Why Suffering Gets Credit for Building Character
We have a weird bias about what teaches us things. Suffering gets credit for building character. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” “Pain is weakness leaving the body.” We treat hardship like a stern but wise teacher. Pleasure gets no such respect. Nobody says “That vacation really built my character” or “All that happiness made me a better person.” We act like pleasure is just pleasure. Nice while it lasts, but shallow....