# Circumstance Reveals the Person by James Allen > “Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.” > **— James Allen**, *As a Man Thinketh* ## Sources and Context - **Direct or authoritative text:** [As a Man Thinketh](https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4507/4507-h/4507-h.htm) — Project Gutenberg text of *As a Man Thinketh*. - **Why it belongs here:** The passage describes improvement, revelation, learning, or increased capability through opposition, error, difficulty, or adversity. It does not imply that unlimited injury is beneficial. ## Related Articles and Collections - **Collection:** [[collections/Simple Reminders|Simple Reminders]] - **Book:** [[books/Chimping Out|Chimping Out]] - **Article:** [[articles/Ideas as Lindy Organisms|Ideas as Lindy Organisms]] - **Article:** [[articles/artificial-intelligence/Cybernetic Domestication Syndrome of Men and AI|Cybernetic Domestication Syndrome of Men and AI]] - **Article:** [[articles/Authorship After the Threshold|Authorship After the Threshold]] ## Related Topics - [[wiki/Antifragility|Antifragility]] ## Share on Social Media ``` “Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.” — James Allen, As a Man Thinketh https://bryantmcgill.com/simple-reminders-james-allen-circumstance-reveals ```