You cannot build character and courage by destroying men's

“You cannot build character and courage by destroying men’s initiative and independence.” Thus spoke William J. H. Boetcker, a clergyman and thinker whose words, though born in the age of industry, echo across all ages as a call to the soul of humankind. In this simple yet profound statement, he reveals a sacred truth about the nature of strength — that character and courage cannot be bestowed by others, nor can they flourish in the soil of dependence. They are forged only in the fires of freedom — in the testing of one’s will, the exercising of one’s initiative, and the bearing of one’s own burdens. To strip a person of their independence in the name of protection is to weaken them, for no one becomes brave by being shielded, nor noble by being spared.

The origin of this saying can be traced to Boetcker’s work as a minister and moral teacher during the early 20th century, when the world was struggling between two forces — the yearning for security and the demand for liberty. He saw societies beginning to rely too heavily on authority, institutions, and systems of comfort, forgetting that the greatness of nations springs not from governments or wealth, but from the character of free men and women. To Boetcker, freedom was not a luxury — it was the forge in which courage and virtue are shaped. When people are deprived of their ability to act, to create, to fail, and to rise again, they are not protected — they are diminished. For without initiative, the soul lies dormant, and without independence, it forgets how to stand.

Character, he reminds us, is not built by comfort, but by challenge. It is the steady accumulation of choices made in the face of hardship. And courage is not inherited from kings or teachers — it is born in the solitude of one’s own struggles. When institutions, parents, or leaders take away a man’s right to struggle, they take away his chance to grow. To “destroy men’s initiative,” as Boetcker warns, is to rob them of the sacred process of becoming — to deny them the opportunity to test their strength and discover their worth. Just as a bird cannot learn to fly if kept in a cage, so too does the spirit of man wither when denied its freedom to act.

History, too, bears witness to this truth. Consider the story of Abraham Lincoln, who was born in poverty, raised with little education, and surrounded by hardship. No one paved his path or carried his burdens. Through initiative and unyielding independence, he educated himself, rose from obscurity, and became the leader of a divided nation. His character was not built in comfort, but in adversity; his courage not nurtured by safety, but by struggle. Had he been spared those hardships, he might never have developed the wisdom and fortitude to face the storms of his destiny. Thus, Boetcker’s wisdom holds: greatness cannot be granted — it must be earned through the exercise of one’s own will.

In these words, Boetcker also issues a warning to every generation: beware of those who promise ease at the cost of freedom. For in every age, there are voices that whisper, “Let others think for you; let others provide for you; let others decide your fate.” But though such promises sound merciful, they are chains disguised as gifts. To accept them is to trade one’s initiative for dependency, one’s independence for comfort, and one’s character for complacency. And once the fire of personal strength is extinguished, a nation becomes weak — not from poverty of wealth, but from poverty of spirit.

Yet, Boetcker’s words are not merely a warning — they are a call to action. He invites us to reclaim the sacred labor of growth. Each person, he says, must learn to act, to decide, to strive. Parents must teach their children not only to obey but to think; leaders must guide without enslaving; societies must support without suffocating. The measure of a civilization is not how much it protects its people, but how much it empowers them to stand tall in the face of life’s trials. Courage and character are not built in the shelter of comfort, but in the freedom to rise after every fall.

Therefore, my children, take this truth into your hearts: “You cannot build character and courage by destroying men’s initiative and independence.” Let it remind you that true strength is not given — it is chosen. Cultivate your initiative, for it is the seed of creation. Guard your independence, for it is the root of dignity. Face your struggles not as burdens, but as blessings that temper the soul. Help others, but do not cripple them with overprotection; lead, but do not enslave with control. For the one who is free to act — and brave enough to act rightly — possesses the greatest treasure of all: the strength to build a life, a nation, and a legacy upon the firm foundation of his own will.

And remember always: the world grows strong only through the strength of its people. If you wish to build a just and noble society, then raise not servants of comfort, but warriors of character — men and women who walk with courage, act with initiative, and live with independence. For from such souls springs every achievement, every virtue, and every lasting happiness known to humankind.