--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My ability to survive personal crises is…" description: "\"My ability to survive personal crises is really a mark of the character of my people. Individually and collectively, we must react with a tenacity that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9e/wilma-mankiller-15802_ability_my-ability-to-survive-personal-crises-is_3101323.jpg" --- # My ability to survive personal crises is really a mark of… ![“My ability to survive personal crises is really a mark of the character of my people. Individually and collectively, we must react with a tenacity that allows us again and again to bounce back from adversity.” quote by Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9e/wilma-mankiller-15802_ability_my-ability-to-survive-personal-crises-is_3101323.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9e/wilma-mankiller-15802_ability_my-ability-to-survive-personal-crises-is_3101323.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9e/wilma-mankiller-15802_ability_my-ability-to-survive-personal-crises-is_3101323.jpg) > “My ability to survive personal crises is really a mark of the character of my people. Individually and collectively, we must react with a tenacity that allows us again and again to bounce back from adversity.” [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Resilience is a cultural hallmark; both individuals and communities must persistently bounce back from adversity. **In simple terms:** Resilience defines a people’s character. Key Takeaway Cultivate tenacity and collective support. Themes resilience community adversity Mood determined hopeful Type motivational leadership When to use this quote - disaster recovery - personal crisis - community rebuilding - mental health counseling Key Concepts character tenacity collective strength Questions to Reflect On - How can you strengthen community resilience? - What personal habits reinforce your bounce‑back ability? A Different Perspective Resilience alone may not solve systemic issues; resources matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crisis/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Resilience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resilience/) [Tenacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenacity/) ## Related quotes > [I can bounce back from adversity and reinvent my life - it's possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/i-can-bounce-back-from-adversity-and-reinvent-my-life-it-s-possible/) [Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/) > [Extraordinary individuals take one step back and two steps forward with most every challenge-and sometimes two steps back to one step forward. They harvest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-i-porras/extraordinary-individuals-take-one-step-back-and-two-steps-forward/) [Jerry I. Porras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-i-porras/) > [“One thing I always admired about Daddy was the way he could bounce back from adversity. From the very beginning of his life, he’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-k-campbell/one-thing-i-always-admired-about-daddy-was-the-way-he-could-bounce/) L.K. Campbell > [These are all personal crises, I'm sure, that I manifest in a song format and project into physical situations. You make little stories up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/these-are-all-personal-crises-i-m-sure-that-i-manifest-in-a-song/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [“Aren’t personal crises, loss, sadness, and periods of emotional darkness just part of human nature? Absolutely!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-williams/aren-t-personal-crises-loss-sadness-and-periods-of-emotional-darkness/) [Montel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-williams/) > [Having a plan enabled us to keep our hope alive. Perhaps in a similar fashion, people who are in their own personal crises -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesley-sullenberger/having-a-plan-enabled-us-to-keep-our-hope-alive-perhaps-in-a-similar/) [Chesley Sullenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesley-sullenberger/) > [“Business crises energize me. Personal crises devastate me. The doctors call it an avoidance tendency. (Mirena to Eve)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/business-crises-energize-me-personal-crises-devastate-me-the-doctors/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [“To face the days ahead we must ask two questions: first, "Where are we?" and second, "Where do we go from here?" We Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-d-alinsky/to-face-the-days-ahead-we-must-ask-two-questions-first-where-are-we/) [Saul D. Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-d-alinsky/) > [“Wealth is a person’s ability to survive a certain number of days forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/wealth-is-a-person-s-ability-to-survive-a-certain-number-of-days/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [“Inside your soul is the ability to survive even the toughest storms, and that paradise can always be found--even in the middle of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-hildreth/inside-your-soul-is-the-ability-to-survive-even-the-toughest-storms/) Denise Hildreth > [As long as we can tell stories about our ability to survive, the more we will hope, not self-destruct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/as-long-as-we-can-tell-stories-about-our-ability-to-survive-the-more/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [“Even if your company continues to thrive, your ability to survive in it depends on your capacity and willingness to innovate. Job security these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-rottenberg/even-if-your-company-continues-to-thrive-your-ability-to-survive-in/) [Linda Rottenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-rottenberg/) > [There are evils that have the ability to survive identification and go on for ever... money, for instance, or war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/there-are-evils-that-have-the-ability-to-survive-identification-and/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“We have the ability to survive anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/we-have-the-ability-to-survive-anything/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [The knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/the-knowledge-that-you-have-emerged-wiser-and-stronger-from-setbacks-2/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) ## More by Wilma Mankiller > [Negative thoughts were treated by Cherokee healers with the same medicines as wounds, headaches, or physical illness. It was believed that unchecked negative thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/negative-thoughts-were-treated-by-cherokee-healers-with-the-same/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Remember that I am just a woman who is living a very abundant life. Every step I take forward is on a path paved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/remember-that-i-am-just-a-woman-who-is-living-a-very-abundant-life/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [A significant number of people believe tribal people still live and dress as they did 300 years ago. During my tenure as principal chief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/a-significant-number-of-people-believe-tribal-people-still-live-and/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Look forward. Turn what has been done into a better path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/look-forward-turn-what-has-been-done-into-a-better-path/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [People say that crisis changes people and turns ordinary people into wiser or more responsible ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/people-say-that-crisis-changes-people-and-turns-ordinary-people-into/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [My name is Mankiller, and in the old Cherokee Nation, when we lived here in the Southeast, we lived in semi-autonomous villages, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/my-name-is-mankiller-and-in-the-old-cherokee-nation-when-we-lived/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Every single person has leadership ability. Some step up and take them. Some don't. My answer was to step up and lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/every-single-person-has-leadership-ability-some-step-up-and-take-them/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Women in leadership roles can help restore balance and wholeness to our communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/women-in-leadership-roles-can-help-restore-balance-and-wholeness-to/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [A lot of young girls have looked to their career paths and have said they'd like to be chief. There's been a change in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/a-lot-of-young-girls-have-looked-to-their-career-paths-and-have-said/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Individually and collectively, Cherokee people possess an extraordinary ability to face down adversity and continue moving forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/individually-and-collectively-cherokee-people-possess-an/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [I don't think anybody anywhere can talk about the future of their people or of an organization without talking about education. Whoever controls the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/i-don-t-think-anybody-anywhere-can-talk-about-the-future-of-their/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [An Indian is an Indian regardless of the degree of Indian blood or which little government card they do or do not possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/an-indian-is-an-indian-regardless-of-the-degree-of-indian-blood-or/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Recognizing the good, not just in one's own personal circumstances, but in the world, makes anything possible. When I am asked about the important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/recognizing-the-good-not-just-in-one-s-own-personal-circumstances-but/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [We must trust our own thinking. Trust where we're going. And get the job done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/we-must-trust-our-own-thinking-trust-where-we-re-going-and-get-the/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [I've run into more discrimination as a woman than as an Indian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/i-ve-run-into-more-discrimination-as-a-woman-than-as-an-indian/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) [Explore all 42 Wilma Mankiller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My ability to survive personal crises is really a mark of the character of my people. 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