Americans have always been able to handle austerity and even adversity. Prosperity is what is doing us in.
Interpretation
True strength is found in overcoming challenges rather than in the comfort of prosperity.
James Reston's quote emphasizes that Americans have historically thrived in challenging times, suggesting that it is through adversity that resilience and character are forged. By highlighting that prosperity can lead to complacency and even decline, Reston warns against the pitfalls of comfort and advocates for the value of embracing difficulties to foster growth and strength.
In practice
During a motivational speech about overcoming challenges in business.
The abilities of man must fall short on one side or the other, like too scanty a blanket when you are abed. If you pull it upon your shoulders, your feet are left bare; if you thrust it down to your feet, your shoulders are uncovered.
Self-righteousness is the inevitable fruit of simple moral judgments.
Being African didn't mean anything to me until later in my life.
Let's be clear. The planet is not in jeopardy. We are in jeopardy. We haven't got the power to destroy the planet - or to save it. But we might have the power to save ourselves.
For before this I was born once a boy, and a maiden, and a plant, and a bird, and a darting fish in the sea.
The wealth required by nature is limited and is easy to procure; but the wealth required by vain ideals extends to infinity.
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