Famous quote by Willa Cather

Mobile Desktop
There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm
Like

"There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm"

- Willa Cather

About this Quote

Wisdom and growth often arise from experiences, and those experiences are shaped by the circumstances in which we encounter them. Tranquility and chaos, calm and storm, each play distinctive roles in the development of our understanding. During quiet moments, when life proceeds without urgency or disruption, the mind is given space to reflect, process, and deeply appreciate subtle lessons. These periods allow for patient observation, introspection, and the cultivation of virtues such as balance, gratitude, and empathy. In peace, one can savor the softness of daily experience, fostering mindfulness and laying a foundation for personal growth.

Yet, not all learning can be nurtured in stillness. Tumultuous times—moments fraught with uncertainty, adversity, or upheaval—demand a different kind of engagement. Storms, whether literal or metaphorical, force confrontation with limits and prompt quick adaptation. In the midst of challenge, resilience is tested and endurance is built; the ability to remain steadfast, creative, or courageous emerges from necessity. Hardship can expose hidden strengths, reveal weaknesses, and accelerate growth in ways gentle periods cannot. While peace breeds contemplation, storms forge character and deepen one’s appreciation for calm when it finally returns.

The interplay between these states is essential. The balance ensures that wisdom is not one-dimensional. Lessons learned in calm—about patience, joy, or compassion—become the grounding forces that help one withstand turbulent times. Conversely, the fortitude and determination gained in crisis empower a person to fully cherish and protect moments of calm. Life rarely offers perpetual peace or endless turmoil; instead, its lessons are distributed across the spectrum, each phase preparing us for the other. Embracing both calm and storm means accepting the wholeness of experience, and recognizing that understanding is most profound when gleaned from both serenity and strife.

About the Author

Willa Cather This quote is written / told by Willa Cather between December 7, 1873 and April 24, 1947. She was a famous Author from USA. The author also have 31 other quotes.

Go to author profile

Similar Quotes

Small: A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: w
Lao Tzu
"A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves"
Lao Tzu, Author
Small: Youth is the best time to be rich, and the best time to be poor - Euripides
Euripides
"Youth is the best time to be rich, and the best time to be poor"
Euripides, Poet
Small: The best view comes after the hardest climb - Mat Fraser
Mat Fraser
"The best view comes after the hardest climb"
Mat Fraser, Athlete
Small: Never argue at the dinner table, for the one who is not hungry always gets the best of the argument - Voltaire
Voltaire
"Never argue at the dinner table, for the one who is not hungry always gets the best of the argument"
Voltaire, Writer
Small: Do what you do best, and you will succeed - Oystein Stray Spetalen
Øystein Stray Spetalen
"Do what you do best, and you will succeed"
Øystein Stray Spetalen, Businessman
Small: There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it ill behaves any of us to
"There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it ill behaves any of us to find fault with the rest of us"
James Truslow Adams, Historian
Small: If its your job to eat a frog, its best to do it first thing in the morning. And If its your job to eat two fr
Mark Twain
"If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the biggest one first"
Mark Twain, Author
Small: The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today - Elbert Hubbard
Elbert Hubbard
"The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today"
Elbert Hubbard, Writer
Small: The man who makes everything that leads to happiness depends upon himself, and not upon other men, has adopted
Plato
"The man who makes everything that leads to happiness depends upon himself, and not upon other men, has adopted the very best plan for living happily. This is the man of moderation, the man of manly character and of wisdom"
Plato, Philosopher
Small: Dont lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectatio
Ralph Marston
"Don't lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality"
Ralph Marston, Writer