It is a famous statement made by the Duke senior in Shakespeare’s As you Like It. It contains a deep truth of human life. In fact, life is a complex fabric of weal and woe. Happines itself will be meaningless if there is no suffering, nothing contrary to it. Flowers are pretty in contrast with the thorns. Thus adversity, by contrast, enhances the pleasure of prosperity. Prosperity gains friends, adversity tries them. Besides, adversity can sometimes prove itself to be highly beneficial to mankind. It teaches us to face the circumstances with greater courage and confidence. It also develops a man’s power of sympathy with the suffering humanity. He who has never suffered can never realise what suffering is. The value of tears can be appreciated only by a man who has to shed tears himself. Adversity also purifies a man. We know that gold gets purified when it is melted in fire. God throws us into deep water not always to drown us, but to wash us clean. Thus adversity provides man with an opportunity to test his sincerity. It can be really useful to him provided he has a positive attitude towards life. And in this way, the uses of adversity are sweet as well as educative.