Short maxims by great figures that you’ll want to etch into your heart and remember

Start with the most important thing first.Peter Drucker

Have you ever found yourself wanting to start something new but not knowing where to begin? Whether you’re looking for a new hobby or, as a working professional, launching a new project, there are many such situations.

At times like that, remember Peter Drucker’s famous quote: “Start with what’s most important.” Once you sort out what should take priority and what can wait, what you need to do now becomes clear, and everything moves forward more smoothly.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Doing nothing that is of no use.Miyamoto Musashi

Takehiko Inoue’s smash-hit manga Vagabond is a work that puts the spotlight on two figures: Musashi Miyamoto and Kojiro Sasaki.

Although it’s still ongoing, its character portrayals are remarkable—so much so that they almost make you feel the climactic duel awaiting them at the end no longer matters.

What’s depicted isn’t merely the two men’s lives, but their very way of living.

These words from Musashi remind me of the episode in the manga where he briefly engages in farming.

In the end, it’s you yourself who decides what is useful and what isn’t; thinking that way makes these words resonate even more deeply.

Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.Hideyo Noguchi

These words embody Hideyo Noguchi’s belief that the efforts and patience we practice in everyday life will, in the end, surely be rewarded.

When people can’t see results while they’re working hard, their spirits can waver, but this teaches us that by enduring that time, sweet fruits await in the future.

The words carry special weight because they come from someone who produced numerous achievements over a long career of research.

It conveys a strong message that sustained effort leads to later fulfillment and success.

It’s a quote to remember especially when you’re in the midst of hardship.

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mutō

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Honesty is the best policy.Hideyo Noguchi

These words teach us that honesty is the most trusted weapon in any situation.

At times we may be tempted to get by with lies or evasions, but in the long run, being sincere works in our favor.

In relationships and at work, it is precisely by being honest that we earn others’ trust.

If you recall this saying when facing difficulties, it will give you the courage to stand firm and confront them without running away.

It’s a straightforward quote that shows living with integrity is the shortest path to success and trust.

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mutō

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Being a person with a disability is not a problem in academia.Hideyo Noguchi

These words convey the message that physical disabilities are irrelevant to learning.

Hideyo Noguchi suffered severe burns as a child and lost the full use of his left hand, yet he overcame that hardship to become a world-renowned bacteriologist.

What matters in scholarship is not the state of one’s body, but the will and effort to keep seeking knowledge.

It’s not others who impose limits on us, but our own minds.

There is no need to give up because of a disability; in fact, great achievements await beyond the challenges we overcome.

This is a famous saying that nurtures a spirit of challenge at all times.

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Grasp one principle, and you understand all things.Miyamoto Musashi

Master one thing and you will understand all things. | Miyamoto Musashi | #Quote

Ukosaben is pronounced “uko-saben.” It means wavering as you look to the right and to the left, unable to decide.

While one might think that taking the long way around leads to many encounters, Musashi teaches with this phrase that if you want broad knowledge, you should master one thing.

Whether it’s training to build your ideal physique or learning a foreign language to master linguistics—anything is fine.

If you truly master that one thing, you’ll find many more open paths waiting beyond it!

I will have no regrets in my actions.Miyamoto Musashi

Regret nothing in your actions... — A famous quote by Miyamoto Musashi #quote

Big or small, I can’t help but feel that life is, to a greater or lesser extent, a series of regrets.

More often than not it’s a fruitless use of time, but drifting into thoughts like “If only I’d chosen right back then,” or “If only I’d acted immediately,” is also part of life.

Still, the truth is that everyone wants to live like Musashi—facing straight ahead and moving forward.

“I have regrets, but I do not regret.” I’d like to learn from that kind of bold resolve!