--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We do not succeed in spite of our…" description: "\"“We do not succeed in spite of our obstacles and challenges. We succeed precisely because of them.”\" — Richard Paul Evans" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/richard-paul-evans-1002_adversity_we-do-not-succeed-in-spite-of-our-obstac_1281211.png" --- # We do not succeed in spite of our obstacles and… ![“We do not succeed in spite of our obstacles and challenges. We succeed precisely because of them.” quote by Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/richard-paul-evans-1002_adversity_we-do-not-succeed-in-spite-of-our-obstac_1281211.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/richard-paul-evans-1002_adversity_we-do-not-succeed-in-spite-of-our-obstac_1281211.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/richard-paul-evans-1002_adversity_we-do-not-succeed-in-spite-of-our-obstac_1281211.png) > ““We do not succeed in spite of our obstacles and challenges. We succeed precisely because of them.”” [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Obstacles are catalysts; they shape success rather than hinder it. **In simple terms:** Challenges fuel achievement. Key Takeaway Leverage challenges as growth opportunities. Themes resilience growth mindset Mood motivational optimistic Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - personal setbacks - entrepreneurial ventures Key Concepts adversity opportunity self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - What obstacle has most propelled you forward? - How can you reframe a setback as a stepping stone? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on obstacles can cause paralysis; not all challenges are beneficial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“I believe that, for the most part, we don’t succeed in spite of our hardships but precisely because of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-believe-that-for-the-most-part-we-don-t-succeed-in-spite-of-our/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [Succeed in spite of management.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/succeed-in-spite-of-management/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [There are very real obstacles and challenges to any course of action. And there's no need to add to them, by making up obstacles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/there-are-very-real-obstacles-and-challenges-to-any-course-of-action/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [Don't waste valuable time and energy on things that don't matter, obstacles, challenges and tough times are all part of the deal. So deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-housham/don-t-waste-valuable-time-and-energy-on-things-that-don-t-matter/) [Ricardo Housham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-housham/) > [Obstacles and challenges in life only make bonds stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/obstacles-and-challenges-in-life-only-make-bonds-stronger/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Problems, obstacles, and challenges can either become the markers of our limits and limitations, or they can become the springboard into a whole new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/problems-obstacles-and-challenges-can-either-become-the-markers-of/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [I wanted to create a world that presented the Smurfs with obstacles and challenges and really put them in a fish-out-of-water situation but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-asbury/i-wanted-to-create-a-world-that-presented-the-smurfs-with-obstacles/) [Kelly Asbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-asbury/) > [Obstacles are challenges for winners and excuses for losers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/obstacles-are-challenges-for-winners-and-excuses-for-losers/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In our lives we often come across many obstacles. If you make urself courageous and face the obstacles/challenges you win but if u run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patric-bensen/in-our-lives-we-often-come-across-many-obstacles-if-you-make-urself/) [Patric Bensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patric-bensen/) > [“All life-forms need obstacles and challenges in order to evolve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/all-life-forms-need-obstacles-and-challenges-in-order-to-evolve/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [There's obstacles, there's challenges, there's things that come in the way. So building relationships and building some of the expectations on the front end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-day/there-s-obstacles-there-s-challenges-there-s-things-that-come-in-the/) [Ryan Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-day/) > [Not to give up under any circumstances should be the motto of our life: I shall try again and again, and I am bound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/not-to-give-up-under-any-circumstances-should-be-the-motto-of-our/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [When it gets difficult is often right before you succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-walker/when-it-gets-difficult-is-often-right-before-you-succeed/) Jeffrey Walker > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Richard Paul Evans > [ The smells of Christmas are the smells of childhood \[p. 53\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/the-smells-of-christmas-are-the-smells-of-childhood-p-53/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [We are chained to that which we do not forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/we-are-chained-to-that-which-we-do-not-forgive/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“I've found that when someone is beautiful on the outside, but spiritually dark inside, all that outer beauty is just lipstick on a pig.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-ve-found-that-when-someone-is-beautiful-on-the-outside-but/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [There are none so impoverished as those who do not acknowledge the abundance of their lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/there-are-none-so-impoverished-as-those-who-do-not-acknowledge-the/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [It's our memories that make us who we are. Without them, we're nothing. If that means we have to hurt sometimes, it's worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/it-s-our-memories-that-make-us-who-we-are-without-them-we-re-nothing/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [At one time in my career, Barnes and Noble bookstores categorized my books as religious fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/at-one-time-in-my-career-barnes-and-noble-bookstores-categorized-my/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“I'm no one important or famous, no matter. It is better to be loved by one person who knows your soul than millions who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-m-no-one-important-or-famous-no-matter-it-is-better-to-be-loved-by/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [The first step of a journey is always the longest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/the-first-step-of-a-journey-is-always-the-longest/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“Simply stated, earth is a school-a divine educational process custom-fit to each of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/simply-stated-earth-is-a-school-a-divine-educational-process-custom/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [So much of young adult literature has turned dark, almost pathological. It's almost as if there is a race to see who can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/so-much-of-young-adult-literature-has-turned-dark-almost-pathological/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [If the errors of my life have profited me one great truth it is this: believe. Believe in your destiny and the star from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/if-the-errors-of-my-life-have-profited-me-one-great-truth-it-is-this/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [Some people in this world have stopped looking for beauty, then wonder why their lives are so ugly. Don't be like them. The ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/some-people-in-this-world-have-stopped-looking-for-beauty-then-wonder/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“There's a big difference between us. I write non-fiction, you write fiction. I write truths that tell lies. You write lies that tell truths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/there-s-a-big-difference-between-us-i-write-non-fiction-you-write/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [As a boy I heard this story in church. A man was patching a pitched roof of a tall building when he began sliding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/as-a-boy-i-heard-this-story-in-church-a-man-was-patching-a-pitched/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [I am facing the most difficult thing of my life, my own greatest failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-am-facing-the-most-difficult-thing-of-my-life-my-own-greatest/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) [Explore all 311 Richard Paul Evans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) ## 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": "“We do not succeed in spite of our obstacles and challenges. 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