If I have accomplished anything in life, it is because I have

Madam C. J. Walker, born into the shadows of poverty and oppression, once declared: “If I have accomplished anything in life, it is because I have been willing to work hard.” These words, forged in the crucible of struggle, are not the boast of pride but the humble truth of perseverance. For Walker was not handed wealth nor privilege; she carved her path with her own hands, with sweat upon her brow and determination in her soul. She reminds us that the power to rise is not given—it is earned through unyielding hard work.

The origin of this wisdom is found in her life story. Born Sarah Breedlove in 1867, the daughter of enslaved parents, she was orphaned at seven, married at fourteen, and widowed by twenty. She endured the harshest of beginnings, yet from this soil of adversity she cultivated a future no one could have imagined. She built a business empire in beauty and hair care, becoming the first self-made woman millionaire in America. Her accomplishments were not born of luck or ease, but of relentless labor, of rising each day with the will to overcome. Her words are her testimony: her triumphs were the harvest of her work.

The ancients, too, lifted up this principle. Hesiod, the Greek poet, wrote that “both gods and men despise the man who lives idle, like a stingless drone.” The Stoics taught that the noblest life is one lived with discipline, that toil refines the soul as fire tempers steel. In the East, Confucius spoke of diligence as the pathway to virtue, while the Proverbs of old declared, “The hand of the diligent makes rich.” Madam Walker’s declaration is thus not only her own, but part of an eternal chorus: to work hard is the path to accomplishment.

Consider the story of Abraham Lincoln. Born in a log cabin, with little formal schooling, he rose not by inheritance but by tireless effort. He read by firelight, taught himself law, and endured defeat after defeat in politics before he finally ascended to the presidency. His labor, like Walker’s, was relentless. His achievements, like hers, proved that true greatness is never stumbled upon—it is built, brick by brick, with the mortar of effort and perseverance.

The lesson is clear: those who wish to accomplish much must be willing to work much. Dreams alone cannot carry you to triumph. Ambition without labor is a mirage. The world offers no shortcuts that lead to honor, only detours that lead to ruin. If you desire success, you must be willing to give yourself fully to the struggle, as Walker did, as countless others did. For only those who sweat in the field may reap in the harvest.

Practical actions follow. Whatever your calling—be it study, craft, business, or service—devote yourself to it with diligence. Rise early, focus deeply, and push beyond comfort. When setbacks come, as they surely will, meet them not with despair but with persistence. Seek to learn from every failure, and let each trial forge your character stronger. In doing so, you will honor Walker’s wisdom: accomplishments are not accidents, but the fruit of unwavering labor.

Thus, O listeners, let the words of Madam C. J. Walker echo in your heart: “If I have accomplished anything in life, it is because I have been willing to work hard.” These words are not only her legacy, but a command to all who would rise above their circumstances. They remind us that destiny bows not to the idle, but to the diligent, not to the faint, but to the steadfast.

And remember this eternal truth: hard work is the great equalizer. It transcends birth, breaks chains, and builds empires. What you are willing to labor for is what you will one day hold. Work with courage, work with faith, and life will reward you as it rewarded her—with triumph that endures beyond the grave.