What doesn't kill you can only make you stronger? What does it mean?

Discussion in 'Free Thoughts' started by lixluke, Sep 8, 2009.

  1. lixluke Refined Reinvention Valued Senior Member

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    Shouldn't it be that what doesn't kill you makes you weaker? Naturally, if you are injured physically or in any sort of way, you will become debilitated or weakened. So doesn't physical or emotional injuries/traumas screw you up so bad that it weakens your ability to function and succeed? So why do people keep saying that it makes you stronger?

    :shrug:
     
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  3. Stryder Keeper of "good" ideas. Valued Senior Member

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    I think it's kind of meant like if your Girlfriend leaves you, it doesn't kill you, it just makes you stronger, since you put behind you any weakness of loss or void and get on with your life.
     
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  5. Lori_7 Go to church? I am the church! Registered Senior Member

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    facing and overcoming challenges makes you stronger.
     
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  7. visceral_instinct Monkey see, monkey denigrate Valued Senior Member

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    It means that overcoming something makes you stronger and teaches you something.

    Of course, it's not literal. A fractured spine won't kill you, but it sure as fuck won't make you stronger.
     
  8. Bebelina kospla.com Valued Senior Member

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    From another point of perspective it could also mean that if you don't kill me I will kill you, then eat you up and therefore become stronger.
     
  9. domesticated om Stickler for details Valued Senior Member

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    Nietzsche - Service pack 2

    That which does not irreparably maim you or screw you up mentally may possibly make you stronger.
     
  10. nietzschefan Thread Killer Valued Senior Member

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    lol I like that.

    Sadly, Syphilis did both to poor Nietzsche.
     
  11. Lori_7 Go to church? I am the church! Registered Senior Member

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    I would even argue that mentally and physically handicapped people have to be stronger than most just to deal with day to day life.
     
  12. parmalee peripatetic artisan Valued Senior Member

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    Also keep in mind that a well-turned-out person pleases our senses, that he is carved from wood that is hard, delicate, and at the same time smells good.
     
  13. one_raven God is a Chinese Whisper Valued Senior Member

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    Of course it is literal, and it will make you stronger.
    Strength has little to do with muscles.
     
  14. clusteringflux Version 1. OH! Valued Senior Member

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    Or Bones for that matter.

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    But in a literal sense, bones ,once broken, often heal to a state that is physically stronger than before.

    Even an injured tree trunk often repairs itself to a point where that spot becomes much harder to cut or drive nails into than the un injured areas around it.

    Or maybe I'm high.
     
  15. visceral_instinct Monkey see, monkey denigrate Valued Senior Member

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    Not everything that fucks you up will later make you stronger.

    Severing your spinal cord won't make you stronger.

    Suffering irreparable mental trauma won't make you stronger.
     
  16. one_raven God is a Chinese Whisper Valued Senior Member

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    No, not everything.
    Also, some things that will make Bill stronger will break Bob - and a severed spine very well could make Bill stronger.
    Saying that it is literal, is not the same thing as saying that there is no exception.

    Furthermore, what Nietzsche actually said was, "What does not destroy me, makes me stronger." not what Luke Licker, of course, misquoted.
    Not only was he not stating it as universally true, but "destroy" is a lot more subjective than "kill". Would Bob be "destroyed" by a severed spinal cord?
     
  17. clusteringflux Version 1. OH! Valued Senior Member

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    It's a general statement (exaggerated) regarding resistance and adversity.

    How do you build muscle? You add more and more resistance.
    How does a football team get better? They play better and better adversaries.

    Yet, in these cases if the resistance is to much and applied to quickly the muscle is torn or the spirit of the team is "killed".

    Also there is the perception issue of whether a severed spine may or may not strengthen the mind and spirit of say a person who has always taken things like mobility for granted.In which case the saying could be quite literal.

    Edit:Sorry, One_Raven. I should let you speak for yourself.
     
  18. one_raven God is a Chinese Whisper Valued Senior Member

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    No apologies - you're doing a great job. I agree.
     
  19. Absane Rocket Surgeon Valued Senior Member

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    Quick answer: the body adapts to it's environment. ALL stress injuries the body, the mind, or both simultaneously. And, neither one can adapt in an instant... it takes time. Over this period of time, the body and/or mind build up a resistance to the stress. Hence, you're stronger.

    Yes, you are weakened for a time being. This is because the body was weak relative to the stressor.
     
  20. mike47 Banned Banned

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    Many challenges drive you nuts....

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  21. douwd20 Registered Senior Member

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    If only it were true. In some isolated cases it may but in most cases it doesn't.
     
  22. elusive Registered Member

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    It means life is experience and experience means you will get hurt physically and emotionally at times and you will not die from each experience even thou you don't know it at the time because basically you are a wimp *grin*
     
  23. Jaylis Registered Member

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    It simply means that we are strong enough to overcome all the problems in our life.
     

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