the hard way

“Darnley had helped him receive his appointment as secretary of the Council the previous autumn, despite his reputation as "the worst scoundrel in Scotland," earned the hard way over formidable competition: the murder of Cardinal Beaton; the plundering of ecclesiastical property; betrayals and blasphemy.”

Mary Queen Of Scotland And The Isles

“My inner voice, which often remembers things I've learned the hard way even though the rest of me may forget them, cautioned me with something I'd heard from the nurses after the San Francisco earthquake: First too angry, then too sad-these are extreme mood swings due to having been under too much stress.”

Beacon Street Mourning

“The citizens of Aspendus had learned the hard way that no one double-crossed Alexander.”

Simon & Schuster: Alexander the Great

“Once again I heartily thank M. Lee Allison for providing the central inspiration for my story (sorry you had to do it the hard way this time, bubba, and I'm glad you're in Kansas anymore).”

Fault Line

“NASA had learned the hard way that the titleastronaut by itself had some significant cachet.”

Simon & Schuster: Riding Rockets

“Standing ramrod straight and always dressed in a suit, Fred Soper learned the hard way that even dramatically effective technological innovations can have perverse consequences.”

Simon & Schuster: Diffusion of Innovations

“I want to ask from where, but the hard way Belnap stares through the windshield and the way the car squeals around corners discourage me from any questions.”

Beach Road

“We learned the hard way to give the students their chocolate chip cookies as they were leaving the White House to go out to the South Grounds.”

Simon & Schuster: Barbara Bush