Nothing is given to man on earth - struggle is built into the

“Nothing is given to man on earth—struggle is built into the nature of life, and conflict is possible—the hero is the man who lets no obstacle prevent him from pursuing the values he has chosen.” Thus spoke Andrew Bernstein, philosopher and defender of reason, whose words carry the fire of timeless truth. In them we hear the echo of the ancients: that life is not ease, but trial; not comfort, but challenge. And yet, within this truth lies the seed of greatness—that the measure of a person is not whether obstacles arise, but whether he endures, persists, and remains faithful to his chosen values.

The meaning of this teaching is both sobering and inspiring. Bernstein reminds us that life offers no guarantees, no gifts freely bestowed. The earth does not bend itself to man’s will without toil, and fortune does not favor the passive. Struggle is woven into existence itself, and conflict springs not only from nature but from the clashing desires of human beings. Yet it is precisely this arena of difficulty that gives rise to the hero. For the hero is not one who avoids suffering, but one who confronts it with unshakable resolve, forging meaning through the fire of adversity.

This vision of life is as old as humanity. The Greeks knew it well when they told of Odysseus, who, though battered by storms, monsters, and the wrath of gods, never abandoned his quest to return to his home. His journey was nothing but obstacles, yet his determination revealed his greatness. Likewise, Nelson Mandela, imprisoned for decades, refused to let chains break his spirit. His chosen value—freedom for his people—remained firm, and through conflict he became a hero not only to his nation but to the world. In each of these, we see Bernstein’s truth embodied: struggle is inescapable, but heroism is possible.

The origin of Bernstein’s words rests in the philosophy of Objectivism, influenced by Ayn Rand, which holds that life’s highest calling is the pursuit of one’s rational values. To live authentically is to choose deliberately the principles and purposes that give meaning to existence, and then to pursue them with courage despite hardship. Bernstein’s words are not a lament about struggle but a rallying cry: to live is to struggle, and to struggle for what one has freely chosen is to rise toward the heroic.

There is also a deep moral command hidden in these words. For if the hero is defined not by gifts or birth but by perseverance, then heroism is available to all. One need not be mighty in stature or born into privilege. The battlefield of life is common to all men and women. What distinguishes the hero is not the absence of fear or pain, but the refusal to surrender to them. Thus, heroism is not rare by nature—it is rare by choice, for too many yield to despair when hardship arrives.

The lesson, then, is clear: choose your values wisely, and once chosen, hold to them with all your strength. Do not let the storms of circumstance or the whispers of doubt sway you. Whether your chosen value is justice, truth, freedom, love, or knowledge, make it the banner under which you march, and let no obstacle turn you aside. In this way, you live not as a victim of fate but as a warrior of spirit, a hero in the truest sense.

Therefore, dear listener, take Bernstein’s words into your heart as a shield and sword. Expect struggle—do not curse it. Expect conflict—do not flee it. For these are not punishments, but the proving ground of your soul. When the path grows dark, remember Odysseus steering his ship, Mandela enduring his prison, and countless unnamed heroes who pressed on through storms of their own. Be steadfast, be unyielding, be faithful to the values you have chosen. For in the end, nothing is given, but everything is possible to the one who refuses to surrender. And such a one is truly heroic.