Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes, and Adversity
is not without comforts and hopes.

Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes, and Adversity
is not without comforts and hopes.

diamonds shine more brightly foiled by black velvet.

diamonds shine more brightly foiled by black velvet.

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.

Adversity is sometimes hard upon a man; but for one man who can
stand prosperity, there are a hundred read more

Adversity is sometimes hard upon a man; but for one man who can
stand prosperity, there are a hundred that will stand adversity.

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.

In prosperity our friends know us; in adversity we know our friends.

In prosperity our friends know us; in adversity we know our friends.

Behold a worthy sight, to which the God, turning his attention to
his own work, may direct his gaze. read more

Behold a worthy sight, to which the God, turning his attention to
his own work, may direct his gaze. Behold an equal thing, worthy
of a God, a brave man matched in conflict with evil fortune.
[Lat., Ecce spectaculum dignum, ad quod respiciat intentus operi
suo Deus. Ecce par Deo dignum, vir fortis cum mala fortuna
compositus.]

Aromatic plants bestow
No spicy fragrance while they grow;
But crush'd or trodden to the ground,
read more

Aromatic plants bestow
No spicy fragrance while they grow;
But crush'd or trodden to the ground,
Diffuse their balmy sweets around.

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.]