--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A friend of mine who passed through a…" description: "\"A friend of mine who passed through a most severe trial, when I discussed it with him, he said simply, if it’s fair, it isn’t a trial.\" — Neal A. Maxwell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f68/neal-a-maxwell-925_friendship_a-friend-of-mine-who-passed-through-a-mo_2118396.png" --- # A friend of mine who passed through a most severe trial… ![“A friend of mine who passed through a most severe trial, when I discussed it with him, he said simply, if it’s fair, it isn’t a trial.” quote by Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f68/neal-a-maxwell-925_friendship_a-friend-of-mine-who-passed-through-a-mo_2118396.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f68/neal-a-maxwell-925_friendship_a-friend-of-mine-who-passed-through-a-mo_2118396.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f68/neal-a-maxwell-925_friendship_a-friend-of-mine-who-passed-through-a-mo_2118396.png) > “A friend of mine who passed through a most severe trial, when I discussed it with him, he said simply, if it’s fair, it isn’t a trial.” [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A trial is only a trial if it feels unfair; fairness transforms hardship into a test of character. **In simple terms:** Unfairness defines a trial. Key Takeaway Seek fairness in challenges. Themes fairness trial perception character adversity Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal counseling - ethical debates - self‑reflection - coaching Key Concepts subjective nature of hardship ethical judgment Questions to Reflect On - How does fairness affect your response to difficulty? - Can unfair situations be reframed as growth? A Different Perspective Not all hardships are trials. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fair Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair-isn-1530460/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Isn Trial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isn-trial-4309220/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Severe Trial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/severe-trial-2300656/) [Trial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trial/) [Trial Discussed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trial-discussed-4309219/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) ## Related quotes > [Scopes isn’t on trial; civilization is on trial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/scopes-isn-t-on-trial-civilization-is-on-trial/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [In seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that he can trust to, and is therefore compelled to cast himself on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/in-seasons-of-severe-trial-the-christian-has-nothing-on-earth-that-he/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [I know the world isn't fair, but why isn't it ever unfair in my favor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/i-know-the-world-isn-t-fair-but-why-isn-t-it-ever-unfair-in-my-favor/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [“It isn't fair she should have everything and I nothing. She isn't better or cleverer or much prettier than me…only luckier.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/it-isn-t-fair-she-should-have-everything-and-i-nothing-she-isn-t/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [You can't get around pain and opposition, but you can try to be joyful in the trial, and thank yourself for the trial, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/you-can-t-get-around-pain-and-opposition-but-you-can-try-to-be-joyful/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [A criminal trial is never about seeking justice for the victim. If it were, there could be only one verdict: guilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/a-criminal-trial-is-never-about-seeking-justice-for-the-victim-if-it/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Trial by fire.' Roland whistled, patting Luce on the back. 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Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-l-andersen/) > [“The privilege of opening the first trial in history for crimes against the peace of the world imposes a grave responsibility. The wrongs which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-jackson/the-privilege-of-opening-the-first-trial-in-history-for-crimes/) [Robert H. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-jackson/) > [I was never given a trial. I never went before any magistrate, nor did my parents. To this day, I do not know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-never-given-a-trial-i-never-went-before-any-magistrate-nor-did/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Neal A. Maxwell > [Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/clearly-when-we-baptize-our-eyes-should-gaze-beyond-the-baptismal/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [We should not assume; however, that just because something is unexplainable by us, it is unexplainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-should-not-assume-however-that-just-because-something-is/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism are both to be avoided, therefore. It's not an easy balance to maintain, to be asked to work away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-are-both-to-be-avoided/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Occasionally some individuals let the seeming ordinariness of life dampen their spirits. Though actually coping and growning, others lack the quiet, inner-soul satisfaction that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/occasionally-some-individuals-let-the-seeming-ordinariness-of-life/) [Neal A. 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Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Patience stoutly resists pulling up the daisies to see how the roots are doing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/patience-stoutly-resists-pulling-up-the-daisies-to-see-how-the-roots/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Our little pebble of poor performance helps to start, or to sustain, an avalanche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/our-little-pebble-of-poor-performance-helps-to-start-or-to-sustain-an/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) [Explore all 328 Neal A. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) ## More Friendship quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. 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