Adversity draws men together and produces beauty and harmony in life's relationships, just as the cold of winter produces ice-flowers on the window-panes, which vanish with the warmth.
The rice grain suffers under the blow of the pestle. But admire its whiteness once the order is over. So it is with men and the world we live in. To be a man one must suffer the blows of misfortune.
Love becomes greater and nobler in calamity.
The business of life summons us away from useless grief, and calls us to the exercise of those virtues of which we are lamenting our deprivation.
One of the things I appreciate more was how important struggle was as the instrument that helped to keep us knit together.
Remember that life develops what it demands - the toughest path creates the strongest warrior. Pray not for a lighter load, but for stronger shoulders.
We are like the herb which flourisheth most when it is most trampled on.
Experience may be hard but we claim its gifts because they are real, even though our feet bleed on its stones.
Let us remember that the times which future generations delight to recall are not those of ease and prosperity, but those of adversity bravely borne.
There was a nobility in poverty when I was growing up. My mom was poor but she was planting roses and she was cleaning the steps, you know what I mean. You didn't feel sorry for yourself.
I never feel more alive than when I'm in great pain, struggling against insurmountable odds and untold adversity. Hardship? Suffering? Bring it!
