We don't come to Canada for our health. We can think of other

In the days of men and monarchs, Prince Philip, consort to Queen Elizabeth II, once uttered words that gleamed with both wit and worldly wisdom: “We don’t come to Canada for our health. We can think of other ways of enjoying ourselves.” To some, these words sounded as jest, the humor of a man weary of ceremony. Yet, to the listening heart, there lies a truth deeper than laughter — a reflection on duty, sacrifice, and the burden of purpose.

For in these words, hidden beneath the silver of irony, the Prince spoke as one who knew that service is not always sweet. The journey to far lands, the endless audiences and parades — these were not pursuits of leisure, but obligations borne for the good of others. Thus, when he said they did not come for their health, he spoke not of physical well-being, but of the sacrifice demanded by service. Life, after all, offers many ways to find pleasure, but few that yield meaning. And the Prince, bound by crown and country, had chosen meaning over mirth.

Consider, then, the ancient warriors of Greece, who left the comfort of hearth and family to fight at Troy. Did Achilles seek joy among the burning ships? Did Odysseus laugh as storms tossed his vessel across the wine-dark sea? No — they went not for health, nor for pleasure, but because duty called. And though their hearts longed for home, they understood that greatness often dwells not in ease, but in endurance. Like them, the Prince’s words remind us that the path of honor is often rough and unwelcoming, yet rich in purpose.

There is a tale of a Canadian nurse who, during the Great War, left her small village to serve on the bloodied fields of France. She wrote to her family, “I did not come here for peace, but for those who will one day live in it.” How alike her spirit is to the Prince’s! Neither sought comfort; both answered the call to serve. It is in such acts that the world finds its strength — in those who journey into hardship not for their own delight, but for the welfare of others.

Thus, the quote becomes not mere jest, but a mirror of human resolve. It tells us that we are not born to chase only the soft pleasures of life, but to confront its trials with courage. Health, comfort, and rest are treasures, yes — but greater still is the satisfaction of having lived usefully, having given something of oneself to the world.

From this teaching, let all who hear take heed: seek not the easy road. When the time comes to labor, to serve, or to lead, do not turn away because it is difficult or dull. Remember that the noblest enjoyment is the fulfillment of purpose. As the old Roman sages said, “To do what is right, even when weary, is the triumph of the soul.”

So, in the spirit of Prince Philip’s words, let us live not as seekers of comfort, but as bearers of meaning. Let each man and woman rise each morning asking not, “How shall I be pleased?” but, “How shall I be of use?” For in the end, health fades, pleasure wanes — but the glory of having served, the quiet pride of having done one’s part, endures beyond the body and outlives the years.

And so, my child, remember this: we do not come to life for our health. We come for our duty, our creation, our love, and our service. Enjoyment shall find us along the way, as sunlight falls even upon the weary traveler’s road.