The greatest difficulties lie where we are not looking for them.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Who has never tasted what is bitter does not know what is sweet.
—German Proverb
To every disadvantage there is a corresponding advantage.
—W. Clement Stone (1902–2002) American Self-help Guru, Entrepreneur
Adversity is a severe instructor, set over us by one who knows us better than we do ourselves, as he loves us better too. He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper. This conflict with difficulty makes us acquainted with our object, and compels us to consider it in all its relations. It will not suffer us to be superficial.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
It is often better to have a great deal of harm happen to one than a little; a great deal may rouse you to remove what a little will only accustom you to endure.
—George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick (1746–1816) British Nobleman, Politician
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 Evangelical Christian Pastor, Author
Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. They’re what make the instrument stretch — what makes you go beyond the norm.
—Cicely Tyson (b.1933) American Actor, Theater Personality, TV Personality
Discontent is the first step in the progress of a man or a nation.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
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
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 (b.1938) American Christian Author, Minister, Counselor
The most valuable gift I ever received was … the gift of insecurity … my father left us. My mother’s love might not have prepared me for life the way my father’s departure did. He forced us out on to the road where we had to earn our bread.
—Lillian Gish (1896–1993) American Actress
In the depth of winter I finally learned there was inside me an invincible summer.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
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
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
No great advance has ever been made in science, politics, or religion, without controversy.
—Lyman Beecher (1775–1863) American Presbyterian Clergyman
The Three Rules of Work: 1. Out of clutter, find simplicity. 2. From discord, find harmony. 3. In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
Wisdom comes by disillusionment.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Much of your pain is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.
—Khalil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
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
To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
Do not free a camel of the burden of his hump; you may be freeing him from being a camel.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Difficulties should act as a tonic. They should spur us to greater exertion.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
Noble discontent is the path to heaven.
—Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1823–1911) American Social Reformer, Clergyman
Adversity is, to me at least, a tonic and a bracer.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
Bumps are the things we climb on.
—Warren W. Wiersbe (1929–2019) American Pastor, Biblical Scholar
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
Failure is, in a sense, the highway to success, inasmuch as every discovery of what is false leads us to seek earnestly after what is true, and every fresh experience points out some form of error which we shall afterward carefully avoid.
—John Keats (1795–1821) English Poet
You’ve got to take the bull between your teeth.
—Samuel Goldwyn (1879–1974) Polish-born American Film Producer, Businessperson
Treasure the memories of past misfortunes; they constitute our bank of fortitude.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Nothing is difficult, it is only we who are indolent.
—Benjamin Haydon (1786–1846) English Painter, Writer
Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.
—Arnold Schwarzenegger (b.1947) Austrian-American Athlete, Actor, Politician
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 (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
If there were no tribulation, there would be no rest; if there were no winter, there would be no summer.
—John Chrysostom (c.347–407 CE) Archbishop of Constantinople
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Adversity is like the period of the former and of the latter rain, — cold, comfortless, unfriendly to man and to animal; yet from that season have their birth the flower and the fruit, the date, the rose, and the pomegranate.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
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 Editor, Novelist
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige and even his life for the welfare of others.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
When you are down and out something always turns up — and it is usually the noses of your friends.
—Orson Welles (1915–85) American Film Director, Actor
I think the years I have spent in prison have been the most formative and important in my life because of the discipline, the sensations, but chiefly the opportunity to think clearly, to try to understand things.
—Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) Indian Head of State
Misfortunes tell us what fortune is.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.
—Chinese Proverb
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) English Romantic Poet
A good scare is worth more to a man than good advice.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
Necessity is often the spur to genius.
—Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist
Every experience, however bitter, has its lesson, and to focus one’s attention on the lesson helps one overcome the bitterness.
—Edward Howard Griggs
A diamond is a chunk of coal that made good under pressure.
—Anonymous
Calamity is the test of integrity.
—Samuel Richardson (1689–1761) English Novelist, Printer, Publisher
There could be no honor in a sure success, but much might be wrested from a sure defeat.
—T. E. Lawrence (1888–1935) British Soldier, Scholar, Writer
Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
It has been well said that no man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when to-morrow’s burden is added to the burden of to-day that the weight is more than a man can bear.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
Life begins on the other side of despair.
—Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–80) French Philosopher, Playwright, Novelist, Screenwriter, Political Activist
In my youth, poverty enriched me, but now I can afford wealth.
—Marc Chagall (1889–1985) Russian-born French Painter, Graphic Artist
Things have got to be wrong in order that they may be deplored.
—Alfred Whitney Griswold (1906–63) American Historian, Educator
The fiery trials through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor to the last generation.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Even if misfortune is only good for bringing a fool to his senses, it would still be just to deem it good for something.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
Justice should remove the bandage from her eyes long enough to distinguish between the vicious and the unfortunate.
—Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–99) American Lawyer, Orator, Agnostic
Many men owe the grandeur of their lives to their tremendous difficulties.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
To conquer without risk is to triumph without glory.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
Adversity has ever been considered the state in which a man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, then, especially, being free from flatterers.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
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
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
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 Historian, Essayist
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 (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed … The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties. All history will convince you of this, and that wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure. Great necessities call out great virtues.
—Abigail Adams (1744–1818) American First Lady
Who hath not known ill-fortune, never knew himself, or his own virtue.
—David Mallet (c.1705–1765) Scottish Poet, Dramatist
He knows not his own strength that hath not met adversity.
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637) English Dramatist, Poet, Actor
Restlessness is discontent and discontent is the first necessity of progress. Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I will show you a failure.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
The best way out of a difficulty is through it.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Comic, Columnist, Radio Personality
Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seamed with scars; martyrs have put on their coronation robes glittering with fire, and through their tears have the sorrowful first seen the gates of Heaven.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814–80) American Preacher, Poet
The same wind that extinguishes a light can set a brazier on fire.
—Pierre Beaumarchais (1732–99) French Inventor, Diplomat, Musician, Fugitive, Revolutionary
The greater the obstacle, the more glory we have in overcoming it; the difficulties with which we are met are the maids of honor which set off virtue.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
By becoming more unhappy, we sometimes learn how to be less so.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
If you want to see the sunshine, you have to weather the storm.
—Frank Lane (1896–1981) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
He that has never suffered extreme adversity, knows not the full extent of his own depravation.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
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
Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both the marble and the sculptor.
—Alexis Carrel (1873–1944) American Surgeon, Biologist
There is nothing so easy but that it becomes difficult when you do it reluctantly.
—Terence (c.195–159 BCE) Roman Comic Dramatist
If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.
—Dolly Parton (b.1946) American Musician, Actress
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
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
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 Historian, Essayist