--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most extraordinary thing about the…" description: "\"“The most extraordinary thing about the oyster is this. Irritation gets into his shell. He does not like them. But when he cannot get rid of them he us..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf6/harry-emerson-fosdick-3672_adversity_the-most-extraordinary-thing-about-the-o_536828.png" --- # The most extraordinary thing about the oyster is this… ![“The most extraordinary thing about the oyster is this. Irritation gets into his shell. He does not like them. But when he cannot get rid of them he uses the irritation to do the lovelist thing an oyster ever has the chance to do. If there are irritations in our lives today, there is only one…” quote by Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf6/harry-emerson-fosdick-3672_adversity_the-most-extraordinary-thing-about-the-o_536828.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf6/harry-emerson-fosdick-3672_adversity_the-most-extraordinary-thing-about-the-o_536828.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf6/harry-emerson-fosdick-3672_adversity_the-most-extraordinary-thing-about-the-o_536828.png) > ““The most extraordinary thing about the oyster is this. Irritation gets into his shell. He does not like them. But when he cannot get rid of them he uses the irritation to do the lovelist thing an oyster ever has the chance to do. If there are irritations in our lives today, there is only one prescription: make a pearl. It may have to be a pearl of patience, but…make a pearl. -In the Treasure Chest, ed. Charles L. Wallis”” [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adversity can be transformed into something beautiful and valuable when we channel frustration into creative effort. **In simple terms:** Turn irritation into something precious. Key Takeaway Use challenges to create lasting value. Themes resilience creativity growth Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal setbacks - workplace stress - artistic block - relationship conflict Key Concepts alchemy patience self‑transcendence Questions to Reflect On - What irritation can you transform today? - How does patience shape the outcome? A Different Perspective Not all irritations can be easily turned into pearls; some may require external help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Becoming better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming-better/) [Irritation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irritation/) ## Related quotes > [The most extraordinary thing about the oyster is this. Irritations set into his shell. He does not like them. But when he cannot get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/the-most-extraordinary-thing-about-the-oyster-is-this-irritations-set/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [“Give all your pearls, and the swine will make a pearl necklace, then run off. Don't show all your glory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/give-all-your-pearls-and-the-swine-will-make-a-pearl-necklace-then/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [“Even a grain of sand united with an oyster can make a pearl.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truth-devour/even-a-grain-of-sand-united-with-an-oyster-can-make-a-pearl/) Truth Devour > [If all the circumstances of acting are made to easy, then there's no grain of sand to make the pearl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sarsgaard/if-all-the-circumstances-of-acting-are-made-to-easy-then-there-s-no/) [Peter Sarsgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sarsgaard/) > [“If our souls never ached with disappointments and disillusionments, we'd never fully admit and submit to our need for God. If we weren't ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/if-our-souls-never-ached-with-disappointments-and-disillusionments-we/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [“When you are being tested, strive to make God's honor roll”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-cleaver/when-you-are-being-tested-strive-to-make-god-s-honor-roll/) [Tony Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-cleaver/) > [“Trials there must be upon this earth. We are made of a stuff that easily corrupts when nothing calls to order, when a sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frithjof-schuon/trials-there-must-be-upon-this-earth-we-are-made-of-a-stuff-that/) [Frithjof Schuon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frithjof-schuon/) > [“Realize that stress doesn't happen because the world has made some pact against you personally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brickman/realize-that-stress-doesn-t-happen-because-the-world-has-made-some/) Jim Brickman > [“At the bottom of the pit, there is nothing to fear; above the clouds, there is nothing to hide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-of-prague/at-the-bottom-of-the-pit-there-is-nothing-to-fear-above-the-clouds/) Robert of Prague > [“Life is an endless trial and death its certain verdict, but there are many recesses to enjoy before then.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/life-is-an-endless-trial-and-death-its-certain-verdict-but-there-are/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [“...such it is with all human sensations that people become gradually used to everything and this is truly a beneficial gift from nature, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-wagevier/such-it-is-with-all-human-sensations-that-people-become-gradually/) C. J. Wagevier > [“It's a shame there has to be a tragedy before the best in people will finally shine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-a-shame-there-has-to-be-a-tragedy-before-the-best-in-people-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“...Our character was being forged on the anvil of the difficult experiences we were facing. We knew that if we remained committed to God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foster/our-character-was-being-forged-on-the-anvil-of-the-difficult/) [George Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foster/) > [“Has anyone ever said to you, “God never gives you more than you can bear?” Don’t you hate that? That’s because it’s not true.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-jennerich/has-anyone-ever-said-to-you-god-never-gives-you-more-than-you-can/) Bob Jennerich > [“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/) ## More by Harry Emerson Fosdick > [Nothing in human life, least of all in religion, is ever right until it is beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/nothing-in-human-life-least-of-all-in-religion-is-ever-right-until-it/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [Life asks not merely what you can do; it asks how much can you endure and not be spoiled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/life-asks-not-merely-what-you-can-do-it-asks-how-much-can-you-endure/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [It is cynicism and fear that freeze life; it is faith that thaws it out, releases it, sets it free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/it-is-cynicism-and-fear-that-freeze-life-it-is-faith-that-thaws-it/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [“Whatever the situation and however disheartening it may be, it is a great hour when a man ceases adopting difficulties as an excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/whatever-the-situation-and-however-disheartening-it-may-be-it-is-a/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [The all but unanimous judgment seems to be that we, the democracies, are just as responsible for the rise of the dictators as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/the-all-but-unanimous-judgment-seems-to-be-that-we-the-democracies/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [Atheism is a theoretical formulation of the discouraged life...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/atheism-is-a-theoretical-formulation-of-the-discouraged-life/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [The most extraordinary thing about the oyster is this. Irritations set into his shell. He does not like them. But when he cannot get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/the-most-extraordinary-thing-about-the-oyster-is-this-irritations-set/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [The tragedy of war is that it uses man's best to do man's worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/the-tragedy-of-war-is-that-it-uses-man-s-best-to-do-man-s-worst/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [No one can be wrong with man and right with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/no-one-can-be-wrong-with-man-and-right-with-god/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [No man need stay the way he is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/no-man-need-stay-the-way-he-is/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [Preaching is personal counseling on a group basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/preaching-is-personal-counseling-on-a-group-basis/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [Every year the inventions of science weave more inextricably the web that binds man to man, group to group, nation to nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/every-year-the-inventions-of-science-weave-more-inextricably-the-web/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [He who cannot rest, cannot work; he who cannot let go, cannot hold on; he who cannot find footing, cannot go forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/he-who-cannot-rest-cannot-work-he-who-cannot-let-go-cannot-hold-on-he/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [It is not marriage that fails; it is people that fail. All that marriage does is to show people up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/it-is-not-marriage-that-fails-it-is-people-that-fail-all-that/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [Hold a picture of yourself long and steadily enough in your mind's eye and you will be drawn toward it. Picture yourself vividly as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/hold-a-picture-of-yourself-long-and-steadily-enough-in-your-mind-s/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) [Explore all 123 Harry Emerson Fosdick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) ## 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 most extraordinary thing about the oyster is this. Irritation gets into his shell. He does not like them. But when he cannot get rid of them he uses the irritation to do the lovelist thing an oyster ever has the chance to do. If there are irritations in our lives today, there is only one prescription: make a pearl. 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