--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Without adversity a person hardly knows…" description: "\"Without adversity a person hardly knows whether they are honest or not.\" — Henry Fielding" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/henry-fielding-1358_adversity_without-adversity-a-person-hardly-knows_436525.png" --- # Without adversity a person hardly knows whether they are… ![“Without adversity a person hardly knows whether they are honest or not.” quote by Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/henry-fielding-1358_adversity_without-adversity-a-person-hardly-knows_436525.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/henry-fielding-1358_adversity_without-adversity-a-person-hardly-knows_436525.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/henry-fielding-1358_adversity_without-adversity-a-person-hardly-knows_436525.png) > “Without adversity a person hardly knows whether they are honest or not.” [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests that hardship reveals true character and honesty. **In simple terms:** Adversity tests honesty. Key Takeaway Seek growth through challenges. Themes character adversity integrity Mood reflective serious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - career setbacks - personal crises - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts ethical development psychology of resilience Questions to Reflect On - What hardships have clarified your values? - How can we support honesty under pressure? A Different Perspective Not all adversity leads to self‑knowledge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Adversity Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity-person-3836534/) [Hardly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardly/) [Hardly Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardly-knows-3327334/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Person Hardly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-hardly-2694342/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Whether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whether/) [Without](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without/) ## Related quotes > [A habit is something a person hardly notices until it is too late to break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/a-habit-is-something-a-person-hardly-notices-until-it-is-too-late-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [At first sight, his address is certainly not striking; and his person can hardly be called handsome, till the expression of his eyes, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/at-first-sight-his-address-is-certainly-not-striking-and-his-person-2/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [The world is so dreadfully managed, one hardly knows to whom to complain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-firbank/the-world-is-so-dreadfully-managed-one-hardly-knows-to-whom-to/) [Ronald Firbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-firbank/) > [“I thought I wanted these memories, but now I realize he hardly knows me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kasie-west/i-thought-i-wanted-these-memories-but-now-i-realize-he-hardly-knows-me/) [Kasie West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kasie-west/) > [The outside world hardly knows me and thinks Jwala is a celebrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jwala-gutta/the-outside-world-hardly-knows-me-and-thinks-jwala-is-a-celebrity/) [Jwala Gutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jwala-gutta/) > [“She's right, she hardly knows me. But still: Her heart is racing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/she-s-right-she-hardly-knows-me-but-still-her-heart-is-racing/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Hardly anyone knows how much is gained by ignoring the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/hardly-anyone-knows-how-much-is-gained-by-ignoring-the-future/) [Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/) > [Religion is everywhere. There are no human societies without it, whether they acknowledge it as a religion or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-e-butler/religion-is-everywhere-there-are-no-human-societies-without-it/) [Octavia E. 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Certainly, without a camera a drone can't function,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/cameras-help-to-minimize-collateral-damage-and-very-often-without-a/) [Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/) > [I'm not in the movie business anymore, and hardly any 70 year olds are. I always ask the producers: 'Are there no 70-year old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-dennehy/i-m-not-in-the-movie-business-anymore-and-hardly-any-70-year-olds-are/) [Brian Dennehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-dennehy/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Judge not; speak hardly at all; love and act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliphas-levi/judge-not-speak-hardly-at-all-love-and-act/) [Eliphas Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliphas-levi/) > [Those who have not been stung will hardly fear a bee the same as those who have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/those-who-have-not-been-stung-will-hardly-fear-a-bee-the-same-as/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) ## More by Henry Fielding > [“Though Jones had formerly believed himself in the very prime of youth and vigor, his first encounter with Lady Bellaston both vexed and puzzled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/though-jones-had-formerly-believed-himself-in-the-very-prime-of-youth/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [A good man therefore is a standing lesson to us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-good-man-therefore-is-a-standing-lesson-to-us-all/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Good-breeding is not confined to externals, much less to any particular dress or attitude of the body; it is the art of pleasing, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/good-breeding-is-not-confined-to-externals-much-less-to-any/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Adversity is the trial of principle. Without it, a man hardly knows whether he is honest or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/adversity-is-the-trial-of-principle-without-it-a-man-hardly-knows/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Sir, money, money, the most charming of all things; money, which will say more in one moment than the most elegant lover can in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/sir-money-money-the-most-charming-of-all-things-money-which-will-say/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [The greatest part of mankind labor under one delirium or another; and Don Quixote differed from the rest, not in madness, but the species…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/the-greatest-part-of-mankind-labor-under-one-delirium-or-another-and/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Want compassion is not to be numbered among the general faults of mankind. The black ingredient which fouls our disposition is envy. Hence our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/want-compassion-is-not-to-be-numbered-among-the-general-faults-of/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [It is well known to all great men, that by conferring an obligation they do not always procure a friend, but are certain of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/it-is-well-known-to-all-great-men-that-by-conferring-an-obligation/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [One fool at least in every married couple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/one-fool-at-least-in-every-married-couple/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [A lover, when he is admitted to cards, ought to be solemnly silent, and observe the motions of his mistress. He must laugh when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-lover-when-he-is-admitted-to-cards-ought-to-be-solemnly-silent-and/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [If you make money your god, it will plague you like the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/if-you-make-money-your-god-it-will-plague-you-like-the-devil/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [As a conquered rebellion strengthens a government, or as health is more perfectly established by recovery from some diseases; so anger, when removed, often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/as-a-conquered-rebellion-strengthens-a-government-or-as-health-is/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [A wonder lasts but nine days, and then the puppy's eyes are open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-wonder-lasts-but-nine-days-and-then-the-puppy-s-eyes-are-open/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Custom may lead a man into many errors; but it justifies none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/custom-may-lead-a-man-into-many-errors-but-it-justifies-none/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [A grave aspect to a grave character is of much more consequence than the world is generally aware of; a barber may make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-grave-aspect-to-a-grave-character-is-of-much-more-consequence-than/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) [Explore all 246 Henry Fielding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Without adversity a person hardly knows whether they are honest or not.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Fielding" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/without-adversity-a-person-hardly-knows-whether-they-are-honest-or-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/without-adversity-a-person-hardly-knows-whether-they-are-honest-or-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/henry-fielding-1358_adversity_without-adversity-a-person-hardly-knows_436525.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/henry-fielding-1358_adversity_without-adversity-a-person-hardly-knows_436525.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/henry-fielding-1358_adversity_without-adversity-a-person-hardly-knows_436525.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Without adversity a person hardly knows whether they are honest or not.” — Henry Fielding", "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": "Henry Fielding", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Without adversity a person hardly knows...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/without-adversity-a-person-hardly-knows-whether-they-are-honest-or-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/without-adversity-a-person-hardly-knows-whether-they-are-honest-or-not/#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 } } ] } ```