The Strength in Struggle: John Burroughs and the Philosophy of Overcoming
John Burroughs, the renowned American naturalist and essayist who lived from 1837 to 1921, offered the world a profound observation with his statement that “We are made strong by what we overcome.” This simple yet powerful declaration came from a man dedicated to understanding nature’s patterns, human resilience, and the quiet wisdom that emerges from careful observation of the world. Burroughs spent decades walking through forests and observing wildlife. He reflected on humanity’s place within the natural order. His quote encapsulates his philosophy that struggle and adversity are not merely obstacles to endure. They are essential ingredients in the development of character and strength.
Origins and Context of the Quote
To understand this quote, one must appreciate the era in which Burroughs wrote and thought. The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries brought rapid industrialization and urbanization to America. Many people became increasingly disconnected from nature and the lessons it offered. Burroughs wrote during an age of scientific advancement and philosophical questioning. Ideas about progress, human nature, and meaningful life were all being challenged and reconsidered. His work as a naturalist and writer was partly motivated by a desire to reconnect American readers with the natural world. Through that connection, he hoped to help them understand fundamental truths about existence that modern civilization often obscured.
John Burroughs was born in Roxbury, New York, and grew up on a rural farm. This experience fundamentally shaped his perspective on life and nature. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Burroughs did not experience nature through urban parks or recreational pursuits. His early years were steeped in the daily realities of farm work. He learned about labor, seasons, and struggles against weather and circumstance. His father was a farmer, and young John spent his formative years working the land. He observed wildlife in its natural habitat. He developed an intimate knowledge of the landscape that would define his writing. In his teenage years, Burroughs developed an intense love of reading and learning. He often read by candlelight after his farm duties were complete. This demonstrated the determination and intellectual curiosity that would characterize his entire life.
We are made strong by what we overcome
Burroughs worked through various occupations before finding his true calling as a writer and naturalist. He worked as a teacher, a banker, and even briefly as a government employee. Yet he continually felt drawn back to nature and to writing about his observations. What makes his journey particularly interesting is that he did not achieve significant literary success until relatively late in life. His first collection of essays, “Wake-Robin,” was published in 1871 when he was already in his mid-thirties.
Years of persistent writing and publishing passed before he achieved widespread recognition. This delayed success itself testifies to the philosophy embedded in his famous quote. Burroughs overcame numerous rejections, financial struggles, and periods of self-doubt to become one of the most influential nature writers of his age. He eventually became a prolific author, publishing over twenty books and hundreds of essays. These works influenced generations of readers and helped establish nature writing as a legitimate literary genre.
Lesser-known aspects of Burroughs’s life add even more depth to the philosophy behind his words. Few people realize that Burroughs was an accomplished carpenter. He built much of his own furniture. This skill connected him to the practical, hands-on wisdom he valued so highly. He was also a committed and thoughtful critic of what he saw as overly sentimental or inaccurate nature writing by other authors. This occasionally made him unpopular in literary circles, but demonstrated his commitment to truth and honest observation.
Burroughs maintained close friendships with some of America’s most influential figures, including Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford. Yet he remained personally humble and devoted to his simple life in the countryside. In his later years, he became somewhat curmudgeonly. He expressed concern about what he perceived as the excesses of modern civilization. Yet he continued to write with passion and insight about nature’s lessons for human life.
How This Wisdom Shapes Our Lives
The quote “We are made strong by what we overcome” has resonated throughout American culture in ways that Burroughs likely never anticipated. It appears frequently in motivational literature, self-help books, and inspirational speaking. Sometimes people attribute it to him, and sometimes they misattribute it to other thinkers. The phrase has become particularly prominent in contexts dealing with personal development, recovery from addiction, mental health awareness, and resilience training. In contemporary culture, the quote has found new relevance in discussions about trauma recovery and post-traumatic growth. This is the psychological phenomenon where people who have endured significant hardship often report increased psychological strength and resilience. Sports psychology has embraced Burroughs’s philosophy. Athletes and coaches use it to frame training and competition not merely as pursuits of victory. Instead, they frame these experiences as crucibles for developing character and resilience.
This quote’s enduring power lies in its universal truth and balanced perspective on suffering. Unlike some motivational phrases, it does not minimize the reality of pain. It does not suggest that struggle should be celebrated. Instead, Burroughs’s observation acknowledges that overcoming difficulties builds strength. He does not suggest that hardship is good in itself. He does not recommend that we should seek out suffering. Rather, he observes that navigating through challenges naturally develops strength. This distinction makes the quote particularly meaningful for people facing real difficulties. It offers neither false comfort nor grim resignation. Instead, it provides a framework for understanding their experience as potentially transformative.