If you know them, they might become beacons that light your life’s path: a collection of memorable quotes.
In life, worries never seem to end—whether it’s the busyness of each day or anxieties about the future.
At times like these, having something to serve as a guiding star might help you move forward along the path you believe in without hesitation.
With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of memorable quotes.
From sayings that remind you of what truly matters to words that meet you where you are, you’re sure to find something that resonates with your current state of mind.
I hope you’ll recall them whenever you stumble and feel unable to take another step.
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If you know them, they might light your way in life: A collection of memorable quotes (81–90)
To mature, one must take the long way around.Takeshi Kaikō
The writer Ken Kaikō, who left behind a wide range of works—from novels based on his reporting experiences during the Vietnam War to essays about his hobby of fishing—once said, “To mature, one must take the long way around.” It’s a message that seems to call a halt to the modern trend of overvaluing youth.
Companies seek immediate contributors, and the arts are trending younger, but humans are neither completed nor truly grow in such a short span.
Isn’t it precisely through a variety of experiences and repeated failures that we mature? It’s a quote I want to remember as a personal motto—one that teaches us to move forward steadily without rushing.
Those who accomplish great things are always bold adventurers.Charles de Montesquieu
The French philosopher Charles de Montesquieu, often regarded as a father of sociology, left us a memorable quote: “Those who accomplish great things are always bold adventurers.” It’s a message worth keeping close to heart.
If we only do what anyone can think of, we won’t achieve results beyond imagination.
By advancing with conviction and facing what others don’t expect or have avoided, we can reach uncharted territory—this is what the quote seems to teach us.
It’s an inspiring motto that encourages us to take the first courageous step.
Stay hungry. Stay foolish.Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs, the entrepreneur who founded Apple and Pixar Animation Studios and generated countless revolutionary ideas.
His famous quote, “Stay hungry, stay foolish,” is well known as the words that concluded his 2005 commencement address at Stanford University.
The message—don’t be satisfied with the status quo and don’t be bound by conventional wisdom—reminds us of the ambition we must never forget in life.
It’s a quote I especially want people with dreams and goals to remember, and it’s also recommended as a personal motto.
Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground.Theodore Roosevelt
Known for his great achievements as a statesman, Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, also wore many other hats: soldier, writer, hunter, explorer, and naturalist.
His famous saying, “Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground,” is short yet reminds us of something important that’s easy to forget.
If we focus only on our goals, we can lose our footing; if we look only at our feet, we cannot dream of distant heights.
The message urges us to solidify our foundation even as we strive toward our dreams and goals.
Victory comes to those who are most patient.Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte, a military leader known as the hero who restored order after the revolution and who was crowned Emperor of the First French Empire, famously said, “Victory belongs to the most persevering.” This quote emphasizes the importance of fighting on to the very end.
Whether in competition or when pursuing dreams and goals, many people give up when faced with hardship or feel crushed and on the verge of breaking.
However, this message teaches us that true glory awaits those who endure and do not yield to adversity.
Rather than follow a paved path, forge your own way where there is none and move forward.Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American thinker known as a philosopher, writer, poet, and essayist—and also recognized as a leader of transcendentalism—famously said, “Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” This quote conveys the message that you should decide your own life for yourself.
As the Japanese proverb okame hachiken suggests, a third party often sees things more calmly and accurately than those directly involved, so we sometimes receive well-intentioned advice.
Of course, if you truly agree with that advice, there’s no problem.
But if you have something you really want to do, this message teaches that you will have fewer regrets if you stick to it.
If you know them, they might become guiding lights that illuminate your life: A collection of memorable quotes (91–100)
He who runs away can fight another day.Demosthenes
Demosthenes, a renowned orator of ancient Greece.
Despite having a speech impediment in his childhood, he mastered the art of rhetoric through effort and influenced many people.
His words teach us that confronting something is not always everything.
At times, withdrawing can be the wiser choice than fighting.
By giving ourselves time to regroup, we can prepare to fight again.
He reminds us that choosing to protect ourselves—without feeling shame in retreat—can also be an act of courage.
It is a flexible, resonant saying that empowers us to try again.
