--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For certain people, misfortune is a…" description: "\"For certain people, misfortune is a beacon that lights up the dark and baser sides of social life.\" — Honore de Balzac" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/honor-de-balzac-197_beacons_for-certain-people-misfortune-is-a-beaco_2145615.png" --- # For certain people, misfortune is a beacon that lights up… ![“For certain people, misfortune is a beacon that lights up the dark and baser sides of social life.” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/honor-de-balzac-197_beacons_for-certain-people-misfortune-is-a-beaco_2145615.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/honor-de-balzac-197_beacons_for-certain-people-misfortune-is-a-beaco_2145615.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/honor-de-balzac-197_beacons_for-certain-people-misfortune-is-a-beaco_2145615.png) > “For certain people, misfortune is a beacon that lights up the dark and baser sides of social life.” [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Misfortune reveals hidden flaws in society, acting as a warning light on its darker aspects. **In simple terms:** Hard times expose society’s flaws. Key Takeaway Watch how crises reveal truth. Themes society misfortune truth reflection Mood somber reflective Type analytical observational When to use this quote - political scandals - economic crises - personal tragedies - media coverage Key Concepts sociology human nature critical observation Questions to Reflect On - What societal flaws become visible during crises? - How can we use hardship to foster positive change? A Different Perspective Not all misfortune leads to insight; sometimes it deepens division. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beacons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beacons/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Certain People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain-people/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Light up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-up/) [Misfortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortune/) [Misfortune Beacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortune-beacon-4487291/) [Misfortunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortunes/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Misfortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-misfortune-4487292/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-life/) ## Related quotes > [“Not under foreign skies Nor under foreign wings protected - I shared all this with my own people There, where misfortune had abandoned us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-akhmatova/not-under-foreign-skies-nor-under-foreign-wings-protected-i-shared/) [Anna Akhmatova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-akhmatova/) > [In Paris, when certain people see you ready to set your foot in the stirrup, some pull your coat-tails, others loosen the buckle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-paris-when-certain-people-see-you-ready-to-set-your-foot-in-the/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Events are never absolute, their outcome depends entirely upon the individual. Misfortune is a stepping stone for a genius, a piscina for a Christian,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/events-are-never-absolute-their-outcome-depends-entirely-upon-the/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Nothing is as heady as the wine of misfortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/nothing-is-as-heady-as-the-wine-of-misfortune/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All men can bear a familiar, definite misfortune better than the cruel alternations of a fate which, from one moment to another, brings excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-men-can-bear-a-familiar-definite-misfortune-better-than-the-cruel/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Misfortune makes of certain souls a vast desert through which rings the voice of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/misfortune-makes-of-certain-souls-a-vast-desert-through-which-rings/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Misfortune, no less than happiness, inspires us to dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/misfortune-no-less-than-happiness-inspires-us-to-dream/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Great minds always tend to see virtue in misfortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/great-minds-always-tend-to-see-virtue-in-misfortune/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Le bonheur engloutit nos forces, comme le malheur e teint nos vertus. Happiness engulfs our strength, just as misfortune extinguishes our virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/le-bonheur-engloutit-nos-forces-comme-le-malheur-e-teint-nos-vertus/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Lofty souls are always inclined to make a virtue of misfortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/lofty-souls-are-always-inclined-to-make-a-virtue-of-misfortune/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [What is meant by reality? It would seem to be something very erratic, very undependable - now to be found in a dusty road,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/what-is-meant-by-reality-it-would-seem-to-be-something-very-erratic/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Seeing my children makes me come most alive. I come home and I see my kids' faces light up when they see me at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-patrick/seeing-my-children-makes-me-come-most-alive-i-come-home-and-i-see-my/) [Richard Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-patrick/) > [A need for many candles may arise in every nation's history to light up the darkness in the country. Most of the time, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/a-need-for-many-candles-may-arise-in-every-nation-s-history-to-light/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Mediocre men often have the most acquired knowledge. It is in the darker. It is in the darker regions of science that great men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/mediocre-men-often-have-the-most-acquired-knowledge-it-is-in-the/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [Meanwhile someone is shining my head to get it dry to attach my top-hat to my head with toupee tape. I get into microphone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/meanwhile-someone-is-shining-my-head-to-get-it-dry-to-attach-my-top/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) ## More by Honore de Balzac > [“Oh, my friend, when you love, love a woman whom you are sure that you can love always. Never forsake a woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/oh-my-friend-when-you-love-love-a-woman-whom-you-are-sure-that-you/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“You have broken the ice, though you have not even scratched its glossy surface: you have placed your hand upon the croup of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/you-have-broken-the-ice-though-you-have-not-even-scratched-its-glossy/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [In a world of hunchbacks, a fine figure becomes a monstrosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-a-world-of-hunchbacks-a-fine-figure-becomes-a-monstrosity/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [It is quite right what they say: the three most beautiful sights in the world are a ship in full sail, a galloping horse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/it-is-quite-right-what-they-say-the-three-most-beautiful-sights-in/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [My writing table has seen all my wretchedness, knows all my plans, has overheard all my thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/my-writing-table-has-seen-all-my-wretchedness-knows-all-my-plans-has/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Foppery, being the chronic condition of women, is not so much noticed as it is when it breaks out on the person of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/foppery-being-the-chronic-condition-of-women-is-not-so-much-noticed/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [A married woman is a slave you must know how to seat upon a throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-married-woman-is-a-slave-you-must-know-how-to-seat-upon-a-throne/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I am a galley slave to pen and ink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/i-am-a-galley-slave-to-pen-and-ink/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [One can imagine the look the two lovers exchanged; it was like a flame, for virtuous lovers have not a shred of hypocrisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/one-can-imagine-the-look-the-two-lovers-exchanged-it-was-like-a-flame/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [White and shining virgin of all human virtues, ark of the covenant between earth and heaven, tender and strong companion partaking of the lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/white-and-shining-virgin-of-all-human-virtues-ark-of-the-covenant/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All men can bear a familiar, definite misfortune better than the cruel alternations of a fate which, from one moment to another, brings excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-men-can-bear-a-familiar-definite-misfortune-better-than-the-cruel/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The mind, too, has its regimen. It needs gymnastics, just like the body does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-mind-too-has-its-regimen-it-needs-gymnastics-just-like-the-body/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Hatred like love feeds on the merest trifles. Everything adds to it. Just as the being we love can do no wrong, so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/hatred-like-love-feeds-on-the-merest-trifles-everything-adds-to-it/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All human power is a compound of time and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-human-power-is-a-compound-of-time-and-patience/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) [Explore all 793 Honore de Balzac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## More Beacons quotes > [Laughter is one of the great beacons in life because we don't refract it by gunning it through our intellectual prism. What makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/laughter-is-one-of-the-great-beacons-in-life-because-we-don-t-refract/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [The family remains the basic unit of society and the first school in which children learn the human, spiritual and moral values which enable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-family-remains-the-basic-unit-of-society-and-the-first-school-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The wound of peace is surety, Surety secure; but modest doubt is called The beacon of the wise, the tent that searches To th'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-wound-of-peace-is-surety-surety-secure-but-modest-doubt-is-called/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [South Africa, so utterly improbably, is a beacon of hope in a dark and troubled world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/south-africa-so-utterly-improbably-is-a-beacon-of-hope-in-a-dark-and/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [There's more attention paid to entertainers than ever and less that they have to say. Not that entertainers were ever a great beacon of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/there-s-more-attention-paid-to-entertainers-than-ever-and-less-that/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I headed towards the mountain, which was an almost irresistible beacon to my storm self. It glowed with heat, pressure, and turbulence—everything a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-headed-towards-the-mountain-which-was-an-almost-irresistible-beacon/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [A great philosopher in the wrong is like a beacon on the reefs which says to seamen: steer clear of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/a-great-philosopher-in-the-wrong-is-like-a-beacon-on-the-reefs-which/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [Today, the United States stands as a beacon of liberty and democratic strength before the community of nations. We are resolved to stand firm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-united-states-stands-as-a-beacon-of-liberty-and-democratic/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [When Franklin drew the lightning from the clouds, he little dreamed that in the evolution of science his discovery would illuminate the torch of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-depew/when-franklin-drew-the-lightning-from-the-clouds-he-little-dreamed/) [Chauncey Depew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-depew/) > [Once freedom lights its beacon in man's heart, the gods are powerless against him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/once-freedom-lights-its-beacon-in-man-s-heart-the-gods-are-powerless/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [Maybe." I shrug. "But what I meant was, can't you use the makeup to cover it?" Miles rolls his eyes and scowls. "Oh, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/maybe-i-shrug-but-what-i-meant-was-can-t-you-use-the-makeup-to-cover/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [“I live in the space between chaos and shape. I walk the line that continually threatens to lose its tautness under me, dropping me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/i-live-in-the-space-between-chaos-and-shape-i-walk-the-line-that/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [England was full of words I'd never heard before - streaky bacon, short back and sides, Belisha beacon, serviettes, high tea, ice-cream cornet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/england-was-full-of-words-i-d-never-heard-before-streaky-bacon-short/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [To-morrow is that lamp upon the marsh, which a traveller never reacheth; To-morrow, the rainbow's cup, coveted prize of ignorance; To-morrow, the shifting anchorage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/to-morrow-is-that-lamp-upon-the-marsh-which-a-traveller-never/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [And thou hast stolen a jewel, Death! Shall light thy dark up like a Star. A Beacon kindling from afar Our light of love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-massey/and-thou-hast-stolen-a-jewel-death-shall-light-thy-dark-up-like-a/) [Gerald Massey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-massey/) [Browse all 154 Beacons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beacons/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For certain people, misfortune is a beacon that lights up the dark and baser sides of social life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Honore de Balzac" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/for-certain-people-misfortune-is-a-beacon-that-lights-up-the-dark-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beacons" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/for-certain-people-misfortune-is-a-beacon-that-lights-up-the-dark-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/honor-de-balzac-197_beacons_for-certain-people-misfortune-is-a-beaco_2145615.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/honor-de-balzac-197_beacons_for-certain-people-misfortune-is-a-beaco_2145615.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/honor-de-balzac-197_beacons_for-certain-people-misfortune-is-a-beaco_2145615.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For certain people, misfortune is a beacon that lights up the dark and baser sides of social life.” — Honore de Balzac", "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": "Honore de Balzac", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For certain people, misfortune is a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/for-certain-people-misfortune-is-a-beacon-that-lights-up-the-dark-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/for-certain-people-misfortune-is-a-beacon-that-lights-up-the-dark-and/#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 } } ] } ```