165+ Quotes about Overcoming Adversity and Building Resilience

About 15 years ago when I decided I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I had a plan to start a website with the goal of getting out of debt, becoming independently wealthy, and doing whatever I want. I was certain I could do it. But I didn’t have a clue how long the process was going to take.

It took me the better part of a decade to figure out how to make $100,000 in annual revenue from a business. My first 2 – 3 years trying to start a business, I spent mostly floundering around. Trying different ideas. Reading things. Failing a whole bunch. Fortunately, I kept the faith and fought through adversity to reach the other side.

Most people you know will surrender and throw up their arms in the air in the face of tough times. They will blame their parents, the economy, lack of education or almost anything else for their problems. And in many cases their reasons for giving up could be justified.

But if you want to build a successful business or career you’ll need to trudge ahead. These quotes and slogans help put setbacks into perspective and keep you moving toward your goal. The destination may be years away, but the only way to get there is to pick yourself up and begin walking.

Quotes about Adversity

Growing food requires resilience.

It’s through adversity that strong men and strong societies are made.
Adversity is a never-ending journey. But that journey can be one for self-improvement.
We develop courage, creativity, and wit by challenging adversity.
Take difficult times as opportunities to challenge yourself and win.
All the adversity you experienced in your life can either weaken or strengthen you. Your choice.
Welcome adversities because they make you a stronger, better person.
A man is defined by not who he is but by how well he rises after falling.
Come on, are you afraid of a little pain?
For weak men, adversity is their worst enemy. For strong men, it’s their best friend.
Each problem has its own set of solutions.
To know the truth, you first need to embrace adversity.
Problems happen. Hard times happen. Conquering them also happens.
“Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.” – William Arthur Ward
“In prosperity, our friends know us; in adversity, we know our friends.” – John Churton Collins
“Adversity is the first path to truth.” – Lord Byron
“Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” – Napoleon Hill
“One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity.” – Albert Schweitzer

Quotes about Resilience

Winners are resilient. They take failures. They learn from these experiences and then rise up.

Winners blaze through adversities, whether they fall or not. Quitters stay down.
If you think you can’t do it, you can actually do it.
The measure of a man is how he keeps standing up every time he gets knocked down.
The best thing about falling down is that there’s no other way than up.
Resilience is the gym of the soul and spirit.
You can overcome the unexpected if you have resilience.

The good thing about facing problems is that we find reserves of resilience that we didn’t know we had.

Resilience is the mental food of the champions.
Smile! Through your resilience, you made it through the day.
Each one of us is resilient. It’s how to manage that resilience that makes us different from one another.
The weak think it’s all over. The strong believe it’s the beginning of a win.
In order to succeed, you must be resilient. In order to be resilient, you have to be tested by adversity.
“Indeed, this life is a test. It is a test of many things – of our convictions and priorities, our faith and our faithfulness, our patience and our resilience, and in the end, our ultimate desires.” – Sheri L. Dew
“Resilience is distinct from mere survival, and more than mere endurance. Resilience is often endurance with direction.” – Eric Greitens
“The most important characteristics you need to succeed in business are resilience, determination and persistence.” – Karren Brady
“Persistence and resilience only come from having been given the chance to work through difficult problems.” – Gever Tulley
“Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected. Sustainability is about survival. The goal of resilience is to thrive.” – Jamais Cascio

Quotes about Resilience and Perseverance

Continue moving forward.

Success or failure can depend on how resilient you are. You need to persevere against all odds and continue to keep the faith.

Persevere. Don’t quit. Time is on your side.
Great things take perseverance and time to accomplish.
Life is difficult. That’s a fact. How you live your life is your own decision. That’s a fact as well.
What I admire about the poor is that their resilience has become ingrained in their blood.
Success takes time. Just persevere. Once you reach there, victory will be sweet.
A high level of persistence and resilience can only come from having worked through difficult problems.
The most important traits to let you succeed in life and in business are resilience and perseverance.
You cannot get what you want if you quit the first time things go down.

Winners fall and rise. They persevere. Losers fall and stay down.
Losers always tell others they tried their best. Winners stay quiet, fail, rise, and persevere.
Whether you win or lose depends on how you face problems and challenges.
Persevere with a purpose.
“Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it’s less good than the one you had before.” – Elizabeth Edwards
“Sleep is a key part of the requirements for resilience and good decision-making.” – James G. Stavridis
“A good school teaches you resilience – that ability to bounce back.” – Kate Reardon
“He’s a million rubber bands in his resilience.” – Alan Simpson
“Resilience isn’t a single skill. It’s a variety of skills and coping mechanisms. To bounce back from bumps in the road as well as failures, you should focus on emphasizing the positive.” – Jean Chatzky

Quotes about Adversity in Business

Running or managing a business is a challenging endeavour. Here are some quotes that encourage you to remain focused.

The foundation of every successful business is perseverance.
Adversities in business are normal. It’s how businesses deal with them that makes the difference.
The right team can steer your business through every adversity.
Each adversity a business faces brings an equal or greater benefit.
You can’t solve business adversity by yourself. You need a team to help you.
Most successful businesses had massive failures in the past.
Don’t view adversities as problems. View them as opportunities.
Adversities are not disadvantages. They’re events that let a business harness its advantage.
The more adversities a business faces and overcomes the stronger and more stable it gets.
Your team is an important element in solving a business problem.
Focus and persevere. You can definitely turn challenges into successes.
Persevere then prosper.
“Resilience is knowing that you are the only one that has the power and the responsibility to pick yourself up.”― Mary Holloway
“It may sound strange, but many champions are made champions by setbacks.” ― Bob Richards
“I tried and failed. I tried again and again and succeeded.”― Gail Borden
“It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop.” ― Dieter Uchtdorf
“Resilience is one of the most important aspects in this business and exploration period.” – Victor Glover

Quotes about Adversity that Makes You Stronger

Make small steps forward each day.

Hard times, adversities, and problems have one thing in common. They make people stronger, more resilient, and more creative.

Adversity creates real men. Good times make monsters.
Strength comes from the courage and will to face adversity.
Through adversity, we find immense strength.
Almost everyone who has done something worthwhile faces problems, fears, and all sorts of adversities.
Never doubt yourself. You are stronger than you think you are.

In life, you may encounter lots of defeat. But that’s not an excuse for thinking you are defeated.

Defeats are necessary so you will realize just how strong you are.
Come to think of it, being strong is your only option.
The worst thing that you can do in the face of adversity is to do nothing.
Be stronger every day. Having great strength needs practice.
Be used to adversity. And be used to challenging it.
Self-loathing and self-pity are the two greatest enemies of strength.
“Resilience is, of course, necessary for a warrior. But a lack of empathy isn’t.” – Phil Klay
“I have an incredible confidence in the resilience of the human spirit.” – Erwin McManus
“Everyone needs resilience. It’s a virtue essential to growth and essential to happiness.” – Eric Greitens
“When fear rushed in, I learned how to hear my heart racing but refused to allow my feelings to sway me. That resilience came from my family.” – Coretta Scott King
“If you’ve ever had anyone in your life who has been struggling with something, struggling with addiction or struggling with anything, and it’s about the resilience of love and how much you’re willing to struggle with somebody to preserve your relationship and to try to preserve them as a person.” – Sarah Gadon

Quotes about Resilience and Hope

No matter how hard times are, no matter how challenging the problem is, there’s always hope. Here are some quotes that remind you of this fact.

Persevere. It’s the fuel for hope.
There’s always a chance as long as one can think.
Hopelessness begins when you give up on being resilient.
Hang on to your hope. It gives you strength.
If your dreams haven’t come true but you’re still hoping they will, then there’s a chance those dreams are for you.
Every morning, we’re born again. Don’t give up.
Dress up. Put your head up high. Walk straight. Today is a brand new day.
The human capacity to persevere and be strong is more than you think.
Although the world is full of suffering, it’s also full of recovery.
There are two sides to the coin: hope and resilience.
To fight the challenges of tomorrow, you need to be resilient today.
Hope and happiness fuel resilience.
“Resilience matters. I was no stranger to adversity, but it’s different when it’s personal.” – David Petraeus
“I’m inspired by people that are marginal. I’m excited by their resilience.” – Mira Nair
“Part of resilience is deciding to make yourself miserable over something that matters, or deciding to make yourself miserable over something that doesn’t matter.” – Elizabeth Edwards
“I think persistence and resilience are very important.” – Andre Villas-Boas
“My childhood gave me resilience, and there’s little that can surprise me in life.” – Natalia Vodianova

Quotes about Resilience and Leadership

Resilient leaders are important in order to guide teams, communities, and countries to a brighter future.

Your success is measured by the obstacles you overcome.
Being resilient in the face of adversity is an important aspect of leadership.
If you think you need to be strong to be a good employee, wait till you see the requirements of being a good leader.
Leadership is about staying calm and positive in the face of problems.
Leaders understand that life doesn’t get easier. Rather, we get stronger.
Hardships prepare potential leaders for wonderful destinies.
Do you want to lead? Then you must be strong first.

True leaders have faced failures many times but never gave up.
Leadership often means facing huge hardships and massive challenges.
True leaders are unstoppable because, for them, failures are gateways to success.
True leaders are strong because they have failed so many times.
People with the gift of leadership can make everyone strong and hopeful.
“I have a lot of stamina and I have a lot of resilience.” – Hillary Clinton
“Rock bottom became the solid foundation in which I rebuilt my life.” ― JK Rowling
“In football, as in politics, resilience pays off.” – George Osborne
“My message has always been about resilience.” – Dave Pelzer
“Resilience can go an awful long way.” – Eddie the Eagle

Quotes about Resilience at Work

Got a big to-do list?

The workday is filled with problems, challenges, and stress. But you can overcome this with resilience, grit, and determination.

Does failure make you a failure? Only if you stay down.
Don’t fear failure at work. Remember work is just one aspect of your life.
Failure is normal in the workplace. Embrace it and learn from it.
Smart employees learn from failures. Their perseverance and strength strengthen.
Work hard and persevere. Good things are coming your way.
Failed? Pick yourself up.
Measure a teammate’s success not by his position but by how high he bounces up after falling.
You will be tested here. Be strong.

Resilience comes with practice. That practice comes from accepting challenges and solving them.

If you’re irritated by the simplest problems, how can you become a polished individual?
A strong employee doesn’t give up after a harsh reprimand or a failure.
“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” ― Maya Angelou
“Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” ― Nelson Mandela
“You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.”― Margaret Thatcher
“No matter how much falls on us, we keep ploughing ahead. That’s the only way to keep the roads clear.” ― Greg Kincaid
“Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.” ― Angela Duckworth

Adversity Slogans

No adversity here
We eat adversity for breakfast.
A good breakfast prepares you for a tough day.
Adversity fuels your strength.
When adversity arrives, come here.
Relax here after a hard day.

Nothing fixes a hard day more than an ice-cold beer.
Coffee defeats all adversities.
Wash problems down with coffee.
Melt your doubts away with our warm mulled wine.
Adversities are not welcome here.
Challenge your adversity back!
You got this.
There’s no adversity that you can’t conquer.
Conquer adversity.
Don’t let adversity defeat you.

Resilience Slogans

We’re all impressed by your strength.
Everything you need is already in you.
You can do this.
Be strong. Keep moving ahead one step at a time.
Extra strong beer for extra strong men.
We have the right strong drinks for you.
The game is won by one inch at a time.
Strength maketh man.
Resilience brings rewards.
Plenty of fight in you.
Fight battles, win wars.
Emerge stronger with resilience.
Why doubt yourself? You’re strong!
I can feel your strength.
The café for strong men
Admiring your strength and tenacity since (date of your business’s opening)
Persevere and win!
The true winners.

Winners accept failures and adversities, learn from them, rise up, and persevere. Each one of us will face different challenges in life. Some people will face tougher challenges than others. But try not to compare yourself to others. It’s a waste of time and doesn’t benefit you in anyway.

Each day, we face some level of adversity. No doubt some of us are born into better situations than others. I think if you happen to be born in the United States, are of average intelligence, and healthy it’s all good. You’ve got a shot at accomplishing whatever you want. Workplace problems, losing businesses, deteriorating personal or professional relationships—all these can be incredibly difficult tests for anyone. But trust me… you can get through this.

Want to start your own food business?

Hey! 👋I’m Brett Lindenberg, the founder of Food Truck Empire.

We interview successful founders and share the stories behind their food trucks, restaurants, food and beverage brands. By sharing these stories, I want to help others get started.

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