Barbara Kingsolver Quotes

A good thing to remember is somebody's got it a lot worse than we do.

One of the things that I try to do when I have a tough time with anything - whatever it may be - is just look at someone else's situation. Here in Staten Island, look, I have people that have children that haven't been back in their home for 18 months after Sandy. They lost every worldly possession.

Nobody's life is a bed of roses. We all have crosses to bear, and we all just do our best. I would never claim to have the worst situation. There are many widows, and many people dying of AIDS, many people killed in Lebanon, people starving all over the planet. So we have to count our lucky stars.

There are a lot of ups and downs. But there are always people who have it worse.

I think about my mom and the things she went through, and things could always be a lot worse.

If you read with empathy what Lincoln went through, then you realize what you're going through is nothing compared to what he went through.

Its unfortunate and I really wish I wouldn't have to say this, but I really like human beings who have suffered. They're kinder.

Hard times make you bitter or make you more compassionate.

Adversities such as being homeless and going to prison has made many people stronger.

Every man's got to figure to get beat sometime.

I speak to people who have been through so much more.

We're all human beings, and we all have the same problems. I do remember how blessed I am, and no matter how bad things are, they can always get worse.

Adversity is the diamond dust Heaven polishes its jewels with.

No matter how bad you think you have it, there's always - always somebody who's got it way, way worse.

Coming generations will learn equality from poverty, and love from woes.

I was raised in unique and trying environments, but they were also amazing platforms for me to have an extraordinary life. Going through hell as a kid made me sensitive to what others in this world go through, too.

I think everybody has their pain. For me, the time that I really had to grow up was when I was 15 and I had my best friend die of leukemia. Watching somebody so strong go through that is definitely something that will give you a little bit of depth. There have been a lot of things that have happened in my life that has forced me to grow up.

Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has.

I can no longer walk. I can no longer swim. But I'm lucky when I see how animals suffer.

The greatest object in the universe, says a certain philosopher, is a good man struggling with adversity; yet there is still a greater, which is the good man that comes to relieve it.

I learned that my upbringing was rough, but there's other people out there where their upbringing is even worse than mine. It just gives you even more of a reason to want to help.

War made my everyday problems seem much smaller, and when it is hard sometimes, I just remember that it could be much worse.

I believe it is only when one comes out of adversity, that one starts to see real beauty.

I don't sit around feeling sorry for myself. There's always somebody who's a lot worse off than you.

I cannot, will not, withhold from my young readers the harsh realities of human hunger and suffering and loss, but neither will I neglect to plant that stubborn seed of hope that has enabled our race to outlast wars and famines and the destruction of death.