To have a right estimate of a man's character, we must see him in misfortune.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A person's true character is revealed when they face hardship rather than comfort.
- In plain terms
- You see who someone really is when things go wrong.
- What can you take from it?
- Hardship reveals true character.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When did you see someone's true colors?
- Does comfort hide character flaws?
Another view
Some people maintain dignity in comfort but crumble under pressure.
More from Napoleon Bonaparte
To extraordinary circumstances we must apply extraordinary remedies.
Permalink to quote #187 To have good soldiers, a nation must always be at war.
Permalink to quote #189 To abandon oneself to despair without a struggle, to commit suicide as a relief, is like leaving the field of battle before we have vanquished the enemy.
Permalink to quote #186
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