Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotations on Misfortune

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

Calamities are of two kinds: misfortune to ourselves, and good fortune to others.
Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist

Who hath not known ill-fortune, never knew himself, or his own virtue.
David Mallet (c.1705–1765) Scottish Poet, Dramatist

A sorrow’s crown of sorrow is remembering happier times.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet

The greatest misfortune of all is not to be able to bear misfortune.
Bias of Priene (fl. 6th century BCE) Greek Orator

After all, our worst misfortunes never happen, and most miseries lie in anticipation.
Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist

Misfortune is never mournful to the soul that accepts it; for such do always see that every cloud is an angel’s face. Every man deems that he has precisely the trials and temptations which are the hardest of all others for him to bear; but they are so, simply because they are the very ones he most needs.
Lydia Maria Child (1802–80) American Abolitionist, Writer

Our bravest and best lessons are not learned through success, but through misadventure.
Amos Bronson Alcott (1799–1888) American Teacher, Writer, Philosopher

We feel a kind of bittersweet pricking of malicious delight in contemplating the misfortunes of others.
Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist

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

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

There is in the worst of fortune the best of chances for a happy change.
Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist

A calamity that affects everyone is only half a calamity.
Italian Proverb

It costs a man only a little exertion to bring misfortune on himself.
Menander (c.343–c.291 BCE) Greek Comic Dramatist, Poet

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

When any calamity has been suffered, the first thing to be remembered is how much has been escaped.
Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist

Of fortune’s sharp adversity, the worst kind of misfortune is this, that a man hath been in prosperity and it remembers when it passed is.
Geoffrey Chaucer (1343–1400) English Poet, Philosopher, Diplomat, Bureaucrat

The injuries of life, if rightly improved, will be to us as the strokes of the statuary on his marble, forming us to a more beautiful shape, and making us fitter to adorn the heavenly temple.
Cotton Mather (1662–1728) American Clergyman

He that is down needs fear no fall.
John Bunyan (1628–88) English Puritan Writer, Preacher

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

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

Men shut their doors against the setting sun.
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright

There is no misfortune, but to bear it nobly is good fortune.
Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher

Evil events come from evil causes; and what we suffer, springs, generally from what we have done.
Aristophanes (447–386 BCE) Greek Comic Playwright

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

There is an ambush everywhere from the army of accidents; therefore the rider of life runs with loosened reins.
Hafez (1325–89) Persian Poet, Mystic

Misfortune makes of certain souls a vast desert through which rings the voice of God.
Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist

Most of our misfortunes are more supportable than the comments of our friends upon them.
Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist

Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own.
Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist

No accidents are so unlucky but that the wise may draw some advantage from them; nor are there any so lucky but that the foolish may turn them to their own prejudice.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer

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