Short but moving words to remember when your heart is tired

Last updated:2026/1/6

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
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 as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.

In life, we all face worries—whether it’s the environment at school or work, relationships with friends, or drifting apart from a partner.

It’s nice when problems can be solved quickly, but there are times when nothing seems to work and you just want something to help sort out your thoughts.

So this time, I’ve gathered short yet moving quotes.

Each one offers concise words that can save your heart when you’ve lost your way in life.

I hope you find a quote that resonates with you.

Short yet moving words (1–10) to remember when your heart is tired

Happiness is always decided by your own heart.Mitsuo Aida

Would you be happy if you had lots of money and looks that everyone envied? There are as many definitions of happiness as there are people, and it isn’t just about money or appearance.

Mitsuo Aida’s saying, “Happiness is always decided by your own heart,” is a famous quote that teaches us exactly that.

Moreover, this quote can be interpreted in many different ways.

It can also be read to mean that good and bad can change depending on how you think about them.

For example, rain is a worry when you’re going out, but for those who grow crops it can be a blessing.

A pinch, if you change your mindset, might become a chance.

Just as there are countless forms of happiness, this quote can hold many different meanings.

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Nakajima Junko

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If you just have the courage to keep chasing them, dreams will surely come true.Walt Disney

When you’re taking action toward your goals and dreams, there are times when you fail or things just don’t go well.

You might feel like crying, get angry, or want to give up.

Those negative emotions can even make you abandon your dream halfway.

In moments like that, there’s a quote I want you to remember: “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” These are the words of Walt Disney, the creator of Mickey Mouse.

Disney’s theme parks and films are known worldwide, but aren’t we often focused only on their success? I believe there were countless failures and hardships before the beloved world of Disney we know today was built.

By never giving up and continuing to chase his dream, Walt Disney himself proved that dreams can come true.

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Nakajima Junko

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It’s never too late to become the person you wanted to be.George Eliot

Don’t you ever think, “I should have done that back then”? It might be about the future, how you treated someone, or your work.

If you think that way, it might actually be a lucky sign.

As the writer George Eliot said, “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” There’s no such thing as too early or too late when it comes to becoming who you want to be.

Whether it’s early or late is just something we decide for ourselves, and it doesn’t really matter when it comes to who we want to become.

As the saying goes, “The best day to start is the day you think of it.” So when you feel, “I want to do this,” why not start with what you can do now?

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Nakajima Junko

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You only live once. But if you live it well, once is enough.Mae West

Mae West, an American actress who found success on both stage and screen with her timeless appeal.

Her words convey the importance of living life carefully and without regrets.

She forged her own path and captivated many with her humor and boldness.

This quote teaches us that what matters is not the length of life, but its quality.

By living each day to the fullest, even a short life can be meaningful.

When you feel overwhelmed by anxiety or doubt, these words offer the strength to affirm your choices and move forward positively.

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mutō

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Laughing from the heart should be more effective than taking ten pills.Anne Frank

These words by Anne Frank—who received a special Pulitzer Prize for The Diary of a Young Girl—speak to the healing power of smiles and laughter.

The fact that she, who survived in such harsh conditions, discovered the importance of smiling has deeply moved many people.

What this quote teaches us is that no matter how painful the circumstances, a genuine smile can lighten the heart and give us the strength to move forward.

Rather than relying solely on physical treatments or medication, it underscores the importance of mental and emotional health, and inspires us to find hope even in the midst of hardship.

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mutō

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Just because you failed once doesn’t mean everything will fail.Marilyn Monroe

These are famous words left by Marilyn Monroe, a movie star beloved around the world, especially in the United States.

They seem to encourage those who give up because of failure, giving us courage to move forward.

Don’t you feel her positive attitude in trying to find possibilities even within failure? Even if you fail, it doesn’t mean everything is over—life goes on from here.

A sense of hope for the future comes through clearly, doesn’t it?

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