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
- If you know them, they might become beacons that light your life’s path: a collection of memorable quotes.
- You can push a little further! Inspiring quotes from great figures to boost your study motivation
- Keep your favorite words close. A short collection of quotes that comfort the heart.
- 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 as my motto that always spur me on (111–120)
There is no piece that cannot move forward.Makoto Nakahara
Shogi player Makoto Nakahara, who holds five Lifetime Titles and also served as president of the Japan Shogi Association.
His famous saying, “There is no piece that cannot move forward,” truly reflects the unique perspective of a professional shogi player.
The eight types of pieces used in shogi each have different characteristics, but whether a piece is weak or strong, they all share the ability to move forward.
The message that anyone can make progress regardless of their abilities or circumstances can be a great source of courage for those on the verge of breaking.
It’s a quote to remember before you give up on something.
Only by living desperately does one’s life shine.Oda Nobunaga
Lord Oda Nobunaga, a warlord counted among the Three Unifiers of the Sengoku period for his innovative political methods.
From his famous saying, “It is only by living desperately that one’s life shines,” we can truly sense the very essence of Oda Nobunaga’s life.
Not only should we act energetically with dreams and goals, but it is by throwing ourselves wholeheartedly into the act of living itself that our lives gain profound meaning.
This message teaches us that such a way of living becomes the proof that we truly lived and allows us to create a life uniquely our own, unlike anyone else’s.
The heart never strays from the Way.Miyamoto Musashi
Many of the disciplines regarded as traditionally Japanese—such as kendo, judo, and aikido—include the character for “dō” (the Way) in their names.
And although they are not sports, ikebana (kado), the tea ceremony (sado), and kōdō (the way of incense) also use this character.
This may be a somewhat self-serving interpretation, but I suspect Japanese people applied the character “dō” to practices that require long years of training.
Of course, Miyamoto Musashi’s “dō” refers to the Way of swordsmanship.
To think of nothing but that, whatever one is doing—this strikes me as a grand word that encapsulates Musashi himself.
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.
A genius is someone who studies three, four, even five times harder than anyone else.Hideyo Noguchi
These words express Hideyo Noguchi’s belief that it is effort—not talent or innate intelligence—that produces results.
Even those called geniuses are, behind the scenes, often working harder than anyone else.
Confronting poverty and the aftereffects of a severe burn, he studied more diligently than anyone to achieve his dreams.
If you wish to accomplish something, this teaches that rather than dwelling on whether you have talent, you must first be prepared to put in many times more effort than others.
It conveys the idea that making an effort is the only way to surpass your own limits.