80 Difficult Times Quotes

Be encouraged by these difficult times quotes. Difficulties in your life will only last dependent on how you react to them, which, in turn, determines your ability to cope with the difficulties you are facing. It is our hope that you will utilize the wisdom within all of these quotes to reach for ways to travel forward.

Difficult times are not infrequent throughout life. The mainstay of forward movement rather than thinking that all is forever lost is to adopt the attitude that with action this shall pass. If you think you are immune from troubles, tribulations or problems you will be sourly disappointed. However, through challenges comes opportunities if we have the eyes to see, the ears to hear and the perseverance of a bird to fly in all kinds of bad weather. For those who are going through difficult times share these words with them.

Updated May 26, 2026, by Catherine Pulsifer.

Hope During Difficult Times

These quotes remind us that even hard days can lead to brighter tomorrows.

Brighter days will come to you, days that will be fair, if you only will have courage, and not give up in despair. Lillian E. Curtis

Out of difficulties grow miracles.
Jean de la Bruyere

No matter how dark the night, sunrises after the dawn of new day.
Lailah Gifty Akita

Whether we are going through hard times or we are just looking to the future we all need to cling to hope.
Catherine Pulsifer

I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
Maya Angelou

Though clouds of sorrow often fall, there still is sunshine for us all.
Martha Shepard Lippincott

Don't forget: Beautiful sunsets need cloudy skies.
Paulo Coelho

Though your life be a terror, and all constructions you have lain; fall a victim to despair, try, try again.
J. J. Thorne

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant.
Anne Bradstreet

Constant sunshine, howe'er welcome, ne'er would ripen fruit or flower.
Unknown, Learn To Wait

When shadows and darkness hide glories that were, and hope flies the bosom, I'll never despair.
Daniel C. Colesworthy

Strength And Perseverance

These quotes encourage us to keep going when life feels heavy.

Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. William Ellery Channing

Don't give up in times of difficulty. Persevere on as there will be an end to these.
Edward Dunedin

Resilience is the ability to keep moving forward even when the way seems difficult.
Tony Dungy

The real test of perseverance occurs at those times when the obstacles strike the hardest.
Byron Pulsifer

Things can always get worse, but only quitters quit!
Nina Sakura

Square up your shoulders and set all your sail, for if you have the stuff, boy, you'll weather the gale.
Hobart Benjamin

Difficulties should act as a tonic. They should spur us to greater exertion.
B. C. Forbes

Anybody can point out difficulties; it calls for brains and courage to look beyond difficulties to the end.
Author Unknown

It cannot be too often repeated that it is not helps, but obstacles, not facilities, but difficulties that make men.
William Mathews

Difficulties increase the nearer we get to the goal.
Goethe

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.
John Quincy Adams

Faith In Hard Times

Faith can give comfort, courage, and peace when life is difficult.

Be never discouraged, look up and look on; when the prospect is darkest, the cloud is withdrawn. Daniel C. Colesworthy

Happy is the person who can hold up under the trials of life.
James 1:12 (VOICE)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.
James 1:2 (NIV)

Scripture suggests that meditating on the Word of God can have an always-on effect of peace and strength in difficult times.
David Jeremiah

God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome.
C.S. Lewis

Miracles are not the absence of difficulty, but the presence of God's power in the midst of difficulty.
Tim Keller

Tell Jesus when the burden seems too great for you to bear.
D. Wesley Myland

That in the dark, bleak days I'll know, You are there beside me.
Greta Zwaan

God shall wipe away all tears. His promise shall remain.
Patience Strong

God help us in our struggle here, give us to see the reasons for all our cares.
C. D. Barrett

Love God like a powerful being who will come to help you in times of difficulties.
Criss Jami

Lessons From Difficult Times

Difficult times can teach us patience, wisdom, and a deeper understanding of life.

See difficulties as teachers. David J. Bookbinder

Life's trials we all know, but character formed with love will flow.
Catherine Pulsifer

Every adversity, every failure and every heartache carries with it the seed of an equivalent or a greater benefit.
Napoleon Hill

We are well advised to accept the reality that the great lessons in life often come through hardship.
Robert White

Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger.
Henry Ford

It is only through facing our fears and difficulties that we can find creative and effective solutions.
Shakti Gawain

Learn wisdom from the ways of a seedling.
Stephen Sigmund

Perspective comes from the appreciation and understanding that life can be difficult but we can get through it.
Harvey Volson

Every person's life from the wealthiest to the poorest has issues and difficulties to confront.
Byron Pulsifer

There are many issues in life that we have absolutely no control over, but our own attitude is 100% within our control.
Catherine Pulsifer

Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friends And Support In Difficult Times

The care of others can make difficult times feel less lonely.

Heavy hearts, like heavy clouds in the sky, are best relieved by the letting of a little water. Christopher Morley

Difficult times are more easily faced through friendship with caring individuals.
Sam Fickinsen

When you walk with friends it can make a challenging journey seem easier.
Iyanla Vanzant

The only people worthy to be in your life are the ones that help you through the hard times.
Ziad K. Abdelnour

Tis well to feel there's one somewhere who can our joys and sorrows share.
Lillian E. Curtis

We all go through ups and downs in life, but it is comforting to know that a friend is near.
Byron Pulsifer

The greatest sympathy gift you can give a hurting friend or loved one is you.
Michelle Pommells

You always encouraged me to dream, cheered when I succeeded, and urged me to try again when I failed.
Sonny Melendrez

You've been our rock during the hard times, I owe you so much praise.
Julie Hebert

But you can brighten up my day whenever you send me flowers.
Greta Zwaan

Books are good company, in sad times and happy times.
E.B. White

Moving Forward Through Challenges

These quotes remind us to take one step at a time and keep moving ahead.

In time of difficulties, we must not lose sight of our achievements. Mao Tse-Tung

When life gets hard, don't just stop and stall, believe that you can.
Catherine Pulsifer

Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
John R. Wooden

Start where you stand and never mind the past.
Berton Braley

Little by little to the mountain tops we climb.
Carlotta Perry

Tomorrow is an opportunity to begin new opportunities.
Catherine Pulsifer

I may not be where I want to be, but thank God I am not where I used to be.
Joyce Meyer

It is a good rule to face difficulties at the time they arise.
Edward W. Ziegler

Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties.
Samuel Johnson

Sure there is lots of trouble. But we must keep pursuing something and see it through.
Douglas Malloch

No man ever worked his passage anywhere in a dead calm.
J. Neal

Comfort In The Storms Of Life

Even in stormy seasons, words of comfort can help steady the heart.

If blasting winds have blown your way. Do not lose your pep! David V. Bush

When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in.
Haruki Murakami

You got to have some trouble in this rough old world of ours.
Unknown, The Journey

The glare of the sun is hard and hot; the road is dusty, the way is long.
Grace Duffield Goodwin

When the burdens of life get too heavy, I go on a soul cleansing journey.
Edgar Nye

Heavy hearts, like heavy clouds in the sky, are best relieved by the letting of a little water.
Christopher Morley

In dark times of despair the wee still voice would whisper, work on and strive and dare.
David V. Bush

If blasting winds have blown your way, do not lose your pep.
David V. Bush

Be never discouraged. Look up and look on.
Daniel C. Colesworthy

Even though tomorrow will be dark for me, I thank you for trying to bring me to the light.
K. Weikel

Success is failure turned inside out.
Edgar A. Guest

Encouragement For Hard Days

These quotes offer simple encouragement for days when life feels difficult.

Laugh and the world laughs with you; weep and you weep alone. Ella Wheeler Wilcox

We can show that in spite of hardship, helping others does inspire.
Catherine Pulsifer

When facing difficult times, a good laugh can help lift the feelings of disappointment.
Kate Summers

You can bury a lot of troubles by digging into the dirt.
Unknown

Ain't no use in grievin' over these hard times.
Unknown, No Use Grievin'

Reflect upon your present blessings, not on your past misfortunes.
Charles Dickens

Difficult times can actually make us stronger!
Catherine Pulsifer

Life is not a series of triumphs without a series of obstacles or difficult times.
Catherine Pulsifer

The story of someone who has succeeded in spite of difficulty can stir our emotions.
Jim Rohn

Laugh and the world laughs with you; weep and you weep alone.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Optimists are persistent and believe that adversities can be overcome.
Ian K. Smith, M.D.


Conclusion

Difficult times are part of every life journey. No one escapes challenges, disappointments, or struggles. But difficult seasons can also help us grow stronger, wiser, and more compassionate. Often it is during the hardest moments that we discover courage we did not know we had and faith that helps us keep moving forward. We hope these difficult times quotes have encouraged you to hold onto hope, trust that brighter days are ahead, and remember that even small steps forward are still progress.