Some people as a result of adversity are sadder, wiser, kinder, more human. Most of us are better, though, when things go better.
Interpretation
Adversity can lead to personal growth, yet many people thrive when faced with positive circumstances.
This quote by Malcolm Forbes suggests that while facing difficulties can transform us into more compassionate and insightful individuals, it highlights a common tendency: people often exhibit their best selves when life is more favorable. Adversity can indeed be a teacher, but it is the relief from hardship that many find most conducive to flourishing.
In practice
This quote would be perfect in a motivational speech about resilience.
Over the years, I've evolved a somewhat heretical but time-and mind-saving approach to books, articles, editorials that deal with weighty matters. More often than not, by beginning at the end and contemplating the conclusions, one can determine if it's worth going through the whole to get there.
Those who enjoy responsibility usually get it; those who merely like exercising authority usually lose it.
To live long and achieve happiness, cultivate the art of radiating happiness.
The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one.
If you never budge, don't expect a push.
It's never a good deal when only one party thinks it is.
If you're not stubborn, you'll give up on experiments too soon. And if you're not flexible, you'll pound your head against the wall and you won't see a different solution to a problem you're trying to solve.
The real pleasure of one's life is the devotion to a great objective of one's consideration.
The greatest barrier to own own healing is not the pain, sorrow or violence inflicted upon us as children. Our greatest hindrance is our ongoing capacity to judge, to criticize, and to bring tremendous harm to ourselves. If we can harden our heart against ourselves and meet our most tender feelings with anger and condemnation, we simultaneously armor our heart against the possibility of gentleness, love and healing.
If I cannot brag of knowing something, then I brag of not knowing it; at any rate, brag.
Those who either from imprudence or want of sagacity avoid doing so, are always overwhelmed with servitude and poverty; for faithful servants are always servants, and honest men are always poor; nor do any ever escape from servitude but the bold and faithless, or from poverty, but the rapacious and fraudulent.
I am a human being, not a human doing. Don't equate your self-worth with how well you do things in life. You aren't what you do. If you are what you do, then when you don't . . , you aren't.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.