"Difficulty, my brethren, is the nurse of greatness - a harsh nurse, who roughly rocks her foster - children into strength and athletic proportion"

William C. Bryant poetically presents the idea that challenges and hardships are fundamental to achieving greatness. He personifies difficulty as a stern, nurturing figure, naming her a "nurse", who, instead of coddling or comforting her wards, rocks them roughly. Such language evokes an almost maternal image, but with a distinct difference; this "nurse" is not gentle or indulgent. Through her harshness, she imparts resilience, forging her charges into strong and capable individuals.

The metaphor of being "rocked...into strength and athletic proportion" connects adversity to the struggle necessary for physical growth, much like how exercise tears down muscle fibers so they may rebuild stronger. The implication extends beyond the physical realm; spiritual, intellectual, and moral progress too demand strain and discomfort. Easy circumstances breed complacency and weakness, while enduring difficulties compels people to adapt, persevere, and ultimately transcend their former selves.

Bryant’s language addresses “my brethren,” acknowledging a shared human journey through the rigorous crucible of adversity. Rather than dreading or resenting hardship, his words suggest a reframing: hardships are crucial educational moments, shaping raw potential into genuine accomplishment. The stern guidance offered by difficulty is compared to the unwavering attention one might receive from a demanding mentor or coach, who, through relentless standards, uncovers one’s true capabilities.

Embedded in this passage is a challenge; it invites individuals to embrace hardship as an opportunity for self-improvement rather than a mere obstacle or source of suffering. Greatness is not an accidental endowment, but the product of strenuous testing and response to difficulty. By casting adversity in a nurturing, though severe, role, Bryant reimagines struggle as the indispensable force on the path to excellence and maturity.