Miracles sometimes occur, but one has to work terribly hard for

When Chaim Weizmann declares, “Miracles sometimes occur, but one has to work terribly hard for them,” he speaks as one who has lived not in the clouds of idle hope but in the furnace of struggle. His words carry the wisdom that destiny does not fall into the lap of the slothful. The miracle, though touched by the divine, is not bestowed upon those who wait idly — it is granted to those who labor with unyielding will, carving space for wonder through sweat and perseverance.

The origin of this truth lies in Weizmann’s own life, as a scientist, statesman, and the first President of Israel. He saw a dream that seemed impossible: a nation reborn after centuries of exile. Many would call such a vision a miracle, yet Weizmann knew it could not bloom without relentless toil. Negotiations, sacrifices, and unbroken faith were the stones laid upon the path toward that vision. Thus his words remind us that what the world calls miraculous is often the fruit of unseen, grueling work.

To say that one must labor for a miracle is to unite heaven and earth in a single truth. The divine may open the door, but man must walk through it. The blessing descends, but only upon those who have prepared themselves with diligence and discipline. This teaching is as old as the prophets: that faith without work is barren, and that even the hand of God honors the effort of human striving.

In this way, Weizmann strips away the illusion that miracles are random gifts. They are rare, yes, but they often bloom in the fields most furrowed by human effort. It is the farmer who tills the soil through blisters and weariness who stands ready to receive the unexpected rain. It is the warrior who endures the long campaign who recognizes salvation when it arrives. Miracles come, but only to those who have readied themselves through labor.

Let the generations remember: hope alone is not enough. One must bind hope to work, faith to endurance, and prayer to sweat. Then, and only then, may the heavens send forth their wonders. Weizmann’s words endure as both encouragement and admonition — that the path to the extraordinary is carved by ordinary hands that refuse to cease their labor.