RAG Music - Quote A quote so piercing it stirs your heart the moment you remember it. Just remembering them fills you with courage! Striking quotes that touch the heart from great figures and famous people 10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminder kepiko Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
The words of those who have achieved or mastered something can sometimes give us courage and hope, can’t they?
People who are striving toward their dreams and goals, or who are trying to face what truly matters, may feel this even more strongly.
This time, we’ve compiled a list of striking quotes by great and notable figures that we’d like such people to know.
Each one is powerful, yet gently guiding.
We hope you’ll recall them when you need a push forward or want to reconnect with your own heart.
Table of Contents Just remembering them fills you with courage! Striking quotes that touch the heart from great figures and famous people Whether I’m happy or not is something only I can decide. Matsuko Deluxe I’m not interested in where you stumbled. I’m concerned with how you rise from it. Abraham Lincoln If you work hard, will you be rewarded? That’s not it. You keep working hard until you’re rewarded. Lionel Messi If you believe in yourself, there are no limits. Cristiano Ronaldo Impossible is not a fact, but an opinion. Muhammad Ali Our lives are our art. John Lennon You don’t have to make yourself smaller for those around you. Let them catch up to you. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter Small steps of progress add up to great success. Mahatma Gandhi If you try, you can achieve; if you don’t try, you won’t. Whatever fails to be accomplished fails because people do not attempt it. Uesugi Yōzan To love is to align your own happiness with the other person’s happiness. Gottfried Leibniz Don’t rush. But don’t give up. Shigeta Saitō Some believe that clinging makes you stronger. But sometimes, letting go is what makes you strong. Hermann Hesse If you fail, you can try again. If trying again doesn’t work, think it through once more and try again. Konosuke Matsushita Any person is capable of more than they think. Charles Chaplin If you think you can, you can; if you think you can’t, you can’t. This is an unshakable, absolute law. Pablo Picasso It’s never too late to become the person you wanted to be. George Eliot It is not the strong who win; it is those who win who are strong. Franz Beckenbauer To challenge yourself is to grow. LeBron James He who runs away can fight another day. Demosthenes Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Helen Keller The mental strength to endure—to dig in with “One more step!” the very moment you think “I can’t go on”—cultivates an unbeatable power to overcome anything. Taihō Kōki You should have more faith in your talents and what you’ve done. Ichiro What I want to tell people around the world is to make an effort. If you put your heart into it, you can achieve anything. Cindy Ngamba A champion is defined not by how they act when they win, but by how they rise after they lose. Serena Williams Don’t listen to others’ expectations. Live your own life and meet your own expectations. Tiger Woods What matters is not practice, but the passion for practice. Pelé Everyone has talent. But it’s effort that makes talent blossom. Michael Jordan Prioritizing the team’s victory over personal glory ultimately leads to individual success as well. Lionel Messi There is no such word as ‘limit’ in my dictionary. LeBron James There is no absolute champion. A champion is always a challenger. Kosuke Kitajima Winning or losing is a small thing. What matters is whether you gave it your all. Shuzo Matsuoka We read “failure” as “success.” Katsuya Nomura You should be honest with your feelings. Hideo Nomo If you can’t believe in yourself, who will? Kei Nishikori Life’s only failure is not to try. Lindsey Vonn I’m glad we were able to make it back alive like this. Ayumu Hirano It is precisely because there are restraints that I can fly. It is precisely because there is sorrow that I can soar high. It is precisely because there is adversity that I can run. It is precisely because there are tears that I can move forward. Mahatma Gandhi Beyond the clouds, the sky is always blue. Louisa May Alcott If you don’t give up on yourself, there is no such thing as losing in life. Shigeta Saitō Happiness is always decided by your own heart. Mitsuo Aida If you stay focused, you can overcome any obstacle. Warren Buffett It is the heart that makes a world without amusements into an interesting one. Shinsaku Takasugi I kept telling myself that everything I was studying was for my goal. Miles Davis It’s not that we run because it’s hard; it becomes hard because we run. William James Do not avoid the difficult path. You must move forward if you want to reach your destination. Katherine Anne Porter The problem lies in the future. That’s why I don’t look back at the past. Bill Gates In this world, there is a unique path that only you can walk. Do not ask where that path will lead. Simply press on. Friedrich Nietzsche If you have a clear dream and a clear goal, the path will surely open up. Mahatma Gandhi No matter how many times you fall, you can start over as many times as it takes. “Failure” isn’t falling down; it’s not getting back up. Mary Pickford Any genius is born of passion. Isaac D'Israeli Love is not about gazing at each other, but about looking together in the same direction. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Do not abandon the ambition you sought to achieve just because of a single defeat. William Shakespeare Sweat you shed never lies Chiyonofuji Mitsugu Because there was a humiliating defeat, my determination to absolutely win next time grew stronger. Kitanoumi Toshimitsu It’s hard to understand being criticized for asking pointed questions about what was discussed in the Diet. Katsuya Okada The fence isn’t built by others; it’s built by yourself. Aristotle No matter how much we study and how diligent we are, things sometimes don’t go well. This is because the time is not yet ripe, so we must all the more encourage ourselves and endure. Eiichi Shibusawa Other people’s rulers and your own ruler each have different measurements, don’t they? Mitsuo Aida Those who do not advance will surely fall back, and those who do not retreat will surely advance. Yukichi Fukuzawa 98% of our worries are needless Masahiro Fujimura Saying it must be this way just because it’s been that way for only 50 or 100 years is strange; I want to try absolutely everything without taboos. Kimi Onoda Let those who wish to leave, leave. Alexander the Great What I’m doing is by no means something big, but it is something necessary. Che Guevara Find a way. If there isn’t one, make one. Hannibal Barca Your happiness in life depends on the quality of your thoughts. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus People deserve praise or blame solely based on whether they have the perseverance to see things through. Leonardo da Vinci No success for those without dreams. Yoshida Shōin As you stretch yourself to broaden your horizons, it’s possible you’ll actually grow taller. That’s part of what makes life interesting. Saburō Shiroyama Unless the whole world becomes happy, individual happiness is impossible. Kenji Miyazawa We came in with the resolve that even if we can realize just one or two policies that benefit the people, we will take all the criticism ourselves. Yuichiro Tamaki Politics moves. Yuichiro Tamaki An indecisive leader can even be harmful. Yoshihide Suga Without passion, no energy is born. Without energy, it’s the same as having nothing. Do not be easily satisfied—whether with yourself or with anything else. Even when the wind is against you, grit your teeth and refuse to compromise. If you admit defeat, you lose. Even if you acknowledge how bad the situation is, as long as you are determined to see it through to the end, a chance to win will emerge. If you’re going to think, think big. If you’re going to live, live big. No dream is too big, and no challenge is too great. Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself. Coco Chanel The best way to pave the road to success is through effort and diligence, and by focusing on what is going well rather than on what isn’t. To have been born into this world—that in itself is the greatest opportunity, isn’t it? Ayrton Senna If you can take one step, you can take another. Todd Skinner Even if my life is a losing battle, I want to fight until the very end. Vincent van Gogh It’s in the moments you decide that your destiny is shaped. Anthony Robbins No one ever regrets having done their best. George Halas If you don’t give up, there will always be a way. Always. Sakichi Toyoda It is not noble to be superior to others. Ernest Hemingway What matters is getting back up every time you fail. Winston Churchill Not being satisfied is the best technique for improving your ability. Wayne Gretzky Obstacles before you are opportunities. By facing difficulties, you can grow. Kevin Durant There is only one way to succeed: never give up. Jeff Bezos To solve a problem, don’t run away from it. Jack Dorsey You only realize your own strength once you’ve overcome your anxieties and concerns. Serena Williams Knowledge is power. Francis Bacon As long as you keep challenging yourself, failure does not exist. Mark Zuckerberg Nothing is impossible. Muhammad Ali Even if I face setbacks, I don’t lose my pride—that’s because I’m putting in the effort. Shigeo Nagashima Do not fear change. It is part of growth. Elon Musk In the Way, one thinks without shunning death. Miyamoto Musashi I was born to accomplish something in this world. Hideyo Noguchi If you truly fought for what is right, there’s no shame in losing. Katherine Anne Porter ...to be continued Just remembering them gives me courage! Striking quotes that pierce the heart by great and famous figures (91–100) To solve a problem, don’t run away from it. Jack Dorsey These are the words of Jack Dorsey, who launched payment services and social networks and has driven innovation in the technology field.
Drawing on his experience confronting complex challenges, he speaks to the essence of problem-solving.
In studying, too, we sometimes want to look away from areas we’re weak in or topics we don’t understand.
But problems you avoid won’t be solved; only the ones you face become your strength.
By looking directly at the cause and continuing to think, you deepen your understanding.
It’s a practical quotation that quietly underscores the importance of the resolve not to run from difficulty.
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You only realize your own strength once you’ve overcome your anxieties and concerns. Serena Williams These are the words of Serena Williams, who has etched her name in the history of women’s tennis.
The road to the top is never smooth; it is a continuous struggle with anxiety and doubt.
When studying, everyone has moments when they lose confidence in their abilities and feel like stopping.
It is precisely at such times that the experience of facing your anxieties rather than fleeing from them becomes essential.
Only after overcoming difficulties can you recognize strengths beyond what you imagined.
It’s a quote that accepts the emotional turbulence that comes with challenge and gives you the courage to move forward.
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Knowledge is power. Francis Bacon These are the words of Francis Bacon, who laid the foundation of modern scientific thought and influenced many fields of study.
Within this brief expression lies the essential value of learning.
The knowledge gained through study is not mere information; it will support your life as the power to think and the capacity to judge.
By accumulating knowledge, your options expand, and you gain confidence in your actions.
Knowledge acquired through steady, daily effort becomes an unwavering strength, no matter how difficult the situation.
It is a timeless quote that shows the meaning of continuing to learn.
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As long as you keep challenging yourself, failure does not exist. Mark Zuckerberg These are the words of Mark Zuckerberg, who founded Facebook and greatly influenced the fabric of society.
Through a series of innovative challenges, he has experienced a great deal of trial and error.
When we try to avoid mistakes and failures in studying for exams or taking tests, we end up reducing the very act of challenging ourselves.
As long as we keep taking action, we learn from it, leading to the next improvement.
Failure is not the end, but a process along the path of growth.
This quote shows that a persistent spirit of challenge opens up the future and encourages proactive action.
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Nothing is impossible. Muhammad Ali These are the words of Muhammad Ali, who symbolized an era as the world heavyweight champion and left behind many legendary bouts.
This short phrase embodies his stance of believing in his own potential without being bound by conventions or others’ evaluations.
In studying as well, if you decide from the start that something is impossible, the seed of growth will never sprout.
It is precisely when you face difficult challenges that a spirit of taking them on can change your future.
Even walls that seem insurmountable can, through steady effort, turn into realistic goals.
It is a famous quote that strips away preconceptions and gives us the courage to act.
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Even if I face setbacks, I don’t lose my pride—that’s because I’m putting in the effort. Shigeo Nagashima These are the words of Shigeo Nagashima, who left countless records and memories as a leading figure in professional baseball.
Behind success lies time spent continually facing failure and setbacks.
In studying, too, when results don’t come as hoped, we may feel our confidence slipping—but the very fact that we are making an effort is something to be proud of.
Periods without results are times of building strength.
As long as we keep challenging ourselves, we can hold our heads high and face forward.
This quote affirms the self who is striving and gives us the courage to rise again.
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Do not fear change. It is part of growth. Elon Musk Elon Musk is an entrepreneur who has continued to take on fields many consider difficult, such as electric vehicles and space development.
What his approach conveys is that he values the courage to choose change over the comfort of staying the same.
In studying, too, it’s natural to feel anxious when you review your methods or tackle a new field, but that first step leads to growth.
You might fail, and the results may not be what you hoped.
Even so, it’s those who keep moving who can expand their possibilities.
These are words that believe in that forward-looking strength.
It’s a message that gently nudges anyone who wants to go just a little beyond who they are now.
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In the Way, one thinks without shunning death. Miyamoto Musashi Miyamoto Musashi can be called a master who perfected the way of the sword, and among his famous sayings is this: one must not fear death in the pursuit of one’s own path.
I imagine that many of you reading this have, even if not on such a grand scale, tried to stick to some path or conviction of your own.
Musashi tells us that in such times, it is vital to throw yourself into it with everything you have, to see it through and master it.
Doing so helps a person grow and elevates that path into something more noble.
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I was born to accomplish something in this world. Hideyo Noguchi These words convey how deeply Hideyo Noguchi, who distinguished himself as a physician and bacteriologist, believed in his mission.
A severe burn he suffered in childhood changed his life, and that experience became the driving force that opened the path for him as a bacteriologist.
Rising from nothing through steady effort to achieve global recognition, his life itself stands as proof of these words.
Everyone hits walls at times, but remembering this saying will surely help you take one more step forward.
It is a quote that inspires the courage to keep moving without stopping in the face of hardship, trusting in the unique role that only you can fulfill.
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If you truly fought for what is right, there’s no shame in losing. Katherine Anne Porter Katherine Anne Porter, an American political activist who worked across a wide range of fields as a journalist, essayist, short story writer, novelist, and poet.
Her message, “If you’ve fought truly for the right thing, there is no shame in losing,” may sustain us even when we face unwanted outcomes.
Not only in struggles but also when we act on our convictions, results don’t always follow.
Outcomes matter, of course, but what truly counts is what we were striving for; this famous quote teaches us that if we gave our all, there is no need to regret the result—even if it is a disappointing one.
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