diamonds shine more brightly foiled by black velvet.

diamonds shine more brightly foiled by black velvet.

Constant success shows us but one side of the world; adversity brings out the reverse of the picture.

Constant success shows us but one side of the world; adversity brings out the reverse of the picture.

And these vicissitudes come best in youth;
For when they happen at a riper age,
People are read more

And these vicissitudes come best in youth;
For when they happen at a riper age,
People are apt to blame the Fates, forsooth,
And wonder Providence is not more sage.
Adversity is the first path to truth:
He who hath proved war, storm, or woman's rage,
Whether his winters be eighteen or eighty,
Has won experience which is deem'd so weighty.

We become wiser by adversity; prosperity destroys our appreciation of the right.

We become wiser by adversity; prosperity destroys our appreciation of the right.

We survive on adversity and perish in ease and comfort.

We survive on adversity and perish in ease and comfort.

In the adversity of our best friends we often find something
which does not displease us.
[Fr., Dans read more

In the adversity of our best friends we often find something
which does not displease us.
[Fr., Dans l'adversite de nos meilleurs amis nous trouvons
toujours quelque chose ne nous deplaist pas.]

Then know, that I have little wealth to lose.
A man I am, crossed with adversity;
My read more

Then know, that I have little wealth to lose.
A man I am, crossed with adversity;
My riches are these poor habiliments,
Of which if you should here disfurnish me,
You take the sum and substance that I have.

Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity is a greater. Possession pampers the mind; privation trains and strengthens it.

Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity is a greater. Possession pampers the mind; privation trains and strengthens it.

Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so read more

Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are.