Strength is quiet as a mountain, steady even when storms pass through. As Rabindranath Tagore wrote, “The mountain remains unmoved at seeming defeat by the mist.” Here are reflections on finding—and holding—your own inner strength. ✨

The strong must protect the sweet. ~ Homer J. Simpson

Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength. ~ Arnold Schwarzenegger

Our strength is seen in the things we stand for; our weakness is seen in the things we fall for. ~ Theodore Epp

Be strong, believe in who you are; be strong, believe in what you feel. ~ Melissa Etheridge

A real important thing is that, though I rely on my husband for love, I rely on myself for strength. ~ Dolly Parton

A woman is like a tea bag—you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water. ~ Nancy Reagan

An oak and a reed were arguing about their strength. When a strong wind came up, the reed avoided being uprooted by bending and learning with the gusts of wind. But the oak stood firm and was torn up by the roots. ~ Aesop’s Fables

All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you. ~ Walt Disney

The block of granite, which was an obstacle in the path of the weak, becomes a stepping stone in the path of the strong. ~ Thomas Carlyle

Shallow men believe in luck, believe in circumstances... Strong men believe in cause and effect. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

The awareness of our own strength makes us modest. ~ Paul Cézanne

One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength that can overcome adversity. ~ Albert Schweitzer

From the cradle to the cubicle, we devote more time to fixing our shortcomings than to developing our strengths. ~ Tom Rath