Success is dependent upon the glands - sweat glands.

“Success is dependent upon the glands—sweat glands,” declared Zig Ziglar, a man whose words turned ordinary lives into extraordinary journeys. Though spoken with humor, his wisdom is sharp as a sword: true achievement is not born from wishful thinking or idle dreams, but from the labor of the body, the discipline of the mind, and the perseverance of the spirit. No crown has ever been placed on a head without the shoulders beneath first bearing the weight of toil.

The ancients knew this truth well. They proclaimed: “The gods give seeds, but man must till the earth.” Even the divine gift withers without the sweat of mortal effort. Sweat is not merely the moisture of the body, but the symbol of sacrifice, endurance, and unwavering devotion. Ziglar reminds us that every victory—whether on the battlefield, in the marketplace, or in the quiet struggles of daily life—flows first from the willingness to sweat, to labor, to give of oneself when comfort whispers to surrender.

Let us recall the story of Thomas Edison, who brought forth light from darkness. He did not wait for inspiration alone; he labored through thousands of trials, his hands stained, his body weary, his mind relentless. He once said that genius is “one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” It is as though Ziglar echoed Edison’s creed: without the sweat glands, there is no progress, no invention, no enduring success. Every filament that failed was paid for with sweat, and every spark that glowed was earned through perseverance.

Or consider the warriors of Sparta, who stood at Thermopylae. Their glory was not purchased in the hour of battle alone but forged in countless days of training, sweat pouring from their bodies under the weight of discipline. When they stood against the Persians, they did not fear, for their sweat had already prepared them for blood. Victory and valor were born not from chance, but from toil. Thus we see that the sweat glands are indeed the sacred foundation of triumph.

Ziglar’s words strip away the illusions of easy greatness. Too often, men and women long for success but spurn the path that leads to it. They seek shortcuts, favor comfort, and complain when the harvest is small. Yet the wise know: the soil gives only to those who labor with patience, the body strengthens only through effort, and the soul matures only through trial. Sweat is the visible mark of commitment, the seal of the earnest, the sacrifice of those unwilling to settle for mediocrity.

The lesson, therefore, is both simple and demanding: if you desire success, embrace labor. Do not fear the burning of your muscles, the sting of fatigue, the weight of persistence. For every drop of sweat spilled today is a stone laid in the foundation of tomorrow’s greatness. Without it, even the noblest dreams remain shadows; with it, even the humblest efforts may rise into monuments of achievement.

Practical counsel follows: rise each day with work set before you. Whether your task is the building of a business, the training of the body, or the pursuit of knowledge, let discipline be your companion. When fatigue whispers, let determination answer. When doubt creeps in, let the memory of sweat remind you that you are forging yourself in the fire of perseverance. Keep a vision in your heart, but know that the road to it is paved with effort, with endurance, and yes—with sweat.

So, O seekers of greatness, let this teaching guide you: success is not granted, it is earned. It does not come to the idle, but to the laborer whose brow is wet, whose back is bent, whose will is unbroken. Honor your sweat, for it is the true coin with which triumph is purchased. And remember always the wisdom of Ziglar: the path to glory flows not through ease, but through the humble, sacred work of the sweat glands.