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 fills me with courage! Striking quotes that resonate, by great figures and famous people (81–90) If you can take one step, you can take another. Todd Skinner Todd Skinner was an American traditional free climber, best known for continually taking on first ascents of big walls.
He viewed climbing not merely as a sport but as an expression of a life philosophy, influencing many people.
This famous quote of his expresses, in simple words, the importance of continuing to challenge yourself.
It means that the hardest part is the first step, and once you overcome it, you can keep moving forward.
They are encouraging words that make you think, “Let’s just take the first step,” when you want to take on something new.
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Even if my life is a losing battle, I want to fight until the very end. Vincent van Gogh There’s a famous quote by Vincent van Gogh that says, “Even if my life is a losing battle, I want to fight to the very end.” When you try something new, you may face difficulties or feel like your heart is about to break.
Van Gogh, though now a famous painter, went through times when his paintings hardly sold and he struggled both financially and mentally.
Still, he believed in his life’s path and kept painting without giving up.
This quote teaches us the importance of trusting in our own strength and continuing to move forward.
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It’s in the moments you decide that your destiny is shaped. Anthony Robbins These are the words of Anthony Robbins, a world-renowned personal development coach who has influenced countless lives.
They show that the turning points that move our lives aren’t determined by environment or talent, but by the decisions we make in each moment.
Even in studying, the future begins to change from the instant you decide to tackle just a little today.
Even if you feel doubt or anxiety, the choice to take action will surely build confidence.
Decisions come with responsibility, but it is precisely that weight that fosters growth.
It’s a powerful quote that underscores the importance of learning proactively.
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No one ever regrets having done their best. George Halas These are the words of George Halas, who led teams in American football for many years and built countless victories.
They reflect the belief that, no matter the outcome, experiences pursued with full effort do not turn into regret.
In studying as well, the time you can say you truly gave your all remains as confidence.
It’s precisely when you cut corners that regret arises later.
Facing things with full commitment is more valuable than the result itself.
The fact that you worked hard supports you and becomes strength for your next challenge.
It’s a positive quote that encourages the courage to take action.
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If you don’t give up, there will always be a way. Always. Sakichi Toyoda These are the words of Sakichi Toyoda, who supported Japan’s industrial development and laid the foundation for the future Toyota Group.
They reflect his determination to keep moving forward despite repeated failures and trial and error.
In study as well, we sometimes hit a wall and feel we can’t see the way ahead, but as long as we don’t give up, our thinking doesn’t stop.
As we persist, our perspective shifts and new solutions emerge.
It is those who continue to make steady efforts, no matter the circumstances, who find their path opens before them.
This is a powerful quote that supports not only perseverance but also the courage to believe.
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It is not noble to be superior to others. Ernest Hemingway These are the words of Ernest Hemingway, a Nobel Prize-winning author who had a profound impact on literary history.
His words show that value lies not in comparing ourselves to others, but in our own growth.
When you keep studying, you may find yourself worrying about others’ grades and progress, and feel anxious.
But what truly matters is whether you’ve taken one step forward from who you were yesterday.
Small, steady efforts build confidence and sustain your attitude toward learning.
It’s a famous quote that quietly teaches the meaning of striving on your own terms.
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What matters is getting back up every time you fail. Winston Churchill These are the words of Winston Churchill, who led his country through World War II and overcame a time of great hardship.
They reveal the strength of a man who, despite numerous failures and criticisms, never stopped moving forward.
In our studies as well, moments of discouragement are inevitable when results don’t go as we hoped.
However, what matters is not the failure itself, but how we act afterward.
The willingness to rise again and learn anew, time and time again, is what builds strength.
This is a famous quote that becomes a source of inner support, giving us the courage to persist and keep moving forward.
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Not being satisfied is the best technique for improving your ability. Wayne Gretzky These are the words of Wayne Gretzky, hailed as a legend in ice hockey and the all-time leading scorer in NHL history.
They reflect his refusal to be satisfied with the status quo and his commitment to holding himself to consistently high standards.
If we focus only on what we’ve already accomplished, our growth—whether in study or otherwise—tends to stall.
By keeping our eyes one step ahead and continually seeking areas to improve, we hone our abilities.
A mindset that resists complacency isn’t about driving ourselves into a corner; it’s a force that expands our potential.
It’s an inspiring quote that teaches the importance of ambition and the will to improve.
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Obstacles before you are opportunities. By facing difficulties, you can grow. Kevin Durant Words from Kevin Durant, who has experienced numerous scoring records and championships in the NBA.
Having survived in an intensely competitive world, he understands the meaning of hardship deeply.
When faced with a wall in your studies, many people want to avoid it—but that very wall can become a chance to grow.
By tackling difficult tasks, you cultivate your thinking and perseverance.
It’s often the tough situations, more than the smooth times, that help a person grow.
This quote presents a perspective that views obstacles positively and shifts our mindset toward growth.
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There is only one way to succeed: never give up. Jeff Bezos Jeff Bezos, who founded a global company and transformed the nature of business, left words that convey his unwavering resolve—accepting failure and criticism without stopping.
When studying, there are times when results don’t show, and you may question the meaning of your efforts.
However, only those who choose not to give up can move on to the next stage.
As long as you don’t quit halfway, your experiences will surely accumulate into strength.
This quote teaches us the importance of valuing consistency over results and committing with resolve.
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