In every adversity there lies the seed of an equivalent advantage. In every defeat is a lesson showing you how to win the victory next time.
—Robert Collier (1885–1950) American Self-Help Author
Impossibilities are merely things which we have not yet learned.
—Charles W. Chesnutt (1858–1932) American Novelist, Activist, Essayist
Woman must not accept; she must challenge. She must not be awed by that which has been built up around her; she must reverence that woman in her which struggles for expression.
—Margaret Sanger (1883–1966) American Birth-Control Campaigner
Failure is not fatal. Failure should be our teacher, nor our undertaker. It should challenge us to new heights of accomplishments, not pull us to new depths of despair. From honest failure can come valuable experience.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step; only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find his right road.
—Dag Hammarskjold (1905–61) Swedish Statesman, UN Diplomat
In every difficult situation is potential value. Believe this, then begin looking for it.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man can store up in his ghosty heart
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) American Novelist
Time on its back bears all things far away – Full many a challenge is wrought by many a day – Shape, fortune, name, and nature all decay
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
The duty of youth is to challenge corruption.
—Kurt Cobain (1967–94) American Rock Musician
The New Frontier I speak of is not a set of promises—it is a set of challenges. It sums up not what I intend to offer the American people, but what I intent to ask of them.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
Obstacles are like wild animals. They are cowards but they will bluff you if they can. If they see you are afraid of them… they are liable to spring upon you; but if you look them squarely in the eye, they will slink out of sight.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
Opposition is a natural part of life. Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition – such as lifting weights – we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity
—Stephen Covey (1932–2012) American Self-help Author
The greatness comes not when things go always good for you. But the greatness comes when you’re really tested, when you take some knocks, some disappointments, when sadness comes. Because only if you’ve been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.
—Richard Nixon (1913–94) American Head of State, Lawyer
All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me… You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.
—Walt Disney (1901–66) American Entrepreneur
Never underestimate your problem or your ability to deal with it.
—Robert H. Schuller (1926–2015) American Christian Televangelist, Author
Rich and successful people are solution-oriented; they spend their time and energy strategizing and planning the answers to challenges that come up, and creating systems to make certain that problem doesn’t occur again.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.
—Common Proverb
Keep on going and the chances are you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I have never heard of anyone stumbling on something sitting down.
—Charles F. Kettering (1876–1958) American Inventor, Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Accomplishing the impossible means only that the boss will add it to your regular duties.
—Doug Larson (1926–2017) American Columnist
The basic difference between an ordinary man and a warrior is that a warrior takes everything as a challenge, while an ordinary man takes everything as a blessing or a curse.
—Carlos Castaneda (1925–98) Peruvian-born American Anthropologist, Author
Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven’t half the strength you think they have.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
There is nothing like a challenge to bring out the best in man.
—Sean Connery (1930–2020) Scottish Actor, Film Producer
Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but—I hope—into a better shape.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
We only think when we are confronted with a problem.
—John Dewey (1859–1952) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Educator
We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
You have to erect a fence and say, “Okay, scale this.”
—Linda Ronstadt (b.1946) American Singer
A powerful idea communicates some of its strength to him who challenges it.
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922) French Novelist
When people keep telling you that you can’t do a thing, you kind of like to try it.
—Margaret Chase Smith (1897–1995) American Politician
Life beats down and imprisons the soul and art reminds you that you have one.
—Stella Adler (1901–92) American Acting Coach, Actress
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