Words for the day

A quote from Moshi, from The Ronin, by William Dale Jennings:

When Heaven is about to conferA great office upon a man,It first exercises his mind with suffering,And his sinews and bones with toil;It exposes him to povertyAnd confounds all his undertakings.Then it is seen if he is ready.

Rico says he understands all too well (and he's ready, thank you)...