--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Prosperity seems to be scarcely safe…" description: "\"Prosperity seems to be scarcely safe, unless it be mixed with a little adversity.\" — Hosea Ballou" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/hosea-ballou-3245_adversity_prosperity-seems-to-be-scarcely-safe-unl_3024088.png" --- # Prosperity seems to be scarcely safe, unless it be mixed… ![“Prosperity seems to be scarcely safe, unless it be mixed with a little adversity.” quote by Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/hosea-ballou-3245_adversity_prosperity-seems-to-be-scarcely-safe-unl_3024088.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/hosea-ballou-3245_adversity_prosperity-seems-to-be-scarcely-safe-unl_3024088.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/hosea-ballou-3245_adversity_prosperity-seems-to-be-scarcely-safe-unl_3024088.png) > “Prosperity seems to be scarcely safe, unless it be mixed with a little adversity.” [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prosperity is fragile unless tempered by hardship, which provides perspective and resilience. **In simple terms:** We need some adversity to keep wealth safe. Key Takeaway Balance comfort with challenge. Themes wealth adversity balance Mood thoughtful cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - financial planning - personal growth - risk management - philanthropy Key Concepts resilience perspective Questions to Reflect On - How can we use challenges constructively? - What risks arise from excessive comfort? A Different Perspective Too much hardship can cause suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [The liberties of none are safe unless the liberties of all are protected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/the-liberties-of-none-are-safe-unless-the-liberties-of-all-are/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [It is safe to make a choice of your thoughts, scarcely ever safe to express them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-barrow/it-is-safe-to-make-a-choice-of-your-thoughts-scarcely-ever-safe-to/) [Isaac Barrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-barrow/) > [No government is safe unless fortified by goodwill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-nepos/no-government-is-safe-unless-fortified-by-goodwill/) [Cornelius Nepos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-nepos/) > [No government is safe unless it is protected by the good will of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-nepos/no-government-is-safe-unless-it-is-protected-by-the-good-will-of-the/) [Cornelius Nepos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-nepos/) > [But hey, what's life without a little adversity?" That had to have been the fakest attempt at optimism since my fourth grade teacher tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/but-hey-what-s-life-without-a-little-adversity-that-had-to-have-been/) [Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/) > [Everybody can have a bad game, and we did. These guys have all proven that they can handle adversity. We're in the midst of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-graham/everybody-can-have-a-bad-game-and-we-did-these-guys-have-all-proven/) Wayne Graham > [People have preconceived ideas about disability. When people tell me that I can't do something, it just makes me go 'Oh, yeah? Watch this.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-blue/people-have-preconceived-ideas-about-disability-when-people-tell-me/) [Josh Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-blue/) > [A little adversity can't hold me down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/a-little-adversity-can-t-hold-me-down/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [It seems whenever we have a little adversity, the emotions drop. We've fallen out of the race, and it kind of takes the wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-walz/it-seems-whenever-we-have-a-little-adversity-the-emotions-drop-we-ve/) Wes Walz > [Firstly, economic globalisation has brought prosperity and development to many countries, but also financial crises to Asia, Latin America and Russia, and increasing poverty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-lindh/firstly-economic-globalisation-has-brought-prosperity-and-development/) [Anna Lindh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-lindh/) > [I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so thankful a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-do-not-so-much-rejoice-that-god-hath-made-me-to-be-a-queen-as-to-be/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [While the crash only took place six months ago, I am convinced we have now passed the worst, and with continued unity of effort,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/while-the-crash-only-took-place-six-months-ago-i-am-convinced-we-have/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [The purpose is to be in gratitude forever. Live with applied consciousness, prosperity will break through the walls, flood you with it. You do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/the-purpose-is-to-be-in-gratitude-forever-live-with-applied/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## More by Hosea Ballou > [Purity in person and in morals is true godliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/purity-in-person-and-in-morals-is-true-godliness/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Envy may justly be called "the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity;" it is the most acid fruit that grows on the stock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/envy-may-justly-be-called-the-gall-of-bitterness-and-bond-of-iniquity/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Be circumspect in your dealings, and let the seed you plant be the offspring of prudence and care; thus fruit follows the fair blossom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/be-circumspect-in-your-dealings-and-let-the-seed-you-plant-be-the/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Honest and courageous people have very little to say about either their courage or their honesty. The sun has no need to boast of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/honest-and-courageous-people-have-very-little-to-say-about-either/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [The cloudy weather melts at length into beauty, and the brightest smiles of the heart are born of its tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/the-cloudy-weather-melts-at-length-into-beauty-and-the-brightest/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Servility is disgusting to a truly noble character, and engenders only contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/servility-is-disgusting-to-a-truly-noble-character-and-engenders-only/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Obedience sums up our entire duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/obedience-sums-up-our-entire-duty/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Too many people embrace religion from the same motives that they take a companion in wedlock, not from true love of the person, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/too-many-people-embrace-religion-from-the-same-motives-that-they-take/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Man, being not only a religious, but also a social being, requires for the promotion of his rational happiness religious institutions, which, while they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/man-being-not-only-a-religious-but-also-a-social-being-requires-for/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Brevity and conciseness are the parents of correction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/brevity-and-conciseness-are-the-parents-of-correction/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [There is one court whose findings are incontrovertible, and whose sessions are held in the chambers of our own breast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/there-is-one-court-whose-findings-are-incontrovertible-and-whose/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [“Kecurigaan selalu menjadi musuh kebahagiaan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/kecurigaan-selalu-menjadi-musuh-kebahagiaan/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Mystery and innocence are not akin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/mystery-and-innocence-are-not-akin/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Obedience and resignation are our personal offerings upon the altar of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/obedience-and-resignation-are-our-personal-offerings-upon-the-altar/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Liberality should be tempered with judgment, not with profuseness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/liberality-should-be-tempered-with-judgment-not-with-profuseness/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) [Explore all 135 Hosea Ballou quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) ## 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": "Prosperity seems to be scarcely safe, unless it be mixed with a little adversity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hosea Ballou" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/prosperity-seems-to-be-scarcely-safe-unless-it-be-mixed-with-a-little/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/prosperity-seems-to-be-scarcely-safe-unless-it-be-mixed-with-a-little/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/hosea-ballou-3245_adversity_prosperity-seems-to-be-scarcely-safe-unl_3024088.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/hosea-ballou-3245_adversity_prosperity-seems-to-be-scarcely-safe-unl_3024088.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/hosea-ballou-3245_adversity_prosperity-seems-to-be-scarcely-safe-unl_3024088.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Prosperity seems to be scarcely safe, unless it be mixed with a little adversity.” — Hosea Ballou", "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": "Hosea Ballou", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Prosperity seems to be scarcely safe,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/prosperity-seems-to-be-scarcely-safe-unless-it-be-mixed-with-a-little/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/prosperity-seems-to-be-scarcely-safe-unless-it-be-mixed-with-a-little/#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 } } ] } ```