To find out what one is fitted to do, and to secure an

In his profound words, John Dewey, the philosopher of progress and human purpose, declared: “To find out what one is fitted to do, and to secure an opportunity to do it, is the key to happiness.” These are not the musings of idle thought, but the distillation of a lifetime spent observing the inner workings of the human spirit. Dewey, who believed education was the art of awakening potential, reminds us that happiness is not found in wealth or comfort, but in purpose — in discovering the task our soul was born to fulfill, and in having the freedom and means to perform it. For the greatest misery of man is not labor, but labor without meaning.

To “find out what one is fitted to do” is to embark upon the oldest journey of all — the quest for the self. Every person carries within them a unique flame, a certain calling, a rhythm that is theirs alone. Some are born to teach, others to heal; some to build, others to create. Yet most wander through life unaware of their true nature, striving for what the world admires rather than what their spirit requires. Dewey’s words call us to pause and look inward — to listen for the quiet voice beneath the noise of ambition — for that voice speaks the truth of who we are meant to become.

But Dewey, ever the practical philosopher, knew that discovery alone is not enough. What use is a singer’s song if no one allows him to sing? Thus he added, “and to secure an opportunity to do it.” For joy comes not merely from knowing one’s gift, but from being able to use it in service of the world. Opportunity is the soil in which purpose takes root. Without it, even the most brilliant mind withers in silence. The farmer who loves the earth but is denied his land, the artist who sees beauty but is denied a canvas — these are tragedies not of talent, but of injustice. True happiness arises only when the world gives each person the chance to live according to their design.

In history, we find countless souls who discovered this truth through hardship. Consider Vincent van Gogh, a man tormented by rejection, who wandered through many trades before realizing his soul belonged to the brush. Though he sold but one painting in his lifetime, he continued to paint with passion, for he had found what he was fitted to do. His joy was not in fame, but in expression — in the sacred act of bringing color to the canvas of existence. Even in poverty and madness, he wrote to his brother, “I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart.” In those words, we hear the echo of Dewey’s teaching: happiness is found not in results, but in right work.

There is also the story of Florence Nightingale, who defied her family’s expectations to follow her calling as a nurse. In an age when women of her class were forbidden such labor, she saw beyond convention to the need of the world. Her discovery of purpose led her into the darkest of places — war hospitals reeking of death — yet there she found light. For in healing others, she herself was made whole. Through her courage and vision, the care of the wounded was transformed forever. Nightingale’s happiness was not comfort, but service; not ease, but the fulfillment of her destiny.

Thus, Dewey’s wisdom reveals the harmony between knowledge of self and action in the world. To know one’s gift is to discover a sacred trust; to exercise it is to honor life itself. This is the path to happiness — not a fleeting joy of pleasure, but a deep peace that comes from alignment between the inner and the outer, between soul and circumstance. The man or woman who finds this balance walks as one aflame with quiet joy, for their labor is no longer a burden, but a form of worship.

So, my child, seek not merely success, but suitability. Do not ask, “What will bring me gain?” but “What was I made to give?” Search your heart and observe where your effort feels alive, where time disappears, where your soul sings. Then, once you have found that sacred task, fight for the chance to perform it — for that is your right and your duty. Happiness does not come to those who chase pleasure, but to those who fulfill purpose. Remember always: to know your work is wisdom; to do it is joy.