Its not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.
Hans SelyeRead
To be totally without stress is to be dead.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Stress is an inherent part of life, and its absence indicates a lack of vitality.
Hans Selye's quote emphasizes that stress is a natural and essential component of life. While excessive stress can be harmful, some level of stress is necessary for growth, motivation, and engagement with the world, suggesting that to experience life fully, one must embrace its challenges.
Themes
StressLifeGrowthVitalityChallenges
In practice
Example use cases
During a wellness seminar to illustrate the importance of managing stress.
More from Hans Selye
All quotes →The fairest thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true science. He who knows it not, and can no longer wonder, no longer feel amazement, is as good as dead. We all had this priceless talent when we were young. But as time goes by, many of us lose it. The true scientist never loses the faculty of amazement. It is the essence of his being.
Hans SelyeRead
Stress is not necessarily something bad it all depends on how you take it. The stress of exhilarating, creative successful work is beneficial, while that of failure, humiliation or infection is detrimental.
Hans SelyeRead
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