Interestingly, some of the most potent advice for the modern entrepreneur comes from an 18th-century mystic, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. His teachings, focused on joy, perseverance, and radical belief in your unique path, are a blueprint for navigating the chaos of startup life. Here are over 200 of his most powerful insights, curated for the entrepreneur in 2025.

On Perseverance & Overcoming Setbacks

Every entrepreneur knows the feeling of hitting a wall. A product launch fails, a key employee leaves, or the market shifts. This is where resilience is forged.

  1. “If you believe that you can damage, believe that you can fix.”
  2. “The whole world is a very narrow bridge, and the main thing is to have no fear at all.”
  3. “There is no such thing as despair.”
  4. “It is forbidden to give up!”
  5. “Know that you must pass over a very, very narrow bridge. The rule is not to frighten yourself.”
  6. “You are never given a challenge that you cannot overcome.”
  7. “Even in the darkest places, there is always hope.”
  8. “The day you were born is the day God decided that the world could not exist without you.”
  9. “Start over again. And if you fail, start over yet again.”
  10. “Every descent is for the purpose of a greater ascent.”
  11. “Even the furthest person has hope.”
  12. “Crawling, too, is a form of progress.”
  13. “Where your thoughts are, that is where you are.”
  14. “Don’t despair. Even from the lowest depths, you can cry out to God.”
  15. “The main thing is not to be old. Not an old righteous man, not an old Chasid. To be old is not good. One must renew oneself each day.”
  16. “Just as a hand held in front of the eyes can hide the tallest mountain, so can a trivial daily routine hide the greatest brilliance.”
  17. “The primary battle against the evil inclination is over joy.”
  18. “A person walks in this world, and it seems to him that he is walking, but he is standing still. Another seems to be standing still, but he is walking.”
  19. “All beginnings are difficult.”
  20. “Even if you fall, do not lie there. Get up!”
  21. “The main test of faith is in times of concealment.”
  22. “You need to be stubborn in your service to God.” (Your mission)
  23. “A small hole can sink a great ship.” (Pay attention to the small details)
  24. “Even if the sword is at your neck, do not despair.”
  25. “In every blade of grass, there is an angel that whispers, ‘Grow, grow.’”

On Vision, Belief & Self-Worth

Your business begins as an idea—a vision only you can see. Protecting and nurturing that belief is your first and most important job as a founder.

  1. “The power of thought is immense. A good thought has great power.”
  2. “Search and find the good points in yourself. This is the foundation of everything.”
  3. “Know! The world was created for you.”
  4. “Every person has a unique point, a ‘good point,’ that no one else in the world possesses.”
  5. “You must believe in your own preciousness.”
  6. “A person’s main weapon is prayer.” (Or focused intention)
  7. “The essence of a person is their will.”
  8. “Whatever you are lacking, you can find it within your own thoughts.”
  9. “Your own melody is the most beautiful.”
  10. “You are where your will is.”
  11. “Long for the good. This longing itself is very powerful.”
  12. “The main thing is desire. A person must always be yearning for holiness.” (Or your highest goal)
  13. “A person has the power to change their nature.”
  14. “Every person should say, ‘The entire world was created for my sake.'”
  15. “Judge everyone favorably. Especially yourself.”
  16. “The greater the mind, the greater the obstacles.”
  17. “Don’t look at the external form, but at the inner essence.”
  18. “Your mind is in your hands. You can control it.”
  19. “If you don’t expect it, you won’t find the unexpected.”
  20. “The greatest wisdom is to be wise in your own eyes.”
  21. “Your thoughts have the power to create reality.”
  22. “Believe in your own strength.”
  23. “See the good in others, and you will see the good in yourself.”
  24. “You have to be an expert in finding your own good points.”
  25. “Your mission is unique to you.”

On Taking Action & Getting Started

An idea without execution is just a daydream. The difference between a wantrepreneur and an entrepreneur is action. You have to build the thing.

Your grand vision for a business needs a digital home. Building your website is a tangible first step that makes your idea real. This is where you translate thought into reality, and platforms like Elementor make it possible to build a professional site and bring that vision to life without getting bogged down in code.

  1. “It is not the study that is the main thing, but the deed.”
  2. “The main thing is action.”
  3. “Start with a little. A very little.”
  4. “Don’t be rushed. Every step in its proper time.”
  5. “If not now, when?”
  6. “A person should accustom himself to begin many times.”
  7. “Do not be overly clever. Just be simple and honest.”
  8. “The world is full of new things. You just have to be willing to see them.”
  9. “One small action can tip the scales.”
  10. “Run to do a good deed.” (Or a key task)
  11. “A little bit of light dispels a lot of darkness.”
  12. “Don’t wait for inspiration. Start, and inspiration will find you.”
  13. “The beginning is half of the whole.”
  14. “Let your ears hear what your mouth is saying.” (Be mindful of your commitments)
  15. “Don’t say, ‘When I have time, I will study.’ Perhaps you will never have time.”
  16. “Get up early and start your day with vigor.”
  17. “The longer you wait to do something you should do now, the greater the internal resistance you will feel.”
  18. “Be quick to act, slow to anger.”
  19. “The success of a matter depends on its beginning.”
  20. “A person should start from the small and go to the great.”
  21. “Talk a little and do a lot.”
  22. “The path is made by walking.”
  23. “Don’t be a person of ‘tomorrow’.”
  24. “Every hour and every day is a new creation.”
  25. “What you do today is what matters most.”

On Mindset, Joy & Positivity

The entrepreneurial journey is 90% mental. Your mindset dictates how you handle stress, celebrate wins, and connect with your team. Joy isn’t a luxury; it’s a core business strategy.

  1. “It is a great mitzvah (commandment) to always be happy.”
  2. “Joy opens the heart and mind.”
  3. “Sadness locks all the gates.”
  4. “Find one good point in yourself, and through this, you will find joy.”
  5. “Force yourself to be happy, even if you have to use tricks.”
  6. “A sigh breaks the body.”
  7. “Depression is the main cause of all illness.”
  8. “When the heart is joyous, the body is healthy.”
  9. “There is nothing more whole than a broken heart.”
  10. “Dance! It will elevate your spirit.”
  11. “The world may be full of suffering, but it is also full of the overcoming of it.”
  12. “Laughter is a powerful remedy.”
  13. “When you feel down, sing a melody. It will bring you joy.”
  14. “Do not let the world fool you.”
  15. “Gratitude is the key to happiness.”
  16. “The main thing is not to be afraid of the past. It is gone.”
  17. “Avoid anger. It is a form of idolatry because you deny that God is in control.”
  18. “A happy person is a magnet for miracles.”
  19. “Even if you are not feeling happy, act happy. The action will create the feeling.”
  20. “Joy can break through all barriers.”
  21. “Seek peace and pursue it.”
  22. “A calm mind can solve any problem.”
  23. “Do not worry about tomorrow. It has its own concerns.”
  24. “Let go of what you can’t control.”
  25. “Simplicity is the highest form of sophistication.”

On Leadership, Wealth & Impact

As a founder, you’re a leader. Your actions impact your employees, customers, and the market. Rabbi Nachman’s teachings offer a powerful perspective on wealth and responsibility.

  1. “The honor that one receives is a great test.”
  2. “Money is a great trial. It can elevate or debase.”
  3. “The desire for money can blind a person.”
  4. “Charity (giving back) is the salt of money.”
  5. “A true leader is one who serves others.”
  6. “Do not seek honor, and honor will follow you.”
  7. “The main thing is to have a good heart.”
  8. “When you give to others, you are really giving to yourself.”
  9. “The world stands on three things: truth, justice, and peace.”
  10. “Be the kind of person you want to meet.”
  11. “Your influence extends far beyond what you can see.”
  12. “Wealth is a tool. Use it for good.”
  13. “Do not be embarrassed by those who mock you for doing the right thing.”
  14. “A person’s true wealth is the good they do in the world.”
  15. “Lead with humility and integrity.”
  16. “The reward for a good deed is the deed itself.”
  17. “Seek the truth, even if it is uncomfortable.”
  18. “Do not be swayed by the opinions of the masses if you know you are right.”
  19. “A good name is better than precious oil.”
  20. “Your legacy is built one honest action at a time.”

On Focus, Simplicity & Finding Clarity

The startup world is noisy. There are endless distractions, new trends, and conflicting pieces of advice. The ability to find your signal in the noise is a superpower.

  1. “It is very good to pour out your heart before God, like a child before his father.” (This practice, hitbodedut, is like a daily strategic session with yourself and your highest ideals.)
  2. “Spend an hour a day in solitude.”
  3. “The simpler, the better.”
  4. “Remove the confusing thoughts, and clarity will emerge.”
  5. “One who runs after too many things will catch none.”
  6. “Silence is a beautiful thing.”
  7. “Focus on one thing at a time.”
  8. “The main thing is to be simple and not sophisticated.”
  9. “Don’t complicate things that are simple.”
  10. “The truth is always simple.”
  11. “Clutter in your physical space leads to clutter in your mind.”
  12. “The path to greatness is through the path of simplicity.”
  13. “Know what to ignore.”
  14. “Your main work is with yourself.”
  15. “In a quiet mind, the answers appear.”

More Aphorisms for the Daily Grind

Here’s a rapid-fire list of quotes to screen-shot, write on a sticky note, or use as your daily mantra.

  1. “Get up like a lion.”
  2. “Let your heart be your guide.”
  3. “Seek the newness in every day.”
  4. “Speech has great power. Use it wisely.”
  5. “The goal is not to be perfect, but to be real.”
  6. “Every step is a destination.”
  7. “What is hidden from you is for your own good.”
  8. “Patience is a key to deliverance.”
  9. “The world is a spinning wheel.”
  10. “Attach yourself to the creator, not the creation.”
  11. “A person finds what they are looking for.”
  12. “Even a simple sigh can be a profound prayer.”
  13. “Humility is the vessel for all blessings.”
  14. “Do not think you understand everything.”
  15. “The main thing is faith.”
  16. “Longing itself is a great level.”
  17. “The heart of a person is a deep ocean.”
  18. “Memory is the key to redemption.”
  19. “Always look for the good.”
  20. “Turn your thoughts away from worry.”
  21. “The world is full of wonders.”
  22. “Be a master of your desires.”
  23. “Run from honor.”
  24. “A broken heart is not a sad heart.”
  25. “This world is a preparation for the next.”
  26. “You are a reflection of your friends.”
  27. “Distance yourself from anger.”
  28. “Music has the power to elevate the soul.”
  29. “Always be growing.”
  30. “Life is a journey, not a race.”
  31. “The greatest victory is the victory over oneself.”
  32. “Do not be a slave to your habits.”
  33. “Every person is a world unto themselves.”
  34. “The main exile is the exile of the mind.”
  35. “Look for the light in everything.”
  36. “The world is a test.”
  37. “There is a reason for everything.”
  38. “Be strong and courageous.”
  39. “The mind is a garden. Tend to it.”
  40. “Let your actions speak louder than your words.”
  41. “The time is now.”
  42. “The purpose of the descent is the ascent.”
  43. “The power to choose is your greatest gift.”
  44. “Do not be discouraged by your falls.”
  45. “Find joy in the simple things.”
  46. “The essence is to start anew each moment.”
  47. “Yearn for truth.”
  48. “The main wisdom is to know what you don’t know.”
  49. “A person must be very stubborn in holiness.”
  50. “The world is filled with God’s glory.”
  51. “You can always get closer.”
  52. “Desire is the engine of the soul.”
  53. “Your name is your essence.”
  54. “What is important is the present moment.”
  55. “The main thing is not to fool yourself.”
  56. “The world exists on the breath of children.” (A reminder of purity and new beginnings)
  57. “All the wisdom in the world is included in the Torah.” (Or your foundational principles)
  58. “There is no place empty of Him.”
  59. “You have to know that all your business is spiritual.”
  60. “The main thing is to remember the ultimate goal.”
  61. “Do not be afraid to be different.”
  62. “A little flame can light up a great darkness.”
  63. “Seek out a true advisor.”
  64. “The world is like a revolving door.”
  65. “Everything depends on your perspective.”
  66. “The greatest charity is enabling another to be self-sufficient.”
  67. “Do not be wise in your own eyes.”
  68. “The main thing is to be alive, not just to live.”

Final Thoughts

The entrepreneurial path is, in many ways, a spiritual one. It demands faith in an unseen future, resilience in the face of crushing setbacks, and a constant effort to improve oneself. Rabbi Nachman’s wisdom, though centuries old, feels like it was written for the founder grinding away at their desk today.

Pick one of these quotes. Let it be your focus for the day or the week. Let it guide your decisions, calm your anxieties, and fuel your ambition. Because as Rabbi Nachman taught, the main thing is to keep going, to never despair, and to always, always believe that you can fix what is broken and build something new.