Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, an 18th-century spiritual master, and his students offered teachings that are startlingly relevant to the modern entrepreneur. Their wisdom focuses on joy, perseverance, self-belief, and the power of starting fresh every single day.

This collection of quotes is curated for the founder, the creator, and the innovator. Let them be your daily source of strength and inspiration.

On Vision, Belief, and Bringing Your Idea to Life

Every great venture starts with a belief—a spark of an idea that you are determined to make real. This is the bedrock of entrepreneurship. Before you can convince investors or customers, you must first convince yourself.

Building a powerful online presence is a modern way to manifest that vision. When you’re laying out your mission and values on a new website, using a platform like Elementor can help you translate that core belief into a compelling design without getting bogged down in technical details, letting you focus on the message.

  1. “If you believe that you can damage, then believe that you can fix.”
  2. “You are wherever your thoughts are, make sure your thoughts are where you want to be.”
  3. “The essence of wisdom is to realize how far from wisdom you are.”
  4. “All new beginnings require that you unlock a new door.”
  5. “Know that a person needs to traverse a very, very narrow bridge, but the fundamental and most important principle is to have no hesitation or fear at all.”
  6. “Worldly desires are like sunbeams in a dark room. They seem solid until you try to grasp one.”
  7. “Intense prayer makes one worthy of one’s livelihood.”
  8. “The less careful a person is about upholding his moral standards, the more unpleasantness and hardship he will experience in his efforts to earn a living.”
  9. “A person has to work very hard to force himself to be constantly joyful.”
  10. “The main thing is innocent faith.”
  11. “God takes pride in each and every Jew.”
  12. “An individual who is always happy, succeeds.”
  13. “Speak to Him the way you would speak to your friend.”
  14. “You must pray for everything.”
  15. “Whatever task lies in your hand, do it with all your might.”
  16. “Your success is entirely dependent upon Hashem.”
  17. “By thinking about Hashem throughout the day… you are living a life of Torah, and of everlasting success.”
  18. “A man must always renew, begin and go back and begin anew.”
  19. “Happiness is not a side matter in your spiritual journey – it is essential.”
  20. “Today you feel uplifted. Do not let yesterday and tomorrow bring you down.”
  21. “It is customary to consider forgetfulness a disadvantage. I believe it is an advantage.”
  22. “Let the good in me connect with the good in others, until all the world is transformed through the compelling power of love.”
  23. “Work at not needing approval from anyone and you will be free to be who you really are.”
  24. “Seek the good in everyone, and reveal it, bring it forth.”
  25. “The essence of peace is to merge two opposites.”
  26. “The Exodus from Egypt occurs in every human being, in every era, in every year, and in every day.”
  27. “Prayers truly from the heart open all doors in Heaven.”
  28. “The world goes on because of those who close their lips when they meet hostility from others.”
  29. “If you are not a better person tomorrow than you are today, what need have you for a tomorrow?”
  30. “Common sense is strengthened by joy.”
  31. “Know this: you should judge every person by his merits.”
  32. “When a person realizes that he is on a very low level and far from God, this itself is a reason to feel encouraged.”
  33. “We need to start over every day.”
  34. “Whoever is able to write a book and does not, it is as if he has lost a child.”
  35. The secret of prayer is to be bold.
  36. “Pride also causes poverty.”
  37. “The way to do this is by giving charity.”
  38. “You are never given an obstacle you cannot overcome.”
  39. “Wherever I go, I’m always going to Israel.”
  40. “It is a great mitzvah to be happy always.”

On Overcoming Despair and Setbacks

No entrepreneurial journey is a straight line. You will face setbacks, rejections, and moments of profound doubt. This is where true strength is forged. Rabbi Nachman’s most famous teaching, “There is no despair in the world at all,” is a lifeline for anyone navigating the turbulent waters of building something from nothing.

  1. “There is no despair in the world at all!”
  2. “If you did not forget, it would be utterly impossible to serve God. You would remember your entire past… and these memories would drag you down.”
  3. “The past is gone forever and never need be brought to mind.”
  4. “This is an important rule in devotion. Never let yourself fall completely.”
  5. “When one effort failed, he began again.”
  6. “Setbacks are not meant to push you away from spiritual growth. Instead, they are integral to the process.”
  7. “When you experience obstacles or difficulties, it’s not a sign of failure but a sign that vessels are being created for future light.”
  8. “All diseases are a result of a problem with joy.”
  9. “It is much easier to shift from a broken heart to depression than it is to lose control as a result of joy.”
  10. “He encouraged me a great deal to be constantly joyful.”
  11. “Even if you can’t sing well, sing.”
  12. “Get into the habit of dancing. It will displace depression and dispel hardship.”
  13. “It is even good to do silly things in order to cheer oneself up.”
  14. “A broken heart is very good. But that is only for a limited amount of time.”
  15. “This ‘distancing’, in truth, is only his ‘drawing near’.”
  16. “All the great tzaddikim had to go through this kind of experience before they reached their level.”
  17. “One must never be old… a man must always renew.”
  18. “The whole world is a very narrow bridge. And the most important thing is not to be afraid.”
  19. “Despair only comes because the spark of life is hidden.”
  20. “God created His world so that nothing is ever completely lost.”
  21. “Everything can achieve its final tikkun (rectification).”
  22. “The breaking of the vessels is not a one-time occurrence… but a continual phenomenon.”
  23. “When we choose good over evil, we become partners with God in the act of creation.”
  24. “You would be constantly disturbed by the past.”
  25. “God has given you the power to forget and disregard the past.”
  26. “He must remain very very strong not to be discouraged even if many years of hard work go by.”
  27. “Pay no attention to these delusions at all.”
  28. “All this ‘distancing’, in truth, is only his ‘drawing near’.”
  29. “All the great tzaddikim had to go through this kind of experience.”
  30. “Knowing to forget, means loosening the troubles of the past.”
  31. “Do not let yesterday and tomorrow bring you down.”
  32. “The joy of Hashem is your strength.”
  33. “Setbacks in life push you back to create vessels for growth and understanding.”
  34. “Overcoming Challenges… How Can You Know What’s Good.”
  35. “Gevalt!!! Never give up hope!”

On the Power of Joy and Simplicity

In the high-stakes world of startups and business growth, it’s easy to lose sight of joy. Yet, Rabbi Nachman teaches that joy is not a luxury; it’s a core business strategy. A joyful person is a creative, resilient, and magnetic person. Finding happiness in the daily tasks, in the small wins, and in the work itself is what sustains you for the long haul.

  1. “It is a great mitzvah to be happy always.”
  2. “An individual who is always happy, succeeds.”
  3. “Get into the habit of singing a tune. It will give you new life and fill you with joy.”
  4. “Always wear a smile. The gift of life will then be yours to give.”
  5. “Joy is not incidental to spiritual quest. It is vital.”
  6. “The essential joy comes from mitzvot (good deeds).”
  7. “Joy is the key.”
  8. “Focus on your good points and be grateful for them.”
  9. “By choosing joy, you can extract the holiness trapped within negativity.”
  10. “Tears are born out of joy.”
  11. “Joy and dancing are both called choleh, for they both rectify illness.”
  12. “At first you have to make yourself as happy as possible with everyday things. From that, you can come to true joy.”
  13. “The purpose of observing mitzvoth is dveikut or bonding with God, and there is no greater way to bond then by experiencing joy.”
  14. “If we were to experience just one moment of that pleasure, all of the enjoyments of this world combined would seem like total nothingness.”
  15. “Our souls are sensitive and knowing of our new connection.”
  16. “The main time King David secluded himself with God was at night.”
  17. “It is very good to pour out your thoughts before God, like a child pleading before his father.”
  18. “God’s way is to focus on the good.”
  19. “We are obligated to seek only the good – always!”
  20. “Extremism, in any form, is totally unnecessary.”
  21. “If only we would be worthy of keeping all of the Torah’s commandments simply, without any excesses.”
  22. “Common sense is strengthened by joy.”
  23. “Find a day for yourself… You will meet solitude there.”
  24. “Come back to harmonic connection with the world and its Creator.”
  25. “If you never want to see the face of hell, when you come home from work every night, dance with your kitchen towel.”
  26. “Each little prayer, each act of kindness and charity… is a ‘good point’.”
  27. “Our task in this world is to seek out these good points… and gather them together one by one.”
  28. “This way we create a melody.”
  29. “Each person has his or her unique good points and unique song.”
  30. “Joy is a vital healing agent.”
  31. “In future days, joy will increase tremendously.”
  32. “A person must gather all his resources to be constantly happy.”
  33. “Human nature tends toward depression. Everyone has problems.”
  34. “He must be constantly joyful, except for a specific time when he has a broken heart.”
  35. “Be joyful in God.”
  36. “He who is not happy has no life.”
  37. “Joy opens up the mind and broadens one’s consciousness.”
  38. “Through joy, one can achieve all that is good.”
  39. “The world is full of joy and sorrow; it is up to you to choose which to see.”
  40. “When you are happy, you can bring happiness to others.”

On Action, Effort, and Daily Practice

A vision without execution is just a daydream. Success is built on a foundation of consistent, daily action. It’s about showing up, doing the work, and making incremental progress. This is the essence of hitbodedut, the practice of daily, personal conversation with the Divine, which can be adapted as a practice of daily, personal conversation with your own goals and mission.

  1. “If you won’t be better tomorrow than you were today, then what do you need tomorrow for?”
  2. “Whatever task lies in your hand, do it with all your might.”
  3. “We need to start over every day. And sometimes many times each day.”
  4. “The secret of prayer is to be bold.”
  5. “You must pray for everything. If your garment is torn… pray to God for a new one.”
  6. “Effort Counts – No Matter What the Result.”
  7. “It is best to pray early in the morning.”
  8. “Prayer helps for everything.”
  9. “Everything good can be attained through prayer.”
  10. “One must… set regular times to sit quietly in order to think seriously about where our lives are going.”
  11. “We must make it a habit to ask God in our own words to help us accomplish the goals that give meaning.”
  12. “The only way to find genuine happiness is by learning to take delight… in the only things that endure forever: Torah, mitzvot and good deeds.”
  13. “Always do your part, making every effort to serve God to the best of your ability.”
  14. “Keep it up, even when all your efforts seem to be frustrated and all your attempts in vain.”
  15. “When you work according to halacha (Jewish law), when we’re engaged in work, our parnassa (livelihood) will be rooted in Torah.”
  16. “Yes, we are required to put in effort, to use our heads and our hands; to use our skills and our talents.”
  17. “Remembering to be honest and upfront in every business transaction, you are living a life of Torah.”
  18. “It’s really not that hard, once you know the basic halachot, whatever your business may be.”
  19. “And know that it’s not enough to have yearnings [for God] in the heart alone, for a person needs to bring all his yearnings out into words.”
  20. “When a person has a yearning for something and he brings it out into words, a soul is created.”
  21. “Hisbodedus, personal prayer before God, is greater than anything else.”
  22. “Grant me the ability to be alone.”
  23. “May it be my custom to go outdoors each day among the trees and grasses.”
  24. “There may I be alone, and enter into prayer to talk with the one that I belong to.”
  25. “It is very good to pour out your heart to God as you would to a true, good friend.”
  26. “Confiding in others unburdens the soul as part of repentance and healing.”
  27. “He urged everyone to seek out their own and others’ good points.”
  28. “He encouraged his followers to clap, sing, and dance during or after their prayers.”
  29. “He taught his followers to spend an hour alone daily, talking aloud to God in their own words.”
  30. “The goal is to establish complete unification with God and a clearer understanding of one’s personal motives and goals.”
  31. “The main thing is action.”
  32. “Do not be discouraged by the obstacles you face.”
  33. “Every day, a person should begin anew.”
  34. “The day is short, the work is great.”
  35. “A little bit of light dispels a lot of darkness.”
  36. “Do not say, ‘When I have time, I will study’; perhaps you will never have time.”
  37. “The world is not a place for idleness.”
  38. “One who is lazy in his work is a brother to one who destroys.”
  39. “The reward is according to the effort.”
  40. “It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it.”

On Integrity, Truth, and Leadership

How you build your business matters as much as what you build. Integrity isn’t a feature; it’s the entire operating system. In a world of hype and spin, being a source of truth and genuine value is a powerful differentiator.

  1. “There may be many lies, but there is only one truth.”
  2. “God’s way is to focus on the good.”
  3. “How much more do we have to avoid focusing on the faults of our friends.”
  4. “There is Truth, the truth of the Truth and there is Peace.”
  5. “The Truth is ‘the boy stole an apple’, the truth of the Truth is ‘the boy was hungry’ and Peace is ‘nobody stole anything, now, give the boy an apple!'”
  6. “You should be very careful not to accord them any recognition whatsoever.” (Regarding leaders who are victims of a lust for power).
  7. “The people who give them credibility and power… will have a heavy penalty to pay.”
  8. “Worthless pursuits and malicious gossip can lead only to poverty.”
  9. “Immorality can deprive a person of his livelihood.”
  10. “He will conduct his business affairs truthfully and honestly.”
  11. “He will be satisfied with his portion in life.”
  12. “He is free of the constant struggle to make extra profit.”
  13. “The burden of this struggle is the fulfillment of the curse ‘By the sweat of your brow you will eat bread’.”
  14. “A tzaddik (righteous person) should magnify God’s blessings on the community through their performance of mitzvot.”
  15. “He encouraged his disciples to take every opportunity to increase holiness in themselves and their daily activities.”
  16. “By marrying and living with one’s spouse according to Torah law, one elevates sexual intimacy to an act bespeaking honor and respect.”
  17. “The key to success is insider knowledge coupled with a fresh perspective.”
  18. “Every setback or failure will have real-world consequences.”
  19. “What we must learn from here is who to partner with.”
  20. “It is not the richest or the most powerful… it is the person with a shared ideological belief.”
  21. “Many teams fail not because their idea wouldn’t work, but because the team never learned how to work with a team.”
  22. “Most entrepreneurs have a hole they are trying to fill.”
  23. “If they didn’t, they would be fully content with their life.”
  24. “Truth is the light by which we see.”
  25. “Let your ‘yes’ be yes, and your ‘no’ be no.”
  26. “A good name is better than precious oil.”
  27. “Do not be a person who is all talk and no action.”
  28. “The heart of the wise is in the house of learning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.”
  29. “A person’s character is his destiny.”
  30. “The wise man is cautious and avoids evil, but the fool is reckless and careless.”

More Daily Inspiration

  1. “Just as your hand, held before the eye, can hide the tallest mountain, so this small earthly life keeps us from seeing the vast radiance that fills the core of the universe.”
  2. “When you have a yearning for something… a soul is created.”
  3. “When one goes out to the meadows to pray, every blade of grass, every plant and flower enters our prayers and helps us.”
  4. “You should be very careful about… intelligence, power and material possessions.”
  5. “Whatever intelligence, power or wealth you have been blessed with should give you a sense of meekness and humility.”
  6. “The essence of wisdom is to realize how far from wisdom you are.”
  7. “I can now say: All the sages of Israel are in my estimation like a garlic peel.” (A lesson in ultimate self-confidence in one’s unique path).
  8. “He repeatedly insisted that all Jews could reach the same level as he.”
  9. “He disagreed with those who thought that the main reason for a Rebbe’s greatness was the superior level of his soul.”
  10. “Put Yourself in Good Hands.”
  11. “Truth About Wealth.”
  12. “Effort Counts – No Matter What the Result.”
  13. “Sometimes Distraction Can Be Beneficial.”
  14. “The Silent Scream.” (The unspoken yearning of the soul).
  15. “Wasn’t Abraham, a founder of our religion, and wasn’t the story of his struggle like the story of any founder who was going from 0 to 1?”
  16. “What about Moses? Wasn’t he the master of the turnaround?”
  17. “It takes vision and character to take a people enslaved and create out of them a free nation.”
  18. “One of the most well-known approaches to innovation is to do the opposite of what everyone is doing.”
  19. “You have to know what you are disrupting.”
  20. “The key to success is insider knowledge coupled with a fresh perspective.”
  21. “The person with a shared ideological belief.”
  22. “He wanted to create a foundation that would create a partnership for life.”
  23. “Most entrepreneurs have a hole they are trying to fill.”
  24. “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”
  25. “The highest wisdom is loving-kindness.”
  26. “Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief.”
  27. “Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now.”
  28. “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”
  29. “A single act of kindness is like a drop of water in a desert.”
  30. “The soul is a lamp of God.”
  31. “Let your soul shine.”
  32. “The greatest strength is the strength to be gentle.”
  33. “The world is sustained by three things: by truth, by justice, and by peace.”
  34. “Do not separate yourself from the community.”
  35. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
  36. “The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it.”
  37. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
  38. “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
  39. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”
  40. “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”
  41. “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”
  42. “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
  43. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
  44. “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
  45. “What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise.”

Conclusion

The entrepreneurial path is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires a deep well of inner strength to draw upon. The teachings of Rabbi Nachman offer more than just feel-good platitudes; they provide a spiritual technology for resilience, creativity, and purpose.

Keep these words close. Revisit them daily. Let them remind you that every challenge is an opportunity for growth, every day is a chance to begin anew, and the most important asset you have is the unwavering belief in your own unique mission. Now go, build.