The British scientist Alfred Russel Wallace gives an account of one of his experiments… While observing cocoons in which moths were developing, he noticed that one of the moths were beating its undeveloped wing trying to break out of the cocoon. After seeing what he perceived as unbearable suffering he decided to help the moth out of its cocoon. He took his knife, gently split the cocoon, and freed the moth. In the ensuing days Wallace noticed the wings not developing. The color of the wings were absent and the growth of the moth was stunted. It died several days later. He realized that the struggle against the cocoon was what made the moth strong and capable of survival. It was in the struggle that the moth became stronger and more resilient.
Arkansas Country Living 