Passion is what gets you through the hardest times that might

Hear, O seekers of strength, the burning words of Neil deGrasse Tyson, who declared: “Passion is what gets you through the hardest times that might otherwise make strong men weak, or make you give up.” In these words lies the essence of endurance, the secret fire that sustains the human spirit when flesh fails, when reason falters, when all else seems lost. For there are trials so great that even the strongest of arms bend, yet the soul lit with passion burns on, carrying a man where sheer strength alone cannot.

The origin of this saying comes from Tyson’s reflections not only on science but on life itself. As an astrophysicist, he has walked a path of difficulty, striving to understand the mysteries of the cosmos while facing doubts, challenges, and the indifference of a world that often looks elsewhere. He speaks as one who knows that passion—the deep, unyielding love for a purpose—is the force that transforms struggle into triumph. Muscles may tire, wealth may fail, friends may leave, but passion endures like the flame that survives the storm.

History resounds with examples of this truth. Consider the tale of Thomas Edison, who failed thousands of times before he perfected the light bulb. By sheer calculation, any man would have surrendered; the burden of repeated defeat would have broken even the strongest. Yet his passion for illumination, his vision of bringing light to the world, lifted him through the darkness of failure. Without that fire, the world might still have lingered in shadow.

Or look to the journey of Nelson Mandela, who endured decades of imprisonment under the crushing weight of apartheid. The iron bars could weaken his body, the long years could have turned his spirit to despair, yet his passion for justice, his unwavering vision of freedom for his people, sustained him. When others might have surrendered, he emerged unbroken, a symbol of hope for a nation. Here was the living proof of Tyson’s words: that passion is the unyielding strength when all else is spent.

Even in the realm of discovery, the principle holds true. The explorers who set sail across uncharted seas, like Columbus or Magellan, faced storms, mutinies, and fears beyond imagining. Many perished, yet those who pressed forward did so not because of comfort or ease, but because passion for discovery burned hotter than fear. Passion gives vision to the blind, courage to the fearful, endurance to the weary. It is the divine spark that transforms weakness into victory.

Therefore, O listener, the lesson is clear: cultivate passion within your heart, for it is the surest ally against despair. Ask yourself: what vision burns so fiercely in you that no hardship could extinguish it? What dream, if denied, would leave you restless even in comfort? Find it, embrace it, and let it carry you through storms. Without passion, the journey of life will weary you. With it, you will stride through fire and not be consumed.

Practical action lies before you. Do not merely drift upon the tides of duty or necessity; anchor yourself in a purpose that ignites your spirit. When trials come—and they will—return to that fire, and let it remind you why you began. Nourish your passion with study, with practice, with companionship, and with faith. In this way, no matter how heavy the burden, you will not give up, for your soul will be carried by a flame that cannot be quenched.

So remember the wisdom of Neil deGrasse Tyson: “Passion is what gets you through the hardest times.” Let this truth be your guide, for though strength fades and fortune changes, the heart that burns with passion is unbreakable. And such a heart will not only endure—it will triumph.