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| Adversity |
A high heart ought to bear calamities and not flee them, since in bearing them appears the grandeur of the mind and in fleeing them the cowardice of the heart. Pietro Aretino
Adversity reveals genius, prosperity conceals it. Horace
To be brave in misfortune is to be worthy of manhood; to be wise in misfortune is to conquer fate. Agnes Repplier
The only incurable troubles of the rich are the troubles that money can’t cure, which is kind of unfair if you are poor. Ogden Nash
By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity. Another man’s, I mean. Mark Twain
The world is quickly bored by the recital of misfortune, and willingly avoids the sight of distress. Somerset Maugham
Sorrow and silence are strong, and patient endurance is Godlike. Longfellow
Calamities are of two kinds: misfortune to ourselves, and good fortune to others. Ambrose Bierce
Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men. Seneca
Men are living now just the way they were before, as if we didn’t have a new all over-shadowing danger to deal with and it’s clear, they have learned nothing from the horrors they’ve experienced. The little intrigues, with which they complicated their lives before, take up again the greatest part of their thoughts. What a strange species we are. Albert Einstein
The good things which belong to prosperity are to be wished, but the good things that belong to adversity are to be admired. Seneca
Trouble will come soon enough, and when he does come receive him as pleasantly as possible. Like the tax-collector, he is a disagreeable chap to have in one’s house, but the more amiably you greet him the sooner he will go away. Artemus Ward
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power. Abraham Lincoln
One’s own escape from troubles makes one glad; but bringing friends to trouble is hard grief. Sophocles
Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them. Syrus
There is a solution to every problem; the only difficulty is finding it. Philip Drummond
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. Winston Churchill
In a hierarchical system, the rate of pay varies inversely with the unpleasantness and difficulty of the task. Graham Burnside
Advice is a dangerous gift; be cautious about giving and receiving it. Matt Lucas
Don’t worry about being in a dangerous situation. You have the rest of your life to straighten it out. Johnathon C. Venables
Liberty is always dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have. Harry Emerson Fosdick
Politics are almost as exciting as war, and quite as dangerous. In war, you can only be killed once. Winston Churchill
He that has never suffered extreme adversity knows not the full extent of his own deprivation. Charles Caleb Colton
The chief danger in life is that you may take too may precautions. Alfred Adler
The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding. Justice Louis D Brandeis
The misfortune of the wise is better than the prosperity of the fool. Epicurus
Adversity is the first path to truth. Lord Byron
Whenever a child lies, you will always find a severe parent. A lie would have no sense unless the truth was felt to be dangerous. Alfred Adler
A woman, especially if she has the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can. Jane Austen
Comparison, more than reality, makes men happy or wretched. Thomas Fuller
Perhaps the greatest consolation of the oppressed is to consider themselves superior to their tyrants. Julian Green
Socrates thought that if all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap, whence everyone must take an equal portion, most persons would be contented to take their own and depart. Plutarch
Difficulties are things that show what men are. Epictetus
Those who have had no share in the good fortunes of the mighty often have a share in their misfortunes. Bertolt Brecht
He knows not his own strength that hath not met adversity. Ben Jonson
It is hard to keep a secret, to employ leisure well, and to be able to bear an injury. Chilon
What’s too hard for a man must be worth looking into. Douglas Sharp
To accuse others for one’s own misfortunes is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one’s education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one’s education is complete. Epictetus
The worse the passage the more welcome the port. Thomas Fuller
With man, most of his misfortunes are occasioned by man. Pliny the Elder
I may have to keep some place where I can go to be myself now and then, for I cannot guarantee to endure at all times the confinements of even an attractive cage. Amelia Earhart
All passions that suffer themselves to be relished and digested are but moderate. Montaigne
No man can smile in the face of adversity and mean it. . Edgar Watson Howe
Let us be of good cheer, however, remembering that the misfortunes hardest to bear are those which never come. James Russell Lowell
Light troubles speak; the weighty are struck dumb. Seneca
Fools ignore complexity. Pragmatists suffer it. Geniuses remove it. Bernard Krupp
I am convinced that the truest act of courage is to sacrifice ourselves for others in a totally nonviolent struggle for justice. To be a man is to suffer for others. Cesar Chavez
Indomitable in retreat; invincible in advance; insufferable in victory. Winston Churchill
Take warning by the mischance of others, that others may not take warning by thine. Socrates
It is impossible to achieve the aim without suffering. J G Bennett
Man alone suffers so excruciatingly in the world that he was compelled to invent laughter. Carlton Major
There is no comfort without pain; thus we define salvation through suffering. Cato
Sweet are the uses of adversity, which, like a toad, ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in his head. Shakespeare
Whatever joy there is in this world all comes from desiring others to be happy. Whatever suffering there is in this world comes from desiring myself to be happy. St. Francis
Don’t take yourself too seriously: don’t think that somehow you should be protected from misfortune that befalls others. Robert Louis Stevenson
