From 《
孟子·
告子下》 (Mencius, 'Gaozi II'):
天将降大任于斯人也，
必先苦其心志，
劳其筋骨，
饿其体肤，
空乏其身，
行拂乱其所为，
所以动心忍性，
曾益其所不能 — 'Heaven, about to entrust a great mission to such a person, first makes his heart bitter, works his muscles and bones, starves his flesh, empties his being, disorders all he does; this is how it stirs his heart, tempers his nature, and increases what he cannot yet do.' Arguably the most quoted inspirational passage in Chinese history.
