The Rebbe once sent a shliach on a specific mission. Upon his return, the shliach reported to the Rebbe that although the mission had been extremely challenging, he performed his task successfully.

The Rebbe looked at the chassid and responded, “Since when have you made a contract with G‑d that everything is easy?”

—Heard from Rabbi Menachem M. Gordon

“There can be no victories without battle, no peaks without valleys and no roses without thorns.”

“Never fear shadows – it means that there’s light nearby.”

“Sometimes we must go backwards to go forward.”

“Don’t be discouraged – it may be the last key in the bunch that opens the door.”