Crises bring out the best in the best of us, and the worst in the worst of us.
—Unknown
Do not consider anything for your interest which makes you break your word, quit your modesty or inclines you to any practice which will not bear the light or look the world in the face.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
Most of us seldom take the trouble to think. It is a troublesome and fatiguing process and often leads to uncomfortable conclusions. But crises and deadlocks when they occur have at least this advantage, that they force us to think.
—Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) Indian Head of State
The remarkable thing is that it is the crowded life that is most easily remembered. A life full of turns, achievements, disappointments, surprises, and crises is a life full of landmarks. The empty life has even its few details blurred, and cannot be remembered with certainty.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
The wise man does not expose himself needlessly to danger, since there are few things for which he cares sufficiently; but he is willing, in great crises, to give even his life—knowing that under certain conditions it is not worthwhile to live.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Thank Heaven! the crisis —
The danger is past,
And the lingering illness
Is over at last —
And the fever called “Living”
Is conquered at last.
—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–49) American Poet
I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
There can’t be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full.
—Henry Kissinger (b.1923) American Diplomat, Academician
The whole life of an American is passed like a game of chance, a revolutionary crisis, or a battle.
—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–59) French Historian, Political Scientist
What one decides to do in crisis depends on one’s philosophy of life, and that philosophy cannot be changed by an incident. If one hasn’t any philosophy in crises, others make the decision.
—Jeannette Rankin (1880–1973) American Feminist, Pacifist
A man has no more character than he can command in a time of crisis.
—Ralph Washington Sockman (1889–1970) American United Methodist Pastor
The crisis of yesterday is the joke of tomorrow.
—H. G. Wells (1866–1946) English Novelist, Historian, Social Thinker
A marriage without conflicts is almost as inconceivable as a nation without crises.
—Andre Maurois (1885–1967) French Novelist, Biographer
Great emergencies and crises show us how much greater our vital resources are than we had supposed.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
The effects of opposition are wonderful. There are men who rise refreshed on hearing of a threat; men to whom a crisis, which intimidates and paralyzes the majority … comes graceful and beloved as a bride.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
In the present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
Faced with crisis, the man of character falls back on himself. He imposes his own stamp of action, takes responsibility for it, makes it his own.
—Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970) French General, Statesman
Stand up to crises. Don’t let them throw you! Fight to stay calm… even surmount the crisis completely and turn it into an opportunity. Refuse to renounce your self-image. No matter what happens, you must keep your good opinion of yourself. No matter what happens, you must hold your past successes in your imagination, ready for showing in the motion picture screen of your mind. No matter what happens, no matter what you lose, no matter what failures you must endure, you must keep faith in yourself. Then you can stand up to crises, with calm and courage, refusing to buckle; then you will not fall through the floor. You will be able to support yourself.
—Maxwell Maltz (1899–1975) American Surgeon, Motivational Writer
Poetry is the language of a state of crisis.
—Stephane Mallarme (1842–98) French Symbolist Poet
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