“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.”
- July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961
- American
- Novelist, poet, journalist
- Wrote masterpieces such as “The Old Man and the Sea,” “A Farewell to Arms,” and “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954
Quote
“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.”
Explanation
In this quote, Hemingway speaks to the universality of suffering and the resilience of the human spirit. He suggests that life has a way of breaking or challenging everyone—whether through loss, hardship, or emotional turmoil. However, he also emphasizes that these breaks are not the end; in fact, they can lead to a strength that is born from overcoming those very hardships. The idea of being “strong at the broken places” reflects the belief that suffering can transform us, making us more resilient and self-aware in the areas where we have been hurt. Rather than leaving us weaker, our scars can become symbols of survival and personal growth.
This perspective is central to Hemingway’s works, where his characters often face adversity, but through their struggles, they find moments of clarity, strength, or redemption. For example, in The Old Man and the Sea, the character Santiago experiences physical and emotional pain in his battle with the marlin, but this suffering leads to his personal growth and ultimately to a deeper understanding of himself. Hemingway’s quote suggests that true strength comes not from avoiding life’s difficulties, but from embracing them and growing through them.
In the modern context, this quote speaks to the idea that difficulties and setbacks in life are inevitable, but they do not define us. The ability to transform pain or failure into something empowering is a key part of personal growth and resilience. Whether facing mental health struggles, career setbacks, or personal loss, Hemingway’s words remind us that there is strength to be found in our brokenness, and that through our challenges, we can become stronger, wiser, and more compassionate. The “broken places” in us become the sources of our future power and understanding.
