Difficulty, my brethren, is the nurse of greatness - a harsh nurse, who roughly rocks her foster children into strength and athletic proportion.
Interpretation
Challenges and difficulties are essential for personal growth and achieving greatness.
In this quote, Bryant emphasizes that adversity is a crucial factor in fostering greatness. The metaphor of difficulty as a 'nurse' suggests that while the road to strength and success may be harsh and demanding, it ultimately shapes individuals into their strongest selves, akin to how a tough yet nurturing caregiver develops resilience and skill in their charges.
In practice
In a motivational speech to inspire students to embrace challenges.
Come when the rains_x000D_ _x000D_ Have glazed the snow and clothed the trees with ice,_x000D_ _x000D_ While the slant sun of February pours_x000D_ _x000D_ Into the bowers a flood of light. Approach!_x000D_ _x000D_ The incrusted surface shall upbear thy steps_x000D_ _x000D_ And the broad arching portals of the grove_x000D_ _x000D_ Welcome thy entering.
Glorious are the woods in their latest gold and crimson,_x000D_ Yet our full-leaved willows are in the freshest green._x000D_ Such a kindly autumn, so mercifully dealing_x000D_ With the growths of summer, I never yet have seen.
Look on this beautiful world, and read the truth in her fair page.
When April winds_x000D_ Grew soft, the maple burst into a flush_x000D_ Of scarlet flowers. The tulip tree, high up,_x000D_ Opened in airs of June her multitude_x000D_ Of golden chalices to humming-birds_x000D_ And silken-wing'd insects of the sky.
There is no glory in star or blossom till looked upon by a loving eye; There is no fragrance in April breezes till breathed with joy as they wander by.
The sweet calm sunshine of October, now_x000D_ _x000D_ Warms the low spot; upon its grassy mold_x000D_ _x000D_ The pur0ple oak-leaf falls; the birchen bough_x000D_ _x000D_ drops its bright spoil like arrow-heads of gold.
If you've been doing all you can and it's not happening for you, go out and have you a good old time. Put on your sexy dress and move on.
Nothing is ever guaranteed, and all that came before doesn't predicate what you might do next.
I don't know how to thank you.' Then I will tell you. There is only one way I care for. Do better, and grow better, and be better.
The greatest mistake of the movement has been trying to organize a sleeping people around specific goals. You have to wake the people up first, then you'll get action.
Men, my brothers, men the workers, ever reaping something new.
You have to get out of your comfort zone in order to grow. And as an actor, you don't become Meryl Streep by doing the same type of comedy. You get there by being challenged. And unfortunately, there's a lack of roles for women of color, so you actually have to be the engineer creating some of those roles.
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