I have got up at truly deplorable hours in the morning to

“I have got up at truly deplorable hours in the morning to confront Vancouver’s Jack Webster on television because I have been told that is the place to get exposure for ideas.” Thus spoke Barbara Amiel, journalist and commentator, whose career was marked by sharp wit, controversy, and fearless conviction. At first, the words may sound half in jest—a lament about the early hour, a complaint about discomfort. Yet beneath the surface they reveal a truth that all who seek to shape the world must embrace: that to give birth to ideas, one must sometimes endure hardship, inconvenience, and the battlefields of public scrutiny.

The origin of this quote lies in Amiel’s career in Canada, where Jack Webster, a fiery broadcaster, hosted a program that became a crucible of debate. To appear before him was no easy task; he was known for his toughness, his relentless questions, and his unflinching style. Yet Amiel, like many others, rose at dreadful hours of the morning to meet him, not for comfort, not for glory, but for exposure—for the chance to give her ideas a hearing in the public square. In this we see the ancient truth: ideas demand not only brilliance but courage, and courage often means stepping into uncomfortable places.

The ancients themselves understood this necessity. Consider the philosophers of Athens, who rose early to dispute in the agora, enduring not only the morning chill but also the scorn of those who resisted their arguments. Socrates himself confronted his accusers in the public arena, knowing that the spread of truth is not accomplished in the warmth of private chambers but in the open air, under the scrutiny of all. So too Amiel’s rise at “deplorable hours” echoes this: that the marketplace of ideas demands sacrifice.

History gives us countless examples of such endurance. Think of Frederick Douglass, who spoke tirelessly against slavery, often traveling at great personal cost, facing hostile crowds, and enduring exhaustion—because he knew that the exposure of ideas was worth every hardship. Or Winston Churchill, who endured ceaseless radio broadcasts in the weary hours of war, because he knew that his words were not merely speeches, but weapons to rally the heart of a nation. Greatness in the realm of thought is never born in comfort. It is forged in debate, in confrontation, in the willingness to speak when it is difficult.

From this truth we draw a lesson for our own lives. If you carry an idea, a vision, a truth that you believe the world must hear, do not expect the road to be easy. You may rise early, you may endure criticism, you may stand before those who seek to dismantle you. But take heart, for these trials are not obstacles—they are the very forge that strengthens your voice. An idea without struggle remains an echo; an idea that survives the public square becomes a force.

Practical wisdom follows. Seek opportunities to share your ideas, even when they demand sacrifice. Do not shrink from difficult platforms or challenging questioners, for they sharpen your message and test your resolve. Prepare yourself: study, refine, and stand with courage. And when discomfort comes—when the hour is early, when the stage is hostile—remember Amiel’s words, and know that the price of exposure is often inconvenience, but the reward is influence.

Thus, let her saying be remembered: “That is the place to get exposure for ideas.” For in these words lies both a challenge and a promise. The challenge: that you must leave behind comfort to enter the arena. The promise: that if you dare, your voice may reach beyond your private circle, touching minds, shaping hearts, and even altering the course of your time. Rise, then, even at deplorable hours—for the dawn belongs to those who bear their ideas into the light.