When a friend is in trouble, don’t annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word “crisis”. One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger — but recognize the opportunity.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
When we borrow trouble, and look forward into the future and see what storms are coming, and distress ourselves before they come, as to how we shall avert them if they ever do come, we lose our proper trustfulness in God. When we torment ourselves with imaginary dangers, or trials, or reverses, we have already parted with that perfect love which casteth out fear.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
If I had a formula for bypassing trouble, I wouldn’t pass it around. Wouldn’t be doing anybody a favor. Trouble creates a capacity to handle it. I don’t say embrace trouble. That’s as bad as treating it as an enemy. But I do say, meet it as a friend, for you’ll see a lot of it and had better be on speaking terms with it.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American Jurist, Author
We are always in the forge, or on the anvil by trials God is shaping us for higher things.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
If a man could have half his wishes, he would double his troubles.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Opinion has caused more trouble on this little earth than plagues or earthquakes.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
It is wise for us to forget our troubles, there are always new ones to replace them.
—Brigham Young (1801–77) American Mormon Leader
The time is out of joint. O cursed spite that ever I was born to set it right!
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Tribulation will not hurt you, unless as it too often does; it hardens you and makes you sour, narrow and skeptical.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814–80) American Preacher, Poet
If you tell your troubles to God, you put them into the grave; they will never rise again when you have committed them to him. If you roll your burden anywhere else, it will roll back again, like the stone of Sisyphus.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
When Anaxagoras was told of the death of his son, he only said, “I knew he was mortal.” So we in all casualties of life should say, “I knew my riches were uncertain, that my friend was but a man.” Such considerations would soon pacify us, because all our troubles proceed from their being unexpected.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
It is doubtful whether the oppressed ever fight for freedom. They fight for pride and power-power to oppress others.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
There are many troubles which you cannot cure by the Bible and the hymn book, but which you can cure by a good perspiration and a breath of fresh air.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
I have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Calamity is the test of integrity.
—Samuel Richardson (1689–1761) English Novelist, Printer, Publisher
I would not leave you in your times of trouble. We never could have come this far. I took the good times, I’ll take the bad times, I’ll take you just the way you are.
—Billy Joel (b.1949) American Singer, Songwriter, Musician
It is pleasant to recall past troubles.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
When is a crisis reached? When questions arise that can’t be answered.
—Ryszard Kapuscinski (1932–2007) Polish Journalist
A conference is just an admission that you want somebody to join you in your troubles.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
Trouble has no necessary connection with discouragement—discouragement has a germ of its own, as different from trouble as arthritis is different from a stiff joint.
—Unknown
I believe that in the history of art and of thought there has always been at every living moment of culture a “will to renewal.” This is not the prerogative of the last decade only. All history is nothing but a succession of “crises”—of rupture, repudiation and resistance. When there is no “crisis,” there is stagnation, petrifaction and death. All thought, all art is aggressive.
—Eugene Ionesco (1909–94) Romanian-born French Dramatist
People need trouble—a little frustration to sharpen the spirit on, toughen it. Artists do; I don’t mean you need to live in a rat hole or gutter, but you have to learn fortitude, endurance. Only vegetables are happy.
—William Faulkner (1897–1962) American Novelist
Calamities are of two kinds: misfortune to ourselves, and good fortune to others.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Borrow trouble for yourself if that’s your nature, but don’t lend it to your neighbors.
—Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) British Children’s Books Writer, Short story, Novelist, Poet, Journalist
Bygone troubles are good to tell.
—Yiddish Proverb
Never complain about your troubles; they are responsible for more than half of your income.
—Robert R. Updegraff
Trouble is to man what rust is to iron
—Yiddish Proverb
Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.
—Groucho Marx (1890–1977) American Actor, Comedian, Singer
The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As long as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.
—Anne Frank (1929–45) Holocaust Victim
It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Set about doing good to somebody. Put on your hat, and go and visit the sick and poor of your neighborhood; inquire into their circumstances, and minister to their wants. Seek out the desolate, and afflicted, and oppressed, and tell them of the consolations of religion. I have often tried this method, and have always found it the best medicine for a heavy heart.
—John Howard
Nothing lasts forever—not even your troubles.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
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.
—Charles Farrar Browne (Artemus Ward) (1834–67) American Humorist, Writer
There are people who are always anticipating trouble, and in this way they manage to enjoy many sorrows that never really happen to them.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
I once felt all that kind of anger, which a man ought to feel, against the mean principles that are held by the Tories: a noted one, who kept a tavern at Amboy, was standing at his door, with as pretty a child in his hand, about eight or nine years old, as I ever saw, and after speaking his mind as freely as he thought was prudent, finished with this unfatherly expression, Well! give me peace in my day. Not a man lives on the continent but fully believes that a separation must some time or other finally take place, and a generous parent should have said, If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace; and this single reflection, well applied, is sufficient to awaken every man to duty.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
Temper is what gets most of us into trouble. Pride is what keeps us there.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
I have had many troubles in my life, but the worst of them never came.
—James A. Garfield (1831–81) American Head of State, Lawyer, Educator
If you are out of trouble, watch for danger
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
The world is full of thorns and thistles. It’s all in how you grasp them.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
Be on the lookout for mercies. The more we look for them, the more of them we will see. Better to lose count while naming your blessings than to lose your blessings to counting your troubles.
—Maltbie Davenport Babcock (1858–1901) American Presbyterian Minister, Writer
Do not accustom yourself to consider debt only as an inconvenience; you will find it a calamity.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
The thorns which I have reap’d are of the tree
I planted; they have torn me, and I bleed.
I should have known what fruit would spring from such a seed.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Trouble rides behind and gallops with him.
—Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux (1636–1711) French Poet, Satirist, Literary Critic
Some people develop eye strain looking for trouble
—Unknown
Friends show their love in times of trouble…
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
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
Every calamity is a spur and valuable hint.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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