Short quotes that reach your heart in an instant. Words to encourage you right now.

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.

There are many historical figures, celebrities, and even manga characters who have left behind words that resonate—what we call “famous quotes.” Some of you may have felt encouraged, motivated, or empowered by these words.

In this article, we’ll introduce short, punchy quotes that go straight to the heart from among the many out there.

Sometimes it’s precisely because the words are brief that they strike deep and reach you directly.

If you’re looking for words that can give you strength right now, be sure to check out this article!

Short quotes that reach the heart in an instant: Words to encourage you right now (11–20)

No matter how dark it is, the stars are shining.Emerson

There are times when our hearts break—when our efforts aren’t rewarded, or when we work so hard yet the results are disappointing.

In those moments, when your shoulders slump and your gaze falls, I recommend this quote: “No matter how dark it is, the stars are still shining.” These are the words of the American philosopher and poet Emerson.

Even when you’re feeling down and everything seems dark, if you look closely, you’ll see small stars shining.

Those little shining stars might be hope, or they might be the people who are supporting you.

It’s a great quote that helps us take a new step forward without being defeated by difficult circumstances.

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Nakajima Junko

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If you fall down, get back up.Konosuke Matsushita

Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of Matsushita Electric—now Panasonic—was a figure who made major contributions to Japanese industry.

Known as the “god of management,” he left behind famous sayings that express a spirit of challenge and an attitude of never giving up.

In just a few words, they clearly convey the importance of not giving up even after failure and of trying again and again.

They are words that seem to rouse the determination to keep challenging oneself until success and to carry through with one’s will.

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kappamaki

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People stumble their way toward success.Mary Kay Ash

Mary Kay Ash, the founder of the cosmetics brand Mary Kay, was also someone who forged ahead in pursuit of women’s independence.

These are words she left that seem to describe what happens on the way to success.

They convey that one inevitably faces some kind of difficulty before grasping success, and that not giving up at that point is what matters most.

Experiencing failure can become a catalyst for growth, and by repeating that process, we draw closer to success—this is the message her words impart.

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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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It’s enough if you have the willingness to learn from your environment.Umeko Tsuda

One of educator Umeko Tsuda’s famous sayings is, “What matters is the will to learn, not the environment.” Will a fine desk or a nice room really make you buckle down to study? Of course, such surroundings can help, but what you truly need may be your own resolve.

With the power of will—not just in studying but in anything—you will keep thinking and taking action in any environment.

Even if you’re short on time and can’t study much, you can still learn by using small pockets of time.

If you keep at it for a year, even in brief moments, you’ll have learned far more than if you had done nothing.

Rather than complaining that “the environment is bad,” why not think about what you can do and move forward?

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Nakajima Junko

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In the midst of difficulty lies opportunity.Albert Einstein

People rarely grow or succeed when nothing changes in their everyday lives.

A life with little change may feel stable and comfortable.

However, isn’t it by taking on challenges to deal with accidents and difficulties that we truly grow? The famous words of theoretical physicist Albert Einstein embody this idea.

“In the midst of difficulty lies opportunity.” These are surely words that arose because even the man called a genius, Albert Einstein, faced painful experiences.

When you’re caught in a whirlpool of suffering, it’s easy to lose sight of your surroundings and become discouraged.

But I hope you’ll recall this quote and choose to see it positively—as a valuable experience.

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Nakajima Junko

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Short quotes that reach the heart in an instant. Words to encourage you right now (21–30)

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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