# A Head Wind Is Better Than None by John Neal > “A certain amount of opposition is a great help to a man. Kites rise against, and not with, the wind. Even a head wind is better than none.” > **— John Neal**, *“Enterprise,” The New-England Galaxy, 1832* ## Sources and Context - **Direct or authoritative text:** [“Enterprise,” The New-England Galaxy, 1832](https://winstonchurchill.org/publications/finest-hour/finest-hour-154/riddles-mysteries-enigmas-2/) — The International Churchill Society traces the often misattributed Churchill saying to John Neal and reproduces Neal’s fuller wording. The source note preserves that attribution history. - **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 ``` “A certain amount of opposition is a great help to a man. Kites rise against, and not with, the wind. Even a head wind is better than none.” — John Neal, “Enterprise,” The New-England Galaxy, 1832 https://bryantmcgill.com/simple-reminders-john-neal-head-wind ```