Experiences aren't given to us to be 'got over,' otherwise they would hardly be experiences.
Interpretation
Life experiences are valuable lessons meant to be learned from, not merely endured.
This quote by Penelope Fitzgerald emphasizes that experiences, especially challenging ones, are integral to our personal growth and understanding. Rather than viewing these moments as obstacles to be overcome quickly, we should embrace them as opportunities for deeper insight and wisdom that shape who we are.
In practice
In a motivational speech about resilience, one could say, 'As Penelope Fitzgerald put it, experiences aren't given to us to be 'got over,' but to be learned from.'
More than that, I believe that the grass is green because green is restful to the human eye, that the sky is blue to give us an idea of the infinite. And that blood is red so that murder will be more easily detected and criminals will be brought to justice. Yes, and I believe that I shall live forever, but I shall live without reason.
I have remained true to my deepest convictions. I mean the courage of those who are born to be defeated, the weaknesses of the strong, and the tragedy of misunderstandings and missed opportunities, which I have done my best to treat as comedy—for otherwise how can we manage to bear it?
However, no two people see the external world in exactly the same way. To every separate person a thing is what he thinks it is - in other words, not a thing, but a think.
I learned to focus my energy on high-quality, long-term projects rather than lower-quality projects with quicker payoffs.
I never did anything I'm really ashamed of.
Instead of resisting any emotion, the best way to dispel it is to enter it fully, embrace it and see through your resistance.
I soon discovered that man's importunity is God's opportunity. he uses our problems as building materials for his miracles. I began to understand that this was my first lesson in learning to trust him completely, my first steps on the path to complete dependence on, and obedience to, his guidance.
The best chess-player in Christendom may be little more than the best player of chess; but proficiency in whist implies capacity for success in all those more important undertakings where mind struggles with mind.
It's good to learn from your mistakes. It's better to learn from other people's mistakes.
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