I believe in hard work, but I believe in vindication as well.

Hearken, O children of the ages, to the words of Cody Rhodes, who speaks with the voice of courage and resolve: “I believe in hard work, but I believe in vindication as well. You have a few nightmares, I imagine, before you reach your dream.” Here lies the eternal teaching that the path to fulfillment is paved with toil and trial, and that the soul must endure adversity and face the shadows before the brilliance of victory is attained.

In the chronicles of old, the elders observed that the journey to greatness is never without suffering. The labor of the body and spirit, the hard work poured into every effort, may seem invisible or unrewarded, yet it forms the crucible in which character and skill are forged. Rhodes reminds us that triumph is sweetened by struggle, and that vindication—the recognition of one’s perseverance and worth—comes only after the soul has weathered the storms of doubt, fear, and hardship.

The origin of this wisdom is ancient, found in the tales of warriors, artisans, and sages who sought mastery of their craft or destiny. Across battlefields, amphitheaters, and sacred halls, it was known that every hero encounters nightmares—moments of despair, challenge, and temptation to abandon the quest. Yet those who persist, guided by vision and effort, attain their dreams and find vindication not only in the world, but within the heart itself.

O seekers, understand that the dream is not given lightly, nor does success arrive without vigilance. To endure nightmares is to temper the spirit, to learn resilience, and to gain wisdom in the face of adversity. Hard work is the vessel through which potential becomes reality, and vindication is the reward for courage, discipline, and unyielding pursuit of purpose.

Let this teaching endure, children of the future: honor the labor of your hands and the devotion of your heart. Each challenge, each nightmare, is a sacred teacher, preparing you to claim the dream that awaits. By embracing struggle and continuing your hard work, the soul attains both mastery and justice, and the triumph is not fleeting, but eternal in its meaning.

In this eternal truth, the mortal learns that perseverance and courage are inseparable from the pursuit of greatness. Hard work, tempered by endurance through nightmares, leads to the radiant fulfillment of the dream, and vindication becomes the herald of effort, sacrifice, and unbroken spirit. Through this understanding, the path of the aspirant becomes heroic, illuminating the journey of all who seek purpose and glory.

If you wish, I can also craft a more poetic, ceremonial version, where hard work, nightmares, and vindication are depicted as sacred trials guiding the soul to the dream. Would you like me to do that?