Words I want to make my motto that always inspire me
A motto is something you keep close at hand or etch into your heart as a reminder to keep yourself in check.
It’s said that people used to choose them from proverbs, idioms, and four-character compounds, but in recent years many have adopted famous quotations from great figures as their mottos.
What matters is whether it serves as a compass for your life and something you can lean on.
So this time, I’ve put together a list of words and phrases you might want to use as your motto.
They’re drawn from a wide range of sources—historical figures, business leaders, athletes, and more—so be sure to take a look!
- Mottos that are sure to lift your spirits and keep you positive!
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- Encouraging words that give you strength. Words you’ll want to share with those around you.
- Words that strongly push you forward and give you energy
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- Uplifting words by great figures and famous people that, despite their brevity, convey a sense of philosophy.
- You might even find your motto—short phrases that leave a lasting impression.
- A cool one-line message of support
Words I want to make my motto that always spur me on (1–10)
The distance you’ve run won’t betray you.Mizuki Noguchi
This is the motto of Mizuki Noguchi, the athlete who won the gold medal in the women’s marathon at the Athens Olympics, during her competitive years.
Noguchi boasts a brilliant record, including victories in international marathons and setting the Japanese national record at the time, but behind those achievements were battles with injuries.
Still, her unbreakable determination to keep striving no matter what is reflected in her words.
This doesn’t refer only to marathon training; it also encompasses the relationships of trust fostered with others through sustained effort.
Perhaps if you look back, you’ll also see the faces of those who have supported you along the way.
All phenomena are reflections of the mind.Kazuo Inamori
Kazuo Inamori, the entrepreneur known as the founder of Kyocera and KDDI, achieved many successes through a philosophical approach to management.
He showed that everything we experience in life is deeply connected to the state of our mind.
He believed that a positive mindset produces good results, while a negative mindset has harmful effects.
His ideas help us deeply understand not only the role of personal effort and actions, but also how emotions influence our lives and work.
It is a famous saying imbued with the message that by aligning our feelings, we can shape a better future.
Only one thing is needed: to believe you can do it.Anthony Robbins
Anthony Robbins is an American author known for books that collect famous quotes.
Some of you have probably seen his works in bookstores.
By believing you can, you gain the strength to overcome difficulties, and this quote also teaches us the importance of believing in yourself.
Believing in yourself should have a very positive impact on you, and it also makes you think: if you don’t believe in yourself, who will?
Words I want to make my motto—sayings that always lift me up (11–20)
To see what is right and not do it is a lack of courage.Confucius
Confucius was a thinker and philosopher of China’s Spring and Autumn period.
Many people have probably read at least part of the Analects, a collection of his famous sayings.
This particular saying of his conveys that knowing what the right thing to do is but failing to act stems from a lack of courage.
Even when embarrassment, busyness, or calculations of gain and loss hold us back despite knowing better, if we gradually muster the courage to put what we know into practice, we can become a better version of ourselves in a positive way.
You can just be yourself.Mother Teresa
As we go about our days, we sometimes worry, wondering, “Is this really okay?” or “What should I do from here?” The future isn’t something we can see, so it’s only natural to feel uncertain.
But once we start worrying, we can get stuck in a negative loop that’s hard to escape.
In those moments, remember Mother Teresa’s words: “You just need to be yourself.” Your strengths and your flaws are all part of your uniqueness.
You don’t have to become someone else—living true to yourself is what matters most.
It’s a famous quote filled with a warm and encouraging message.
To conquer oneself is the greatest victory.Plato
Here is a famous quote by Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher.
It’s fascinating to think that people over 2,000 years ago were already contemplating such things.
Overcoming one’s own heart must have been difficult even for people in the past.
In our daily lives, we often end up focusing only on winning against others, but for those who do, it might be good to remember this quote from time to time.
And it makes me think how hard it is for us humans that, even over such a long span of time, we still struggle to put into practice the wisdom of those who came before us.
Achieve great things by accumulating small efforts.Ninomiya Sontoku
In the past, many schools had statues of Ninomiya Sontoku.
His famous sayings truly make you feel, “That’s exactly right.” From his impoverished boyhood, he worked steadily, little by little, and on that foundation he went on to accomplish great undertakings.
His maxims, born from that experience, can be called words of truth, not merely thoughts conceived in the head.
They also suggest that great things aren’t achieved all of a sudden; the daily accumulation of effort matters too.
To set a big goal, why not start with small, everyday goals you can actually do?