"Life is essentially a cheat and its conditions are those of defeat; the redeeming things are not happiness and pleasure but the deeper satisfactions that come out of struggle"

F. Scott Fitzgerald presents a stark perspective on the nature of life, emphasizing its inherent difficulties and the sense of inevitable loss that shades human existence. The notion that "life is essentially a cheat" implies that the promises often associated with it, joy, fulfillment, and justice, are, in a way, illusions or unattainable ideals. Life sets the stage for expectations it rarely fulfills, and those who look for consistent rewards or straightforward happiness may find themselves disillusioned. Conditions "are those of defeat", suggesting that struggle, disappointment, and failure are fundamental to experience, not mere obstacles to be overcome before reaching happiness.

Against this backdrop of hardship, Fitzgerald highlights a deeper dimension of human fulfillment. Instead of conventional happiness and pleasure, he points to "the deeper satisfactions that come out of struggle". This redefines what is truly valuable in life. Rather than transient moments of pleasure or traditional success, it is perseverance, resilience, and the growth that emerges from facing adversity that provide real, meaningful reward. The phrase "deeper satisfactions" speaks to a kind of inner richness or maturity earned through hardship, an acceptance of life's imperfections and a recognition of the personal growth and understanding forged in difficulty.

Such an outlook encourages a reassessment of values, inviting one to find purpose not in the pursuit of fleeting happiness, but in the ability to endure, adapt, and derive strength from life’s inherent challenges. The redemptive qualities of struggle become central, suggesting that life’s worth is not found in the final outcome but in the journey itself, especially the moments when one confronts and survives defeat. Fitzgerald’s words resonate with the existential notion that meaning is carved from struggle, and that enduring hardship can yield a profound sense of self and connection to the world.