Quotes of the Day 41: Overcoming Adversity

Aug '24 (edited) • Self Improvement & Motivation

Quote 1: “The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.” - The Emperor, Mulan

Quote 2: “Adversity is like a strong wind. I don’t mean just that it holds us back from places we might otherwise go. It also tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that afterward we see ourselves as we really are, and not merely as we might like to be.” - Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha

Mulan is a 1998 Walt Disney Animations coming of age and action adventure movie. The movie is based on the Chinese legend, Hua Mulan. The movie takes place in an unknown imperial dynasty where Fa Mulan, protagonist and daughter of Fa Zhao who is an aged warrior, impersonates a man to take her father’s place in conscription to counter the Hun invasion. Mulan wants to bring honor to her family, but she can’t bring honor as a wife due to a matchmaker describing her as a disgrace. Instead, Mulan brandishes her father’s sword and armor because she knows that her father could not serve in the war considering his more elderly and weakened state. Mushu, a small disgraced dragon, was sent by Mulan’s ancestors to dissuade her goals to participate in war; however, Mushu decided to help Mulan in the perilous future set ahead of her.

Mulan’s quote explains that the best people are grown from overcoming the obstacles that lie within their path. Flowers that bloom like this are rare and uncommon; however, there are many unique flowers here in the Skool community. The Emperor is passing on his wisdom as he has seen many people in his time, but he knows that the best are few and far between. Those people were improved from their adversity, instead of becoming dissuaded and wilted from it.

Memoirs of a Geisha was written by Arthur Golden and published on September 23rd, 1997. This book takes place in Japan from 1929 to 1944 as it follows the main character of Sakamoto Chiyo. The book showcases a world where appearance matters most and love is an illusion. Chiyo and her sister are sold to the entertainment industry and leave their small farming town of Yoroido to the big city of Kyoto. Chiyo is introduced to a Geisha boarding house by the name of Nitta Okiya. After a failed escape attempt “Mother” refuses to help Chiyo become a Geisha. A few years later, Chiyo is given a handkerchief and money from a kind stranger who is the Chairman and Chiyo becomes an apprentice Geisha by the name of Sayuri because of a famous Geiaha’s recommendation. If you though Chiyo’s future from here would be smooth sailing, you are incredibly wrong as the book takes dark turns as Chiyo faces more conflict in her life.

Memoirs of a Geisha’s quote paints adversity as a wind at out back which pushes us toward with its strength. However, this wind tears through all of how we are to reveal our true self lying underneath. We have built ourselves up to be the people we want to be, but the challenges we face can help to remind us of who we are. Adversity tears away our facades to reveal our better self.

I hope these quotes help you overcome your adversity. Have a great day everyone!

Want more? Here are the past 3 quotes of the day posts:

Quotes Of the Day 40: Trust

Quotes Of the Day 39: The Potential Of Tomorrow

Quotes Of the Day 38: Connection

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