It costs a man only a little exertion to bring misfortune on himself.
—Menander (c.343–c.291 BCE) Greek Comic Dramatist, Poet
We exaggerate misfortune and happiness alike. We are never either so wretched or so happy as we say we are.
—Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist
When I was happy I thought I knew men, but it was fated that I should know them only in misfortune.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Misfortune, and recited misfortune especially, may be prolonged to the point where it ceases to excite pity and arouses only irritation.
—Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American Humorist, Journalist
There is a chill air surrounding those who are down in the world, and people are glad to get away from them, as from a cold room.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Depend upon it, that if a man talks of his misfortunes there is something in them that is not disagreeable to him: for where there is nothing but pure misery, there never is any mention of it.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
When misfortunes happen to such as dissent from us in matters of religion, we call them judgments; when to those of our own sect, we call them trials; when to persons neither way distinguished, we are content to attribute them to the settled course of things.
—William Shenstone (1714–63) British Poet, Landscape Gardener
Misfortune makes of certain souls a vast desert through which rings the voice of God.
—Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist
We can profit only by our own misfortunes and those of others. The former, though they may be the more beneficial, are also the more painful; let us turn, then, to the latter.
—Polybius (c.200–c.118 BCE) Greek Historian
No man has a prosperity so high or firm, but that two or three words can dishearten it; and there is no calamity which right words will not begin to redress.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Men shut their doors against the setting sun.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Evil events come from evil causes; and what we suffer, springs, generally from what we have done.
—Aristophanes (447–386 BCE) Greek Comic Playwright
The humor of turning every misfortune into a judgment, proceeds from wrong notions of religion, which, in its own nature, produces good will toward men, and puts the mildest construction upon every accident that befalls them. In this case, therefore, it is not religion that sours a man’s temper, but it is his temper that sours his religion.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
By struggling with misfortunes, we are sure to receive some wounds in the conflict; but a sure method to come off victorious is by running away.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
If all the misfortunes of mankind were cast into a public stock, in order to be equally distributed among the whole species, those who now think themselves the most unhappy would prefer the share they are already possessed of before that which would fall to them by such a division.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
It will generally be found that men who are constantly lamenting their ill luck are only reaping the consequences of their own neglect, mismanagement, and improvidence, or want of application.
—Samuel Smiles (1812–1904) British Author, Reformer
Heaven sends us misfortunes as a moral tonic.
—Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington (1789–1849) Irish Novelist, Literary Hostess
The greatest misfortune of all is not to be able to bear misfortune.
—Bias of Priene (fl.6th century BCE) Greek Orator
The effect of great and inevitable misfortune is to elevate those souls which it does not deprive of all virtue.
—Francois Guizot (1787–1874) French Statesman, Historian, Orator
I never knew a man who could not bear the misfortunes of another perfectly like a Christian.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
It is seldom that God sends such calamities upon man as men bring upon themselves and suffer willingly.
—Jeremy Taylor
A soul exasperated by its ills falls out with everything, with its friends and also with itself.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
I never did anything by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
After all, our worst misfortunes never happen, and most miseries lie in anticipation.
—Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist
A sorrow’s crown of sorrow is remembering happier times.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
There is in the worst of fortune the best of chances for a happy change.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
If fortune turns against you, even jelly breaks your tooth.
—Persian Proverb
Most of our misfortunes are more supportable than the comments of our friends upon them.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Rats and conquerors must expect no mercy in misfortune.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
On the occasion of every accident that befalls you, remember to turn to yourself and inquire what power you have for turning it to use.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Leave a Reply