Mottos that are sure to lift your spirits and keep you positive!
When you’re feeling down or things aren’t going well, sometimes the motto you’ve written in your personal journal can save you.
What kind of motto do you live by?
In this article, we’ll introduce positive mottos that will shine a bright light on you.
We’ve picked quotes from great figures and celebrities, as well as lines from manga, taken from a variety of contexts.
When you need just a little more strength to keep going, or when you’ve hit rock bottom and can’t pull yourself up, please remember the words we share here.
- Words I want to make my motto that always inspire me
- Words that strongly push you forward and give you energy
- Quotes that save your heart in times of pain or hardship
- Encouraging words that give you strength. Words you’ll want to share with those around you.
- Short quotes that reach your heart in an instant. Words to encourage you right now.
- Even a single word can save your heart! Uplifting, happy words that make you feel positive
- Blow away your anxiety and doubts! Short phrases that lift your spirits and set you on a positive path.
- Gives you a nudge and stays by your side... Uplifting words you’ll want to know
- Quotes from great figures that give us the power to live
- Powerful words give you a push! Words that help you try even harder than before.
- You might even find your motto—short phrases that leave a lasting impression.
- If you know them, they might become beacons that light your life’s path: a collection of memorable quotes.
- Maybe powerful words can give you strength? A collection of uplifting short quotes
Sure to lift your spirits! Positive mottos (31–40)
If you’re afraid of criticism, you can’t change anything.Sanae Takaichi
These are words Ms.
Takaichi said in an interview that express her stance on what politicians ought to do.
She argues that taking on major reforms is a necessary attitude for politicians, and that if they fear criticism, those reforms cannot move forward.
It’s a statement that conveys a determination to push ahead—listening to both support and criticism while steering politics toward a better future.
The very fact that she dares to say this suggests she is striving to change something.
If you give up, the game is over right there.Mitsuyoshi Anzai, Slam Dunk
“If you give up, the game is over right there” is a famous quote from Coach Anzai in Slam Dunk.
When you quit because your efforts aren’t paying off, or you decide you can’t do it and give up, the path to success gets cut off.
When you’re feeling down because things aren’t going well at school or work, remember the words, “If you give up, the game is over right there.” They can motivate you and give you the strength to keep going without giving up, to dig in and push through.
And if you’re still unsure, one option is to just keep going for now.
If you can dream it, you can do it.Walt Disney
There’s a quote by Walt Disney, who held fast to his belief that “If you can dream it, you can do it,” achieved remarkable success, and created many works known around the world.
Have you ever given up because you thought you lacked confidence or because people around you opposed your plans? Cherish your own feelings, and try taking on anything you want to challenge.
A new world may open up before you.
You can’t change other people or the past, but you can change yourself and the future.Eric Berne
A famous quote by Eric Berne, a Canadian psychiatrist, says, “You can’t change other people or the past, but you can change yourself and the future.” It’s true: even if you try to force others, you can’t really change them, and what happened in the past can’t be undone.
But the future, which hasn’t arrived yet, can be changed as much as we want, and we can change ourselves starting from this very moment.
Just adopting this mindset can give us hope in life.
It’s a message that helps us interpret things more positively.
Mind over matter (literally: Strong will can even penetrate rocks)
As the proverb says, “A resolute mind can even pierce rock,” it seems that human determination can carry real power.
When you do something with single-minded focus, pouring your whole heart into it, you can overcome obstacles as large and solid as a rock.
Whether you’re chasing a dream or facing the unexpected accidents that can happen at work, at school, or in everyday life, if you tackle them desperately and earnestly, you may be able to surmount the difficulties.
It’s a proverb that gives you a gentle push forward when you find yourself standing still.
Keep working hard until it pays off.Lionel Messi
If you like soccer, there’s probably no one you haven’t heard of: Lionel Messi, hailed as the “Argentine hero” and “the best soccer player in the world.” He has continued to excel in the world’s top-tier competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and has won the Ballon d’Or—awarded to the world’s best player of the year—eight times, making him a truly and widely recognized great player in both name and reality.
His words, “Keep working until it pays off,” carry a slightly different nuance from the universal message “Effort is rewarded.” It’s about continuing to work hard until you reach your goal—because that’s simply what you do.
It’s a maxim that conveys a powerful will.
There’s no way other people can do it but you can’t.Doraemon 'Doraemon'
“There’s no such thing as something other people can do that only you can’t.” These are words Doraemon said to Nobita.
They’re the kind of words that can give you a push when you’re struggling with studies, work, or relationships.
The fact that you’re struggling also means you’re in a period of growth.
Doraemon’s words might even turn into hope for the future.
Instead of deciding, “I can’t” or “It’s impossible,” try shifting your perspective and asking, “What are the things I can do?” It might also help to try a different way of making it possible.
To live is not to breathe; it is to act.Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the political philosopher known for proposing the Social Contract and for his work Emile, left us this famous saying, which tells us that to act is to live.
Perhaps only he, who created new ideas about the state and education, could have said such words.
Even if we have ideals and dreams, they won’t come true if they exist only in our minds.
Taking action, even in small ways, may lead to a better future for ourselves.
Draw strength from his words, and take action too.
To succeed, always try as if this is your last chance.Phil Knight
Phil Knight, known as the founder of NIKE.
NIKE is now a global sports brand, but its predecessor, Blue Ribbon Sports, struggled and is known for the many hardships it faced.
This quote comes from Knight, who never gave up, kept his passion alive, and ultimately achieved success.
Anyone striving toward a goal may find this deeply inspiring.
Rather than thinking, “There will be another chance,” perhaps it’s precisely by tackling something as if failure would mean the end of everything that a path opens up.
There’s no need to look back. There are countless paths ahead of you.Lu Xun
This is a famous quote by Lu Xun, a Chinese novelist and thinker.
People can’t help looking back on the past and dwelling on their shortcomings, which leaves them feeling down or regretful.
Of course, reflecting and learning from failure are important, but if we become too fixated on them, we can’t move forward.
Especially when you feel dragged back by major failures or regrets, remember Lu Xun’s words.
The road lies behind you, but it also stretches ahead.
You can always start over, and there’s surely a path that suits you better.