In every person who comes near you look for what is good and strong; honor that; try to imitate it, and your faults will drop off like dead leaves when their time comes. ~ John Ruskin
Permanence, perserverance, and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak. ~ Francis Drake
Nothing is so strong as gentleness, and nothing so gentle as real strength. ~ Francis De Sales
What does not destroy me makes me stronger. ~ Friedrich W. Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols, 1888
The mountain violets break the rocks. ~ Tennessee Williams
To discover a weakness is the beginning of strength. When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you till it seems you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn. ~ Harriet Beecher Stowe
We deceive ourselves when we believe that only weakness needs support. Strength needs it far more. ~ Anne Sophie Swetchine
When a thing is not done, continuing to work is the strength; but when it is done, the strength lies in stopping. ~ Eric Maisel