Life is not something to be lived through: it is something to be lived up to. It is a privilege, not a penal servitude of so many decades on earth.
William George JordanRead
Plants grow most in the darkest hours preceding dawn; so do human souls. Nature always pays for a brave fight. Sometimes she pays in strengthened moral muscle, sometimes in deepened spiritual insight, sometimes in a broadening, mellowing, sweetening of the fibres of character,—but she always pays.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Growth often occurs in the most challenging times, leading to personal strength and insight.
This quote emphasizes that just as plants tend to grow in the darkness before dawn, human beings also develop and strengthen their character during difficult times. These struggles can lead to moral strength, spiritual understanding, and a more compassionate nature, suggesting that adversity, while challenging, has the potential to foster significant personal growth and resilience.
Themes
GrowthCharacterAdversityStrengthInsight
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a motivational speech to encourage resilience in the face of challenges.
More from William George Jordan
All quotes →Self-confidence without self-reliance is as useless as a cooking recipe without food. Self-confidence sees the possibilities of the individual; self-reliance realizes them. Self-confidence sees the angel in the unhewn block of marble; self-reliance carves it out for oneself.
William George JordanRead
Love, in the divine alchemy of life, transmutes all duties into privileges, all responsibilities into joys.
William George JordanRead
Similar quotes
The most noble _x000D_ cause known to man _x000D_ is the liberation _x000D_ of the human mind _x000D_ and spirit.
Maya AngelouRead
You learn in life that the only person you can really correct and change is yourself.
Katharine HepburnRead
We should strive for steadiness, and for a commitment to God that does not ebb and flow with the years or the crises of our lives.
Thomas S. MonsonRead
Rain which falls upon the sea is useless; so is food for one who is satiated; in vain is a gift for one who is wealthy; and a burning lamp during the daytime is useless.
ChanakyaRead
I am tired of talk that comes to nothing It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and all the broken promises. There has been too much talking by men who had no right to talk. It does not require many words to speak the truth.
Chief JosephRead
The two worst strategic mistakes to make are acting prematurely and letting an opportunity slip; to avoid this, the warrior treats each situation as if it were unique and never resorts to formulae, recipes or other people's opinions.
Paulo CoelhoRead