--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The English nation is never so great as…" description: "\"The English nation is never so great as in adversity.\" — Benjamin Disraeli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e64/benjamin-disraeli-390_adversity_the-english-nation-is-never-so-great-as_201222.png" --- # The English nation is never so great as in adversity. ![“The English nation is never so great as in adversity.” quote by Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e64/benjamin-disraeli-390_adversity_the-english-nation-is-never-so-great-as_201222.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e64/benjamin-disraeli-390_adversity_the-english-nation-is-never-so-great-as_201222.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e64/benjamin-disraeli-390_adversity_the-english-nation-is-never-so-great-as_201222.png) > “The English nation is never so great as in adversity.” [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A nation’s resilience shines brightest during hardship. **In simple terms:** Adversity reveals national strength. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges to strengthen unity. Themes national identity adversity resilience Mood inspirational historical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - wartime morale - economic crisis response - public health emergencies Key Concepts history political theory collective spirit Questions to Reflect On - What unites a people in crisis? - How can leaders sustain morale? A Different Perspective Strength can wane if adversity is prolonged without hope. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [English](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english/) [Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) ## Related quotes > [But of all nations in the world the English are perhaps the least a nation of pure philosophers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/but-of-all-nations-in-the-world-the-english-are-perhaps-the-least-a/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [What we need now is a nation of great people who live to positively impact others and build enduring legacies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-we-need-now-is-a-nation-of-great-people-who-live-to-positively/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Easily mistaken, it is not about a love for adversity, it is about knowing a strength and a faith so great that adversity, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/easily-mistaken-it-is-not-about-a-love-for-adversity-it-is-about/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Remember the great adversity of art or anything else is a hurried life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-james-waller/remember-the-great-adversity-of-art-or-anything-else-is-a-hurried-life/) [Robert James Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-james-waller/) > [Commitment is the stuff character is made of: the power to change in the face of great adversity and those who doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jreyes/commitment-is-the-stuff-character-is-made-of-the-power-to-change-in/) JREYES > [Great adversity that's in your face is trying to make Tragedy become your Identity. Trying to make you the child of Tragedy instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/great-adversity-that-s-in-your-face-is-trying-to-make-tragedy-become/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [I don't think we live in those times when great art comes out of great adversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/i-don-t-think-we-live-in-those-times-when-great-art-comes-out-of/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [“The typical English painting is narrative in character. The English are a nation of diarists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-weston/the-typical-english-painting-is-narrative-in-character-the-english/) [Neville Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-weston/) > [Jews ate the English nation to its bones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-speed/jews-ate-the-english-nation-to-its-bones/) [John Speed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-speed/) > [But 'tis the talent of our English nation, Still to be plotting some new reformation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/but-tis-the-talent-of-our-english-nation-still-to-be-plotting-some/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [The English are a nation of consummate cant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-english-are-a-nation-of-consummate-cant/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [It was always yet the trick of our English nation, if they have a good thing, to make it too common.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/it-was-always-yet-the-trick-of-our-english-nation-if-they-have-a-good/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I - and there are hundreds of thousands of Irishmen who felt on this subject as I do - have always liked my Celtic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-hyde/i-and-there-are-hundreds-of-thousands-of-irishmen-who-felt-on-this/) [Douglas Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-hyde/) > [While the nation that has dared to be great, that has had the will and the power to change the destiny of the ages,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/while-the-nation-that-has-dared-to-be-great-that-has-had-the-will-and/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [What makes a nation great is not primarily its great men, but the stature of its innumerable mediocre ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/what-makes-a-nation-great-is-not-primarily-its-great-men-but-the/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) ## More by Benjamin Disraeli > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [We make our fortunes and we call them fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/we-make-our-fortunes-and-we-call-them-fate/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The European talks of progress because by the aid of a few scientific discoveries he has established a society which has mistaken comfort for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-european-talks-of-progress-because-by-the-aid-of-a-few-scientific/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [It shows you exactly how a star is formed; nothing else can be so pretty! A cluster of vapor, the cream of the milky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/it-shows-you-exactly-how-a-star-is-formed-nothing-else-can-be-so/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Terror has its inspiration, as well as competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/terror-has-its-inspiration-as-well-as-competition/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/i-am-prepared-for-the-worst-but-hope-for-the-best/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Religion should be the rule of life, not a casual incident in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/religion-should-be-the-rule-of-life-not-a-casual-incident-in-it/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Frank and explicit - that is the right line to take when you wish to conceal your own mind and confuse the minds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/frank-and-explicit-that-is-the-right-line-to-take-when-you-wish-to/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I was told that the privileged and the people formed two nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/i-was-told-that-the-privileged-and-the-people-formed-two-nations/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The praise of a fool is incense to the wisest of us . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-praise-of-a-fool-is-incense-to-the-wisest-of-us/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Expediency is a law of nature. The camel is a wonderful animal, but the desert made the camel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/expediency-is-a-law-of-nature-the-camel-is-a-wonderful-animal-but-the/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Is man an ape or an angel? Now I am on the side of the angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/is-man-an-ape-or-an-angel-now-i-am-on-the-side-of-the-angels/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Real politics are the possession and distribution of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/real-politics-are-the-possession-and-distribution-of-power/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/desperation-is-sometimes-as-powerful-an-inspirer-as-genius/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Why, I say, that to tax the community for the advantage of a class is not protection; it is plunder, and I entirely disclaim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/why-i-say-that-to-tax-the-community-for-the-advantage-of-a-class-is/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) [Explore all 603 Benjamin Disraeli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) James Buckham Kennedy > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) S.E. SEVER > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The English nation is never so great as in adversity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Disraeli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-english-nation-is-never-so-great-as-in-adversity/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-english-nation-is-never-so-great-as-in-adversity/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e64/benjamin-disraeli-390_adversity_the-english-nation-is-never-so-great-as_201222.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e64/benjamin-disraeli-390_adversity_the-english-nation-is-never-so-great-as_201222.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e64/benjamin-disraeli-390_adversity_the-english-nation-is-never-so-great-as_201222.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The English nation is never so great as in adversity.” — Benjamin Disraeli", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Benjamin Disraeli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The English nation is never so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-english-nation-is-never-so-great-as-in-adversity/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-english-nation-is-never-so-great-as-in-adversity/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```