Emergencies have always been necessary to progress. It was darkness which produced the lamp. It was fog that produced the compass. It was hunger that drove us to exploration. And it took a depression to teach us the real value of a job.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Essayist
Of all the advantages which come to any young man, I believe it to be demonstrably true that poverty is the greatest.
—Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819–81) American Novelist, Poet
Mistakes are often the best teachers.
—James Anthony Froude (1818–94) British Historian, Novelist, Biographer, Editor
There is no education like adversity.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State, Political leader, Author
Adversity is, to me at least, a tonic and a bracer.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
Things have got to be wrong in order that they may be deplored.
—Alfred Whitney Griswold (1906–63) American Historian, Educator
Men strive for peace, but it is their enemies that give them strength, and I think if man no longer had enemies, he would have to invent them, for his strength only grows from struggle.
—Louis L’amour
A man is insensible to the relish of prosperity till he has tasted adversity.
—Sa’Di (Musharrif Od-Din Muslih Od-Din) (1184–1283) Persian Poet
By becoming more unhappy, we sometimes learn how to be less so.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Christian Mystic
The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.
—Moliere
Don’t look forward to the day when you stop suffering. Because when it comes, you’ll know you’re dead.
—Tennessee Williams (1911–83) American Playwright, Novelist, Screenwriter
They merit more praise who know how to suffer misery than those who temper themselves with contentment.
—Pietro Aretino (1492–1556) Italian Author, Playwright, Poet, Satirist
Difficulties should act as a tonic. They should spur us to greater exertion.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
The block of granite which was an obstacle in the pathway of the weak becomes a stepping-stone in the pathway of the strong.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Writer, Essayist, Historian
Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (b.1814) American Universalist Preacher
Suffering is the sole origin of consciousness.
—Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821–81) Russian Novelist, Essayist, Writer
Stand still… and refuse to retreat. Look at it as God looks at it and draw upon His power to hold up under the blast.
—Chuck Swindoll (b.1934) American Christian Pastor, Author, Educator, Radio Personality
Nothing is difficult, it is only we who are indolent.
—Benjamin Haydon (1786–1846) English Painter, Writer
Our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses, and disappointments; but let us have patience, and we soon shall see them in their proper figures.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Wisdom comes by disillusionment.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish Philosopher
There is nothing so easy but that it becomes difficult when you do it reluctantly.
—Terence Ancient Roman Playwright
Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one step of success to another, forming new wishes and seeing them gratified. He that labors in any great or laudable undertaking has his fatigues first supported by hope and afterward rewarded by joy.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist, Biographer, Poet, Writer, Literary Critic
Adversity is like the period of the rain … cold, comfortless, unfriendly to man and to animal; yet from that season have their birth the flower, the fruit, the date, the rose and the pomegranate.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
Treasure the memories of past misfortunes; they constitute our bank of fortitude.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Life begins on the other side of despair.
—Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–80) French Philosopher, Playwright, Novelist, Screenwriter, Political Activist
Calamity is the test of integrity.
—Samuel Richardson (1689–1761) English Novelist, Printer, Publisher
Every experience, however bitter, has its lesson, and to focus one’s attention on the lesson helps one overcome the bitterness.
—Edward Howard Griggs
There could be no honor in a sure success, but much might be wrested from a sure defeat.
—T. E. Lawrence (1888–1935) British Military Leader
If there were no tribulation, there would be no rest; if there were no winter, there would be no summer.
—John Chrysostom (349–407) Greek Christian Saint, Religious Leader
As favor and riches forsake a man, we discover in him the foolishness they concealed, and which no one perceived before.
—Jean de La Bruyere
The same wind that extinguishes a light can set a brazier on fire.
—Pierre Beaumarchais (1732–99) French Inventor, Diplomat, Musician, Fugitive, Revolutionary
Necessity is often the spur to genius.
—Honore de Balzac
Adversity is the trial of principle. Without it, a man hardly knows whether he is honest or not.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
Adversity is sometimes hard upon a man; but for one man who can stand prosperity, there are a hundred that will stand adversity.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Writer, Essayist, Historian
I have lived long enough to be battered by the realities of life, and not too long to be downed by them.
—John Mason Brown (1900–69) American Columnist, Journalist, Author
Adversity is the first path to truth: He who hath proved war, storm or woman’s rage, whether his winters be eighteen or eighty, has won the experience which is deem’d so weighty.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824)
Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both the marble and the sculptor.
—Alexis Carrel (1873–1944) American Surgeon, Biologist
He that has never suffered extreme adversity, knows not the full extent of his own depravation.
—Charles Caleb Colton (1780–1832) English Angelic Priest, Writer, Collector
I would never have amounted to anything were it not for adversity. I was forced to come up the hard way.
—James Cash Penney (1875–1971) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson, Philanthropist
I sometimes react to making a mistake as if I have betrayed myself. My fear of making a mistake seems to be based on the hidden assumption that I am potentially perfect and that if I can just be very careful I will not fall from heaven. But a ‘mistake’ is a declaration of the way I am, a jolt to the way I intend, a reminder I am not dealing with the facts. When I have listened to my mistakes I have grown.
—Hugh Prather (1938–2010) American Christian Author, Minister, Counselor
No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
If you want to see the sunshine, you have to weather the storm.
—Frank Lane (1896–1981) American Sportsperson, Businessperson