Quote by Abigail Adams, letter to her son
It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed ... The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties. All history will convince you of this, and that wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure. Great necessities call out great virtues.
Summary
This quote emphasizes that great characters and strong minds are not developed during moments of calm and ease in life. Rather, they arise from facing and dealing with challenges and difficulties. History teaches us that wisdom and insight come from experience, not from living a life of seclusion and idleness. It is when faced with great necessities and demanding situations that individuals are compelled to show their greatest virtues and potential.