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)
Beneath mud and earth lies solid rock; above clouds and mist shines the sun. At the height of discontent, there is still fortune, nor is hope absent.Kanzo Uchimura
I would like to introduce a famous saying by Kanzo Uchimura: “Beneath the mud lies bedrock; above the clouds and mist shines the sun.
Even at the height of complaint, happiness and hope are not absent.” Kanzo Uchimura was a Christian thinker active in the Meiji era.
Disasters can bring many hardships.
At such times, Uchimura left words he hoped we would remember.
It is said to mean that even when times are painful and difficult now, a stable and bright future surely awaits beyond.
He likens difficult situations to mud, and the bedrock represents the strength within us that lies beneath these serious problems.
Furthermore, he tells us that even when we feel or voice complaints, happiness and hope still exist.
Life brings all kinds of experiences, doesn’t it? Even so, we are reminded of the importance of maintaining a positive outlook.
It’s okay. Let’s rebuild again.Akio Tadano
These are the words of Akio Tadano, who ran a ryokan in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture—words about moving forward with a positive spirit even in the face of hardship.
At the time, many interviews carried a heavy sense of gloom and featured questions that stoked anxiety, which is why the fact that he delivered these words with a smile drew so much attention.
They convey a powerful hope amid uncertainty—the sense that by keeping on and not standing still, a new path will open.
The impression is further strengthened by the fact that Mr.
Tadano actually rebuilt his ryokan, embodying the importance of facing forward, just as he said.
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.
These positive mottos (41–50) are sure to lift your spirits and help you stay optimistic!
If you don’t give up on yourself, there is no such thing as losing in life.Shigeta Saitō
Psychiatrist Shigeta Saito—who was also active as an essayist and public speaker and was affectionately known as “Mota-san.” From his famous saying, “As long as you don’t give up on yourself, there is no such thing as ‘losing’ in life,” we can learn the truth that everything depends on your own mindset.
Rather than being elated or dejected by wins and losses at life’s turning points, his message teaches that true victory lies in never giving up until the end.
It’s a quote to remember when you’re on the verge of setback or when your spirit is about to break—one that gives you the courage to stand up once more.
Good fortune comes to a house with laughter.
“Good fortune visits the smiling household.” This is a well-known proverb.
Simply put, it means that happiness comes to those who keep smiling.
Life brings all sorts of experiences—times of joy, sadness, and struggle.
There are moments when you might think, “I can’t possibly smile in a situation like this…” Even so, that’s exactly when you might try recalling this proverb and putting on a smile.
A smile can invite good fortune and may guide your relationships and your life in a better direction.