--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The apprenticeship of difficulty is one…" description: "\"The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.\" — Samuel Smiles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/samuel-smiles-2037_adversity_the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one_89321.png" --- # The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest… ![“The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.” quote by Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/samuel-smiles-2037_adversity_the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one_89321.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/samuel-smiles-2037_adversity_the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one_89321.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/samuel-smiles-2037_adversity_the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one_89321.png) > “The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.” [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great achievements often arise from enduring hardship. **In simple terms:** Difficulty trains greatness. Key Takeaway Adversity is a catalyst for growth. Themes hardship growth resilience achievement Mood inspiration determination Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career challenges - academic pursuits Key Concepts personal development Practical Applications - motivational speaking - self‑help literature Questions to Reflect On - How have difficulties shaped your strengths? - Is struggle necessary for success? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Apprenticeship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apprenticeship/) [Apprenticeship Difficulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apprenticeship-difficulty-1114063/) [Difficulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficulty/) [Greatest Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-men/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Serve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-serve-620803/) ## Related quotes > [“A country is only as strong as its military, and only as moral as the men who serve in its ranks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-moran/a-country-is-only-as-strong-as-its-military-and-only-as-moral-as-the/) [Michelle Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-moran/) > [“- Valar morghulis. - Valar dohaeris. (c) George R. Martin -- All men must die. - All men must serve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/valar-morghulis-valar-dohaeris-c-george-r-martin-all-men-must-die-all/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“For real men serve their country with random acts of kindness, not vicious acts of violence. And real soldiers have one duty, and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-sheldon/for-real-men-serve-their-country-with-random-acts-of-kindness-not/) [Joss Sheldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-sheldon/) > [“Valar dohaeris.” All men must serve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/valar-dohaeris-all-men-must-serve/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“And that, I guessed, was the aim of the Lord Chamberlain's Men: to serve up rich helpings of life to their audiences, to introduce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-cheaney/and-that-i-guessed-was-the-aim-of-the-lord-chamberlain-s-men-to-serve/) [J. B. Cheaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-cheaney/) > [The use of great men is to serve the little men, to take care of the human race, and act as practical interpreters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-parker/the-use-of-great-men-is-to-serve-the-little-men-to-take-care-of-the/) [Theodore Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-parker/) > [Men who watch, and say little, very often are much wiser than the men they serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-kearsley/men-who-watch-and-say-little-very-often-are-much-wiser-than-the-men/) [Susanna Kearsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-kearsley/) > [“For all men serve him of their own free will. And he whom Love touches not walks in darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/for-all-men-serve-him-of-their-own-free-will-and-he-whom-love-touches/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [We men who serve science serve only a reflection in a mirror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-e-byrd/we-men-who-serve-science-serve-only-a-reflection-in-a-mirror/) [Richard E. Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-e-byrd/) > [The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-serve-the-state-thus-not-as-men-mainly-but-as/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“It is unfortunate for us, that, of some of the greatest men, we know least, and talk most.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/it-is-unfortunate-for-us-that-of-some-of-the-greatest-men-we-know/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [He was not the greatest of men but he was the greatest of kings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/he-was-not-the-greatest-of-men-but-he-was-the-greatest-of-kings/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [John Paul II was one of the greatest men of the last century. Perhaps the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/john-paul-ii-was-one-of-the-greatest-men-of-the-last-century-perhaps/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The greatest Men and Women are those who surrendered themselves to their higher Being; embraced their highest call; let go of their own needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ces-peta/the-greatest-men-and-women-are-those-who-surrendered-themselves-to/) [Ces Peta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ces-peta/) > [Many of the greatest men have owed their success to industry rather than to cleverness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/many-of-the-greatest-men-have-owed-their-success-to-industry-rather/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) ## More by Samuel Smiles > [Biographies of great, but especially of good men are most instructive and useful as helps, guides, and incentives to others. Some of the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/biographies-of-great-but-especially-of-good-men-are-most-instructive/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Diligence, above all, is the mother of good luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/diligence-above-all-is-the-mother-of-good-luck/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The women of the poorer classes make sacrifices, and run risks, and bear privations, and exercise patience and kindness to a degree that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-women-of-the-poorer-classes-make-sacrifices-and-run-risks-and/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Self-respect is the noblest garment with which a man can clothe himself, the most elevating feeling with which the mind can be inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/self-respect-is-the-noblest-garment-with-which-a-man-can-clothe/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The experience gathered from books, though often valuable, is but of the nature of learning; whereas, the experience gained from actual life is of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-experience-gathered-from-books-though-often-valuable-is-but-of/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual; and, exhibited in the lives of many, it constitutes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-spirit-of-self-help-is-the-root-of-all-genuine-growth-in-the/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The wise man... if he would live at peace with others, he will bear and forbear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-wise-man-if-he-would-live-at-peace-with-others-he-will-bear-and/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Those who are the most persistent, and work in the true spirit, will invariably be the most successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/those-who-are-the-most-persistent-and-work-in-the-true-spirit-will/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The iron rail proved a magicians' road. It virtually reduced England to a sixth of its size. It brought the country nearer to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-iron-rail-proved-a-magicians-road-it-virtually-reduced-england-to/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [This extraordinary metal, the soul of every manufacture, and the mainspring perhaps of civilised society. Of iron.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/this-extraordinary-metal-the-soul-of-every-manufacture-and-the/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Man cannot aspire if he looked down; if he rise, he must look up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/man-cannot-aspire-if-he-looked-down-if-he-rise-he-must-look-up/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The life of a good man is at the same time the most eloquent lesson of virtue and the most severe reproof of vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-life-of-a-good-man-is-at-the-same-time-the-most-eloquent-lesson/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [It is a grand old name, that of gentleman, and has been recognized as a rank and power in all stages of society. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/it-is-a-grand-old-name-that-of-gentleman-and-has-been-recognized-as-a/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [“Many are the lives of men unwritten, which have nevertheless as powerfully influenced civilization and progress as the more fortunate Great whose names are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/many-are-the-lives-of-men-unwritten-which-have-nevertheless-as/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Labour may be a burden and a chastisement, but it is also an honour and a glory. Without it, nothing can be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/labour-may-be-a-burden-and-a-chastisement-but-it-is-also-an-honour/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) [Explore all 189 Samuel Smiles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) [James Buckham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckham-kennedy/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) [S.E. SEVER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-sever/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Smiles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one-which-the-greatest-of-men/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one-which-the-greatest-of-men/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/samuel-smiles-2037_adversity_the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one_89321.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/samuel-smiles-2037_adversity_the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one_89321.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/samuel-smiles-2037_adversity_the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one_89321.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.” — Samuel Smiles", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Samuel Smiles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The apprenticeship of difficulty is one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one-which-the-greatest-of-men/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one-which-the-greatest-of-men/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```