little Prince, a work loved around the world.
Here is a passage from one of his masterpieces, Night Flight.
Life never goes backward.
As we keep moving forward, we must overcome many things.
However, moving forward requires effort.
He tells us that as we proceed through life by trial and error, we can find solutions to each of our problems.
If you’re troubled and have come to a standstill, try, above all, to take a step forward.
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Always be yourself, express yourself, and believe in yourself. Don’t imitate some successful person’s example. Bruce Lee Bruce Lee, a martial artist and movie star, is famous for films like Enter the Dragon and The Way of the Dragon.
His quotes often jolt us into realization.
When you lack confidence and don’t know what to do, do you find yourself comparing with or imitating those who seem better? Mimicking others might calm your nerves, but people are people, and you are you.
Imitation doesn’t always work—no matter what, you can’t become someone else.
Since each of us has our own individuality, the best thing is to trust yourself and express yourself in your own way.
This quote reminds us of that important truth.
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Doing things without changing what I aim for Ryo Ishikawa The 2013 season, in which he took on the challenge as a member of the U.S.
men’s tour.
These were the words Ryo Ishikawa spoke as he carried great expectations and pressure.
He said it was important not to change his playing style in order to maximize his abilities in an unprecedented environment.
When the environment changes, the people around you change as well, so it’s hard to do everything as usual.
But how you keep from losing yourself in that situation leads to victory.
You can really feel Ishikawa’s strong will, as someone who has always played golf to win.
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I wonder what truly matters to me. Who are the people who are truly important to me? I feel like just sincerely pondering these two things is enough to lead a good life. Shigesato Itoi It teaches us that happiness isn’t found outside, but within our own hearts.
When we’re always busy, we tend to get distracted by others’ opinions, money, and trends.
But simply pausing now and then to ask, “What truly matters to me?” gradually brings our way of living into alignment.
For example, if you decide you want to cherish time with your beloved family and friends, your actions will naturally start to change.
These words convey that facing your true feelings leads to a warmer, more fulfilling life.
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There’s no need to look back. There are countless paths ahead of you. Lu Xun It’s a message about not dwelling on the past and looking toward the future.
It means you don’t need to be dragged down by failures or regrets; new chances and possibilities are always opening up before you.
For example, even if you fail a test, don’t think “it’s too late”—turn your focus to studying and the next challenge.
Even if things don’t go well at work, believing there are still many paths ahead allows you to act positively.
These words teach us the courage to stop fretting over the past, hold on to hope, and take a step forward.
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Happiness is always decided by your own heart. Mitsuo Aida These are the words of Mitsuo Aida, who was active as a poet and calligrapher, that resonate especially when you find yourself wondering whether you are truly happy.
He speaks to us, saying that whether we feel any event as happiness or unhappiness depends on our own hearts, not on someone else’s judgment.
It also feels like a call to see things positively—if we keep thinking on the bright side, even ordinary days can turn into something fulfilling.
It’s a quote we want to remember on anxious days, one that helps turn our feelings forward.
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Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value. Albert Einstein When you think of Albert Einstein, he’s famous as a great figure well-versed in physics, such as the theory of relativity.
Are you familiar with his quote, “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value”? These words carry the idea that a person’s worth is measured not by what they gain, but by what they give.
Everyone has ambitions, like wanting to be successful or wealthy.
But does the mere fact of success determine a person’s value? So that we don’t become so fixated on prestige that we lose sight of what truly matters, this quote urges us to live in a way that makes us a person of value not only in our own eyes, but also in the eyes of others.
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