Adversity Quote by Mao Zedong
“At certain times in the revolutionary struggle, the difficulties outweigh the favorable conditions and so constitute the principal aspect of the contradiction and the favorable conditions constitute the secondary aspect. But through their efforts the revolutionaries can overcome the difficulties step by step and open up a favorable new situation, thus a difficult situation yields place to a favorable one.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Selected Works of Mao Zedong, 1960s
In revolutionary work, hardships dominate at first, but persistent effort lets activists turn obstacles into opportunities, gradually improving conditions.
In simple terms: Hardships dominate early, but effort turns them into opportunities.
Key Takeaway
Persist, turn challenges into progress.
Themes
revolution
struggle
progress
perseverance
strategy
Mood
determined
optimistic
Type
political
motivational
When to use this quote
- political campaigns
- social reforms
- grassroots organizing
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
dialectical materialism
incremental change
collective action
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you apply step‑by‑step effort to a current challenge?
- What obstacles can become opportunities with collective action?
A Different Perspective
Success depends on sustained effort, not just favorable conditions.
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