--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem of life is not to make life…" description: "\"The problem of life is not to make life easier, but to make men stronger.\" — David Starr Jordan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/david-starr-jordan-27134_easier_the-problem-of-life-is-not-to-make-life_1701467.jpg" --- # The problem of life is not to make life easier, but to… ![“The problem of life is not to make life easier, but to make men stronger.” quote by David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/david-starr-jordan-27134_easier_the-problem-of-life-is-not-to-make-life_1701467.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/david-starr-jordan-27134_easier_the-problem-of-life-is-not-to-make-life_1701467.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/david-starr-jordan-27134_easier_the-problem-of-life-is-not-to-make-life_1701467.jpg) > “The problem of life is not to make life easier, but to make men stronger.” [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life's purpose is to build resilience, not comfort; challenges strengthen character and society. **In simple terms:** Life should make people stronger, not easier. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges to grow. Themes resilience strength purpose Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership training - public policy - community building Key Concepts character development psychology education Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance comfort and challenge? - What challenges have made you stronger? A Different Perspective Strength alone does not guarantee happiness or fulfillment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) ## Related quotes > [“Men are stronger and women are superior! 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Don't think any problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/your-life-is-made-up-of-little-moments-little-efforts-little-changes/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [The biggest problem in life isn't the problem itself, but how people act upon it ???](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-biggest-problem-in-life-isn-t-the-problem-itself-but-how-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by David Starr Jordan > [There is no real excellence in all this word which can be separated from right living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-this-word-which-can-be-separated/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [To say no at the right time, and then stand by it, is the first element of success. He is the wise man who,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/to-say-no-at-the-right-time-and-then-stand-by-it-is-the-first-element/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [There is no real excellence in all of this world which can be separated from right living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/there-is-no-real-excellence-in-all-of-this-world-which-can-be/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [No one can afford to look downward for his enjoyments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/no-one-can-afford-to-look-downward-for-his-enjoyments/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [When a dog barks at the moon, then it is religion; but when he barks at strangers, it is patriotism!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/when-a-dog-barks-at-the-moon-then-it-is-religion-but-when-he-barks-at/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [The physiological law of Transfer of Energy is the basis of human success and happiness. There is no action without expenditure of energy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/the-physiological-law-of-transfer-of-energy-is-the-basis-of-human/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/wisdom-is-knowing-what-to-do-next-virtue-is-doing-it/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [Whatever you attempt, go at it with spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/whatever-you-attempt-go-at-it-with-spirit/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [Be a life long or short, its completeness depends on what it was lived for](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/be-a-life-long-or-short-its-completeness-depends-on-what-it-was-lived/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [Our country is now at war and the only way out is forward. 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This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/whatever-is-not-nailed-down-is-mine-this-is-the-motto-of-the/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [No one is really miserable who has not tried to cheapen life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/no-one-is-really-miserable-who-has-not-tried-to-cheapen-life/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [There is no pleasure in life equal to that of the conquest of a vicious habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/there-is-no-pleasure-in-life-equal-to-that-of-the-conquest-of-a/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) > [Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starr-jordan/wisdom-is-knowing-what-to-do-next-skill-is-knowing-how-to-do-it-and-2/) [David Starr Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) [Explore all 21 David Starr Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starr-jordan/) ## More Easier quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. 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If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/when-you-have-a-cavity-in-your-tooth-and-you-let-it-get-worse/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [Generally, I like all islands. There, it is easier to rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/generally-i-like-all-islands-there-it-is-easier-to-rule/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [It's funny, everything is so much easier when you do it yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/it-s-funny-everything-is-so-much-easier-when-you-do-it-yourself/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I'm truly, 100% guided by the characters and my Muse. If one of the characters suddenly decided to do something very different, I'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/i-m-truly-100-guided-by-the-characters-and-my-muse-if-one-of-the/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) > [The easier it is to quantify, the less it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-easier-it-is-to-quantify-the-less-it-s-worth/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“it is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didnt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/it-is-easier-to-do-a-job-right-than-to-explain-why-you-didnt/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [“Often we find it easier to think our way around things rather than to feel our way through them:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/often-we-find-it-easier-to-think-our-way-around-things-rather-than-to/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) > [I know it is easier said than done, but you have to find a way to surround yourself with positivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-deprince/i-know-it-is-easier-said-than-done-but-you-have-to-find-a-way-to/) [Michaela DePrince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-deprince/) > [God puts you where God needs you. You are where you are supposed to be. 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