The Quote That Means So Much to Me: “May Your Road Be Rough".

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One of the quotes that has truly stuck with me over the years is by the founder of my secondary school, Tai Solarin." He was a noble and fearless man, someone who believed in honesty, hard work, and discipline. His famous quote—"May your road be rough!"—used to sound like a curse to me back then. In fact, many of us students would quickly “cancel” it by saying, “God forbid! May my road be smooth!” We didn’t really understand the depth of what he was trying to say.

Here’s the full quote:

“May your road be rough! That is my wish for you. Because only rough roads lead to the heights worth climbing.”

At the time, we just wanted life to be easy. Smooth. Trouble-free. But as I grew older and began to face life in its raw form, the meaning of that quote hit differently. Now, I understand it deeply—and it has become one of the most powerful quotes I hold onto.

The truth is, life isn’t always rosy. In fact, most of the things that truly shape us come through struggle, hardship, and failure. That’s where growth happens. That’s where we’re forced to think differently, to move, to adapt. If everything came easily, we wouldn’t value hard work, and we might never become the best versions of ourselves.

I remember a time when I was extremely lazy. I didn’t really worry about money because I used to get it without stress from my mum or even my brother. I had no sense of responsibility. But things changed when i got into my second year in the university. The free money stopped flowing, and I had to face life on my own. It was during that rough period that I got introduced to the blockchain, specifically Hive. That tough moment forced me to look for opportunities, to think creatively, and to push myself.

Without that “rough road,” I would probably still be depending on others, thinking life would always work out somehow. But now, I’ve learned how to fend for myself. I’ve become more responsible, independent, and focused. And funny enough, I actually appreciate the rough moments now because they’ve shaped me into someone I’m proud of becoming.

What I’ve also realized is that the things we get without struggle often don’t mean as much to us. But the ones we fight for—the ones that come after sleepless nights, disappointments, and setbacks—those are the ones we truly treasure. They teach us to be patient, to be humble, and to never take anything for granted.

So yes, “May your road be rough” sounded like a curse back then, but now I see it as a blessing in disguise. It’s a reminder that the rough path is not the wrong path—it’s often the one that leads to greatness. And that’s why this quote means so much to me.

Thanks for reading.

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