A tough lesson in life that one has to learn is that not everybody wishes you well.

Rather’s line distills a hard-earned, pragmatic view of human motives: goodwill is not universal, and assuming it can leave one vulnerable. The “tough lesson” framing suggests an initiation into adulthood or public life, where envy, rivalry, ideology, or self-interest can shape others’ behavior as much as friendship does. Coming from a prominent journalist who spent decades in high-stakes, highly scrutinized environments, the sentiment resonates as advice about emotional self-protection and clear-eyed judgment. It does not counsel cynicism so much as discernment—learning to separate genuine allies from those who may undermine, exploit, or simply remain indifferent to one’s success.