Friedrich Nietzsche — What does not kill me makes me stronger.
What does not kill me makes me stronger.Friedrich Nietzsche
Nietzsche, 'Twilight of the Idols' (1889)
Nietzsche's most quoted line is also his most misread. He didn't mean suffering is good. He meant the hardship you survive and absorb can be metabolized into strength — if you let it teach rather than just hurt.
The embarrassing slip, the lesson that wouldn't stick, the day you wanted to quit — survived and examined, each one leaves you a little more durable than before.
Words that widen the world
Having more strength or power than before.
Synonyms: tougher, hardier, sturdier
Every setback left him stronger.
The ability to keep going through difficulty over time.
Synonyms: stamina, perseverance, staying power
Fluency is a test of endurance more than talent.
Common questions
That hardship you survive can become a source of strength — provided you learn from it rather than merely endure it.
From Nietzsche's 'Twilight of the Idols' (1889), in the section 'Maxims and Arrows'.
Carry it with you
In your own words, what does this thought mean to you? Write three or four sentences in English about a moment when it felt true — saying it yourself is how it stays with you.
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