The speaker reflects on his upbringing, where he expected to inherit wealth and status as his birthright. However, life's challenges, including misfortune and mistakes, dismantled those beliefs. Unlike his peers who indulged in luxury, he faced harsh realities that taught him the true nature of survival and the absence of entitlement.

His experiences in the army were particularly brutal, forcing him to confront his own vulnerabilities. Through suffering and deprivation, he learned that strength and honor are not dictated by one's background, realizing that those from humble beginnings could possess greater qualities than himself.