Quotes: Winston Churchill

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

–– Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British Prime Minister 1940-1945; 1951-1955

via Commonplace Book 2006-2009, 2007, p. 121.

Quotes: William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin

"When you are face to face with a difficulty, you are up against a discovery." 

–– William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin (Lord Kelvin) (1824-1907), British mathematician, mathematical physicist, and engineer 

Source: Ann-Marie MacDonald. Fayne. Toronto: Alfred A. Knopf Canada, 2022; p. 589.

via: Sketchbook M 13, 2024, p. 6. 

Quotes: Bruce Lee

"Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one."

–– Bruce Lee (1940-1973), Hong Kong-American martial artist and actor 

via: Sketchbook O 15, 2024, p. 12.

Quotes: Latin expression

"Sweeter after difficulty." 

–– Latin expression

via: Art Alternatives Knapsack Sketchbook L 2024, p. 23.

Quotes: Allan C. Somersall

"Difficulties are not optional, everybody has them, but the choice of your reaction always is optional." 

–– Allan C. Somersall (1949-2015), St. Kitts, West Indies-born, Canadian physician, scientist, politician, author, and motivational speaker 

Source: Allan C. Somersall. A Passion for Living: the art of real success. 1993. 

via: Commonplace Book 1999-2001, 2001.

Quotes: Seneca

"Difficulties strengthen the mind as labour does the body."

–– Seneca (4 BC - AD 65), Roman Stoic philosopher, dramatist, statesman 

via: Sketchbook 26, 2022, p. 133.

Quotes: unknown

"I've never met a strong person with an easy past." 

–– unknown 

via: Sketchbook A, 2017, p. 42.

Creativity quotes: Michael Caine

"I was rehearsing a play, and there was a scene that went on before me, then I had to come in the door. They rehearsed the scene, and one of the actors had thrown a chair at the other one. It landed right in front of the door where I came in. I opened the door and then rather lamely, I said to the producer who was sitting out in the stalls, 'Well, look, I can't get in. There's a chair in my way.' He said, 'Well, use the difficulty.' So I said 'What do you mean, use the difficulty?' He said 'Well, if it's a drama, pick it up and smash it. If it's a comedy, fall over it.' This was a line for me for life: Always use the difficulty." 

–– Michael Caine (b. 1933), British actor

Via an interview with NPR's Terry Gross, from her book All I Did Was Ask 

Quotes 363: Thomas Moore

"Anything so difficult to accept must have a special kind of shadow in it, a germ of creativity shrouded in a veil of repulsion."

–– Thomas Moore (b. 1940), American writer, psychotherapist, and former monk 

via Sketchbook 11, 2010, p. 7