Tough Life Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old tough life quotes, tough life sayings, and tough life proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.

Problems are not stop signs; they are guidelines. Robert Schuller
Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they’re supposed to help you discover who you are. Bernice Johnson Reagon
A problem is a chance for you to do your best. Duke Ellington
In times of great stress or adversity, it’s always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive. Lee Iacocca
I learned there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead, others come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready, you see. Now my troubles are going to have trouble with me. Dr. Seuss
We can live tough lives, but the human spirit is stronger, seemingly, than anything. There is redemption, hope, and love. All different forms of heartbreak, but beyond all that there is hope, there is love. There is beauty and bliss. Hugh Jackman
But life is tough and if you're creative, it's tougher. Bobby Short
Life can be real tough... you can either learn from your problems, or keep repeating them over and over. Marie Osmond
Assume life will be really tough, and then ask if you can handle it. If the answer is yes, you've won. Charlie Munger
What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise. Oscar Wilde
That which does not kills us makes us stronger. Friedrich Nietzsche
Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if sadness did not balance it. It is far better to take things as they come along with patience and equanimity. Carl Jung
You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it. Maya Angelou
The most beautiful people I've known are those who have known trials, have known struggles, have known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
What's life? / A magazine. / How much does it cost? / Twenty-five cents. / I only have a dime. / That's tough. / What's tough? / Life. / What's life? / A magazine... Allen Klein
What we have to accept is that our individual situations are no more difficult than the situation of others. Life is tough. Wear a helmet! James D. Meadows
Whenever someone calls me ugly, I get super sad and hug them, because I know how tough life is for the visually impaired. Will Ferrell
Being a founder is hard. Being an early employee is hard. Being a VC is hard. Being a politician is hard. Being an engineer is hard. Being a writer is hard. Being a friend is hard. Being a partner is hard. Being a parent is hard. It's all hard. Life is hard, and then you die. Sahil Lavingia
Easy choices, hard life. Hard choices, easy life. Jerry Gregorek
The language of the sea is the vernacular of a hard life. Gershom Bradford
Life is not equal, and perhaps not even fair. Some individuals are dealt a tough hand, others an easy one. If you're fortunate to have an easy life make the best of it before it turns sour on you. And to those who have a hard life, recognize it for what it is and struggle to make life the best it can be. Faith, hope and sense of purpose will see you through. Keith C. Simmonds
I've had a hard life, but my hardships are nothing against the hardships that my father went through in order to get me to where I started. Bartrand Hubbard
A soldier has a hard life, and but little consideration. Robert E. Lee
However hard life may be, however long our days of sadness may endure... we must never seek to leave the foot of the cross sooner than God would have us do... our master having been good enough to let us experience, if not always its sweetness, then at least its beauty and necessity for those who love it. Venerable Charles de Foucauld
Life is tough — it’s never been easy — but I don’t dwell on it. Katharine Hepburn
Life’s been tough, but I’ve been tougher. I beat life at its own game. Zohra Sehgal
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. Helen Keller
Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end. Roy T. Bennett
I survived because the fire inside me burned brighter than the fire around me. Joshua Graham
Tough life, but I'm okay - You know it's hard to be free / Tough life, but I'm okay - 'cause there is no way to flee / Tough life, but I'm okay - always ready to battle, from the cradle to the grave / Tough life, but I'm okay - steady in struggle, but I'm alright, okay. Benjamin Sommer and Paul Glameyer