Living in Hope

HE WAS EXPELLED FROM SCHOOL Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes, and adversity is not without comforts and hopes. The ordinary circumstances of life—if we could but realize it—are the stepping stones to success. But before we launch ourselves on that path, we would do well to listen to Sir Francis Bacon’s final words of caution–and consolation: “Prosperity is not without many fears and dis­tastes, and Adversity is not without comforts and hopes.” A lthough his beginnings were humble, Albert Einstein succeeded in revolutionizing 20th century science. The ordinary son of an ordinary father, he could not speak until the age of three, and showed no signs of having even average abilities up to the age of nine. He was even expelled from school once because his teacher feared that his poor academic performance might have a bad influence on the other pupils.