--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we are tempted to call a disaster is…" description: "\"What we are tempted to call a disaster is sometimes the first, painful stage of a blessing.\" — Stephen Mitchell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/stephen-mitchell-16811_blessing_what-we-are-tempted-to-call-a-disaster-i_1709118.png" --- # What we are tempted to call a disaster is sometimes the… ![“What we are tempted to call a disaster is sometimes the first, painful stage of a blessing.” quote by Stephen Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/stephen-mitchell-16811_blessing_what-we-are-tempted-to-call-a-disaster-i_1709118.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/stephen-mitchell-16811_blessing_what-we-are-tempted-to-call-a-disaster-i_1709118.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/stephen-mitchell-16811_blessing_what-we-are-tempted-to-call-a-disaster-i_1709118.png) > “What we are tempted to call a disaster is sometimes the first, painful stage of a blessing.” [Stephen Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Disasters can be the painful beginnings of hidden blessings, prompting growth and new possibilities. **In simple terms:** Hard times may start hidden gifts. Key Takeaway Seek lessons in adversity. Themes resilience growth hope Mood hopeful encouraging Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - career setbacks - health challenges Key Concepts Transformation adversity as catalyst Questions to Reflect On - What hidden opportunity might this difficulty contain? - How can you nurture hope during pain? A Different Perspective Not all hardships lead to positive outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) [Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) ## Related quotes > [I admit that invective is one of my pleasures. This only brings me problems in life, but that's it. I attack, I insult. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/i-admit-that-invective-is-one-of-my-pleasures-this-only-brings-me/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [ . . . Luddites were those frenzied traditionalists of the early 19th century who toured \[England\] wrecking new weaving machines on the theory that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/luddites-were-those-frenzied-traditionalists-of-the-early-19th/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [I love what I think, and I'm never tempted to believe it. Thoughts are like the wind or the leaves on the trees or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/i-love-what-i-think-and-i-m-never-tempted-to-believe-it-thoughts-are/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Galvanized people can do careless things. It is in the extreme and emotion-laden moments that distance and coolness are most required. I am tempted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/galvanized-people-can-do-careless-things-it-is-in-the-extreme-and/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [God is a spirit. Jesus was led up of the Spirit to be tempted of the Devil; and it is also true that spirits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradlaugh/god-is-a-spirit-jesus-was-led-up-of-the-spirit-to-be-tempted-of-the/) [Charles Bradlaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradlaugh/) > ['Tis no sin to be tempted, but to be overcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/tis-no-sin-to-be-tempted-but-to-be-overcome/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [There were times when I was tempted to do wrong, and could have went that way. But I knew it wasn't for me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-briggs/there-were-times-when-i-was-tempted-to-do-wrong-and-could-have-went/) [Shannon Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-briggs/) > [The more one is absorbed in fighting evil, the less one is tempted to place the good in question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/the-more-one-is-absorbed-in-fighting-evil-the-less-one-is-tempted-to/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [It is a great joy to believe that Jesus has been tempted in all points just as we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/it-is-a-great-joy-to-believe-that-jesus-has-been-tempted-in-all/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“Do not grieve over temptations you suffer. When the Lord intends to bestow a particular virtue on us, He often permits us first to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-grieve-over-temptations-you-suffer-when-the-lord-intends-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not tempted to write a song about George W. Bush. I couldn't figure out what sort of song I would write. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/i-m-not-tempted-to-write-a-song-about-george-w-bush-i-couldn-t-figure/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) > [Most religion-mongers have bated their paradises with a bit of toasted cheese. They have tempted the body with large promises of possessions in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/most-religion-mongers-have-bated-their-paradises-with-a-bit-of/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [He's earned all his money himself, with his fists. He didn't steal it like the rest of our politicians. And he'll be less tempted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitali-klitschko/he-s-earned-all-his-money-himself-with-his-fists-he-didn-t-steal-it/) [Vitali Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitali-klitschko/) > [The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. Thus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-enemy-s-spies-who-have-come-to-spy-on-us-must-be-sought-out/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The opposite of thinking clearly is being muddled. To be conscious of being muddled is a horrible experience. To avoid it we may even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stebbing/the-opposite-of-thinking-clearly-is-being-muddled-to-be-conscious-of/) [Susan Stebbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stebbing/) ## More by Stephen Mitchell > [ \[Jesus\] teaches that just as the sun gives light to both wicked and good, and the rain brings nourishment to righteous and unrighteous, God's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/jesus-teaches-that-just-as-the-sun-gives-light-to-both-wicked-and/) [Stephen Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/) > [True mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/true-mastery-can-be-gained-by-letting-things-go-their-own-way/) [Stephen Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/) > [Education is no longer thought of as a preparation for adult life, but as a continuing process of growth and development from birth until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/education-is-no-longer-thought-of-as-a-preparation-for-adult-life-but/) [Stephen Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/) > [“The Master is not trapped in opposites. His this is also a that. He sees that life becomes death and death becomes life, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/the-master-is-not-trapped-in-opposites-his-this-is-also-a-that-he/) [Stephen Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/) > [What is the gospel according to Jesus? Simply this: that the love we all long for in our innermost heart is already present, beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/what-is-the-gospel-according-to-jesus-simply-this-that-the-love-we/) [Stephen Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/) > [“I am speechless: what can I answer? I put hand on my mouth. I have said too much already; now I will speak no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/i-am-speechless-what-can-i-answer-i-put-hand-on-my-mouth-i-have-said/) [Stephen Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/) > [When speech comes from a quiet heart, it has the strength of the orchid, and the fragrance of rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/when-speech-comes-from-a-quiet-heart-it-has-the-strength-of-the/) [Stephen Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/) > [“Hmm,' said the King. 'I must write that down in my book of aphorisms. I don't know if it is deep, but it sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/hmm-said-the-king-i-must-write-that-down-in-my-book-of-aphorisms-i/) [Stephen Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/) > [There are two kinds of women: those who marry princes and those who marry frogs. The frogs never become princes, but it is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/there-are-two-kinds-of-women-those-who-marry-princes-and-those-who/) [Stephen Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/) > [“The river rises, flows over its banks and carries us all away, like mayflies floating downstream: they stare at the sun, then all at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/the-river-rises-flows-over-its-banks-and-carries-us-all-away-like/) [Stephen Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/) > [What may appear to be proud ungrateful and headstrong fron the outside may from the inside express an unshakable integrity of character. Pride, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/what-may-appear-to-be-proud-ungrateful-and-headstrong-fron-the/) [Stephen Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/) > [“The Frog was the only one who could retrieve the golden ball because he was the only one who could descend into the well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/the-frog-was-the-only-one-who-could-retrieve-the-golden-ball-because/) [Stephen Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/) > [“The master competes with no one so, no one can compete with her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/the-master-competes-with-no-one-so-no-one-can-compete-with-her/) [Stephen Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/) > [Creativity, not normality, has become the paradigm of mental health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/creativity-not-normality-has-become-the-paradigm-of-mental-health/) [Stephen Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/) > [What people love about life is its miraculous beauty; what they hate about death is the loss and decay around it. Yet losing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/what-people-love-about-life-is-its-miraculous-beauty-what-they-hate/) [Stephen Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/) [Explore all 38 Stephen Mitchell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/) ## More Blessing quotes > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [God loves to glorify himself by suspending his gifts and blessings on our asking him for them. We should never presume to receive from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/god-loves-to-glorify-himself-by-suspending-his-gifts-and-blessings-on/) [Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/) > [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [Life is all about experiences and being able to work with good people is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumika-chawla/life-is-all-about-experiences-and-being-able-to-work-with-good-people/) [Bhumika Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumika-chawla/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [“When Jesus finished teaching in a synagogue one day, a woman called out from the audience, 'God bless your mother—the womb from which you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bessey/when-jesus-finished-teaching-in-a-synagogue-one-day-a-woman-called/) [Sarah Bessey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bessey/) > [“I've never felt a pain that didn't bear a blessing. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-knudsen-hoffman/i-ve-never-felt-a-pain-that-didn-t-bear-a-blessing/) Gene Knudsen Hoffman > [Mechanical instruments, potentially a vehicle of rational human purposes, are scarcely a blessing when they enable the gossip of the village idiot and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/mechanical-instruments-potentially-a-vehicle-of-rational-human/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/the-only-men-who-become-gods-even-the-sons-of-god-are-those-who-enter/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [Being of Indian heritage is a challenge - and it's a blessing as well sometimes - because being good isn't good enough. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-dhawan/being-of-indian-heritage-is-a-challenge-and-it-s-a-blessing-as-well/) [Sacha Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-dhawan/) > [“Time wasted can never be compensated”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/time-wasted-can-never-be-compensated/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [The Louvre! The Louvre has me in its clutches. Every time I'm there rich blessings rain down upon me. 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Work is a blessing; it's not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-southerland/down-where-i-grew-up-able-bodied-people-do-that-which-we-believe-god/) [Steve Southerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-southerland/) [Browse all 4,617 Blessing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What we are tempted to call a disaster is sometimes the first, painful stage of a blessing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Mitchell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/what-we-are-tempted-to-call-a-disaster-is-sometimes-the-first-painful/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blessing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/what-we-are-tempted-to-call-a-disaster-is-sometimes-the-first-painful/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/stephen-mitchell-16811_blessing_what-we-are-tempted-to-call-a-disaster-i_1709118.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/stephen-mitchell-16811_blessing_what-we-are-tempted-to-call-a-disaster-i_1709118.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/stephen-mitchell-16811_blessing_what-we-are-tempted-to-call-a-disaster-i_1709118.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What we are tempted to call a disaster is sometimes the first, painful stage of a blessing.” — Stephen Mitchell", "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": "Stephen Mitchell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What we are tempted to call...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/what-we-are-tempted-to-call-a-disaster-is-sometimes-the-first-painful/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/what-we-are-tempted-to-call-a-disaster-is-sometimes-the-first-painful/#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 } } ] } ```