Cornell professor Joseph Margulies explores the idea that profound suffering, such as that experienced in Auschwitz or in high-security prisons, can serve as a powerful catalyst for personal growth and the realization of human potential. Professor Margulies reflects on Dr. Edith Eger’s belief that suffering can be a “greatest classroom,” concluding that while suffering alone does not guarantee human flourishing, it is the presence of unconditional love and support in response to suffering that enables individuals to achieve their fullest selves.