Though the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh is now considered a master, he was essentially unknown in his own time. Of the more than 1,500 pieces of art he made over the course of his life, he sold only one piece. But in the century-plus since his death, the artist’s innovative, deeply emotive style has garnered acclaim the world over, and his paintings hang in museums from MoMA to the Louvre. Van Gogh’s story urges us to play the long game: Though we may not see our work pay off right away, the effort we put in adds up over time, leading us to our goals whether we can immediately see the path or not.

Considered the greatest poet of ancient Rome, Virgil is best known for his epic poem “The Aeneid,” where this quote originates. In this section, the titular Trojan hero Aeneas meets the Sibyl, a guide to the underworld. She gives Aeneas guidance on his journey and reassures him that despite past setbacks, he will eventually fulfill his destiny of finding a new home for the Trojan people. Thousands of years later, we can still take the Sibyl’s words as encouragement to meet challenges head-on. When we face difficulties instead of avoiding them, we’re more likely to learn something and be able to move forward.

Today, we think of Eleanor Roosevelt as a strong and fearless role model. The longest-serving First Lady of the United States, she transformed the role, taking on more leadership and political responsibility than any before her. In her autobiography, though, she described her younger self as timid, afraid of the dark and of punishment, and longing to be loved. It was only in adulthood, repeatedly facing what frightened her, that she learned, “once you have met it and lived through it you find that forever after you are freer than you ever were before.” It's a sentiment similar to one her husband famously expressed: “The only thing to fear is fear itself.” The difference is in the freedom she describes: “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.”

Renowned poet Sylvia Plath notably struggled with her mental health for most of her life. Her only novel, 1963’s “The Bell Jar,” follows a young woman’s breakdown that parallels Plath’s own experiences. Yet the poet often wrote eloquently on the joys of life and the need to push on, and achieved significant recognition during her short life (including a Fulbright fellowship). Her words here serve as encouragement to bravely step past our own self-doubt, and see what we might then achieve.