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 to illuminate your life: A collection of memorable quotes (1–10)
Even if you can’t become a great person, you can become a good person.Juji Nakano
Here are the words left by the novelist Shigeharu Nakano.
Even if you can’t become a great person who accomplishes something big, you can still be a good human being through consideration for others and small acts for their sake—that’s the message.
Indeed, no matter how impressive a quote we hear, there are times we end up thinking, “In the end, I just can’t do that…” Still, after encountering these words, some of you might feel, “Maybe I’ll try, even just a little, to become a better person.”
The best revenge is to achieve overwhelming success.Frank Sinatra
When someone does something unpleasant to you, how would you think about it? You might consider getting back at them in the same way, or planning some other form of revenge.
However, the musician Frank Sinatra said, “The best revenge is massive success.” It’s a very constructive mindset: instead of directing negative energy at the other person, use it for your own growth.
It may be hard to accept until you’ve achieved success, but please endure, keep refining yourself, and claim the greatest success you can.
Believe that someday, your turn for a chance will surely come.Yasushi Akimoto
Those words are quintessentially Yasushi Akimoto—who has brought countless idol groups into the world, from Onyanko Club to the AKB48 groups and the Sakamichi series.
By the way, the phrase doesn’t mean “Wait because your chance will come someday,” but rather, “Until the day your chance comes, do everything you can to improve yourself.” In other words, if you keep facing forward and putting in the effort, opportunities will come.
It’s best to stay prepared so you can seize any chance whenever it appears.
You are the one who sets your own limits. If you decide for yourself that this is as far as you can go, that becomes your limit.Usain Bolt
The moment you think “It’s hopeless anyway,” you really do come to a stop right there.
But if you believe “I can still do it,” your abilities will keep growing.
For example, if you decide you can’t come in first in a race, you won’t be motivated to practice.
However, if you keep working with the thought “I want to get even a little faster,” your times will gradually improve.
It’s the same with studying: it’s important to keep challenging yourself without deciding “This is good enough.” These words teach us the importance of not putting a lid on our own potential.
Limits aren’t set from the start; they’re created by our own minds.
Life has value only when it is lived for someone else.Albert Einstein
Here is a famous quote by Albert Einstein, known for that photo of him sticking out his tongue.
It’s a saying on the theme of whom we live our lives for, and he tells us to “live for others.” The idea that life gains value when we live for someone else is striking, isn’t it? It’s a wonderful message that makes you want to become someone who can work hard for others—your beloved family, your partner, your friends.
Incidentally, Toyotomi Hideyoshi is also known for a similar quote.
The opposite of success isn’t failure, it’s not trying.Norio Sasaki
Here are the words of former Japan national soccer team coach Norio Sasaki.
When asked, “What is the opposite of success?” many people would probably answer “failure,” but the quote I’m sharing today says that’s not the case.
According to Sasaki, the opposite of success is “doing nothing.” His point is that even if you fail, the fact that you’ve started moving means you’re making progress, which is better than doing nothing.
And there’s so much to learn from failure.
His words remind us that the first step—simply getting started—is what matters most.
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.Helen Keller
These are the words of Helen Keller, who, despite losing her sight and hearing due to illness in childhood, continued to strive relentlessly and later became active as a writer and activist.
It’s a statement about a philosophy of life, carrying the message that we either take action or do nothing—in other words, we have no choice but to act.
Many of us often struggle to take that first step, but at such times, why not remember her words and boldly take that step forward?
Luck doesn’t just happen. Opportunity comes only to those who are thoroughly prepared.Masatoshi Koshiba
These words about chance are from Masatoshi Koshiba, who was both a physicist and an astronomer.
You sometimes hear people say, “I succeeded because I was lucky,” but he teaches that there’s no such thing as being successful just by chance; it’s because they had been steadily and thoroughly preparing all along that they were able to seize the opportunity and succeed.
As this quote suggests, we should spare no effort in our preparations so that we’re always ready to seize opportunities whenever they arise.
