--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some people as a result of adversity are…" description: "\"Some people as a result of adversity are sadder, wiser, kinder, more human. Most of us are better, though, when things go better. Knowing when to keep ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/malcolm-forbes-1510_adversity_some-people-as-a-result-of-adversity-are_56060.jpg" --- # Some people as a result of adversity are sadder, wiser… ![“Some people as a result of adversity are sadder, wiser, kinder, more human. Most of us are better, though, when things go better. Knowing when to keep your mouth shut is invariably more important than opening it at the right time. Always listen to a man when he describes the faults of others…” quote by Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/malcolm-forbes-1510_adversity_some-people-as-a-result-of-adversity-are_56060.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/malcolm-forbes-1510_adversity_some-people-as-a-result-of-adversity-are_56060.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/malcolm-forbes-1510_adversity_some-people-as-a-result-of-adversity-are_56060.jpg) > “Some people as a result of adversity are sadder, wiser, kinder, more human. Most of us are better, though, when things go better. Knowing when to keep your mouth shut is invariably more important than opening it at the right time. Always listen to a man when he describes the faults of others. Often times, most times, he's describing his own, revealing himself.” [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) ## 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 deepen empathy and insight, but complacency can also foster growth; self-awareness comes from listening to others' critiques, which often reflect our own flaws. **In simple terms:** Adversity shapes character; self‑reflection reveals hidden faults. Key Takeaway Listen to criticism; it mirrors your own shortcomings. Themes self‑awareness empathy growth humility reflection Mood contemplative insightful humorous Type aphor advice observation When to use this quote - receiving feedback - navigating personal setbacks - leadership decisions - conflict resolution Key Concepts adversity self‑knowledge communication psychology Practical Applications - coaching - personal development Questions to Reflect On - How can you distinguish between constructive criticism and projection? - What habits help you stay humble during success? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Adversity Sadder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity-sadder-778589/) [Better Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-knowing-431170/) [Describing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/describing/) [Faults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faults/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Kinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kinder/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mouth Shut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouth-shut/) [Mouths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouths/) [Opening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opening/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Result Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/result-adversity-778590/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Revealing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revealing/) [Right time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wiser/) ## Related quotes > [Some people as a result of adversity are sadder, wiser, kinder, more human. Most of us are better, though, when things go better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/some-people-as-a-result-of-adversity-are-sadder-wiser-kinder-more-2/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Knowing when to keep your mouth shut is invariably more important than opening it at the right time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/knowing-when-to-keep-your-mouth-shut-is-invariably-more-important/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [If only we could see the endless string of consequences that result from our smallest actions. But we can't know better until knowing better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/if-only-we-could-see-the-endless-string-of-consequences-that-result/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Knowing the right questions is better than knowing all the right answers" Caleb from Pretty Little Liars (TV Show)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/knowing-the-right-questions-is-better-than-knowing-all-the-right/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) > [An actor shouldn't undergo psychoanalysis, because there are a lot of things you're better off not knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lynde/an-actor-shouldn-t-undergo-psychoanalysis-because-there-are-a-lot-of/) [Paul Lynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lynde/) > [Knowing is better than not knowing. Every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/knowing-is-better-than-not-knowing-every-time/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“we cant know better until knowing better is useless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/we-cant-know-better-until-knowing-better-is-useless/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“He felt better knowing he’d feel better soon,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-w-miller/he-felt-better-knowing-he-d-feel-better-soon/) [Michele W. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-w-miller/) > [Maybe I'd just figured out there were some things you were better off not knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/maybe-i-d-just-figured-out-there-were-some-things-you-were-better-off/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Sometimes looking for answers only leads to more questions. And sometimes, your better off not knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-looking-for-answers-only-leads-to-more-questions-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We can't know better until knowing better is useless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/we-can-t-know-better-until-knowing-better-is-useless/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Knowing ownself is better than to knowing others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-jyoty-bhante/knowing-ownself-is-better-than-to-knowing-others/) [Suman Jyoty Bhante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-jyoty-bhante/) > [“If your opinion is negative, the world is better off not knowing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-l-adams/if-your-opinion-is-negative-the-world-is-better-off-not-knowing-it/) [K. L. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-l-adams/) > [We can now what better is without knowing what good is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-de-shazer/we-can-now-what-better-is-without-knowing-what-good-is/) [Steve de Shazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-de-shazer/) > [Not knowing what you want is a lot better than knowing exactly what you want but not being able to get it, at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/not-knowing-what-you-want-is-a-lot-better-than-knowing-exactly-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Malcolm Forbes > [Once in a while there's wisdom in recognizing that the Boss is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/once-in-a-while-there-s-wisdom-in-recognizing-that-the-boss-is/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [ I don't think anybody can be a success who doesn't like what they do. \[But it's\] no job if it has no challenge; there's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/i-don-t-think-anybody-can-be-a-success-who-doesn-t-like-what-they-do/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Why, just a couple of economic seasons ago, was idle cash considered an indication of bad management or lazy management? Because it meant that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/why-just-a-couple-of-economic-seasons-ago-was-idle-cash-considered-an/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Real writers-that is, capital W Writers-rarely make much money. Their biggest reward is the occasional reader's response… Commentators-in-print voicing big fat opinions-you might call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/real-writers-that-is-capital-w-writers-rarely-make-much-money-their/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always be worse. And when they are, we find hope in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/when-things-are-bad-we-take-comfort-in-the-thought-that-they-could/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [The best vision is insight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/the-best-vision-is-insight/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [When you don't understand, it's sometimes easier to look like you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/when-you-don-t-understand-it-s-sometimes-easier-to-look-like-you-do/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [It's so much easier to suggest solutions when you don't know too much about the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/it-s-so-much-easier-to-suggest-solutions-when-you-don-t-know-too-much/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Security isn't securities. It's knowing that someone cares whether you are or cease to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/security-isn-t-securities-it-s-knowing-that-someone-cares-whether-you/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [It is unfortunate we can't buy many business executives for what they are worth and sell them for what they think they are worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/it-is-unfortunate-we-can-t-buy-many-business-executives-for-what-they/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [It is all one to me if a man comes from Sing Sing Prison or Harvard. We hire a man, not his history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/it-is-all-one-to-me-if-a-man-comes-from-sing-sing-prison-or-harvard/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Compliment others on the virtues they have; and they're not half as pleased as being complimented for the ones they don't have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/compliment-others-on-the-virtues-they-have-and-they-re-not-half-as/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [. . . the most difficult thing asked by our young is not our earnings but our ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/the-most-difficult-thing-asked-by-our-young-is-not-our-earnings-but/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Any marriage that survives a big wedding can probably survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/any-marriage-that-survives-a-big-wedding-can-probably-survive/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) [Explore all 232 Malcolm Forbes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) ## 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": "Some people as a result of adversity are sadder, wiser, kinder, more human. Most of us are better, though, when things go better. Knowing when to keep your mouth shut is invariably more important than opening it at the right time. 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