Men who have stood up bravely under great misfortune for years are often unable to bear prosperity.

Their good fortune takes the spring out of their energy, as the torrid zone enervates races accustomed to a vigorous climate.

Some people never come to themselves until baffled, rebuffed, thwarted, defeated, crushed, in the opinion of those around them.

Trials unlock their virtues; defeat is the threshold of their victory.
"Every man who makes a fortune has been more than once a bankrupt, if the truth were known," said Albion Tourgee.

"Grant's failure as a subaltern made him commander-in-chief, and for myself, my failure to accomplish what I set out to do led me to what I never had aspired to." "What is defeat ?" asked Wendell Phillips.