We exaggerate misfortune and happiness alike. We are never as bad off or as happy as we say we are.

Happiness is composed of misfortunes avoided.

A cloudy day or a little sunshine have as great an influence on many constitutions as the most recent blessings or misfortunes.

All the ills of mankind all the tragic misfortunes that fill the history books all the political blunders all the failures of the great leaders have arisen merely from a lack of skill at dancing.

Ignorance of all things is an evil neither terrible nor excessive nor yet the greatest of all but great cleverness and much learning if they be accompanied by a bad training are a much greater misfortune.

Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune but great minds rise above them.

The government's War on Poverty has transformed poverty from a short-term misfortune into a career choice.

Here is the rule to remember in the future When anything tempts you to be bitter: not 'This is a misfortune' but 'To bear this worthily is good fortune.'

Friendship is but another name for an alliance with the follies and the misfortunes of others. Our own share of miseries is sufficient: why enter then as volunteers into those of another?

Indeed wretched the man whose fame makes his misfortunes famous.

A few years' experience will convince us that those things which at the time they happened we regarded as our greatest misfortunes have proved our greatest blessings.

To accuse others for one's own misfortunes is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one's education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one's education is complete.

I now bid farewell to the country of my birth - of my passions - of my death a country whose misfortunes have invoked my sympathies - whose factions I sought to quell - whose intelligence I prompted to a lofty aim - whose freedom has been my fatal dream.

In the misfortunes of our best friends we always find something not altogether displeasing to us.

I am responsible. Although I may not be able to prevent the worst from happening I am responsible for my attitude toward the inevitable misfortunes that darken life.

All men's misfortunes spring from their hatred of being alone.