Men govern nothing with more difficulty than their tongues, and can moderate their desires more than their words.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) Dutch Philosopher, Theologian
Human misery must somewhere have a stop; there is no wind that always blows a storm.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Do Not Quit
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit…
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar.
So, stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit…
It’s when things go wrong that you mustn’t quit.
—Edgar Guest (1881–1959) English-born American Poet, Radio Personality, TV Personality
The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success only comes later.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
When the senses contact sense objects, a person experiences cold or heat, pleasure or pain. These experiences are fleeting they come and go. Bear them patiently.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
When we are sure that we are on the right road there is no need to plan our journey too far ahead. No need to burden ourselves with doubts and fears as to the obstacles that may bar our progress. We cannot take more than one step at a time.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?
—Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) English Poet, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist
Difficulties are God’s errands; and when we are sent upon them we should esteem it a proof of God’s confidence—as a compliment from him.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.
—John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) Sixth President of the USA
As only New Yorkers know, if you can get through the twilight, you’ll live through the night.
—Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American Humorist, Journalist
In each age men of genius undertake the ascent. From below, the world follows them with their eyes. These men go up the mountain, enter the clouds, disappear, reappear, People watch them, mark them. They walk by the side of precipices. They daringly pursue their road. See them aloft, see them in the distance; they are but black specks. On they go. The road is uneven, its difficulties constant. At each step a wall, at each step a trap. As they rise the cold increases. They must make their ladder, cut the ice and walk on it., hewing the steps in haste. A storm is raging. Nevertheless they go forward in their madness. The air becomes difficult to breath. The abyss yawns below them. Some fall. Others stop and retrace their steps; there is a sad weariness. The bold ones continue. They are eyed by the eagles; the lightning plays about them: the hurricane is furious. No matter, they persevere.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
It is not every calamity that is a curse, and early adversity is often a blessing.—Surmounted difficulties not only teach, but hearten us in our future struggles.
—James Sharp
Can anybody remember when the times were not hard and money not scarce?
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Trouble is the next best thing to enjoyment; there is no fate in the world so horrible as to have no share in either its joys or sorrows.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
When I hear somebody sigh that “Life is hard,” I am always tempted to ask, “Compared to what?”
—Sydney J. Harris (1917–86) American Essayist, Drama Critic
There’s always free cheese in the mouse traps, but the mice there ain’t happy.
—Unknown
It is difficulties that show what men are.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
With willing hearts and skillful hands, the difficult we do at once; the impossible takes a bit longer.
—Indian Proverb
The senses have been conditioned by attraction to the pleasant and aversion to the unpleasant: a man should not be ruled by them; they are obstacles in his path.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call “Failure” is not the falling down, but the staying down.
—Mary Pickford (1893–1979) American-Canadian Actor, Producer
Surmounting difficulty is the crucible that forms character.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
Ideologies separate us. Dreams and anguish bring us together.
—Eugene Ionesco (1909–94) Romanian-born French Dramatist
Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt.
—John Henry Newman (1801–90) British Theologian, Poet
There are two ways of meeting difficulties: you alter the difficulties or you alter yourself meeting them.
—Phyllis Bottome (1884–1963) British Novelist, Short Story Writer, Psychoanalysis
Our energy is in proportion to the resistance it meets. We attempt nothing great but from a sense of the difficulties we have to encounter; we persevere in nothing great but from a pride in overcoming them.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
You think it more difficult to turn air into wine than to turn wine into blood?
—Graham Greene (1904–91) British Novelist, Playwright, Short Story Writer
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
To know yet to think that one does not know is best; Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
As a man handles his troubles during the day, so he goes to bed at night a General, Captain, or Private.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
Sadness flies away on the wings of time.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
Trusting our intuition often saves us from disaster.
—Anne Wilson Schaef (1934–2020) American Clinical Psychologist
Our admiration of fine writing will always be in proportion to its real difficulty and its apparent ease.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.
—Peter Marshall
Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free. Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate.
—Zhuang Zhou (c.369–c.286 BCE) Chinese Taoist Philosopher
My difficulties belong to me !
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychiatrist
The eternal stars shine out as soon as it is dark enough.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
It’s rest I want—there, I have said it out—
From cooking meals for hungry hired men
And washing dishes after them—from doing
Things over and over that just won’t stay done.
By good rights I ought not to have so much
Put on me, but there seems no other way.
Len says one steady pull more ought to do it.
He says the best way out is always through.
And I agree to that, or in so far
As that I can see no way out but through—
Leastways for me—and then they’ll be convinced.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
An empty head is not really empty; it is stuffed with rubbish. Hence the difficulty of forcing anything into an empty head.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Difficulties increase the nearer we come to our aim.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Where there is no choice, we do well to make no difficulty.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
Obstacles will look large or small to you according to whether you are large or small.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
In every difficult situation is potential value. Believe this, then begin looking for it.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
Every problem has a gift for you in its hands.
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Novelist, Aviator
Difficult times always create opportunities for you to experience more love in your life.
—Barbara De Angelis (b.1951) American Self-Help Author
The strongest of all warriors are these two—Time and Patience.
—Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) Russian Novelist
Who bides his time—he tastes the sweet
Of honey in the saltiest tear;
And though he fares with slowest feet.
Joy runs to meet him drawing near.
—James Whitcomb Riley (1849–1916) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Writer
In youth we run into difficulties. In old age difficulties run into us.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
Everyone gets their rough day. No one gets a free ride. Today so far, I had a good day. I got a dial tone.
—Rodney Dangerfield (1921–2004) American Comedian, TV Personality, Actor
The greater the obstacle, the more glory we have in overcoming it; the difficulties with which we are met are the maids of honor which set off virtue.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright