Adversity Quotes | Beyond Motive

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Adversity Quotes

"Be moderate in prosperity, prudent in adversity."

Periander, Greek Tyrant

Adversity, Prosperity

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"For in all adversity of fortune the worst sort of misery is to have been happy."

Boethius, Roman Philosopher

Adversity, Fortune, Misery

5

"A man is insensible to the relish of prosperity 'til he has tasted adversity."

Sa'Di, Persian Poet

Adversity, Man, Prosperity

4

"Mortals grow swiftly in misfortune."

Hesiod, Greek Poet

Adversity, Misfortune

2

"In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider."

King Solomon, Hebrew Royalty

Adversity, Day, Prosperity

1

"The long, dull, monotonous years of middle-aged prosperity or middle-aged adversity are excellent campaigning weather for the devil."

C. S. Lewis, British Author

Adversity, Devil, Prosperity, Weather

"I identified in a very deep way with the individuals I was writing about because the theme that runs through this story is of extraordinary hardship and the will to overcome it."

Laura Hillenbrand, American Author

Adversity, Deep, Hardship, Will, Writing

"Under adversity, under oppression, the words begin to fail, the easy words begin to fail. In order to convey things accurately, the human being is almost forced to find the most precise words possible, which is a precondition for literature."

Rita Dove, American Poet

Adversity, Being, Literature, Oppression

"Fresh activity is the only means of overcoming adversity."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German Poet

Adversity, Overcoming

"Adversity is the diamond dust Heaven polishes its jewels with."

Thomas Carlyle, Scottish Philosopher

Adversity, Heaven, Jewels

"Always seek out the seed of triumph in every adversity."

Og Mandino, American Author

"Adversity has the same effect on a man that severe training has on the pugilist: it reduces him to his fighting weight."

Josh Billings, American Comedian

Adversity, Effect, Fighting, Man

"Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are."

Arthur Golden, American Writer

Adversity, Tears, Wind

"Adversity is a great teacher, but this teacher makes us pay dearly for its instruction; and often the profit we derive, is not worth the price we paid."

Elizabeth Hardwick, American Critic

Adversity, Profit, Worth

"The pressure of adversity does not affect the mind of the brave man... It is more powerful than external circumstances."

Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Roman Statesman

Adversity, Circumstances, Man, Mind

"I consider adversity being good sometimes you know."

Brett Favre, American Athlete

Adversity, Being

"Three hundred years ago a prisoner condemned to the Tower of London carved on the wall of his cell this sentiment to keep up his spirits during his long imprisonment: 'It is not adversity that kills, but the impatience with which we bear adversity."

James Keller, American Priest

Adversity, Impatience, London, Sentiment

"Weak minds sink under prosperity as well as adversity; but strong and deep ones have two high tides."

David Hare, English Playwright

Adversity, Deep, Prosperity, Tides

"I think really what I'm saying is that I thrive on adversity."

Richard Marx, American Musician

Adversity, Saying

"Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity a greater."

William Hazlitt, English Critic

Adversity, Prosperity

"Adversity leads us to think properly of our state, and so is most beneficial to us."

Samuel Johnson, English Author

Adversity, State

"I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet."

Denis Waitley, American Writer

Adversity, Feet, Man

"There is no education like adversity."

Benjamin Disraeli, British Statesman

Adversity, Education

"Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

"Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant."

Horace, Roman Poet

Adversity, Circumstances, Effect

"The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity."

Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Roman Statesman

Adversity, Man, Sight, World

"Initially, I know that I handled it worse than she did and I think partly because I've always been... every bit of adversity I've faced up until the last year and a half is adversity I brought upon myself - or the opposing teams have given me."

Brett Favre, American Athlete

"Hear reason, or she'll make you feel her."

Benjamin Franklin, American Politician

Adversity, Reason

"Nothing is harder to direct than a man in prosperity; nothing more easily managed that one is adversity."

Plutarch, Greek Philosopher

Adversity, Man, Nothing, Prosperity

"Political rivals attacked me. I was savagely beaten. I was kicked in the face and I lost my eye as a result."

Jean-Marie Le Pen, French Politician

Adversity, Eye, Result

"Adversity is sometimes hard upon a man; but for one man who can stand prosperity, there are a hundred that will stand adversity."

Elvis Presley, American Musician

Adversity, Man, Prosperity, Will

"It is adversity that often creates beauty."

Debasish Mridha, American Author

Adversity, Beauty, Creation

"Adversity has ever been considered the state in which a man most easily becomes acquainted with himself."

Samuel Johnson, English Author

Adversity, Man, State

"He who does not tire, tires adversity."

Martin Farquhar Tupper, English Writer

"Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes; adversity not without many comforts and hopes."

Francis Bacon, English Philosopher

Adversity, Prosperity

"The good things of prosperity are to be wished; but the good things that belong to adversity are to be admired."

Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Roman Statesman

Adversity, Prosperity

"In adversity remember to keep an even mind."

Horace, Roman Poet

Adversity, Mind

"Adversity is a stimulus."

James Broughton, American Director

"Americans have always been able to handle austerity and even adversity. Prosperity is what is doing us in."

James Reston, American Journalist

Adversity, Americans, Prosperity

"It is not beauty that makes you strong--it is adversity."

Debasish Mridha, American Author

Adversity, Beauty, Strength

"I have definitely gone through my ups and downs and faced my adversity and my nay-sayers, but managed to do all right. It is a pretty classic tale."

Steve Nash, Canadian Athlete

Adversity, Pretty, Right

"Adversity is the trial of principle. Without it a man hardly knows whether he is honest or not."

Henry Fielding, English Novelist

"The firmest of friendships have been formed in mutual adversity, as iron is most strongly united by the fiercest flame."

Charles Caleb Colton, English Writer

Adversity, United

"Adversity, and perseverance and all these things can shape you. They can give you a value and a self-esteem that is priceless."

Scott Hamilton, American Athlete

Adversity, Perseverance, Self, Value

"Prosperity tries the fortunate, adversity the great."

Rose Kennedy, American Author

Adversity, Prosperity

"Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll show you someone who has overcome adversity."

Lou Holtz, American Coach

"Well, pioneers always suffer. I don't care who is the first to embark upon things. For instance, settlers that settled the West, Western Canada and the U.S... they went though hell doing it, but it had to be done."

Bobby Hull, Canadian Athlete

Adversity, Canada, Care, First, Hell

"Everything in the world may be endured except continual prosperity."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German Poet

Adversity, May, Prosperity, World

"Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has."

Billy Graham, American Clergyman

Adversity, Comfort, Prosperity, World

"I contend that not only can you laugh at adversity, but it is essential to do so if you are to deal with setbacks without defeat."

Allen Klein, American Businessman

Adversity, Defeat

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