If you know them, they might become beacons that light your life’s path: a collection of memorable quotes.

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.

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.

If you know them, they might become guiding lights that illuminate your life: A collection of memorable quotes (111–120)

Abandon yesterdayPeter Drucker

People tend to focus on the past more than the future, to a greater or lesser extent.

In particular, many of us find it hard to let go of methods that once worked and end up clinging to them.

Peter Drucker’s famous quote, “Abandon yesterday,” teaches us the futility of relying on past successes.

Of course, there’s no need to discard your own proven playbook entirely, but as you and your environment change, there’s no point in continuing approaches that no longer produce results.

It’s a message that underscores the importance of decisiveness and the ability to pivot.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Just finding something I love makes me happy. There are many people who never find what they love.Akihiro Nakaya

Akihiro Nakatani, a motivational speaker who began as a student DJ in junior high and made his debut as a writer at 23, once said, “Just having found something you love is happiness.

There are many people who never find what they love.” Many of us may find this striking.

Even when you have something you love or a dream, you can get used to that feeling and end up seeing only the difficult parts.

Others might mock you or tease you for it.

But if you realize how fortunate you are to have found something you love, you may be able to truly feel happiness.

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Hoshino Takashi

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In the Way of strategy, let your state of mind never depart from your ordinary mind.Miyamoto Musashi

I’ve heard that Mr.

Masayuki Kakefu—known as “Mr.

Tigers”—always adds the words “calm mind” to his autograph.

It’s a phrase that truly reflects him, someone who discovered proper batting on the far side of tension and excitement.

The words by Miyamoto Musashi quoted here also teach the importance of maintaining a calm mind.

You probably get nervous too—during school tests, company presentations, and the like.

When you’re facing such unusual situations, remember these words.

Your heart will feel lighter, and you’ll surely overcome the challenge!

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Taki no namida pin ku

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Take the sky as a road, and see the road as the sky.Miyamoto Musashi

An unexpectedly popular character from the manga Fist of the North Star is Juuza of the Clouds.

His free-spirited personality must have made him a beloved figure.

When you’re going to school or work every day, there are days when everything just feels unbearable.

You might even want to quit living a life that runs on rails someone else laid down.

At times like that, please remember these words from Musashi.

They’ll make your heart take wing and give you the feeling you can walk your path freely.

“It’s up to you to decide how you live.” It almost feels as if he’s gently teaching us even that.

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There are two things you can change: yourself and the future.Hideyo Noguchi

These words convey the importance of focusing not on the unchangeable past or circumstances, but on your own actions and the future ahead.

Everyone has moments when they want to blame past failures or their environment, but that won’t move anything forward.

It is the present self that creates the future, and the path can change dramatically depending on your actions.

Hideyo Noguchi also refused to be defeated by difficult circumstances and opened up his future by continually improving himself.

Even when you find yourself dwelling on the past, this quote gives you the courage to believe that you have the power to change the future.

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Honesty is the best policy.Hideyo Noguchi

These words teach us that honesty is the most trusted weapon in any situation.

At times we may be tempted to get by with lies or evasions, but in the long run, being sincere works in our favor.

In relationships and at work, it is precisely by being honest that we earn others’ trust.

If you recall this saying when facing difficulties, it will give you the courage to stand firm and confront them without running away.

It’s a straightforward quote that shows living with integrity is the shortest path to success and trust.

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Imagine being in the depths of despair; whining and giving in to hopelessness only hinders your success and, moreover, disturbs your peace of mind.Hideyo Noguchi

These words teach us that it’s precisely in hard times that it’s important to keep looking forward.

When people face painful events, they tend to want to complain or voice their weakness.

But repeating that won’t improve the situation; if anything, it unsettles the mind and makes it even harder to move ahead.

Rather than being trapped by despair, calmly thinking about what you can do now and putting it into action is the first step to opening up the future.

If you turn the time spent grumbling into effort, the situation should gradually change.

It’s a quote that encourages proactive, positive action.

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