These Adversity Quotes Can Help Inspire You to Rise Above Challenges

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Use these inspirational quotes about overcoming adversity to help you rise above the challenges life throws your way, no matter how tough they may be.

I try to look at some of these quotes on those tough days. They help give me perspective and inspire me to push through and overcome challenges.

adversity quotes (image)

Adversity is the misfortunes and difficulties life throws our way. Many times in our lives, we will have to face adversity. But how we overcome adversity defines us as people. We need to show resilience in the face of adversity. We need to stay positive and find ways to overcome those challenges.

Use these quotes to help you find strength in the most difficult of times. No matter what life brings, we can always get past it. Sometimes, we need a little moment of inspiration and positivity to help us get through.


Inspirational

“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

"He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how" (Adversity Quote Image)

“Adversity reveals genius. Prosperity conceals it.” – Horace

"Adversity reveals genius. Prosperity conceals it." by Horace

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” – C.S. Lewis

"Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny." (Overcoming adversity quote image)

Short Quotes About Adversity and Perseverance

A big part of overcoming adversity is accepting its presence. No matter what challenge you face, you must admit to yourself that it is there to overcome.

You cannot run from or avoid adversity. You need to face it, embrace it, no matter how long it takes, and allow it to make you become a stronger person. When you’re facing adversity, use these simple quotes to help you find the strength to stand tall and say, ‘I’m ready to face you.’

Remember, there is light at the end of every tunnel. But you need to walk through the tunnel to reach the light.

“Out of difficulties grow miracles.” – Jean de la Bruyere

"Out of difficulties grow miracles." - Jean de la Bruyere Quote

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

"Believe you can and you're halfway there." - Theodore Roosevelt Quote

“Adversity introduces a man to himself.” – Albert Einstein

"adversity introduces a man to himself" - image of quote by Albert Einstein

“This too shall pass.” – Persian Proverb

"This too shall pass." Image of Persian Proverb

“The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” – Molière

"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." quote by Molière

Quotes About Smiling in the Face of Adversity

To overcome adversity, a positive attitude is vital. As soon as you let negativity take over, finding the strength to keep going can be so difficult.

Great leaders, innovators, and discoverers faced adversity every day. Yet they kept smiling, stayed positive, and remained confident they would triumph, no matter what it took. When you feel adversity is getting the better of you, use these quotes to help you. Keep smiling, stay positive, and don’t let it beat you.

“It’s hard to defeat a person who has a positive attitude.” – Ordinary & Happy

"It's hard to defeat a person who has a positive attitude." (Adversity Quote Image)

“When life doesn’t bring you a reason to smile, go out there and find a reason yourself!” – Ordinary & Happy

“You can often change your circumstances by changing your attitude.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“Use your smile to change the world but don’t let the world change your smile.” – Unknown


Take it One Step at a Time in the Face of Adversity

Sometimes you can feel paralyzed when dealing with adversity. It can be overwhelming to deal with it alongside day-to-day life. Overcoming adversity is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. It can take weeks, months, or even years to overcome it.

So approach it with baby steps. Take small actions every day toward your end goal. It’s much easier to get started that way. In those moments it feels too much, use these quotes to inspire you. Use them to remind you this is a journey. You need to take a small step every day to heal and grow stronger.

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” – Mother Theresa

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." (Adversity Quote Image)

“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” – Francis of Assisi

“Fresh activity is the only means of overcoming adversity.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it as not as dreadful as it appears, discovering that we have the strength to stare it down.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” – Winston Churchill


True Character in the Face of Adversity Quotes

Adversity can reveal true character and can forge a stronger person. Facing adversity is so difficult, but at the end of it, you can truly become stronger and better for the experience. These quotes will remind you that, despite the pain and difficulty you’re facing, every day, you are becoming a stronger person for it.

“Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.” – John F. Kennedy

"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men." (Adversity Quote Image)

“Adversity makes men, and prosperity makes monsters.” – Victor Hugo

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” – Booker T. Washington

“There is no education like adversity.”- Benjamin Disraeli


Rising to the challenge in the face of adversity is not easy. But we all have to face difficult moments and deal with misfortune in life.

Your mindset is your greatest weapon to overcome it. These inspirational quotes can help you stay on track, stay positive, and continue working toward overcoming whatever challenge you face. Best of luck in whatever you’re facing. And remember, you are never alone.

Did these quotes inspire you? If so, try some of these:


Keep these overcoming adversity quotes in a safe place, by saving them to one of your self-care Pinterest boards, ready for a day you may need them.

pin sampling 2 of over 20 quotes to help you overcome adversity