"Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds"

Gordon B. Hinckley’s words evoke the reality that worthwhile achievements require effort, intention, and sustained diligence. His agricultural metaphor draws a vivid parallel between tending a garden and cultivating any aspect of life. A neglected garden will quickly be overrun by weeds, unwanted, parasitic plants that stifle the growth of anything of real value. Similarly, in the absence of hard work, the natural tendency in life is toward deterioration or mediocrity, rather than progress or excellence.

In gardens, weeds spring up effortlessly, thriving without care or invitation. Their growth represents disorder, inattention, and the absence of nurturing hands. Positive growth, be it a lush garden, a successful career, healthy relationships, or personal improvement, demands the opposite: steady effort, discipline, and purposeful action. One cannot expect roses or ripe tomatoes to flourish unattended. Life’s most meaningful outcomes are no different; talent alone, or latent potential, cannot substitute for perseverance and hard work.

This idea encompasses not just professional or academic pursuits, but all ambitions, dreams, and even character formation. Integrity, wisdom, and resilience must be cultivated and maintained, just like strong roots or sturdy stems. If these qualities are left untended, flaws and failings, figurative weeds, take hold, eventually choking out virtues or aspirations.

The metaphor also suggests that entropy is a constant force; the default setting of nature and life is not order, but chaos. To counteract it, people must intentionally invest energy. Hard work transforms, organizes, and brings forth beauty, productivity, and fulfillment. Without such exertion, time and neglect breed stagnation, laziness, and missed opportunities.

Ultimately, Hinckley’s message honors the dignity of labor and the necessity of personal responsibility. Effort is not merely the price of success, it's the very process by which anything valuable comes to life and endures, staving off the inevitable encroachment of life's 'weeds.'