Its not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Stress can be both positive and negative depending on our perspective and how we handle it.
In this quote, Hans Selye emphasizes that stress itself is not inherently negative; it is our perception and response that determine whether it is beneficial or harmful. Positive stress can lead to motivation and creativity, while negative stress arises from adverse experiences and can hinder our well-being.
Themes
StressPerceptionResponseBeneficialDetrimental
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about handling pressure at work.
More from Hans Selye
All quotes →To be totally without stress is to be dead.
Hans SelyeRead
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
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