Adversity makes a man wise, not rich.
Meaning: Hardship teaches wisdom even when it never fills your pockets.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: Vent au visage rend un homme sage (literally: Adversity makes a man wise)
- Spanish: De los escarmentados nacen los avisados (literally: From those who have learned the hard way come the wary)
- Japanese: 艱難汝を玉にす (Kannan nanji o tama ni su) (literally: Hardship polishes you into a jewel)
- German: Durch Schaden wird man klug (literally: Through harm one becomes wise)
More proverbs about Challenge
- In vain he craves advice who will not follow it. — Asking for advice is pointless if you never intend to heed it.
- He that's afraid of wounds must not come nigh a battle. — If you fear getting hurt, stay out of the fight — risk is action's price.
- April borrows three days of March, and they are ill. — Early spring often turns wintry again, as harsh as the month just past.
- Bachelors grin, but married men laugh till their hearts ache. — A bachelor's idle grin can't match the fuller joys — and aches — of married life.
- Bring not a bagpipe to a man in trouble. — Unwanted noise or distraction worsens suffering; provide comfort matching the sufferer's…
- There's no great banquet but some fare ill. — Even at abundance's height, someone's needs remain unmet or dissatisfied.
From our idioms
- Prendere lucciole per lanterne — To be completely and badly mistaken.
- Rimanere in mutande — To be left penniless.
- Tutto fa brodo — Every little bit helps.