--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Adversity will only sharpen our wits and…" description: "\"Adversity will only sharpen our wits and make us more strong-willed, resulting in the political awakening of more Hong Kongers, not to mention the inte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/joshua-wong-4879_adversity_adversity-will-only-sharpen-our-wits-and_2746699.jpg" --- # Adversity will only sharpen our wits and make us more… ![“Adversity will only sharpen our wits and make us more strong-willed, resulting in the political awakening of more Hong Kongers, not to mention the international community's support.” quote by Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/joshua-wong-4879_adversity_adversity-will-only-sharpen-our-wits-and_2746699.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/joshua-wong-4879_adversity_adversity-will-only-sharpen-our-wits-and_2746699.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/joshua-wong-4879_adversity_adversity-will-only-sharpen-our-wits-and_2746699.jpg) > “Adversity will only sharpen our wits and make us more strong-willed, resulting in the political awakening of more Hong Kongers, not to mention the international community's support.” [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) ## 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 sharpen resolve and inspire political consciousness, gaining broader support. **In simple terms:** Hardship can strengthen will and attract allies. Key Takeaway Use challenges to fuel activism. Themes political activism resilience solidarity Mood determined hopeful Type inspirational political When to use this quote - protests - policy advocacy - international diplomacy Key Concepts civic engagement collective empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can personal hardship translate into collective action? - What role does external support play? A Different Perspective May overlook the complexity of political change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Adversity Sharpen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity-sharpen-3068319/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Political Awakening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-awakening-374811/) [Resulting Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resulting-political-3068320/) [Sharpen Wits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sharpen-wits-1500937/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [The political awakening that is happening worldwide is a major challenge for America, because it means that the world is much more restless. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-political-awakening-that-is-happening-worldwide-is-a-major/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [For some in my generation, Sept. 11th was a moment of political awakening. For others, the Iraq War or the financial crisis or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-soltis-anderson/for-some-in-my-generation-sept-11th-was-a-moment-of-political/) [Kristen Soltis Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-soltis-anderson/) > [I would say that my great political awakening was really born on Okinawa, reading Albert Camus: the "Neither Victims nor Executioners" essay and The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hamill/i-would-say-that-my-great-political-awakening-was-really-born-on/) [Sam Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hamill/) > [On the night of 4 November 2008, Barack Obama was elected on a platform of 'hope' and 'change.' He was hailed as a 'uniter'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-manning/on-the-night-of-4-november-2008-barack-obama-was-elected-on-a/) [Chelsea Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-manning/) > [My political awakening, if I can be as grand as to call it that, was all about what was happening around me. It wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/my-political-awakening-if-i-can-be-as-grand-as-to-call-it-that-was/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [Necessity can sharpen the wits even of children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-dwight-v/necessity-can-sharpen-the-wits-even-of-children/) [Timothy Dwight V](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-dwight-v/) > [“I mean if I don't get started soon, how will I get the chance to sharpen my wits? It takes alot of training.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-dundy/i-mean-if-i-don-t-get-started-soon-how-will-i-get-the-chance-to/) [elaine dundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-dundy/) > [“It's just that I know the world is so wide and full of people and exciting things that I just go crazy every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-dundy/it-s-just-that-i-know-the-world-is-so-wide-and-full-of-people-and/) [Elaine Dundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-dundy/) > [ For the production of man a different apprenticeship \[from forests\] was needed to sharpen the wits and quicken the higher manifestations of intellect -… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-dart/for-the-production-of-man-a-different-apprenticeship-from-forests-was/) [Raymond Dart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-dart/) > [“When our thoughts are unsettled and our inner world is in a muddle, we may sharpen our wits and try to recognize the invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/when-our-thoughts-are-unsettled-and-our-inner-world-is-in-a-muddle-we/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [Lord, enlighten thou our enemies. Sharpen their wits, give acuteness to their perceptions, and consecutiveness and clearness to their reasoning powers: we are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/lord-enlighten-thou-our-enemies-sharpen-their-wits-give-acuteness-to/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Heat and animosity, contest and conflict, may sharpen the wits, although they rarely do; they never strengthen the understanding, clear the perspicacity, guide the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/heat-and-animosity-contest-and-conflict-may-sharpen-the-wits-although/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [“Your obligation is that of active participation. You should not act as knowledge-absorbing sponges, but as whetstones on which we can all sharpen our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-w-dijkstra/your-obligation-is-that-of-active-participation-you-should-not-act-as/) [Edsger W. Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-w-dijkstra/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Joshua Wong > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [From horrific incidents of police brutality and complicity in indiscriminate attacks by triads on citizens to arbitrary mass arrests and the banning of demonstrations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/from-horrific-incidents-of-police-brutality-and-complicity-in/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [I think that compared to other politicians who have been put in jail in the past, compared to the human-rights activists in history who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-think-that-compared-to-other-politicians-who-have-been-put-in-jail/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Historically, Hong Kong has served as an important bridge between China and the world. Our freedoms, stability and the rule of law have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/historically-hong-kong-has-served-as-an-important-bridge-between/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [The fight for democracy is a long-term battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/the-fight-for-democracy-is-a-long-term-battle/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [In 2014, we were opposing President Xi Jinping. Five years later, we are opposing Emperor Xi Jinping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/in-2014-we-were-opposing-president-xi-jinping-five-years-later-we-are/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [We do not want to see a Hong Kong that enjoys freedoms on paper, but whose autonomous status conceals the workings of a totalitarian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/we-do-not-want-to-see-a-hong-kong-that-enjoys-freedoms-on-paper-but/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [I hope Hong Kong isn't just named Hong Kong but it can still be the Hong Kong we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-hope-hong-kong-isn-t-just-named-hong-kong-but-it-can-still-be-the/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [The education system of Hong Kong has often been slammed for marginalising a lot of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/the-education-system-of-hong-kong-has-often-been-slammed-for/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Our bodies are held captive, but our pursuit of freedom cannot be contained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/our-bodies-are-held-captive-but-our-pursuit-of-freedom-cannot-be/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Hong Kongers deserve universal suffrage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/hong-kongers-deserve-universal-suffrage/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Having grown up under Chinese rule, I don't have any memory of colonial Hong Kong or feel any attachment to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/having-grown-up-under-chinese-rule-i-don-t-have-any-memory-of/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [I do not lead the Hong Kong protests, because no one person leads the protests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-do-not-lead-the-hong-kong-protests-because-no-one-person-leads-the/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [I don't know if I'm going to jail for three weeks, three months, or three years, but I think what I've done to motivate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-don-t-know-if-i-m-going-to-jail-for-three-weeks-three-months-or/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [We desire and thirst for freedom, democracy and the rule of law just like anyone else. And we are prepared to fight tooth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/we-desire-and-thirst-for-freedom-democracy-and-the-rule-of-law-just/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) [Explore all 105 Joshua Wong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) ## 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 will only sharpen our wits and make us more strong-willed, resulting in the political awakening of more Hong Kongers, not to mention the international community's support.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joshua Wong" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/adversity-will-only-sharpen-our-wits-and-make-us-more-strong-willed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/adversity-will-only-sharpen-our-wits-and-make-us-more-strong-willed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/joshua-wong-4879_adversity_adversity-will-only-sharpen-our-wits-and_2746699.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/joshua-wong-4879_adversity_adversity-will-only-sharpen-our-wits-and_2746699.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/joshua-wong-4879_adversity_adversity-will-only-sharpen-our-wits-and_2746699.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Adversity will only sharpen our wits and make us more strong-willed, resulting in the political awakening of…” — Joshua Wong", "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": "Joshua Wong", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Adversity will only sharpen our wits...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/adversity-will-only-sharpen-our-wits-and-make-us-more-strong-willed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/adversity-will-only-sharpen-our-wits-and-make-us-more-strong-willed/#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 } } ] } ```