Quotes About Adversity

The four most miserable years of my life . . .

I feel like the man who was tarred and feathered and ridden out of town on a rail. To the man who asked how he liked it he said: 'If it wasn't for the honour of the thing, I'd rather walk.'

These are the times that try men's souls.

Once in Persia reigned a king Who upon his signet ring Graved a maxim true and wise, Which if held before the eyes Gave him counsel at a glance Fit for every change and chance. Solemn words, and these are they: "Even this shall pass away."

Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you.

Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

To take arms against a sea of troubles.

Though life is made up of mere bubbles, 'Tis better than many aver, For while we've a whole lot of troubles, The most of them never occur.

By becoming more unhappy, we sometimes learn how to be less so.

There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.

A tragic situation exists precisely when virtue does not triumph but when it is still felt that man is nobler than the forces which destroy him.

There are few virtues which the Poles do not possess and there are few errors they have ever avoided.

Virtue often trips and falls on the sharp-edged rock of poverty.

Before you begin a thing remind yourself that difficulties and delays quite impossible to foresee are ahead. ... You can only see one thing clearly, and that is your goal. Form a mental vision of that and cling to it through thick and thin.

War is a series of catastrophes which result in victory.

The object of war is to survive it.

Something must be left to chance; nothing is sure in a sea fight beyond all others.

The human race has had long experience and a fine tradition in surviving adversity. But we now face a task for which we have little experience, the task of surviving prosperity.

Nothing and no one can destroy the Chinese people. They are relentless survivors.

An ill wind that bloweth no man good - The blower of which blast is she.

A wise man always throws himself on the side of his assailants. It is more his interests than it is theirs to find his weak point.

If a man could half his wishes he would double his Troubles.

If it's me against 48, I feel sorry for the 48.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, But words can never harm me.