--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The question is not why good people have…" description: "\"The question is not why good people have trials, but how shall good people respond when they are tried?\" — Marion D. Hanks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/marion-d-hanks-31771_adversity_the-question-is-not-why-good-people-have_889644.jpg" --- # The question is not why good people have trials, but how… ![“The question is not why good people have trials, but how shall good people respond when they are tried?” quote by Marion D. Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/marion-d-hanks-31771_adversity_the-question-is-not-why-good-people-have_889644.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/marion-d-hanks-31771_adversity_the-question-is-not-why-good-people-have_889644.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/marion-d-hanks-31771_adversity_the-question-is-not-why-good-people-have_889644.jpg) > “The question is not why good people have trials, but how shall good people respond when they are tried?” [Marion D. Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-d-hanks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The true test of character is not the presence of hardship but the quality of one’s response to it. **In simple terms:** Response to trials defines character. Key Takeaway Choose resilience over despair. Themes adversity character response Mood thoughtful encouraging Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - personal crises - community challenges - leadership dilemmas - spiritual trials Key Concepts ethical philosophy psychological resilience Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide to act when faced with hardship? - What values guide your reactions? A Different Perspective Responses can be constrained by circumstance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Good people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) ## Related quotes > [That which causes us trials shall yield us triumph: and that which make our hearts ache shall fill us with gladness. The only true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/that-which-causes-us-trials-shall-yield-us-triumph-and-that-which/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [“God proportions his people's trials to their strength, and will not suffer them to be tempted above what they are able, 1 Cor. 10:13.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/god-proportions-his-people-s-trials-to-their-strength-and-will-not/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [For most people, the question why be good - as distinguished from merely law abiding - is a simple one. 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Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [That question is too good to spoil with an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-mulisch/that-question-is-too-good-to-spoil-with-an-answer/) [Harry Mulisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-mulisch/) > [What preys on my mind is simply this one question: what am I good for, could I not be of service or use in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/what-preys-on-my-mind-is-simply-this-one-question-what-am-i-good-for/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [But spirituality, it seems to me, when answering the question, "Why should I be good? Why should I care for others?" says, "Because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gulley/but-spirituality-it-seems-to-me-when-answering-the-question-why/) [Philip Gulley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gulley/) > [Lawyers rarely test their power, or the power they promote, against this simple pragmatic question: "Will it do good?" When challenged about the expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/lawyers-rarely-test-their-power-or-the-power-they-promote-against/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [People will question all the good things they hear about you, but believe all the bad things without a second thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/people-will-question-all-the-good-things-they-hear-about-you-but/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [People will question all the good things they hear a bout you but believe all the bad without a second thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-jush/people-will-question-all-the-good-things-they-hear-a-bout-you-but/) [El Jush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-jush/) > [The question is not whether the good outweighs the bad. The question is whether or not the good excuses the bad. And, in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/the-question-is-not-whether-the-good-outweighs-the-bad-the-question/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [When good Americans die, they go to Paris,' the ghost said, after taking a drag on a small cigarette. But you’re not dead. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/when-good-americans-die-they-go-to-paris-the-ghost-said-after-taking-2/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“Hi," he says simply. I laugh. "Hi." He looks around the room nervously before his eyes fall back to mine. "Is that good enough?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/hi-he-says-simply-i-laugh-hi-he-looks-around-the-room-nervously/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [People will question all the good things they hear about you and believe all the bad without a second thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-will-question-all-the-good-things-they-hear-about-you-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Marion D. Hanks > [People need recreation, need to be achieving, need to contribute; but if these come at the cost of friendship with Christ, the price is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-d-hanks/people-need-recreation-need-to-be-achieving-need-to-contribute-but-if/) [Marion D. Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-d-hanks/) > [None of us can afford to pay the price of resenting...because of what it does to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-d-hanks/none-of-us-can-afford-to-pay-the-price-of-resenting-because-of-what/) [Marion D. Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-d-hanks/) > [There is no bravery in evil, no true courage in behavior that can only result in deep disappointment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-d-hanks/there-is-no-bravery-in-evil-no-true-courage-in-behavior-that-can-only/) [Marion D. Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-d-hanks/) > [Material objectives consume too much of our attention. The struggle for what we need or for more than we need exhausts our time and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-d-hanks/material-objectives-consume-too-much-of-our-attention-the-struggle/) [Marion D. Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-d-hanks/) > [The ultimate form of love for God and men is forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-d-hanks/the-ultimate-form-of-love-for-god-and-men-is-forgiveness/) [Marion D. Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-d-hanks/) > [God loves us and believes in us and has done and will do anything he can to help us, but he will not impose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-d-hanks/god-loves-us-and-believes-in-us-and-has-done-and-will-do-anything-he/) [Marion D. Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-d-hanks/) > [We're here to make people feel like a million dollars, not two cents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-d-hanks/we-re-here-to-make-people-feel-like-a-million-dollars-not-two-cents/) [Marion D. Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-d-hanks/) > [Married people should be best friends; no relationship on earth needs friendship as much as marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-d-hanks/married-people-should-be-best-friends-no-relationship-on-earth-needs/) [Marion D. Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-d-hanks/) > [Learning is not automatic. You do not automatically know how to read because you turn five. Most of us are sensitive to the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-d-hanks/learning-is-not-automatic-you-do-not-automatically-know-how-to-read/) [Marion D. Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-d-hanks/) > [“Married people should be best friends; no relationship on earth needs friendship as much as marriage...Friendship in a marriage is so important. It blows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-d-hanks/married-people-should-be-best-friends-no-relationship-on-earth-needs-2/) [Marion D. Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-d-hanks/) > [“My teacher's mind and my interest in youth has brought me to some renewed conclusions, and I pass them on earnestly to mature persons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-d-hanks/my-teacher-s-mind-and-my-interest-in-youth-has-brought-me-to-some/) [Marion D. Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-d-hanks/) > [Not only our eternal salvation depends upon our willingness and capacity to forgive wrongs committed against us. Our joy and satisfaction in this life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-d-hanks/not-only-our-eternal-salvation-depends-upon-our-willingness-and/) [Marion D. Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-d-hanks/) > [Every human being is trying to say something to others. Trying to cry out I am alive, notice me! Speak to me! Confirm that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-d-hanks/every-human-being-is-trying-to-say-something-to-others-trying-to-cry/) [Marion D. Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-d-hanks/) > [Good health is often a matter of good judgement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-d-hanks/good-health-is-often-a-matter-of-good-judgement/) [Marion D. Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-d-hanks/) > [“Do you know that when one who has influence with youth- be he teacher, leader or parent- seriously weakens the foundations upon which a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-d-hanks/do-you-know-that-when-one-who-has-influence-with-youth-be-he-teacher/) [Marion D. Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-d-hanks/) [Explore all 16 Marion D. Hanks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-d-hanks/) ## 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": "The question is not why good people have trials, but how shall good people respond when they are tried?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marion D. 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