Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents

Horace’s quote, “Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant,” means that while overcoming obstacles a person’s talents are shown that otherwise would remain unknown to the person. Horace is saying that adversity plays in the development of a person’s character and understanding turmoil and hardship. Times of struggle elicit different talents showing the true depth of human nature, unlike prosperous times. Those who are never faced with adversity are never challenged and therefore never have to reach deep from within to solve or help the problem. When human beings are passionate about achieving a goal, they learn something about themselves they have never known. Challenges are faced every day, but how we respond to them determines how strong we really are.

Adversity is inevitable in life; it is a wall then is unable to be broken down. Sometimes while facing adversity, there is a point in an individual where their instincts reveal the truth, that what doesn’t kill them makes them stronger. A person’s true talents are shown when faced by adversity. Bethany Hamilton had been surfing since she was a child; at age thirteen she is was injured in an almost-deadly shark attack, losing her left arm. She was back on her surf board one month later and then won first place in the Explorer Women’s Division of the NSSA National Championships, two years later. Jim Carey is another example of this; he revealed that at the age of fifteen he had to drop out of high school and support his family. His father was unemployed, poor, and they eventually had to live in a van. Carey didn’t let that stop him from becoming a comedian and is now known as one of the best comedic actors of this era. People, who are famous and have tons of money, never face adversity.

If they were ever faced with difficulties they would just buy their problems away instead of revealing their inner strength that may be hiding behind an easy life with no challenges. The Kardashians exemplify these kinds of people. They never spend their money on beneficial means only things for themselves. If anything ever came as a challenge to them they would use their money to fix things instead of using any inner strength. Facing adversity brings out talents that people would never have known they had. If you aren’t faced with any difficulties you would never have known you had the talents to deal with these situations. Such as Bethany Hamilton, if she had never been in such a terrible shark attack she would have never known how much determination she actually had. Difficulties push you to your limits and without the struggle you’re talents are never shown. Knowing these talents help you perform better at other tasks in the future. Facing adversity is a tremendous help in life.