If, like mine, your family is facing tough times this holiday season, I hope you can take some measure of strength from what has been said through the ages on the subject of adversity.
Jean De La Bruyere, for instance, said that “Out of difficulties grow miracles,” and Lee Salk said that “When it gets dark enough you can see the stars.”
Albert Schweitzer tells us that “Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men,” while Anne Bradstreet reminds us, “No pressure, no diamonds.” Bradstreet also notes that “If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: If we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”
Orison Swett Marden said “Success is not measured by what you accomplish but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.”
“The measure of a man is the way he bears up under misfortune,” according to William A. Ward, while Napoleon Hill said “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.”
Many cultures recognize, basically, that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. For instance, a Welsh proverb notes that “Adversity brings knowledge, and knowledge wisdom,” the English say “A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner,” and the Japanese say “Adversity is the foundation of virtue.”
That ubiquitous author known as Anonymous, said “Hard things are put in our way, not to stop us, but to call out our courage and strength,” “Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death,” and “In the darkest hour the soul is replenished and given strength to continue and endure.”
Thomas Paine said “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph,” and Thomas Fuller said “That which is bitter to endure may be sweet to remember.”
Sir Winston Churchill noted that “Kites rise highest against the wind-not with it,” and that “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” He also said “We shall draw from the heart of suffering itself the means of inspiration and survival,” and that “If you’re going through hell, keep going.”
Henry Ward Beecher said “Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things,” and Mario Fernandez said “Rise above the storm and you will find the sunshine.”
Mary Anne Radmacher, said “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.” Og Mandino tells us to “Search for the seed of good in every adversity,” Norman Vincent Peale said “Life’s blows cannot break a person whose spirit is warmed at the fire of enthusiasm” and that “In every difficult situation is potential value. Believe this, then begin looking for it.”
Rabindranath Tagore said “Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it,” Robert Frost tells us “The only way around is through,” and Albert Einstein said “In the middle of a difficulty lies opportunity.”
Robert Schuller said “Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines,” while Theodore Rubin reminds us that “The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem.”
Hal Borland tells us “No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn,” and, as Paul Harvey said, “In times like these it is good to remember that there have always been times like these.”
E-mail Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at RachelZ@thnewsnet.com
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