--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Adversity often produces an unexpected…" description: "\"Adversity often produces an unexpected opportunity. Look for it ! Appreciate and utilize it! This is difficult to do if you're feeling sorry for yourse..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4e/john-wooden-420_adversity_adversity-often-produces-an-unexpected-o_515288.png" --- # Adversity often produces an unexpected opportunity. Look… ![“Adversity often produces an unexpected opportunity. Look for it ! Appreciate and utilize it! This is difficult to do if you're feeling sorry for yourself because you're faced with adversity.” quote by John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4e/john-wooden-420_adversity_adversity-often-produces-an-unexpected-o_515288.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4e/john-wooden-420_adversity_adversity-often-produces-an-unexpected-o_515288.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4e/john-wooden-420_adversity_adversity-often-produces-an-unexpected-o_515288.png) > “Adversity often produces an unexpected opportunity. Look for it ! Appreciate and utilize it! This is difficult to do if you're feeling sorry for yourself because you're faced with adversity.” [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) ## 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 hide opportunities; recognizing and using them requires effort despite self‑pity. **In simple terms:** Hard times can hide chances; you must look for them. Key Takeaway Seek opportunity in hardship. Themes resilience mindset growth Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - sports coaching - personal setbacks - career challenges - health crises Key Concepts psychology opportunity recognition Questions to Reflect On - How can you shift from self‑pity to proactive problem‑solving? - What small step can turn a setback into a chance? A Different Perspective Opportunity may be fleeting and requires proactive action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Adversity Produces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity-produces-1341950/) [Appreciate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciate/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Faced Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faced-adversity-2000027/) [Feeling sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-sorry/) [Feeling sorry for yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-sorry-for-yourself/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inevitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inevitable/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Produce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/produce/) [Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Unexpected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unexpected/) [Unexpected Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unexpected-opportunity-2957875/) ## Related quotes > [I have always believed that when you're feeling sorry for yourself, the best thing to do is help someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-heaton/i-have-always-believed-that-when-you-re-feeling-sorry-for-yourself/) [Patricia Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-heaton/) > [Nothing good ever comes from worrying or sitting there feeling sorry for yourself... Keep positive and keep pushing on and things will turn good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/nothing-good-ever-comes-from-worrying-or-sitting-there-feeling-sorry/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [“never ask why me but rather to ask why not me. It’s easy to get caught up in feeling sorry for yourself when bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-rae-jordan/never-ask-why-me-but-rather-to-ask-why-not-me-it-s-easy-to-get-caught/) [Kimberly Rae Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-rae-jordan/) > [“Because - admit it - there's something perversely appealing about sitting all alone, feeling sorry for yourself, especially when the scenery's stunning and there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-hubbard/because-admit-it-there-s-something-perversely-appealing-about-sitting/) [Kirsten Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-hubbard/) > [You dont know what love is. Youve gotten everything you have always wanted and now youre feeling sorry for yourself because theres something you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mhine29/you-dont-know-what-love-is-youve-gotten-everything-you-have-always/) [Mhine29](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mhine29/) > [“All depression has its roots in self-pity, and all self-pity is rooted in people taking themselves too seriously.” At the time Switters had disputed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/all-depression-has-its-roots-in-self-pity-and-all-self-pity-is-rooted/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“Feeling sorry for yourself is a universal solvent of salvation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/feeling-sorry-for-yourself-is-a-universal-solvent-of-salvation/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [Feeling sorry for yourself, and your present condition, is not only a waste of energy but the worst habit you could possibly have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/feeling-sorry-for-yourself-and-your-present-condition-is-not-only-a/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [My pulse whooshed in my ears so fast I could barely hear myself speak. “I only have—” “Two days.” He squeezed my hand. “So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/my-pulse-whooshed-in-my-ears-so-fast-i-could-barely-hear-myself-speak/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [“It is not wrong to feel sorry for yourself. Just like it is not wrong to sit in a puddle of water while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/it-is-not-wrong-to-feel-sorry-for-yourself-just-like-it-is-not-wrong/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“In fact, it should matter to you more than it currently does. If you knew how small you are and how short a time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/in-fact-it-should-matter-to-you-more-than-it-currently-does-if-you/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) > [You are what you believe. So stop feeling sorry for yourself, and get up and do something about your problems! Find friends who care,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blue-eyes/you-are-what-you-believe-so-stop-feeling-sorry-for-yourself-and-get/) [Blue Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blue-eyes/) > [“grief’s drink recipe is two parts tribute to the person you loved and four parts feeling sorry for yourself because you lost them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/grief-s-drink-recipe-is-two-parts-tribute-to-the-person-you-loved-and/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“I don’t understand hospital chaplains that try to rob my patients of their anger. Sometimes anger is a key motivator that gets people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/i-don-t-understand-hospital-chaplains-that-try-to-rob-my-patients-of/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) ## More by John Wooden > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/defense-is-a-definite-part-of-the-game-and-a-great-part-of-defense-is/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it. -John wooden”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-so-important-who-starts-the-game-but-who-finishes-it-john/) [John wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“I remain convinced to this day that compassion like that—sincerely caring for your players and maintaining an active interest in their lives, concerns, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-remain-convinced-to-this-day-that-compassion-like-that-sincerely/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [I'm not going to say I was opposed to the Vietnam War. I'm going to say I'm opposed to war. But I'm also opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-m-not-going-to-say-i-was-opposed-to-the-vietnam-war-i-m-going-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating...too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/being-a-role-model-is-the-most-powerful-form-of-educating-too-often/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Each of us has a huge capacity to learn and to achieve. Being ever alert makes the task of becoming all we are capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/each-of-us-has-a-huge-capacity-to-learn-and-to-achieve-being-ever/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Stay the course. When thwarted try again; harder; smarter. Persevere relentlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/stay-the-course-when-thwarted-try-again-harder-smarter-persevere/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Love is the most powerful four letter word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/love-is-the-most-powerful-four-letter-word/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [It takes 10 hands to score a basket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-takes-10-hands-to-score-a-basket/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [The best competition I have is against myself to become better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/the-best-competition-i-have-is-against-myself-to-become-better/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Whether you know it or not, whether you like it or not, the habits you are developing now will be with you for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/whether-you-know-it-or-not-whether-you-like-it-or-not-the-habits-you/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Intensity makes you stronger. Emotionalism makes you weaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/intensity-makes-you-stronger-emotionalism-makes-you-weaker/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Reputation is what others perceive you as being, and their opinion may be right or wrong. Character, however, is what you really are, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/reputation-is-what-others-perceive-you-as-being-and-their-opinion-may/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) [Explore all 578 John Wooden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) ## 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": "Adversity often produces an unexpected opportunity. Look for it ! Appreciate and utilize it! 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