--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Prosperity is no just scale; adversity is…" description: "\"Prosperity is no just scale; adversity is the only balance to weigh friends.\" — Plutarch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/plutarch-597_adversity_prosperity-is-no-just-scale-adversity-is_1740499.jpg" --- # Prosperity is no just scale; adversity is the only balance… ![“Prosperity is no just scale; adversity is the only balance to weigh friends.” quote by Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/plutarch-597_adversity_prosperity-is-no-just-scale-adversity-is_1740499.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/plutarch-597_adversity_prosperity-is-no-just-scale-adversity-is_1740499.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/plutarch-597_adversity_prosperity-is-no-just-scale-adversity-is_1740499.jpg) > “Prosperity is no just scale; adversity is the only balance to weigh friends.” [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True wealth is measured by balance, not scale; adversity tests friendships more than prosperity. **In simple terms:** Friendship is proven by hardship, not riches. Key Takeaway Value friends through shared challenges. Themes friendship adversity values Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - economic downturns - personal crises - team projects Key Concepts Stoic philosophy social ethics Questions to Reflect On - How does adversity reveal character? - Can wealth ever strengthen bonds? A Different Perspective May overlook joy in prosperity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Adversity Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity-balance-1516258/) [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [Prosperity Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity-just-467336/) [Scale Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scale-adversity-1516259/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Weigh Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weigh-friends-1516260/) ## Related quotes > [“Adversity is the only balance to weigh friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/adversity-is-the-only-balance-to-weigh-friends/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [What India needs for prosperity is just ease of doing business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-jhunjhunwala/what-india-needs-for-prosperity-is-just-ease-of-doing-business/) [Rakesh Jhunjhunwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-jhunjhunwala/) > [“There will be times in life when it seems as if everything is bleak. When breakthroughs seem like a myth, keep praying. God can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/there-will-be-times-in-life-when-it-seems-as-if-everything-is-bleak/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [Prosperity can't be just for CEOs and hedge fund managers. Democracy can't be just for billionaires and corporations. Prosperity and democracy are part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/prosperity-can-t-be-just-for-ceos-and-hedge-fund-managers-democracy/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Prosperity is not just having things. It is the consciousness that attracts the things. Prosperity is a way of living and thinking, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-butterworth/prosperity-is-not-just-having-things-it-is-the-consciousness-that/) [Eric Butterworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-butterworth/) > [Prosperity is just around the corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/prosperity-is-just-around-the-corner/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [Prosperity has this property; it puffs up narrow souls, makes them imagine themselves high and mighty, and leads them to look down upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/prosperity-has-this-property-it-puffs-up-narrow-souls-makes-them/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [In prosperity it is very easy to find a friend; but in adversity it is the most difficult of all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/in-prosperity-it-is-very-easy-to-find-a-friend-but-in-adversity-it-is/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [I want Thy plan, O God, for my life. May I be happy and contented whether in the homeland or on the foreign field;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-thy-plan-o-god-for-my-life-may-i-be-happy-and-contented/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Weak minds sink under prosperity as well as adversity; but strong and deep ones have two high tides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hare/weak-minds-sink-under-prosperity-as-well-as-adversity-but-strong-and/) [David Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hare/) > [Without goodness a man cannot endure adversity for long, nor can he enjoy prosperity for long. The good man is naturally at ease with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/without-goodness-a-man-cannot-endure-adversity-for-long-nor-can-he/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Genuine morality is preserved only in the school of adversity; a state of continuous prosperity may easily prove a quick sand to virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/genuine-morality-is-preserved-only-in-the-school-of-adversity-a-state/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity a greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/prosperity-is-a-great-teacher-adversity-a-greater/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Let no worldly prosperity divert you, nor any worldly adversity restrain you from His praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/let-no-worldly-prosperity-divert-you-nor-any-worldly-adversity/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [Friendship makes prosperity more brilliant, and lightens adversity by dividing and sharing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/friendship-makes-prosperity-more-brilliant-and-lightens-adversity-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Plutarch > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The generous mind adds dignity to every act, and nothing misbecomes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-generous-mind-adds-dignity-to-every-act-and-nothing-misbecomes-it/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [King Agis said, "The Lacedæmonians are not wont to ask how many, but where the enemy are."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/king-agis-said-the-laced-monians-are-not-wont-to-ask-how-many-but/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Alexander wept when he heard from Anaxarchus that there was an infinite number of worlds; and his friends asking him if any accident had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/alexander-wept-when-he-heard-from-anaxarchus-that-there-was-an/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Proper listening is the foundation of proper living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/proper-listening-is-the-foundation-of-proper-living/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry-and-poetry-is-painting-that-speaks/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Speech is like cloth of Arras opened and put abroad, whereby the imagery doth appear in figure; whereas in thoughts they lie but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/speech-is-like-cloth-of-arras-opened-and-put-abroad-whereby-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [There were two brothers called Both and Either; perceiving Either was a good, understanding, busy fellow, and Both a silly fellow and good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/there-were-two-brothers-called-both-and-either-perceiving-either-was/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Why does pouring Oil on the Sea make it Clear and Calm? Is it that the winds, slipping the smooth oil, have no force,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/why-does-pouring-oil-on-the-sea-make-it-clear-and-calm-is-it-that-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [This excerpt is presented as reproduced by Copernicus in the preface to De Revolutionibus: "Some think that the earth remains at rest. But Philolaus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/this-excerpt-is-presented-as-reproduced-by-copernicus-in-the-preface/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/it-is-part-of-a-good-man-to-do-great-and-noble-deeds-though-he-risk/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [I am whatever was, or is, or will be; and my veil no mortal ever took up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/i-am-whatever-was-or-is-or-will-be-and-my-veil-no-mortal-ever-took-up/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The pilot cannot mitigate the billows or calm the winds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-pilot-cannot-mitigate-the-billows-or-calm-the-winds/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“In Springtime, O Dionysos, To thy holy temple come, To Elis with thy Graces, Rushing with thy bull-foot, come, Noble Bull, Noble Bull”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/in-springtime-o-dionysos-to-thy-holy-temple-come-to-elis-with-thy/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) [Explore all 451 Plutarch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## 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": "Prosperity is no just scale; adversity is the only balance to weigh friends.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plutarch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/prosperity-is-no-just-scale-adversity-is-the-only-balance-to-weigh/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/prosperity-is-no-just-scale-adversity-is-the-only-balance-to-weigh/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/plutarch-597_adversity_prosperity-is-no-just-scale-adversity-is_1740499.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/plutarch-597_adversity_prosperity-is-no-just-scale-adversity-is_1740499.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/plutarch-597_adversity_prosperity-is-no-just-scale-adversity-is_1740499.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Prosperity is no just scale; adversity is the only balance to weigh friends.” — Plutarch", "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": "Plutarch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Prosperity is no just scale; adversity...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/prosperity-is-no-just-scale-adversity-is-the-only-balance-to-weigh/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/prosperity-is-no-just-scale-adversity-is-the-only-balance-to-weigh/#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 } } ] } ```