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

man in field

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.

Related Reading: 101+ Optimism Quotes for the Workplace that Give You Hope 

  • 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 h