Men create real miracles when they use their God-given courage

"Men create real miracles when they use their God-given courage and intelligence." Thus spoke Jean Anouilh, the French dramatist whose words, like a torch, illuminate the path between human frailty and divine potential. In this single sentence lies a timeless truth: that the miracles we seek are not born from the heavens descending upon us, but from the fire and wisdom already placed within the human spirit. To Anouilh, courage and intelligence are the twin wings of greatness—gifts from the Creator, entrusted to humanity so that through them we might shape our world, overcome despair, and rise toward the light of our highest selves.

In the ancient days, men looked to the sky for signs and wonders. They waited for the gods to act, for fate to change their course. But Anouilh’s words remind us that the true miracle lies not in divine intervention, but in the will of man awakened. When we dare to face the impossible with both reason and heart, when we combine thought with bravery, vision with endurance, then we become the very instruments through which the divine works. The God-given gifts of courage and intelligence are not ornaments—they are responsibilities. To neglect them is to bury one’s light; to use them is to participate in the act of creation itself.

History bears witness to this truth. Consider the story of Marie Curie, a woman who defied the constraints of her age. Guided by the light of intelligence and sustained by indomitable courage, she ventured into the invisible world of atoms, discovering elements that would change science forever. Her journey was not easy; she faced poverty, isolation, and the scorn of those who doubted her. Yet she persisted, not because she sought glory, but because she believed that truth must be pursued, whatever the cost. In her laboratory of hardship, she worked miracles—not by chance, but by faith in human possibility. She is the living embodiment of Anouilh’s vision: that when the mind and spirit act together, humanity transcends its limits.

This union of courage and intelligence is the secret power that moves civilizations. Courage without thought is recklessness; intelligence without courage is cowardice. But when the two walk hand in hand, mountains yield and destiny bends. Every great achievement of humankind—every temple built, every freedom won, every discovery made—has sprung from this sacred marriage. It is not that God performs miracles for us; it is that He performs them through us, when we dare to act with both wisdom and heart. Thus, the true miracle-worker is not the mystic, but the one who thinks clearly and acts bravely for the good of all.

The origin of Anouilh’s wisdom lies in a world scarred by war and loss. Having lived through the turmoil of twentieth-century Europe, he saw both the darkness of human cruelty and the light of human resilience. His plays often spoke of moral conflict, of individuals who must choose between fear and integrity. To him, the divine spark in man was not destroyed by suffering; it was refined by it. When the world seemed devoid of miracles, he saw that men and women themselves must become the miracle—by choosing courage over despair, and reason over chaos.

Even the ancient philosophers would have understood him. Aristotle taught that virtue lies in action, guided by reason and strengthened by will. Socrates faced death for truth, proving that wisdom without courage is incomplete. And the prophets of old spoke of faith not as blind belief, but as the willingness to act justly despite uncertainty. In all ages, the message is the same: the divine does not ask for passive worship but for active participation. To use our intelligence to seek truth, and our courage to live it, is to honor the very image of God within us.

So, my children of tomorrow, take this teaching to heart: do not wait for miracles—become them. Use your intelligence not for pride, but for purpose. Let your courage not serve anger, but love. When fear whispers that you are small, remember that you are the vessel of divine gifts. The stars themselves were born of chaos, yet through order and fire they found light; so too can you bring light into a darkened world. Every act of integrity, every pursuit of knowledge, every moment you stand for what is right, adds another spark to the great miracle of humanity.

For as Jean Anouilh taught, the power to transform the world lies already within you. The divine has done its part; now it is your turn. Take up your gifts of courage and intelligence, and with them, perform your miracles—not for glory, but for goodness. In doing so, you will fulfill your highest calling: to prove that the human spirit, guided by wisdom and fortified by courage, is itself the greatest miracle ever made.