--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can complain because rose bushes have…" description: "\"You can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.\" — Abraham Lincoln" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/abraham-lincoln-88_flower_you-can-complain-because-rose-bushes-hav_540551.png" --- # You can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or… ![“You can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/abraham-lincoln-88_flower_you-can-complain-because-rose-bushes-hav_540551.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/abraham-lincoln-88_flower_you-can-complain-because-rose-bushes-hav_540551.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/abraham-lincoln-88_flower_you-can-complain-because-rose-bushes-hav_540551.png) > “You can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing perspective determines whether we focus on difficulty or beauty in the same situation. **In simple terms:** Perspective decides if we see thorns or roses. Key Takeaway Shift focus to find the positive. Themes perspective choice optimism Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal setbacks - conflict resolution - creative problem solving Key Concepts cognitive reframing attitude mindset Questions to Reflect On - How can you reframe a painful experience? - What benefits arise from focusing on the good? A Different Perspective Only seeing the positive may ignore real challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flowers/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Rose bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rose-bush/) [Roses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roses/) ## Related quotes > [We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-can-complain-because-rose-bushes-have-thorns-or-rejoice-because/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/we-can-complain-because-rose-bushes-have-thorns-or-rejoice-because-2/) [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) > [“I felt as though my mind and heart had been dragged through a thicket of rose bushes and caught on every little thorn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lam/i-felt-as-though-my-mind-and-heart-had-been-dragged-through-a-thicket/) [Laura Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lam/) > [Let us try to see things from their better side: You complain about seeing thorny rose bushes; Me, I rejoice and give thanks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/let-us-try-to-see-things-from-their-better-side-you-complain-about/) [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) > [“I can complain because rosebushes have thorns or rejoice because thornbushes have roses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-john-templeton/i-can-complain-because-rosebushes-have-thorns-or-rejoice-because/) [Sir John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-john-templeton/) > [You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-complain-because-roses-have-thorns-or-you-can-rejoice-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [U can complain coz roses have thorns or u can rejoice coz thorns have roses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/u-can-complain-coz-roses-have-thorns-or-u-can-rejoice-coz-thorns-have/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“Ever seen a two-year-old tattering around a garden? 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Finally, we'd all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/hugh-and-fiona-stood-off-to-one-side-their-hands-linked-and-foreheads/) [Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/) ## More by Abraham Lincoln > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [As we keep or break the Sabbath Day we nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope by which man rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-we-keep-or-break-the-sabbath-day-we-nobly-save-or-meanly-lose-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Tell the truth and you won't have so much to remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tell-the-truth-and-you-won-t-have-so-much-to-remember/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [With high hope for the future, no prediction is ventured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/with-high-hope-for-the-future-no-prediction-is-ventured/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. 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I must get to know him better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-that-man-i-must-get-to-know-him-better/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unawares.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-this-sad-world-of-ours-sorrow-comes-to-all-and-to-the-young-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More Flower quotes > [“It is not the force of the wind, but the depth of the roots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-is-not-the-force-of-the-wind-but-the-depth-of-the-roots/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/a-light-exists-in-spring-not-present-on-the-year-at-any-other-period/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. 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