Quotes About Adversity

We are entering a world in which we can rely less and less upon the state, the corporation, or family or friends to help and protect us. It is a globalized, harshly competitive environment. We must learn to develop ourselves.

Never get discouraged, never be petty; always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don't win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself.

Repeated failure will toughen your spirit and show you with absolute clarity how things must be done. In fact, it is a curse to have everything go right on your first attempt. You will fail to question the element of luck, making you think that you have the golden touch. When you do inevitably fail, it will confuse and demoralize you past the point of learning.

Mira hasta el final, sea lo que fuere lo que estés contemplando. A menudo Dios otorga al hombre un breve instante de felicidad, para luego arruinarlo por completo.

Everything in life conspires to push you into the center, and not just politically. The center is the realm of compromise. Getting along with other people is an important skill to have, but it comes with a danger: by always seeking the path of least resistance, the path of conciliation, you forget who you are, and you sink into the center with everyone else. Instead see yourself as a fighter, an outsider surrounded by enemies. Constant battle will keep you strong and alert.

Si tropiezas con un rasgo especial de maldad o estupidez, […] no permitas que te enfade o te perturbe; velo como una adición a tu conocimiento, un dato nuevo a tomar en cuenta en el estudio del carácter de la humanidad. Tu actitud será la del mineralogista que tropieza con un muy peculiar espécimen de un mineral. —ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER

The man of power welcomes conflict, using enemies to enhance his reputation as a surefooted fighter who can be relied upon in times of uncertainty.

You must see your career or vocational path more as a journey with twists and turns rather than a straight line.

Weakness is no sin, and can even become a strength if you learn how to play it right.

The wise man profits more from his enemies, than a fool from his friends. (Baltasar Gracián, 1601-1658)

Test for Envy

Mack había sido capturado una vez y forzado a pasar tres años en Francia, donde había estudiado el estilo bélico de Napoleón.

For each weakness there is a corresponding strength.

Reserva tu prudencia para las horas de la preparación; pero una vez empezado el combate, vacía tu mente de dudas. Ignora a quienes se acobardan ante cualquier revés y piden el repliegue.

There are occasions when losing is a victory, so long as there is a fight.

Push out a bayonet. If it strikes fat, push deeper. If it strikes iron, pull back for another day.

Cato was always the perfect Stoic, as long as nothing went wrong.

The trees themselves, as in winters past, will survive their burdening, broken thrive.

Unable to sleep, or pray, I stand by the window looking out at moonstruck trees a December storm has bowed with ice. Maple and mountain ash bend under its glassy weight, their cracked branches falling upon the frozen snow. The trees themselves, as in winters past, will survive their burdening, broken thrive. And am I less to You, my God, than they?

always remember that when things look darkest, they usually get considerably worse

There ain't a problem on this great green earth helped by feeling sorry for yourself.

Always leave a way out, unless you really want to find out how hard a man can fight when he's nothing to lose.

Do not trouble trouble till trouble troubles you.

Yes, I'm alive, Mat said. I'm usually pretty good at staying alive. I've only failed one time that I can remember, and it hardly counts.