This quote hits hard. It’s simple, straight to the point, and honestly one of the best reminders to keep going when things fall apart.
I picked out 13 powerful quotes that carry the same kind of message. It’s all about not giving up, even when things get hard.
These are the kind of words that remind you it’s okay to fall. What matters most is that you keep getting back up.
So if you’re feeling stuck or close to quitting, I hope one of these gives you that push to keep going.
Who originally said “Fall seven times, stand up eight”?
It’s a Japanese proverb. The original phrase is “Nanakorobi yaoki,” which translates to “fall down seven times, get up eight.” It reflects the traditional value of resilience in Japanese culture.
When did this quote become popular in the West?
It started gaining popularity in the West during the early 2000s, especially through self-help books and online motivational content. It’s often used in personal development, sports, and mental health spaces.
1. “It always seems impossible until it is done.” – Nelson Mandela
This quote is been one of the most used and repeated in this website, it comes from Mandela’s public speeches during the early 1990s, as South Africa was moving out of apartheid and into democracy.
He used this line to encourage people who were exhausted from fighting for change.
The connection here is pretty clear since both this and “stand up eight” are about doing the impossible simply by refusing to quit.
For me, this is one of those quiet motivators that reminds you that even the most impossible moment is still just a moment.
2. “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
Jordan said this in a 1997 Nike commercial that wasn’t just about basketball but about everything he learned from missing shots and losing games. It’s a direct look into how failure builds greatness.
This quote and “stand up eight” come from the same truth that success isn’t about avoiding failure, it’s about pushing through it.
To me, this is one of the most honest things anyone successful has ever said, and that’s what makes it land so well.
3. “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.” – Maya Angelou
Angelou used this line often in interviews and her writing, especially in her book Letter to My Daughter. She always spoke from a place of truth, never sugarcoating struggle.
This quote works so well beside the idea of standing up again because it’s all about choice. You can fall, but staying down isn’t the only option.
Personally, I find this quote deeply human. It acknowledges pain without letting it win.
4. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Often attributed to Winston Churchill
Though it’s debated whether Churchill said this word for word, it reflects his approach to leadership during World War II. He was constantly reminding people to stay focused through fear and failure.
Like “stand up eight,” this quote focuses on what happens after the win or the loss since it’s the choice to keep going that matters.
To me, this one is grounding, like a mental reset when you’re riding highs or stuck in lows.
5. “Out of difficulties grow miracles.” – Jean de La Bruyère
This quote comes from his 17th-century work Les Caractères, where he explored human behavior and resilience. It’s not flashy, but it quietly speaks truth.
Like “stand up eight,” it turns struggle into the beginning of something better. For me, it’s a quiet kind of hope, the kind you hold on to when nothing else feels certain.
6. “No matter how far you fall, you can always climb back up.” – Trevor Noah
This quote is from Trevor Noah’s memoir Born a Crime, where he talks about growing up during apartheid in South Africa. He shares this line while reflecting on a time when everything in his life seemed stacked against him.
It fits the same energy as “stand up eight” because it’s not trying to sound poetic, it’s just real. To me, this line feels grounded, like someone saying, “Yeah, you’re down, but the story’s not over.”
7. “You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone.” – Johnny Cash
Cash said this in an interview later in life when asked about regret and mistakes. Coming from someone who had very public ups and downs, this line carries weight.
It doesn’t just echo standing back up, it goes a step further by saying you don’t just survive failure, you actually use it to get higher.
For me, that flips the whole mindset and makes struggle feel useful instead of just painful.
8. “You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.” – Oprah Winfrey
This quote is from a talk Oprah gave at Stanford back in 2014. She was talking about how important it is to believe in your own worth, especially after you’ve failed.
It really hits different when you’re at your lowest, because asking for help or another chance takes real courage.
To me, it’s about not shrinking after life knocks you down. It’s about showing up again and moving forward, even when it’s hard.
9. “There is nothing stronger than a broken woman who has rebuilt herself.” – Hannah Gadsby
This line comes from Gadsby’s stand-up special Nanette, where she shares her story of trauma, shame, and reclaiming power.
It lines up perfectly with the core message of resilience, especially for anyone who has ever had to put themselves back together piece by piece. To me, this is one of those quotes that stays with you, because it’s quiet and strong at the same time.
10. “The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.” – Native American Proverb
This is often attributed to the Minquass people and has been used in cultural teachings to honor both joy and sorrow.
It’s not about falling and rising literally, but emotionally it’s saying the same thing — that beauty can only come after difficulty.
Personally, I find this one comforting, especially during slow recovery moments when things still feel heavy but you know something good is on the other side.
11. “You were never meant to crawl, you have wings. Learn to use them and fly.” – Rumi
This quote comes from the writings of Rumi, a 13th-century poet and mystic whose words are still deeply relevant today.
It captures the moment after falling, when you realize staying down was never the goal.
It’s a powerful reminder that struggle doesn’t define us and that we all have the potential to rise, even after the hardest lows.
12. “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow.” – Mary Anne Radmacher
Written in her 2001 book Courage Doesn’t Always Roar, this quote has become a quiet anthem for people facing personal challenges.
It pairs well with the idea of getting back up, not in a dramatic way, but in a steady and honest one. Some days, simply deciding to try again is the biggest win.
13. “Scars show us where we’ve been, they don’t have to dictate where we’re going.” – David Rossi (Criminal Minds)
This line, though fictional, has resonated with many for its truth. It was featured in the show Criminal Minds as a message of healing and forward motion.
The quote holds the same spirit as standing up after a fall — acknowledging pain without letting it control the rest of the journey.
