quotes

The Best Quotations

best-quotations.com
 


My "other" sites:

best quotations about

Adversity


Adversity

89 quotesVisits: 5,947

Quotations

Abraham LincolnNearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

—  Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1865, American President

17 likes
ConfuciusMen do not stumble over mountains, but over molehills.

—  Confucius, 551-479 BC, Chinese teacher & philosopher

16 likes
Lou HoltzIt's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it.

—  Lou Holtz, 1937-, American football coach

14 likes
NapoleonTo have a right estimate of a man's character, we must see him in misfortune.

—  Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor

12 likes
Eleanor RooseveltWomen are like tea bags. You never know how strong they are until you put them in hot water.

—  Eleanor Roosevelt, 1884-1962, Wife of the 32nd USA president

12 likes
Blaise PascalIn difficult times carry something beautiful in your heart.

—  Blaise Pascal, 1623-1662, French thinker

12 likes
SenecaDifficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.

—  Seneca, 5 AD-65 AD, Roman philosopher

10 likes
Victor HugoAdversity makes men, and prosperity makes monsters.

—  Victor Hugo, 1802-1885, French writer

8 likes
AristotleMisfortune shows those who are not really friends.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

8 likes
Winston ChurchillI have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.

—  Winston Churchill, 1874-1965, British Prime Minister, Nobel 1953

7 likes
Ralph Waldo EmersonCan anybody remember when the times were not hard and money not scarce?

—  Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1884, American philosopher

6 likes
Dr. Thomas FullerMany can bear Adversity, but few Contempt.

—  Dr. Thomas Fuller, 1654-1734,  English physician and adage collector

6 likes
SenecaFire tries gold, misfortune tries brave men.

—  Seneca, 5 AD-65 AD, Roman philosopher

6 likes
Ernest HemingwayThe world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places.

—  Ernest Hemingway, 1899-1961, American writer, Nobel 1954

6 likes
Sigmund FreudOne day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.

—  Sigmund Freud, 1856-1939, Austrian psychologist, founder of psychoanalysis

6 likes
Joseph KennedyWhen the going gets tough, the tough get going.

—  Joseph Kennedy, 1888-1969, American businessman

5 likes
Somerset MaughamWhen things are at their worst I find something always happens.

—  Somerset Maugham, 1874-1965, British writer

5 likes
Benjamin DisraeliThere is no education like adversity.

—  Benjamin Disraeli, 1804-1881, British Prime Minister

5 likes
Sigmund FreudNeurosis is the incapacity to tolerate adversity.

—  Sigmund Freud, 1856-1939, Austrian psychologist, founder of psychoanalysis

5 likes
Louisa May AlcottI’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.

—  Louisa May Alcott, 1923-1888, American writer

5 likes
Rainer Maria RilkeThat something is difficult must be one more reason for us to undertake it.

—  Rainer Maria Rilke, 1875-1926, Czech-German poet

5 likes
Alexandre DumasLife is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes.

—  Alexandre Dumas, 1802-1870, French writer

5 likes
NapoleonIn war, one must lean on an obstacle in order to overcome it.

—  Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor

4 likes
Charles de GaulleAdversity attracts the man of character. He seeks out the bitter joy of responsibility.

—  Charles de Gaulle, 1890-1970, French President

4 likes
Publilius SyrusProsperity makes friends, adversity tries them.

—  Publilius Syrus, 1st cent. AD, Roman author of maxims

4 likes
Wilson MiznerLife's a tough proposition, and the first hundred years are the hardest.

—  Wilson Mizner, 1876-1913, American playwright

4 likes
Benjamin FranklinThat which hurts, also instructs.

—  Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, American politician & writer

3 likes
Samuel JohnsonAdversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.

—  Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784, English writer

3 likes
Charles Caleb ColtonThe firmest friendships have been formed in mutual adversity, as iron is most strongly united by the fiercest flame.

—  Charles Caleb Colton, 1780-1832, English cleric & writer

3 likes
G. K. ChestertonI believe in getting into hot water; it keeps you clean.

—  G. K. Chesterton, 1874-1936, English writer & critic

3 likes
La RochefoucauldIn the adversity of our best friends we often find something that is not exactly displeasing.

—  La Rochefoucauld, 1613-1680, French writer

3 likes
Karl JungThe difference between a good life and a bad life is how well you walk through the fire.

—  Karl Jung, 1875-1961, Swiss psychiatrist

3 likes
Elbert HubbardWhen life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

—  Elbert Hubbard, 1856-1915, American writer

3 likes
Lou HoltzLife is 10 percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.

—  Lou Holtz, 1937-, American football coach

3 likes
RumiIn the blackest of your moments, wait with no fear.

—  Rumi, 1207-1273, Persian mystic & poet

3 likes
William Hazlitt Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity is a greater. Possession pampers the mind; privation trains and strengthens it.

—  William Hazlitt , 1778-1830, English essayist & critic

3 likes
Lou HoltzI've never known anybody to achieve anything without overcoming adversity.

—  Lou Holtz, 1937-, American football coach

3 likes
HoraceA host is like a general: calamities often reveal his genius.

—  Horace, 65-8 BC, Roman poet

3 likes
William ShakespeareThe worst is not, So long as we can say, “This is the worst.”

—  William Shakespeare, 1564-1616, English poet & playwright ‐ King Lear

3 likes
Henry FordWhen everything seem to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.

—  Henry Ford, 1863-1947, American industrialist, founder of FORD

2 likes
Winston ChurchillDifficulties mastered are opportunities won.

—  Winston Churchill, 1874-1965, British Prime Minister, Nobel 1953

2 likes
Samuel JohnsonTo strive with difficulties, and to conquer them, is the highest human felicity.

—  Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784, English writer

2 likes
Francis BaconProsperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.

—  Francis Bacon, 1561-1626, English philosopher

2 likes
Francis BaconProsperity is not without many fears and distastes; adversity not without many comforts and hopes.

—  Francis Bacon, 1561-1626, English philosopher

2 likes
Charles de GaulleCharacter is the virtue of hard times.

—  Charles de Gaulle, 1890-1970, French President

2 likes
Karl JungMan needs difficulties; they are necessary for health.

—  Karl Jung, 1875-1961, Swiss psychiatrist

2 likes
Bill WattersonThat's one of the remarkable things about life. It's never so bad that it can't get worse.

—  Bill Watterson, 1958-, American cartoonist

2 likes
Constantine KavafyLaistrygonians and Cyclops,
wild Poseidon—you won’t encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.

—  Constantine Kavafy, 1868-1933, Greek poet ‐ Ithaka

2 likes
Emily DickinsonPeople need hard times and oppression to develop psychic muscles.

—  Emily Dickinson, 1830-1886, American poet

1 likes
Helen KellerA happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardships.

—  Helen Keller, 1880-1968, American writer

Thomas CarlyleNo pressure, no diamonds.

—  Thomas Carlyle, 1795-1881, English writer

Franz KafkaThe true way is along a rope that is not spanned high in the air, but only just above the ground. It seems intended more to cause stumbling than to be walked upon.

—  Franz Kafka, 1883-1924, Bohemian writer

Nikos KazantzakisThe right way is uphill.

—  Nikos Kazantzakis, 1883-1957, Greek writer

Victor FranklAn abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behavior.

—  Victor Frankl, 1905-1997, Austrian neurologist

Bertolt BrechtThe human race tends to remember the abuses to which it has been subjected rather than the endearments. What's left of kisses? Wounds, however, leave scars.

—  Bertolt Brecht, 1898-1956, German writer

Jean de La BruyèreOut of difficulties, grow miracles.

—  Jean de La Bruyère, 1645-1696, French writer

Earl WarrenEverything I did in my life that was worthwhile, I caught hell for.

—  Earl Warren, 1891-1974, American Chief Justice

ChanakyaTest a servant while in the discharge of his duty, a relative in difficulty, a friend in adversity, and a wife in misfortune.

—  Chanakya, 370-280 π.X., Indian teacher & philosopher

Joseph CampbellAll the gods, all the heavens, all the hells, are within you.

—  Joseph Campbell, 1904-1987, American academic

Sri AurobindoBut difficulties were made to be overcome and if the Supreme Will is there, they will be overcome.

—  Sri Aurobindo, 1872-1950, Indian nationalist, yogi & philosopher

Joseph De MaistreIt is one of man's curious idiosyncrasies to create difficulties for the pleasure of resolving them.

—  Joseph De Maistre, 1753-1821, Savoyard diplomat & philosopher

PlutarchThe measure of a man is the way he bears up under misfortune.

—  Plutarch, 47-120 AD, Ancient Greek historian

Sydney SmithMy living in Yorkshire was so far out of the way, that it was actually twelve miles from a lemon.

—  Sydney Smith, 1771-1845, British writer & cleric

Philip RothHow easy life is when it’s easy, and how hard when it’s hard.

—  Philip Roth, 1933-2018, American writer

Gabriel Garcia MarquezEven when the winds of misfortune blow, amazing things can still happen.

—  Gabriel Garcia Marquez, 1927-2014, Colombian writer

Napoleon HillIf you have a strong belief in yourself, in what you are doing and what you want to do, no adversity is too difficult to overcome.

—  Napoleon Hill, 1883-1970, American self-help writer

Stefan ZweigOnly the person who has experienced light and darkness, war and peace, rise and fall, only that person has truly experienced life.

—  Stefan Zweig, 1881-1942, Austrian writer

Søren KierkegaardThe more a person limits himself, the more resourceful he becomes.

—  Søren Kierkegaard, 1813-1855, Danish philosopher

Marty RubinWhen winter comes, wrap yourself in a blanket of love.

—  Marty Rubin, 1930-1994, Canadian gay activist, author & journalist

George HerbertTo a crazy ship, all winds are contrary.

—  George Herbert, 1593-1633, Welsh poet

George HerbertStorms make oaks take deeper root.

—  George Herbert, 1593-1633, Welsh poet

Arthur Conan DoyleThere is nothing more stimulating than a case where everything goes against you.

—  Arthur Conan Doyle, 1859-1930, British writer

StendhalAlmost all our misfortunes in life come from the wrong notions we have about the things that happen to us.

—  Stendhal, 1783-1842, French writer

Charles BukowskiYou have to die a few times before you can really live.

—  Charles Bukowski, 1920-1994, American writer

Latin Quotes

VirgilYield not to misfortunes.

Ne cede malis.

—  Virgil, 70-19 BC, Roman poet

69 likes

Quotes in Verse

Helen KellerWe could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world.

—  Helen Keller, 1880-1968, American writer

Emily DickinsonI have been bent and broken, but –I hope– into a better shape.

—  Emily Dickinson, 1830-1886, American poet

Funny Quotes

Lenny BruceI won't say ours was a tough school, but we had our own coroner. We used to write essays like “What I'm Going to be If I Grow Up”.

—  Lenny Bruce, 1925-1966, American comedian

5 likes

Ancient Greek

DemocritusCourage makes misfortunes seem small.

Ανδρείη τας άτας μικράς έρδει.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

5 likes
EuripidesThere is not a man alive who has wholly escaped misfortune.

Ουδείς δε θνητών ταις τύχαις ακήρατος.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Heracles

5 likes
Bias of PrieneIt is misfortune not to be able to bear misfortune.

Ατυχή είναι τον ατυχίαν μη φέροντα.

—  Bias of Priene, 625-540 BC, one of the 7 sages of Ancient Greece

4 likes
DemocritusEfforts performed willingly give patience to endure what happens unwillingly.

Οι εκούσιοι πόνοι την των ακουσίων υπομονήν ελαφροτέραν παρασκευάζουσι.

—  Democritus, 470-370 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

4 likes
EuripidesYour country becomes great when in trouble.

Ση πατρίς εν γαρ τοις πόνοισιν αύξεται.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ The Suppliants

3 likes
Periander of CorinthBe moderate in prosperity, prudent in adversity.

Ευτυχών μεν μέτριος ίσθι, ατυχών δε φρόνιμος.

—  Periander of Corinth, 668-584 BC, tyrant of Corinth

3 likes
EuripidesWith such adversity the glory of men grows.

Συν τοίσι δεινοίς αύξεται κλέος βροτοίς.

—  Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian

Proverbs

International proverbThings may get worse before they get better.

—  International proverb

4 likes
Chinese proverbThe gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.

—  Chinese proverb

2 likes



Similar categories & topics of Quotations






Similar Topics

Troubles

Crisis

Problems & Solutions

Ineffectiveness

Success & Failure

Resilience

Effort

Anxiety

Turmoil

Suffering

Contrary Topics

Easiness

Willpower

Help

 Popular Topics
1 Friendship
2 Victory & Defeat
3 Solitude
4 Seduction
5 Self-reliance
6 Ego
7 Drinking
8 Cunning
9 Eroticism
10 Nudity
11 Vanity
12 Self-deprecation
13 Incompetence
14 Sex
15 Religion
16 Meaning of Life
17 Life
18 Death
19 Corruption
20 Democracy
 

2024: Manolis Papathanassiou