A wretched soul, bruised with adversity,
We bid be quiet when we hear it cry.
But were we burd'ned with like weight of pain,
As much or more we should ourselves complain:
So thou, that hast no unkind mate to grieve thee,
With urging helpless patience wouldst relieve me;
But if thou live to see like right bereft,
This fool-begged patience in thee will be left.
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Great men rejoice in adversity just as brave soldiers triumph in
war.
[Lat., Gaudent magni viri rebus adversis read more
Great men rejoice in adversity just as brave soldiers triumph in
war.
[Lat., Gaudent magni viri rebus adversis non aliter, quam fortes
milites bellis.]
Thou tamer of the human breast,
Whose iron scourge and tort'ring hour
The bad affright, afflict the read more
Thou tamer of the human breast,
Whose iron scourge and tort'ring hour
The bad affright, afflict the best!
Prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.
Prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.
The Good are better made by Ill,
As odours crushed are sweeter still.
The Good are better made by Ill,
As odours crushed are sweeter still.
Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious read more
Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.
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.]
His overthrow heaped happiness upon him;
For then, and not till then, he felt himself,
And found read more
His overthrow heaped happiness upon him;
For then, and not till then, he felt himself,
And found the blessedness of being little.
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
