Meaning of “Wrestle bravely with disease.”

The point is not denial of hardship but refusal to let an event dictate the whole evaluation of one’s life and character.

Enduring a difficult period can itself require courage when continuing responsibly is harder than dramatic gestures or escape.

Difficulty can exercise courage the way resistance exercises a muscle, giving strength an opportunity to become practiced rather than theoretical.

The memoir acknowledges discouraging circumstances while inventorying the practical and psychological resources Barnum believed remained available to him.

Crisis reveals commitment because principles become costly to maintain precisely when fear, fatigue, and uncertainty make retreat easier.

Courage is defined by what survives difficulty: adversity may create pressure, but it does not have to decide the person’s response.