The mantra that ‘Gold is refined in the fire, and greatness is always born out of struggle’ has recurred in some of the best tales that the city of stars has churned out. While there are countless Oscar-winning tales that resonate the same, many of the greatest stars of Hollywood have lived the mantra. The reason why Angelina Jolie shines as bright as a diamond or why Arnold Schwarzenegger looks like he is sculpted by a sculptor is because they achieved greatness through struggle.

When looking at the Austrian Oak’s body, especially during his bodybuilding days, many have marveled at how it mirrored a sculpture. Arnold Schwarzenegger confirmed it to be true recently as he talked about the heat of parental abuse that ultimately made him the greatest bodybuilder of all time.

The hidden struggles of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s early life

The Austrian Oak has become synonymous to such a degree with his cyborg assassin character from The Terminator that it might just become his middle name. While Schwarzenegger played a robotic mercenary determined to kill, the James Cameron directorial was deeper than that. It was a tale of human struggle and resilience that won against hardships. And as per the exclusive snippets of Schwarzenegger’s book, revealed by People, the actor’s childhood story, although devoid of a cyborg assassin and high-octane fight scenes, is reminiscent of the same.

The actor dwelled on the most important lessons that he has learned in life as a 76-year-old in his book, BE USEFUL: Seven Tools for Life. The book’s title, “Be Useful,” honors his late father. However, the book exposes him as being “abusive” towards Schwarzenegger. Despite the abuse that he had to endure as a child, Arnold Schwarzenegger could not help but love his father.

At 76, Schwarzenegger reflected upon his childhood fondly. He also attributed his father’s disciplinary approach to shaping him into the greatest bodybuilder of all time. While the abuse is one thing that the actor has come to make amends with, there are several other factors regarding his father that trouble him.

Why did Arnold Schwarzenegger not get along with his father?

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s towering presence in the world of politics and his complex relationship with his father cast a spotlight on their stark ideological differences. While the actor embraced a moderate and inclusive political stance throughout his career, his father held steadfastly conservative views. In fact, the actor publicly condoned his Nazi father on numerous occasions.

Last year, as Kanye West used his mic to express his antisemitic views instead of waxing poetic about his muse at a time when communal violence was already at an all-time high, many took to condoning the act. Arnold Schwarzenegger also released a video where he talked about how harmful hate can be. The politician cited his late father as a cautionary example of hate’s blinding power. This is just one among the many instances where Schwarzenegger condoned his father’s political views.

Did you know that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s father abused him? Let us know in the comments below.