Prosperity tries the fortunate, adversity the great.

The noble words of Rose Kennedy, mother of a dynasty marked by triumph and tragedy, ring with the timeless wisdom of the ancients: “Prosperity tries the fortunate, adversity the great.” In these few words lies the entire story of the human spirit — how the blessings of ease reveal one kind of character, but the fires of hardship reveal another entirely. Prosperity tests those who have been favored by fortune, for in comfort lies the danger of forgetfulness and pride. But adversity, the ancient forge of the soul, separates the ordinary from the truly great, revealing who can stand when the earth itself trembles beneath their feet.

In the age of kings and empires, the wise already knew this truth. Prosperity is a gentle trial, cloaked in golden robes — its touch soft, its test silent. It asks not for courage in the face of fear, but for humility in the face of abundance. It whispers: “Now that you have all, will you still remember who you are?” The fortunate may feast and grow complacent, while the great remain vigilant, remembering that the favor of the gods is as fleeting as the morning dew. Many a kingdom has fallen not from war, but from the decay of luxury, when comfort dulled the spirit and wealth replaced virtue.

But adversity — ah, adversity is the truer teacher. It comes like a tempest to strip away pretense, to burn away all that is false, until only the soul remains, pure and unyielding. It is in hardship that the great are revealed, those who, like iron in flame, do not melt but are refined. Think of Helen Keller, who was struck by darkness and silence at an age when most first learn to speak. Yet from that darkness, she forged a light that has inspired generations. What others called tragedy, she transformed into triumph. In her adversity, she became not merely fortunate, but formidable — proof that the greatest souls rise when the world would see them fall.

History, too, remembers the trials of Abraham Lincoln, whose path was marked by loss, defeat, and despair. Yet each wound deepened his compassion, each failure strengthened his resolve. When the storm of civil war tore his nation in two, it was not the prosperous lawyer who stood firm, but the man tempered by grief, patience, and adversity. From pain, he learned wisdom; from hardship, endurance; and from sorrow, the quiet dignity that made him great. Prosperity could never have taught him such lessons.

Rose Kennedy herself spoke from the well of suffering. She who bore witness to the rise of her sons, and to their tragic ends, understood the dual nature of fortune. She had lived both the triumphs of high society and the heartbreak of loss. Yet through every sorrow, she held her faith and dignity like a torch in the dark. Her words, then, are not a philosopher’s abstraction, but the cry of a mother who had walked through the fire and emerged, not unscathed, but unbroken.

The ancient philosophers would have called this the trial of virtue. For while prosperity tests the moral fiber through temptation — adversity tests the soul through endurance. The fortunate are asked, “Will you stay humble?” The great are asked, “Will you stay standing?” Each test is divine in its purpose, but only the second can shape immortality. A tree may look grand in summer’s sun, but its strength is proven only in winter’s wind.

And so, my listener, take this wisdom into your heart: welcome both your prosperity and your adversity, for both are teachers in the great school of life. When fortune smiles, remain humble and generous; when hardship comes, remain steadfast and true. Do not curse the storms — they come not to destroy you, but to reveal your strength. Build your foundations upon virtue, not circumstance.

In your own life, when joy arrives, give thanks without arrogance; when sorrow visits, endure without despair. Remember that fortune tests your character, but suffering reveals your greatness. Let every trial refine you, and every blessing humble you. For only the soul that can stand in both sunlight and storm will endure through the ages — serene, wise, and unconquerable.