--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: These are the times that try men's…" description: "\"“These are the times that try men's souls...yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/thomas-paine-267_consolation_these-are-the-times-that-try-men-s-souls_3111112.png" --- # These are the times that try men's souls...yet we have… ![“These are the times that try men's souls...yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives every thing value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods.” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/thomas-paine-267_consolation_these-are-the-times-that-try-men-s-souls_3111112.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/thomas-paine-267_consolation_these-are-the-times-that-try-men-s-souls_3111112.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/thomas-paine-267_consolation_these-are-the-times-that-try-men-s-souls_3111112.png) > ““These are the times that try men's souls...yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives every thing value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods.”” [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hardship gives value to triumph; suffering makes success more meaningful. **In simple terms:** Struggle adds worth to victory. Key Takeaway Value effort, not easy gain. Themes resilience valor triumph adversity worth Mood determined hopeful Type historical motivational When to use this quote - military campaigns - personal challenges - social movements - entrepreneurial ventures Key Concepts Stoicism moral philosophy historical context Questions to Reflect On - What conflicts have shaped your values? - Do easy successes feel less satisfying? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on hardship can glorify suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consolation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consolation/) [Consolation Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consolation-harder-1659654/) [Men Souls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-souls/) [Souls Consolation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/souls-consolation-5433603/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Value Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-heaven-4438508/) ## Related quotes > [“Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/tyranny-like-hell-is-not-easily-conquered-yet-we-have-this/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-we-obtain-too-cheap-we-esteem-too-lightly-it-is-dearness-only-2/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly. It is dearness only which gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/that-which-we-obtain-too-easily-we-esteem-too-lightly-it-is-dearness/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-payne-1776/what-we-obtain-too-cheaply-we-esteem-too-lightly-it-is-dearness-only/) [Thomas Payne 1776](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-payne-1776/) > [“These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/these-are-the-times-that-try-men-s-souls-the-summer-soldier-and-the-2/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in the crisis, shrink from the service of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/these-are-the-times-that-try-men-s-souls-the-summer-soldier-and-the/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [These are the times that try men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/these-are-the-times-that-try-men-s-souls/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [But there are times when men have serious thoughts, and it is at such times, when they begin to think, that they begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/but-there-are-times-when-men-have-serious-thoughts-and-it-is-at-such/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“Make no small plans. They have no magic to stir men's souls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/make-no-small-plans-they-have-no-magic-to-stir-men-s-souls/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [Kind words produce their own image in men's souls; and a beautiful image it is. They soothe and quiet and comfort the hearer. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/kind-words-produce-their-own-image-in-men-s-souls-and-a-beautiful/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Wealth and poverty do not lie in a man's estate, but in men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antisthenes/wealth-and-poverty-do-not-lie-in-a-man-s-estate-but-in-men-s-souls/) [Antisthenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antisthenes/) > [Men's souls are crooked and unsound things, not good materials out of which to build friendships, families, households, cities, civilizations. But good or no,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-wright/men-s-souls-are-crooked-and-unsound-things-not-good-materials-out-of/) [John C. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-wright/) > [By the cigars they smoke, and the composers they love, ye shall know the texture of men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galsworthy/by-the-cigars-they-smoke-and-the-composers-they-love-ye-shall-know/) [John Galsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galsworthy/) > [I would not open windows into men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-would-not-open-windows-into-men-s-souls/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [I have no desire to make windows into men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-have-no-desire-to-make-windows-into-men-s-souls/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) ## More by Thomas Paine > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and decreed by human laws to be the word of God; and the disbelief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-book-called-the-bible-has-been-voted-by-men-and-decreed-by-human/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Commerce diminishes the spirit, both of patriotism and military defence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/commerce-diminishes-the-spirit-both-of-patriotism-and-military-defence/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New Testament teaches us? - to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-is-it-the-bible-teaches-us-raping-cruelty-and-murder-what-is-it/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/those-who-expect-to-reap-the-blessings-of-freedom-must-like-men/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“It has been the practice of all Christian commentators on the Bible, and of all Christian priests and preachers, to impose the Bible on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-has-been-the-practice-of-all-christian-commentators-on-the-bible/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [But there are times when men have serious thoughts, and it is at such times, when they begin to think, that they begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/but-there-are-times-when-men-have-serious-thoughts-and-it-is-at-such/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Wisdom is not the purchase of a day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/wisdom-is-not-the-purchase-of-a-day/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Our citizenship in the United States is our national character. Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/our-citizenship-in-the-united-states-is-our-national-character-our/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/suspicion-is-the-companion-of-mean-souls-and-the-bane-of-all-good/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“To pass from the extremes of danger to safety-from the tumult of war to the tranquility of peace, though sweet in contemplation, requires a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-pass-from-the-extremes-of-danger-to-safety-from-the-tumult-of-war/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What more does man want to know than that the hand or power that made these things is divine, is omnipotent? Let him believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-more-does-man-want-to-know-than-that-the-hand-or-power-that-made/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) [Explore all 772 Thomas Paine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## More Consolation quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I had thought that growing up's consolation was that you could escape from the arbitrariness of things, that somehow one acquired more control. Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-galloway/i-had-thought-that-growing-up-s-consolation-was-that-you-could-escape/) [Janice Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-galloway/) > [It is part of God's plan for us that Christ shall come to us in everyone; it is in their particular role that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caryll-houselander/it-is-part-of-god-s-plan-for-us-that-christ-shall-come-to-us-in/) [Caryll Houselander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caryll-houselander/) > [even those who call themselves 'intimate' know very little about each other - hardly ever know just how a sorrow is felt, and hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/even-those-who-call-themselves-intimate-know-very-little-about-each/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [But there are times when men have serious thoughts, and it is at such times, when they begin to think, that they begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/but-there-are-times-when-men-have-serious-thoughts-and-it-is-at-such/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The slave and those whose present life is miserable and who can find no consolation in the heavens are assured that at least the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-slave-and-those-whose-present-life-is-miserable-and-who-can-find/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Perhaps the greatest consolation of the oppressed is to consider themselves superior to their tyrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-green/perhaps-the-greatest-consolation-of-the-oppressed-is-to-consider/) [Julien Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-green/) > [Books, which we mistake for consolation, only add depth to our sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/books-which-we-mistake-for-consolation-only-add-depth-to-our-sorrow/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [The day has the color and the sound of winter. Thoughts turn to chowder...chowder breathes reassurance. It steams consolation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clementine-paddleford/the-day-has-the-color-and-the-sound-of-winter-thoughts-turn-to/) [Clementine Paddleford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clementine-paddleford/) > [Seek and possess holiness, and consolation will follow, as assuredly as warmth follows the dispensation of the rays of the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-cogswell-upham/seek-and-possess-holiness-and-consolation-will-follow-as-assuredly-as/) [Thomas Cogswell Upham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-cogswell-upham/) > [Solitude was my only consolation - deep, dark, deathlike solitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/solitude-was-my-only-consolation-deep-dark-deathlike-solitude/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have the consolation of leaving your kingdom in the highest degree of glory and of reputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cardinal-richelieu/i-have-the-consolation-of-leaving-your-kingdom-in-the-highest-degree/) [Cardinal Richelieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cardinal-richelieu/) > [All consolation that does not come from God is but desolation; when the soul has learned to receive no comfort but in God only,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/all-consolation-that-does-not-come-from-god-is-but-desolation-when/) [Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/) > [Let is walk ... joyously, dear souls, among the difficulties of this passing life ... These pains will have an end when our life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-is-walk-joyously-dear-souls-among-the-difficulties-of-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Thinking about suicide is a potent consolation: it helps us to get through many a bad night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/thinking-about-suicide-is-a-potent-consolation-it-helps-us-to-get/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) [Browse all 587 Consolation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consolation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“These are the times that try men's souls...yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives every thing value. 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