Nikola Tesla - Pictures and Experiences from Childhood and Education Page 66

Thus, the father passed away, unaware that his name would endure perpetually through the timeless achievements of an unattainable genius—his son!

Blessed is he whose name lives forever,
A good reason had he to be alive!

Njegoš

Tesla’s Endurance

Moderate food - long life.

Prota Milutin had many reasons to worry about Nikola’s health. Excessive work, especially lack of sleep, undermines everyone’s health. That’s why children are recommended to sleep ten to twelve hours, and adults at least seven hours a day. However, Nikola slept only three hours and worked for eighteen to twenty hours a day. Later, when he conducted various experiments, Tesla sometimes worked for forty-eight hours without rest or sleep. Nikola’s father was even more worried because Nikola looked pale and thin. However, lack of sleep did not harm Nikola. He claimed that even two hours of sleep were sufficient for him to rest. His endurance was truly remarkable. Even today, in old age, he works continuously. The fact that such work did not harm him is evidenced by the fact that he has not known any illness for almost sixty years, despite frequently and severely falling ill in his youth. He is still fresh and capable of great achievements, even though he has crossed the age of eighty.