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
A strenuous soul hates cheap success; it is the ardor of the assailant that makes the vigor of the defendant.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has. Out of pain and problems have come the sweetest songs, and the most gripping stories.
—Billy Graham (1918–91) American Baptist Religious Leader
The opposition is indispensable. A good statesman, like any other sensible human being, always learns more from his opponents than from his fervent supporters. For his supporters will push him to disaster unless his opponents show him where the dangers are. So if he is wise he will often pray to be delivered from his friends, because they will ruin him. But though it hurts, he ought also to pray never to be left without opponents; for they keep him on the path of reason and good sense.
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974) American Journalist, Political Commentator
Prosperity discovers vice, adversity discovers virtue.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
To overcome difficulties is to experience the full delight of existence.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
A certain amount of opposition is a great help to a man; it is what he wants and must have to be good for anything. Hardship and opposition are the native soil of manhood and self-reliance.
—John Neal (1793–1876) American Editor, Poet, Novelist, Critic
Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember, the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
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
Many a man’s strength is in opposition, and when he faileth, he grows out of use.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
But most of us are apt to settle within ourselves that the man who blocks our way is odious, and not to mind causing him a little of the disgust which his personality excites in ourselves.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Obstacles are necessary for success because in selling, as in all careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats. Yet each struggle, each defeat, sharpens your skills and strengths, your courage and your endurance, your ability and your confidence and thus each obstacle is a comrade-in-arms forcing you to become better … or quit. Each rebuff is an opportunity to move forward; turn away from them, avoid them, and you throw away your future.
—Og Mandino (1923–96) American Self-Help Author
Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre minds. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
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
Men often oppose a thing merely because they have had no agency in planning it, or because it may have been planned by those whom they dislike.
—Alexander Hamilton (c.1757–1804) American Federalist Politician, Statesman
Opposition always inflames the enthusiast, never converts him.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
No government can be long secure without a formidable opposition. It reduces their supporters to that tractable number which can be managed by the joint influences of fruition and hope. It offers vengeance to the discontented, and distinction to the ambitious; and employs the energies of aspiring spirits, who otherwise may prove traitors in a division or assassins in a debate.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The wise man always throws himself on the side of his assailants. It is more his interest than it is theirs to find his weak point.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
If you stand up and be counted, from time to time you may get yourself knocked down. But remember this: A man flattened by an opponent can get up again. A man flattened by conformity stays down for good.
—Thomas J. Watson, Sr. (1874–1956) American Business Executive
One-fifth of the people are against everything all the time.
—Robert F. Kennedy (1925–68) American Politician, Civil Rights Activist
I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed. Out of the hard and unusual struggle through which he is compelled to pass, he gets a strength, a confidence, that one misses whose pathway is comparatively smooth by reason of birth and race.
—Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) African-American Educationist
New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
The coldest bodies warm with opposition; the hardest sparkle in collision.
—Junius Unidentified English Writer
Opposition is true friendship.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
Nature is upheld by antagonism.—Passions, resistance, danger, are educators. We acquire the strength we have overcome.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
I have spent many years of my life in opposition, and I rather like the role.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
Have you learned lessons only of those who admired you, and were tender with you, and stood aside for you? Have you not learned great lessons from those who rejected you, and braced themselves against you, or disputed the passage with you?
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
I love opposition that has convictions.
—Frederick II of Prussia (1712–86) Prussian Monarch
As you go along your own road in life, you will, if you aim high enough, also meet resistance … . But no matter how tough the opposition may seem, have courage still—and persevere.
—Madeleine Albright (1937–2022) Czech-born American Diplomat
Opposition is not necessarily enmity; it is merely misused and made an occasion for enmity.
—Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) Austrian Psychiatrist, Psychoanalytic
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