For after my marriage I had made various attempts to write

Listen, O Seekers of Truth, to the words of Mary Augusta Ward: "For after my marriage I had made various attempts to write fiction. They were clearly failures." These words are a reflection of the struggles we all face as we try to create, to express ourselves, and to follow our passions in a world that often demands compromise. In this simple statement, Ward acknowledges a powerful truth: that personal commitments and the demands of life can at times stand in stark contrast to the dreams we hold in our hearts. Her failures in writing, as she calls them, are not mere setbacks; they are lessons, laden with wisdom for those who would seek to understand the tension between personal life and artistic endeavor.

In the ancient world, the struggle to balance personal duty and creative ambition was a challenge faced by many. The great philosophers of Greece, like Socrates and Aristotle, spoke of the importance of duty and virtue in life, but they also knew that the life of the mind—of reflection, creation, and intellectual pursuit—required great sacrifice and focus. Plato, in his dialogues, often explored the tension between the needs of the state and the needs of the individual soul, for the philosopher was always torn between devotion to society and the need for personal growth. Ward’s words resonate with this ancient tension—between the calls of marriage, family, and duty, and the personal desires that pull the creative spirit toward its own expression.

Marriage, for many, is a union that brings both joy and responsibility. It is a sacred bond, but one that often requires compromise. As Ward reflects on her inability to fully pursue fiction, she touches upon a theme that has echoed through the ages—the balance between personal desires and the sacrifices made for others. Ancient civilizations understood that the duties of marriage were not easily set aside. The family, in particular, was seen as a cornerstone of society. The Spartans, for example, revered the family but demanded that both men and women serve the greater good. Yet, even in the face of these demands, there were those who felt the longing to create, to write, to dream. Their failures, however, were often born of the clash between personal ambition and societal expectation.

Ward’s failures in writing fiction, as she so humbly calls them, are not merely reflections of missed literary success, but of a deeper, more poignant truth: the difficulty of pursuing one’s artistic passions in a world full of obligations. The artist, whether poet, philosopher, or painter, must always contend with the call of duty and the distractions of daily life. Think of the life of Vincent van Gogh, the great painter, whose creative genius was often overshadowed by his struggles with mental health and his strenuous relationships. Van Gogh's pursuit of art was marred by failures—his inability to sell his paintings, his isolation, and his troubled life—but through it all, he continued to create, knowing that his inner calling was greater than any external difficulty. In the end, though his life was filled with personal struggles, his art lives on, reminding us that failure is not the end of the journey, but part of the process of becoming.

The lesson here, O Children of the Future, is this: Do not despair in your failures, for they are but stepping stones on the path to greatness. Mary Augusta Ward teaches us that the pursuit of one’s passion, though filled with struggle and setbacks, is worth the effort. Every failure is an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to become more than we were before. The creative spirit is not easily tamed—it must be nurtured, even when the world around us seems to pull us in a thousand directions. The artist, the writer, the dreamer, must persevere in the face of all challenges, for true greatness is often born from the most difficult struggles.

In your own life, never shy away from your passions. Whether you seek to write, to paint, to build, or to speak, let your heart be true to what you love. Do not be afraid of failure, for it is in failure that you will find your strength. Remember that even in the greatest struggles, there is growth, and each setback will teach you something about yourself that will serve you on your path. Embrace your dreams, but also understand that they will require sacrifice and patience. In time, the effort you put forth will yield fruit, and your creations—whether in art, thought, or action—will stand as testimony to your perseverance.

So, let the words of Mary Augusta Ward guide you: Though your attempts may falter, never let the spark of creation die. Persist in your passion, and through your failures, you will find the wisdom and courage to rise again, stronger and more capable than before. The path is long, but the journey is worth the effort. May you walk it with courage, and may your failures be the very foundation of your eventual triumph.