61 Uplifting Quotes About Strength and Resilience
Timeless words of wisdom to help you find strength, resilience, and hope through adversity.

In life’s most trying moments, a few wise words can provide the courage and motivation we need to persevere. Whether you’re facing personal challenges, supporting a loved one, or searching for inspiration, the power of resilience and inner strength is the key to overcoming adversity. Below is a curated collection of 61 quotes about strength and resilience, featuring timeless wisdom from thinkers, leaders, and creatives throughout history.
Quotes About Strength and Perseverance
- “Persistence and resilience only come from having been given the chance to work through difficult problems.” – Gever Tulley
- “Nothing is more beautiful than the smile that has struggled through the tears.” – Demi Lovato
- “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” – Christopher Reeve
- “And one has to understand that braveness is not the absence of fear but rather the strength to keep on going forward despite the fear.” – Paulo Coelho
- “Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.” – Marie Curie
- “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” – Mahatma Gandhi
- “Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
- “Inside of a ring or out, ain’t nothing wrong with going down. It’s staying down that’s wrong.” – Muhammad Ali
- “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” – Margaret Thatcher
- “If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it.” – Michael Jordan
Finding Strength Through Adversity
- “Life is very interesting… in the end, some of your greatest pains become your greatest strengths.” – Drew Barrymore
- “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” – Ernest Hemingway
- “The human capacity for burden is like bamboo—far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance.” – Jodi Picoult
- “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” – Khalil Gibran
- “You never realize how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.” – Bob Marley
- “Rock bottom became the solid foundation in which I rebuilt my life.” – J.K. Rowling
- “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” – Robert H. Schuller
- “Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.” – William Ellery Channing
- “Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” – Bruce Lee
- “Just because you are soft doesn’t mean you are not a force. Honey and wildfire are both the color gold.” – Victoria Erickson
Inspirational Quotes on Resilience
- “Resilience is knowing that you are the only one that has the power and the responsibility to pick yourself up.” – Mary Holloway
- “Resilience is based on compassion for ourselves as well as compassion for others.” – Sharon Salzberg
- “It’s not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
- “On the other side of a storm is the strength that comes from having navigated through it. Raise your sail and begin.” – Gregory S. Williams
- “The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived.” – Robert Jordan
- “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius
- “The strongest people are those who win battles we know nothing about.” – Unknown
- “Resilience is, of course, necessary for a warrior. But a lack of empathy isn’t.” – Phil Klay
- “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” – Helen Keller
- “She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails.” – Elizabeth Edwards
Strength for Uncertain Times
Uncertainty often brings fear and anxiety, yet it also offers opportunities to grow stronger and more confident. The following quotes are reminders that we can find steady ground and face the unknown with courage and grace.
- “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe
- “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
- “Hard times may have held you down, but they will not last forever.” – Charles F. Glassman
- “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
- “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – Henry Ford
- “No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead. That’s the only way to keep the roads clear.” – Greg Kincaid
- “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” – Mary Anne Radmacher
- “Even if happiness forgets you a little bit, never completely forget about it.” – Jacques Prevert
- “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
Celebrating Inner Strength
- “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – A.A. Milne
- “What makes you different or weird, that’s your strength.” – Meryl Streep
- “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
- “Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.” – Oprah Winfrey
- “Sometimes you don’t realize your own strength until you come face to face with your greatest weakness.” – Susan Gale
- “Courage isn’t having the strength to go on—it is going on when you don’t have strength.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
- “Be strong enough to let go, and wise enough to wait for what you deserve.” – Unknown
- “The weak fall, but the strong will remain and never go under!” – Anne Frank
- “He who believes is strong; he who doubts is weak. Strong convictions precede great actions.” – Louisa May Alcott
- “Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.” – Napoleon Hill
Quotes for Overcoming Setbacks
Life’s setbacks often feel overwhelming, but each challenge holds the potential to teach us resilience and strength. Let these quotes remind you that obstacles are stepping stones to greater heights.
- “Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.” – Og Mandino
- “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” – Winston Churchill
- “Turn your wounds into wisdom.” – Oprah Winfrey
- “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” – Thomas Edison
- “A river cuts through rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence.” – Jim Watkins
- “What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.” – Richard Bach
- “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
- “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” – Viktor Frankl
- “The only way out is through.” – Robert Frost
- “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.” – Chinese Proverb
Words of Encouragement and Hope
- “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” – Desmond Tutu
- “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” – C.S. Lewis
- “If you believe it will work out, you’ll see opportunities. If you believe it won’t, you will see obstacles.” – Wayne Dyer
- “Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you’ve been buried, but you’ve actually been planted.” – Christine Caine
- “Light tomorrow with today.” – Elizabeth Barrett Browning
- “Never be ashamed of a scar. It simply means you were stronger than whatever tried to hurt you.” – Unknown
- “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” – Zig Ziglar
- “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
- “Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you.” – Walt Whitman
- “Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life.” – Naeem Callaway
Summary Table: Strength vs. Resilience
Quality | Definition | Example Quotes |
---|---|---|
Strength | Inner power, determination, and the ability to overcome adversity. | “Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths.” |
Resilience | The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties and keep moving forward. | “Persistence and resilience only come from having been given the chance to work through difficult problems.” |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between strength and resilience?
Strength is the inner power and determination to face challenges, while resilience refers to the ability to recover and bounce back after setbacks. Both qualities work together to help individuals navigate tough times.
How can I find strength during difficult times?
Finding strength often involves self-reflection, seeking support from others, setting small, achievable goals, and drawing on sources of inspiration like encouraging quotes or stories. Reminding yourself of past successes and maintaining hope are also powerful ways to cultivate inner strength.
Are quotes about strength really helpful?
Yes, quotes about strength and resilience can provide comfort, hope, and motivation. They remind us we’re not alone in our struggles and that countless people before us have overcome similar adversities.
Can strength be developed, or is it something you’re born with?
While some aspects of strength are innate, most people develop inner strength through life’s experiences, especially by overcoming obstacles and learning from mistakes. Growth often happens in response to adversity.
Why is resilience important in uncertain times?
Resilience helps us adapt to change, recover from setbacks, and maintain hope even when circumstances are tough or unpredictable. It ensures we keep moving forward and build confidence for the future.
Final Reflections
Strength and resilience are not merely traits we are born with, but qualities cultivated through experience, reflection, and perseverance. By embracing these virtues, we empower ourselves to rise above challenges and become forces of hope and compassion for others. Whether you’re facing personal losses, career changes, or everyday stress, these quotes remind us that even in the darkest moments, there is an opportunity for growth and transformation.
References
- https://www.southernliving.com/culture/quotes-about-strength
- https://www.southernliving.com/encouragement-quotes-7508714
- https://www.southernliving.com/culture/quotes-about-courage
- https://www.southernliving.com/culture/inspirational-bible-verses-quotes
- https://www.southernliving.com/culture/unity-quotes

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