Les Brown Quotes

We develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and obstacles.

You don't get character because you're successful; you build character because of the hardships you face.

Difficulty shows what men are. Therefore when a difficulty falls upon you, remember that God, like a trainer of wrestlers, has matched you with a rough young man. Why? So that you may become an Olympic conqueror; but it is not accomplished without sweat.

My own father had always said the measure of a man wasn't how many times or how hard he got knocked down, but how fast he got back up. I made a pledge to myself that I would get up and emerge from this debacle better for having gone through it. I would live up to the expectation I had for myself. I would be the kind of man I wanted to be.

Obstacles are found everywhere, and in overcoming them we nourish ourselves.

Adversity builds character and character takes you places money can't.

The true test of a character is to face hard conditions with the determination to make them better.

Every problem is a character-building opportunity, and the more difficult it is, the greater the potential for building spiritual muscle and moral fiber.

Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties.

Life itself is always a trial. In training, you must test and polish yourself in order to face the great challenges of life.

As a player and a coach, I've had plenty of great moments, but I've also experienced disappointments. The disappointments are not about self-doubt, but rather about change. I've always seen failures as a personal challenge. I say to myself: Now I have to find out if I have the right stuff.

I like challenges and I don't believe in failure. I don't believe in regrets. I believe suffering, failure - all those concepts - are things that are absolutely necessary to make us the best people that we can be, the best at whatever we want to do.

All success is quite temporary if you don't work hard enough to maintain where you are. Talent can get you somewhere but character keeps you there. You have to build character along the way and know when and know how to take the victories from situations even though they might seem grim.

The things we overcome in life really become our strengths.

Everyone is going to face challenges. What defines you is how you overcome those.

Being a successful person is not necessarily defined by what you have achieved, but by what you have overcome.

A grindstone that had not grit in it, how long would it take to sharpen an ax? And affairs that had not grit in them, how long would they take to make a man?

The trials and pressures of life--and how we face them--often define us. Confronted by adversity, many people give up while others rise up. How do those who succeed do it? They persevere. They find the benefit to them personally that comes from any trial. And they recognize that the best thing about adversity is coming out on the other side of it. There is a sweetness to overcoming your troubles and finding something good in the process, however small it may be. Giving up when adversity threatens can make a person bitter. Persevering through adversity makes one better.

Life is meant to be a challenge, because challenges are what make you grow.

You can be absolutely certain that when you feel you are being most unfairly tested, you are being prepared for great achievement.

The conquering of adversity produces strength of character, forges self-confidence, engenders self-respect, and assures success in righteous endeavor.

Hard conditions of life are indispensable to bringing out the best in human personality.

You don't want people who have never had to deal with adversity - you want people who have been able to deal successfully with adversity. That's what adds to society. Those are going to be the hardest-working, best people.

I think it's always the moments that are the trials that end up making you become a hero in the end. You're not a hero unless you've gone through the trials. And it makes these moments so much sweeter, so much better. I don't believe in 'deserved,' but I might believe in 'earned.'