--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Misfortune is a stepping stone for…" description: "\"“Misfortune is a stepping stone for genius, the baptismal font of Christians, treasure for the skillful man, an abyss for the feeble.”\" — Honore de Balzac" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/honor-de-balzac-197_christianity_misfortune-is-a-stepping-stone-for-geniu_2791763.png" --- # Misfortune is a stepping stone for genius, the baptismal… ![“Misfortune is a stepping stone for genius, the baptismal font of Christians, treasure for the skillful man, an abyss for the feeble.” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/honor-de-balzac-197_christianity_misfortune-is-a-stepping-stone-for-geniu_2791763.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/honor-de-balzac-197_christianity_misfortune-is-a-stepping-stone-for-geniu_2791763.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/honor-de-balzac-197_christianity_misfortune-is-a-stepping-stone-for-geniu_2791763.png) > ““Misfortune is a stepping stone for genius, the baptismal font of Christians, treasure for the skillful man, an abyss for the feeble.”” [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. Adversity can be a catalyst for brilliance, rewarding the clever while crushing the weak. **In simple terms:** Hardship fuels genius. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges for growth. Themes adversity genius skill strength weakness Mood inspirational cautionary Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - career development - education - creative pursuits - resilience training Key Concepts psychology philosophy human potential Questions to Reflect On - How do we support the feeble? - What role does luck play? A Different Perspective Not all hardship leads to success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Misfortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortune/) [Outlook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outlook/) [Stepping stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stepping-stone/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [All misfortune is but a stepping stone to fortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-misfortune-is-but-a-stepping-stone-to-fortune/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Misfortune is nothing but stepping into stoney future, aim high and all you desire and wish for will be at your command](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-zacqs/misfortune-is-nothing-but-stepping-into-stoney-future-aim-high-and/) Prince Zacqs > [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/) > [For certain people, misfortune is a beacon that lights up the dark and baser sides of social life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/for-certain-people-misfortune-is-a-beacon-that-lights-up-the-dark-and/) [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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 present assault upon capital is but the beginning. It will be but a stepping-stone to others, larger and more sweeping, till our political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-present-assault-upon-capital-is-but-the-beginning-it-will-be-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do not be afraid of your difficulties.Do not wish you could be in other circumstances than you are. For when you have made the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-afraid-of-your-difficulties-do-not-wish-you-could-be-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [An obstacle is often a stepping stone... Things that appear to be obstacles are often helpful in the long run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/an-obstacle-is-often-a-stepping-stone-things-that-appear-to-be/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) ## 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 Christianity quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“God hates Hell. 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