The Secret of Success

difficulties are more likely to develop in estimable ways, because adversity calls forth their hidden potential. It throws down a challenge which the aspirant to greatness must accept, failing which, he will sink into oblivion, if not actually perish. Where the comforts and convenience of prosperity will cause him to become sluggish and unenterprising, the whiplash of adversity will drive him into purposeful action. In short, it will bring out the best in him. As Sir Francis Bacon observes in his essay, 'Of Adversity,' "Prosperity doth best discover vice, but Adversity doth best discover Virtue." In the realm of God's creation, there are no limits to the humanly possible. Having had an undistinguished start in life should never, therefore, be a cause for despair. 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." Wise Management of Anger Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) was an unconventional person. He often used to say such unconventional things as would anger many conventional people. He writes of an incident during a lecture he was giving, which is as follows: “A man rose in fury, remarking that I looked like a monkey; to which I replied, ‘Then you will have the pleasure of hearing the voice of your ancestors.’” (Autobiography, p. 565) Russell’s response alludes to the theory of evolution. According to this theory, humans have evolved from the species of monkeys. Here I will not discuss the