By my soul, I can neither eat, drink, nor sleep; nor, what's still worse, love any woman in the world but her.
Samuel RichardsonRead
Necessity may well be called the mother of invention but calamity is the test of integrity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Calamity tests our integrity and character more than necessity drives invention.
This quote suggests that while necessity can inspire creative solutions and innovation, it is the challenges and hardships we face that truly reveal our moral character and integrity. When confronted with adversity, our true values and strength are tested, indicating that integrity is often shaped by how we respond to difficult situations.
Themes
IntegrityCalamityInventionCharacterNecessityAdversity
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about overcoming challenges.
More from Samuel Richardson
All quotes βIf the education and studies of children were suited to their inclinations and capacities, many would be made useful members of society that otherwise would make no figure in it.
Samuel RichardsonRead
For the human mind is seldom at stay: If you do not grow better, you will most undoubtedly grow worse.
Samuel RichardsonRead
Similar quotes
Don't let one cloud obliterate the whole sky.
Anais NinRead
I left the fairy tales lying on the floor of the nursery, and I have not found any books so sensible since.
Gilbert K. ChestertonRead
Somehow, we have to realize that what we watch and what we listen to not only often reflects our most violent tendencies but cultivates more violence.
Bernice KingRead
If you overesteem great men, people become powerless. If you overvalue possessions, people begin to steal. The Master leads by emptying people's minds and filling their cores, by weakening their ambition and toughening their resolve. He helps people lose everything they know, everything they desire, and creates confusion in those who think that they know. Practice not-doing, and everything will fall into place.
LaoziRead
One of the advantages of travelling the world is that you get to know the world broadly. And one of the advantages of staying in one place is that you get to know the world deeply.
Alan MooreRead
What's invisible to us is also crucial for our own well-being.
Jeanette WintersonRead