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 isn’t that they can’t see the solution. It is that they can’t see the problem.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were and ask why not?”.”
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
There is only one problem, ever: your uninvestigated story in the moment.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
Every man has a rainy corner of his life whence comes foul weather which follows him.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
Through money or power you cannot solve all problems. The problem in the human heart must be solved first.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader, Civil Rights Leader, Philosopher, Author
Don’t think problem, think opportunity.
—Unknown
If we would just support each other—that’s ninety percent of the problem.
—Howard Gardner (b.1943) American Cognitive Psychologist
Nobody can tell what I suffer! But it is always so. Those who do not complain are never pitied.
—Jane Austen (1775–1817) English Novelist
Solve one problem, and you keep a hundred others away.
—Chinese Proverb
Problems worthy of attack prove their worth by hitting back.
—Piet Hein (1905–1996) Danish Architect, Mathematician, Poet
The bottom line is that if you become a master at handling problems and overcoming obstacles, what can stop you from success? The answer is nothing! And if nothing can stop you, you become unstoppable!
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Try as we may, none of us can be free of conflict and woe. Even the greatest men have had to accept disappointments as their daily bread…. The art of living lies less in eliminating our troubles than in growing with them. Man and society must grow together. Each individual’s efforts to discipline himself must be matched by society’s struggle to enforce the rules of law and of justice under the law.
—Bernard M. Baruch (1870–1965) American Financier, Economic Consultant
No problem is insurmountable. With a little courage, teamwork and determination a person can overcome anything.
—Anonymous
On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being the lowest, imagine you are a person with a level 2 strength of character and attitude looking at a level 5 problem. Would this problem appear to be big or little? From a level 2 perspective, a level 5 problem would seem like a big problem. Now imagine you’ve grown yourself and become a level 8 person. Would the same level 5 problem be a big problem or a little problem? Magically, the identical problem is now a little problem
Finally, imagine that you’ve really worked hard on yourself and become a level 10 person. Now, is this same level 5 problem a big problem or a little problem? The answer is that it’s no problem. It doesn’t even register in your brain as a problem. There’s no negative energy around it. It’s just a normal occurrence to handle, like brushing your teeth or getting dressed.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
The block of granite which was an obstacle in the pathway of the weak becomes a stepping-stone in the pathway of the strong.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
A problem is a chance for you to do your best.
—Duke Ellington (1899–1974) American Jazz Pianist, Composer, Bandleader
It is better to laugh about your problems than to cry about them.
—Hebrew Proverb
If you have a big problem in your life, all that means is that you are being a small person!
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
God is bigger than your problems.
—Mexican Proverb
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
There are three modes of bearing the ills of life: by indifference, which is the most common; by philosophy, which is the most ostentatious; and by religion, which is the most effectual.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Almost everybody in the neighborhood had “troubles,” frankly localized and specified; but only the chosen had “complications.” To have them was in itself a distinction, though it was also, in most cases, a death warrant. People struggled on for years wit
—Edith Wharton (1862–1937) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
Problems are the price of progress. Don’t bring me anything but trouble. Good news weakens me.
—Charles F. Kettering (1876–1958) American Inventor, Entrepreneur, Businessperson
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
Problems are only opportunities with thorns on them.
—Hugh Miller (1802–56) Scottish Geologist, Writer
Poor people will do almost anything to avoid problems. They see a challenge and they run … the secret to success, my friends, is not to try to avoid or get rid of or shrink from your problems; the secret is to grow yourself so that you are bigger than your problems.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.
—Henry J. Kaiser (1882–1967) American Industrialist
It’s so much easier to suggest solutions when you don’t know too much about the problem.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson