Date: July 10, 1930
Location: Northampton, MA
(Original document available here)
Probably some people can conscientiously say that they never had a chance. But most people have failed because they did not really try. A recent report tells of a young man, with a wife and children, working eight hours each night to support them and maintain himself in college, where he ranked near the head of his class. Any student knows of the life of Darwin, who from a sickbed that permitted him to work scarcely more than twenty minutes each day changed the course of the thought of the world. How easily one of these men could have concluded that the necessity of supporting his family made it impossible to secure an education and the other that poor health prevented him from following his scientific investigations to a conclusion!
The great fact seems to be that when a man dedicates his whole soul to his work, when he fully determines to meet the responsibilities that he incurs, in his time of need some power outside himself directs his course and gives him the strength to prevail. To such men comes revelation. They do better than they know. Therein lies the hope of the world.
Citation: Calvin Coolidge Says: Dispatches Written by Former-President Coolidge and Syndicated to Newspapers in 1930-1931 (Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation)
The Coolidge Foundation gratefully acknowledges the volunteer efforts of Kaitlyn Cai who prepared this document for digital publication.