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Proverbs on overcoming adversity: Life’s journey is rarely smooth sailing. We all face challenges, setbacks, and moments of despair. But these obstacles, as difficult as they may seem, can also be opportunities for growth and resilience. By reflecting on the below proverbs, you can find motivation and hope, learning to embrace our challenges as opportunities for personal development. Hereon, this blog will walk you through some timeless motivational quotes and proverbs on adversity. So when next time you are in a tight spot, you can cling to motivational quotes of encouragement.
This Blog Includes:
- List of 9 Proverbs on Overcoming Adversity with Meaning
- 5 Inspirational Proverbs about Overcoming Adversity in Life
- A Journey of a Thousand Miles begins with a Single Step.
- When the Winds of Change Blow, Some People Build Walls and Others Build Windmills.
- The Person Who Removes a Mountain Begins by Carrying Away Small Stones.
- The Best Remedy for Those Who Are Afraid, Lonely or Unhappy is to Go Outside…
- A Gem cannot be Polished without Friction, nor a Man Perfected without Trials.
- FAQs
Must Read: 100+ Common Proverbs with Meaning and Examples
List of 9 Proverbs on Overcoming Adversity with Meaning
In the face of adversity, wise words from the past can offer guidance, encouragement, and strength. Let’s take a look at the following proverbial phrases about adversity one by one for reference.
| Proverbs on Adversity | Meaning/Explanation |
| Difficulties in life are intended to make us stronger, not to break us. | Challenges are opportunities for growth, not reasons to give up. |
| A fall seven times and rise up eight. | Resilience is key. Overcoming challenges requires the ability to pick yourself up and keep going. |
| Failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of the path. | Setbacks and failures are inevitable, but they can be valuable learning experiences that help you on your journey to success. |
| Where there’s a will, there’s a way. | Determination and perseverance can help you overcome obstacles and achieve your goals. |
| The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be. | You have the power to shape your own destiny and choose to rise above challenges. |
| It is during the darkest times that we see the true strength of shining stars. | Challenges can reveal our inner strength and resilience, allowing us to shine even brighter. |
| A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor. | This proverb likely originated in the 17th century. It highlights that facing difficulties helps you develop the skills and experience to navigate future challenges. |
| When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. | Even in difficult situations, you can find opportunities and create something positive. |
| Diamonds are formed under pressure. | This proverb uses the metaphor of diamonds to illustrate how facing difficulties can lead to personal growth and strength. |
Also Read:
5 Inspirational Proverbs about Overcoming Adversity in Life
The resilience and wisdom embedded in proverbs can inspire you to persevere through tough times. So that, you can get a broader view of challenges, reminding you that others have faced and overcome similar difficulties. Here are some more proverbial sayings about difficult times you can go through to motivate yourself.
A Journey of a Thousand Miles begins with a Single Step.
The meaning behind this proverb from the Tao Te Ching states that every big accomplishment starts with a small, initial action. In this way, it encourages perseverance and the understanding that even the most daunting tasks can be achieved by starting with a single action.
When the Winds of Change Blow, Some People Build Walls and Others Build Windmills.
In popular culture, this proverb highlights the power of embracing change and turning challenges into opportunities. Instead of resisting change, it encourages finding innovative ways to harness its energy for personal growth and success.
The Person Who Removes a Mountain Begins by Carrying Away Small Stones.
It means that large tasks are accomplished through small, consistent efforts. The proverb also promotes the importance of breaking daunting tasks into manageable steps. In a way, it proves persistence and gradual progress towards achieving significant goals.
The Best Remedy for Those Who Are Afraid, Lonely or Unhappy is to Go Outside…
The proverb has been taken from Anne Frank’s work that reads, “The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God.” It means Immersing yourself in nature can provide solace and a sense of belonging, fostering mental and emotional well-being during challenging times.
A Gem cannot be Polished without Friction, nor a Man Perfected without Trials.
This proverbial quote likens the process of overcoming obstacles to the polishing of a gemstone. It suggests that facing challenges head-on can lead to personal refinement and improvement.
Find more proverbial reads below!
FAQs
One well-known quote about adversity is, “You can’t be brave if you’ve only experienced good things.” This means that facing challenges helps us build courage. Another quote says, “Sometimes you need to go through tough times to achieve success.” This highlights that difficulties can lead to important achievements. Lastly, the saying “Adversity prepares you for greatness” suggests that overcoming hardships can set the stage for future success.
The motto “strength through adversity” is often expressed by the Latin phrase “per aspera ad astra,” which means “through difficulties to the stars.” This saying, which dates back about 2,000 years, suggests that challenges and obstacles can lead us to greater achievements.
The quote “Sweet are the uses of adversity, which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in his head” means that difficult experiences can have valuable lessons or benefits.
This was all about the inspirational proverbs on overcoming adversity. Hope you understand the concept and know how to proceed. You can also follow the Learn English page of Leverage Edu for more exciting and informative blogs related to grammar.
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