Men naturally despise those who court them, but respect those who do not give way to them.
—Thucydides (c.455?c.400 BCE) Greek Historian
Opposition brings concord. Out of discord comes the fairest harmony.
—Heraclitus (535BCE–475BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
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
The wise man always throws himself on the side of his assailants. It is more his interest than it is theirs to find his weak point.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
I have spent many years of my life in opposition, and I rather like the role.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
Opposition is true friendship.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
Adversity is a severe instructor, set over us by one who knows us better than we do ourselves, as he loves us better too. He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper. This conflict with difficulty makes us acquainted with our object, and compels us to consider it in all its relations. It will not suffer us to be superficial.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
The coldest bodies warm with opposition; the hardest sparkle in collision.
—Junius Unidentified English Writer
No government can be long secure without a formidable opposition. It reduces their supporters to that tractable number which can be managed by the joint influences of fruition and hope. It offers vengeance to the discontented, and distinction to the ambitious; and employs the energies of aspiring spirits, who otherwise may prove traitors in a division or assassins in a debate.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Opposition always inflames the enthusiast, never converts him.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
One-fifth of the people are against everything all the time.
—Robert F. Kennedy (1925–68) American Politician, Civil Rights Activist
Obstacles are necessary for success because in selling, as in all careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats. Yet each struggle, each defeat, sharpens your skills and strengths, your courage and your endurance, your ability and your confidence and thus each obstacle is a comrade-in-arms forcing you to become better … or quit. Each rebuff is an opportunity to move forward; turn away from them, avoid them, and you throw away your future.
—Og Mandino (1923–96) American Self-Help Author
Opposition may become sweet to a man when he has christened it persecution.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it.—Skilful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.
—Epicurus (c.341–270 BCE) Greek Philosopher
It is not the victory that makes the joy of noble hearts, but the combat.
—Charles Forbes Rene de Montalembert (1810–70) French Historian, Politician
The effects of opposition are wonderful. There are men who rise refreshed on hearing of a threat; men to whom a crisis, which intimidates and paralyzes the majority … comes graceful and beloved as a bride.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
Given a sufficient number of people and an adequate amount of time you can create insurmountable opposition to the most inconsequential idea.
—Unknown
A wise man profits more from his enemies than a fool from his friends.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
In any great organization it is far, far safer to be wrong with the majority than to be right alone.
—John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Canadian-Born American Economist
I respect only those who resist me, but I cannot tolerate them.
—Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970) French General, Statesman
I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed. Out of the hard and unusual struggle through which he is compelled to pass, he gets a strength, a confidence, that one misses whose pathway is comparatively smooth by reason of birth and race.
—Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) African-American Educationist
If it is once again one against forty-eight, then I am very sorry for the forty-eight.
—Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) British Head of State
We become wiser by adversity; prosperity destroys our appreciation of the right.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
The opposition is indispensable. A good statesman, like any other sensible human being, always learns more from his opponents than from his fervent supporters. For his supporters will push him to disaster unless his opponents show him where the dangers are. So if he is wise he will often pray to be delivered from his friends, because they will ruin him. But though it hurts, he ought also to pray never to be left without opponents; for they keep him on the path of reason and good sense.
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974) American Journalist, Political Commentator, Writer
But most of us are apt to settle within ourselves that the man who blocks our way is odious, and not to mind causing him a little of the disgust which his personality excites in ourselves.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Don’t be afraid of opposition. Remember, a kite rises against—not with—the wind.
—Hamilton Wright Mabie (1846–1916) American Essayist, Editor
A certain amount of opposition is a great help to a man; it is what he wants and must have to be good for anything. Hardship and opposition are the native soil of manhood and self-reliance.
—John Neal (1793–1876) American Editor, Poet, Novelist, Critic
Obstacles often are not personal attacks; they are muscle builders.
—Anne Wilson Schaef (1934–2020) American Clinical Psychologist
Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre minds. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist