Adversity

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Adversity is the universal human experience of facing obstacles and setbacks.

Contents 1 Sourced 2 Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895) 3 Unsourced 4 External links

[edit] Sourced

• ...abused prosperity is oftentimes made the very means of our greatest adversity...
  • Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe 1719.

• It is said that adversity introduces us to ourselves. This is true of a nation as well. We see our national character in our ability to rally together in times of difficulties, celebrations and in eloquent acts of sacrifice.
  • Josefa Iloilo, "Opening address to the National Day of Prayer in Suva", May 15, 2005.

• was ihn nicht umbringt, macht ihn stärker
  • What does not kill him, makes him stronger.
  • Friedrich Nietzsche, Ecce Homo (1888), "Why I Am So Wise", 2; this is often paraphrased as: What does not kill me, makes me stronger.

[edit] Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895)

Reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895).

• For one man who can stand prosperity, there are a hundred that will stand adversity.
  • Thomas Carlyle, p. 8.

• God kills thy comforts from no other design but to kill thy corruptions; wants are ordained to kill wantonness, poverty is appointed to kill pride, reproaches are permitted to destroy ambition.
  • John Flavel, p. 7.

• In the day of prosperity we have many refuges to resort to; in the day of adversity, only one.
  • Horatius Bonar, p. 7

• Adversity borrows its sharpest sting from impatience.
  • Bishop Horne, p. 7

• How full of briers is this working-day world!
  • William Shakespeare, p. 7.

[edit] Unsourced

• Adversity has ever been considered as the date in which a man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, particularly being free from flatterers.
  • Johnson.

• Prosperity is too apt to prevent us from examining our conduct, but as adversity leads us to think properly of our state, it is most beneficial to us.
  • Johnson

• Sweet are the uses of adversity, which, like the toad, though ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in his head.
  • Shakespeare.

• The truly great and good, in affliction, bear a countenance more princely than they are wont; for it is the temper of the highest hearts, lite the palm-tree, to strive most upwards when it is most burdened.
  • Sir P. Sidney.

• Half the ills we hoard within our hearts are ills because we hoard them.
  • Barry Cornwall. http://treasury-of-thought.blogspot.com/2009/05/adversity.html

[edit] External links