Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head; And this our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in every thing. -As You Like It. Act ii. Sc. 1.
Adversity is the first path to truth. - Don Juan.
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.
In every adversity of fortune, to have been happy is the most unhappy kind of misfortune. [Lat., In omni adversitate fortunae, infelicissimum genus est infortunii fuisse felicem.]
Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.
When we have adversity we oftentimes tend to look around and think that we're the Lone Ranger. We tend to believe that we're the only one who has problems. And we always look around and see others who are more talented, taller, smarter, handsomer, or faster. I can assure you, everyone has problemsâeven football coaches. The ability we have to handle this adversity will determine the degree of success that we will have in life.
These (literary) studies are the food of youth, and consolation of age; they adorn prosperity, and are the comfort and refuge of adversity; they are pleasant at home, and are no incumbrance abroad; they accompany us at night, in our travels, and in our rural retreats. [Lat., Haec studia adolecentiam alunt, senectutem oblectant, secundas res ornant, adversis solatium et perfugium praebent, delectant domi, non impediunt foris, pernoctant nobiscum, peregrinantur, rusticantur.
True friendship is a plant of slow grow, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.