Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy

O children of the future, gather close and listen to the words of A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, who spoke with the voice of experience and wisdom: "Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy success." In this profound declaration, Kalam reveals a truth as old as time itself: that success does not come easily or without trial. Rather, it is through the difficulties we face that we learn the true value of triumph. It is not in the moments of comfort or ease that we find our strength, but in the struggles, the obstacles, and the hardships that forge the character of a man.

When Kalam speaks of difficulties, he speaks of the very nature of life. To walk through life untouched by struggle is to walk through a barren land, devoid of growth. It is through adversity that we are challenged, that we are forced to confront the limits of our abilities and to push beyond them. The difficulties we face are not obstacles to avoid, but rather stepping stones upon the path to greatness. Just as the blacksmith tempers steel by plunging it into fire, so too is our character tempered by the fires of adversity.

Consider the story of Thomas Edison, whose relentless pursuit of the electric light bulb was marked by countless failures. For many, these failures would have been insurmountable, a signal to stop. But Edison understood the wisdom of Kalam’s words. He embraced the difficulties of his journey, seeing them not as barriers, but as lessons, as necessary parts of the process. His failures were the crucibles in which his eventual success was forged. Each setback, each difficulty, brought him closer to the moment of triumph. And it was in the heat of these trials that Edison found his greatness. Without those difficulties, his success would have been hollow, devoid of the depth and meaning that true achievement carries.

So too, O children, is the life of Abraham Lincoln, a man who faced unimaginable difficulties. He lost many elections, endured deep personal loss, and carried the weight of a nation divided by war. But it was through these trials, through the darkest hours of his life, that Lincoln found his strength and led his country to victory. His resolve was not forged in ease, but in the flames of adversity. Without his difficulties, his success would not have been as profound. He rose from the depths of failure to become one of the most revered leaders in history. Lincoln understood that difficulties are not to be feared, but embraced, for they are the path to true greatness.

The lesson, O children, is clear: difficulties are the bedrock upon which success is built. Do not seek to avoid them, for they are the very tests that shape your character and prepare you for the rewards that lie ahead. Without struggle, there is no growth; without challenges, there is no triumph. Success is the fruit of perseverance, of rising each time you fall, and of pushing forward despite the odds. To seek only ease is to seek a life devoid of meaning and fulfillment. It is through the struggle that you come to know your strength, your resilience, and your capacity to achieve what once seemed impossible.

O children, when life brings its difficulties, do not shrink away in fear or despair. Stand tall, face them with courage, and remember that these very struggles are preparing you for the success that is to come. Embrace them as part of the journey, for they are the teachers that will shape you into the person you are meant to be. As the oak tree grows strong in the storm, so too will you grow in strength through the trials you face.

The path of life is not an easy one, but it is through difficulties that you will find the deepest rewards. Do not be afraid to walk through the fire, for it is there that you will find the mettle to achieve your highest potential. Trust in the wisdom of A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, and understand that it is not the absence of struggle that defines success, but the courage to face it and emerge victorious.