Adversity Builds Character

Adversity builds character. The challenges we face teach us resourcefulness, self-

reliance, courage, patience, perseverance, and self-discipline. Challenges have a way of bringing

out talents and creativity in people that otherwise they might have never discovered. Horace once

said, “Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would have

lain dormant.”

Beethoven, for example, suffered from difficulty with hearing. He also had a problem

with his relations with women. These caused him to go in a state of depression. After dealing

with depression, he came up with a determination that helped him mark his re-entry in the world

of music. It was during this time that he composed many of his famous symphonies. It is evident

that his difficulties are reflected in his compositions.

Another example is the life of the well-known Walt Disney. Today Disney rakes in

billions from merchandise, movies and theme parks around the world, but Walt Disney himself

had a bit of a rough start. He was fired by a newspaper editor because, "he lacked imagination

and had no good ideas." After that, Disney started numerous businesses that didn't last too long

and ended with bankruptcy and failure. He kept plugging along, however, and eventually

discovered something that made him very successful.

Beethoven, a respected musician, and Walt Disney, a popular entrepreneur, both had to

deal with overcoming challenges. It was these challenges that have caused them to become very

successful in what they do. In my essay, I have proven that adversity brings out the talents and

creativity in people. A famous quote from Friedrich Nietzsche says, “That which does not kill

us makes us