Some luck lies in not getting what you thought you wanted, but getting what you have, which once you have got it you may be smart enough to see is what you would have wanted had you known.
—Garrison Keillor (b.1942) American Author, Humorist, Radio Personality
A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.
—Chinese Proverb
Cushion the painful effects of hard blows by keeping the enthusiasm going strong, even if doing so requires struggle.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
There is no education like adversity.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
When a man is pushed, tormented, defeated, he has a chance to learn something; he has been put on his wits … he has gained facts, learned his ignorance, is cured of the insanity of conceit, has got moderation and real skill.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Wisdom comes by disillusionment.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Your dips an falls do not confound me, half as much as your heights astound me.
—Unknown
One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Philosopher, Musician, Physician
It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it.
—John Steinbeck (1902–68) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Journalist
The problem with troubleshooting is that trouble shoots back.
—Unknown
Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Some people bear three kinds of trouble—all they ever had, all they have now, and all they expect to have.
—Edward Everett Hale (1822–1909) American Unitarian Clergyman, Writer
The finest steel has to go through the hottest fire.
—Richard Nixon (1913–94) American Head of State, Lawyer
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 Author, Drama Critic
Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.
—Mary Engelbreit (b.1952) American Artist, Illustrator
The hardest struggle of all is to be something different from what the average man is.
—Charles M. Schwab (1862–1939) American Businessperson
There is in the worst of fortune the best of chances for a happy change.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
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
There are times in everyone’s life when something constructive is born out of adversity … when things seem so bad that you’ve got to grab your fate by the shoulders and shake it.
—Unknown
The one who prosperity takes too much delight in will be the most shocked by reverses.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
Prosperity tries the fortunate, adversity the great.
—Pliny the Younger (c.61–c.112 CE) Roman Senator, Writer
No man better knows what good is than he who has endured evil.
—Unknown
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
The sooner I fall behind, the more time I have to catch up.
—Anonymous
Part of the happiness of life consists not in fighting battles, but in avoiding them. A masterly retreat is in itself a victory.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
Nearly all men can stand adversity. But if you want to test a man’s character – give him power.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Problems are the price of progress. Don’t bring me anything but trouble. Good news weakens me.
—Charles F. Kettering (1876–1958) American Inventor, Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Out of love and hatred, out of earnings and borrowings and leadings and losses; out of sickness and pain; out of wooing and worshipping; out of traveling and voting and watching and caring; out of disgrace and contempt, comes our tuition in the serene and beautiful laws.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Your enthusiasm will be infectious, stimulating and attractive to others. They will love you for it. They will go for you and with you.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
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