It's at the borders of pain and suffering that the men are

Hear, O children of struggle and triumph, the words of Emil Zatopek, the great runner of Czechoslovakia, who bore the weight of endurance and the fire of determination: “It’s at the borders of pain and suffering that the men are separated from the boys.” These words are not lightly spoken, for they come from a man who lived them on the track, who broke his body in the furnace of competition, and who discovered that greatness lies not in the ease of victory, but in the crucible where the weak falter and the strong endure.

The meaning of this saying is fierce and timeless. Life grants comfort to all in its beginning, but it is at the threshold of difficulty—where muscles burn, where breath falters, where hope itself trembles—that true character is revealed. The boys—those untested, those unwilling to suffer—turn back, seeking rest before the race is finished. But the men—the strong in spirit—press forward through agony, and in doing so, discover victory not only over their rivals, but over themselves. Pain is the gatekeeper of greatness, and those who endure it are reborn on the other side.

Consider the life of Zatopek himself. At the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, he ran not only the 5,000 meters and the 10,000 meters—winning both—but also entered the marathon, an event he had never run before. In that race, he pushed through exhaustion and doubt, smiling even as his body burned with suffering. He crossed the line first, completing a triple victory that has never been equaled. It was at the very borders of pain and suffering that Zatopek proved his words true, transcending the limits of body through the strength of will.

History bears other examples of this truth. Recall the Spartans at Thermopylae, who stood against an ocean of enemies. It was at the breaking point, when pain and suffering consumed them, that they revealed their greatness. They did not turn back, though death was certain; they stood and became immortal in memory. Likewise, every soldier, every prophet, every hero who has changed the course of the world has done so by enduring suffering beyond what the ordinary heart could bear.

Yet, Zatopek’s teaching is not only for the battlefield or the arena. It is for every soul who faces hardship. The worker who endures labor to feed his family, the mother who bears pain for the sake of her children, the student who struggles through failure until knowledge is won—all walk the line between quitting and persevering. In those moments, they too are tested at the border of pain, and in their endurance, they become strong.

The lesson is clear: do not flee when you meet the walls of suffering. These walls are not the end of the path, but the passage to greatness. Every man and woman will one day stand at this border. The question is not whether pain will come, but whether you will turn back or push forward. If you endure, you will find within yourself a strength you did not know you possessed.

As for practical action, train yourself in small things, so that when great trials come, your spirit is ready. Do not always choose the easy path—embrace difficulty as a teacher. When you feel like quitting, go one step further, for often greatness lies just beyond the point of surrender. Cultivate courage, patience, and resilience, for these are the weapons with which you cross the threshold. And above all, remember Zatopek’s truth: pain is not your enemy, but your gateway.

Thus, let his words burn in your heart: “It’s at the borders of pain and suffering that the men are separated from the boys.” Do not fear the border, for it is there that life reveals who you truly are. Embrace the trial, endure the suffering, and emerge not as one who fled, but as one who was tempered, proven, and made unbreakable.