When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
You gotta keep on keepin' on.
There are a million clichés about hanging in there, sticking it out, gritting your teeth, etc., etc., etc. What are they all talking about? Perseverance. In his "Speech at the Berlin Wall," Reagan says that Berliners, Germans, and their Western buddies around the globe are all persevering: they're in a terrible situation but they're getting through it, making the most of it, and thriving in spite of everything going on around them.
Questions About Perseverance
- What's the difference between perseverance and stubbornness?
- Could the Soviet Union have made a similar speech lauding the perseverance of the East? Do you think it would have been a more or less effective appeal than Reagan's?
- Do you think the existence of the Berlin Wall made it easier or harder for each side to hold tight to its own beliefs and ideologies?
Chew on This
Sticking to their guns, literally and figuratively, is why West Germany and West Berlin didn't get taken over by the communists.
Berlin and Germany would be much better off—and probably a lot less stressed out—if they'd just backed down and allowed the Soviets to take over.