In my life I had come to realize that when things were going very well indeed it was just the time to anticipate trouble. And, conversely, I learned from pleasant experience that at the most despairing crisis, when all looked sour beyond words, some delightful break was apt to lurk just around the corner.
Earhart reflects on the unpredictability of circumstances and the danger of assuming that present conditions will continue. When events are going particularly well, she suggests remaining alert to possible difficulties rather than becoming complacent. Equally, when circumstances appear hopeless, experience has taught her that an unexpected opportunity or favourable turn may still emerge.
The passage therefore combines caution with hope. Earhart does not claim that trouble must follow success or that every crisis will end well. Instead, she describes a practical attitude formed by experience: neither confidence nor despair should be treated as a reliable guide to what happens next. The quote encourages steadiness when circumstances change, recognising that good and bad periods can both be temporary. Its broader message concerns resilience and perspective, particularly the value of avoiding overconfidence during success and retaining some openness to improvement during difficult periods.