Admire and adore the Author of the telescopic universe, love and esteem the work, do all in your power to lessen ill, and increase good, but never assume to comprehend.
John AdamsRead
The furnace of affliction produces refinement, in states as well as individuals.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Difficult experiences lead to personal and communal growth.
This quote by John Adams suggests that hardships and challenges, likened to a furnace, can refine and improve both individuals and societies. Just as metal is forged and strengthened through high temperatures, so too can people and communities emerge stronger and more refined from their struggles and afflictions.
Themes
AfflictionRefinementGrowthChallengesStrength
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about overcoming obstacles.
More from John Adams
All quotes βProperty monopolized or in the possession of a few is a curse to mankind.
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Let us dare to read, think, speak and write.
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There are two ways to conquer and enslave a country. One is by the sword. The other is by debt.
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Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
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Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.
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The greatest dread of ordinary man is death, with its rude imposition interrupting fortuitous plans and fondest attachments with an unknown and unwelcome change. The yogi is a conqueror of the grief associated with death. By control of mind and life force and the development of wisdom, he makes friends with the change of consciousness called death-he becomes familiar with the state of inner calmness and aloofness from identification with the mortal body.
Paramahansa YoganandaRead
Besides this earth, and besides the race of men, there is an invisible world and a kingdom of spirits: that world is around us, for it is everywhere; and those spirits watch us, for they are commissioned to gaurd us; and if we were dying in pain and shame, if scorn smote us on all sides, and hatred crushed us, angels see our tortures, recognize our innocence, and God waits ony a speration of spirit from flesh to crown us with a full reward.
Charlotte BronteRead
There is nothing more horrifying than stupidity in action.
Jawaharlal NehruRead
For instance, I never complained that my birthday was overlooked; people were even surprised, with a touch of admiration, by my discretion on this subject. But the reason for my disinterestedness was even more discreet: I longed to be forgotten in order to be able to complain to myself... Once my solitude was thoroughly proved, I could surrender to the charms of a virile self-pity.
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Grief and disappointment are like hate: they make men ugly with self-pity and bitterness. And how selfish they make us too.
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In the end, they wanted security more than they wanted freedom.
Edward GibbonRead