---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes to heal, you must first get hurt."
description: "\"Sometimes to heal, you must first get hurt.\" — Aaron Allston"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/aaron-allston-11395_firsts_sometimes-to-heal-you-must-first-get-hur_2458204.jpg"
---

#  Sometimes to heal, you must first get hurt.

![“Sometimes to heal, you must first get hurt.” quote by Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/aaron-allston-11395_firsts_sometimes-to-heal-you-must-first-get-hur_2458204.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/aaron-allston-11395_firsts_sometimes-to-heal-you-must-first-get-hur_2458204.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/aaron-allston-11395_firsts_sometimes-to-heal-you-must-first-get-hur_2458204.jpg)

> “Sometimes to heal, you must first get hurt.”

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Healing often requires confronting pain before recovery can begin.

**In simple terms:** Pain may precede healing.

Key Takeaway

Embrace discomfort to grow.

Themes

growth resilience healing

Mood

reflective determined

Type

advice inspirational

When to use this quote

- therapy
- personal crisis
- relationship conflict

Key Concepts

psychology emotional intelligence

Questions to Reflect On

- What pain must you face to heal?
- Can you find meaning in discomfort?

A Different Perspective

Pain alone does not guarantee healing.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Heal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heal/) [Heal Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heal-hurt-624289/) [Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/)

## Related quotes

> [My pen shall heal, not hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-pen-shall-heal-not-hurt/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“A knife can be used both to heal and hurt. Wether in the hands of a surgeon or the hands of a criminal it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-fox-cabane/a-knife-can-be-used-both-to-heal-and-hurt-wether-in-the-hands-of-a/)

[Olivia Fox Cabane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-fox-cabane/)

> [Let man heal the hurt places and revere whatever is still miraculously pristine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-brower/let-man-heal-the-hurt-places-and-revere-whatever-is-still/)

[David R. Brower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-brower/)

> [“We do not need to succumb to the temptation to meet such a violation with retaliation. The only way to heal this hurt is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/we-do-not-need-to-succumb-to-the-temptation-to-meet-such-a-violation/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [Words can help, words can heal...they can also hurt, and can also kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-walters/words-can-help-words-can-heal-they-can-also-hurt-and-can-also-kill/)

[Tim Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-walters/)

> [To touch is to heal, to hurt is to steal, if you want to kiss the sky, better learn how to kneel - on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-touch-is-to-heal-to-hurt-is-to-steal-if-you-want-to-kiss-the-sky/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The solid truth of the matter is, when you find - if you want to help heal the hurt, if you want to hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-solid-truth-of-the-matter-is-when-you-find-if-you-want-to-help/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [Always choose to heal, not to hurt. To forgive, not to despise. To persevere, not to quit. To smile, not to frown and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/always-choose-to-heal-not-to-hurt-to-forgive-not-to-despise-to-2/)

[Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/)

> [Always choose to heal, not to hurt, to forgive not to despise, to persevere not to quit, to smile not to frown, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/always-choose-to-heal-not-to-hurt-to-forgive-not-to-despise-to/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [From afar, I have cried watching my nation, sore with prejudice, slowly heal itself. I hurt along with America, my phantom pains only alleviated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-domingo/from-afar-i-have-cried-watching-my-nation-sore-with-prejudice-slowly/)

[Colman Domingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-domingo/)

> [If I am content to heal a hurt slightly, saying "Peace, peace," where is no peace; if I forget the poignant word "Let love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/if-i-am-content-to-heal-a-hurt-slightly-saying-peace-peace-where-is/)

[Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/)

> [“I am sorry that the only way we have been taught to heal is to hurt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alok-vaid-menon/i-am-sorry-that-the-only-way-we-have-been-taught-to-heal-is-to-hurt/)

[Alok Vaid-Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alok-vaid-menon/)

> [Something which hurt us within seconds takes years, to get over. To heal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hqlinestumblr/something-which-hurt-us-within-seconds-takes-years-to-get-over-to-heal/)

[HQLinesTumblr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hqlinestumblr/)

> [The country is so wounded, bleeding, and hurt right now. The country needs to be healed-it's not going to be healed from the top,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/the-country-is-so-wounded-bleeding-and-hurt-right-now-the-country/)

[Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/)

> [There's nothing that the road cannot heal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/there-s-nothing-that-the-road-cannot-heal/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

## More by Aaron Allston

> [No, they can't. They can't be Luke Skywalker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/no-they-can-t-they-can-t-be-luke-skywalker/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [“There will be pages. Lots and lots of pages. Most of the pages will have letters on them, and a vast majority of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/there-will-be-pages-lots-and-lots-of-pages-most-of-the-pages-will/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [“You can't measure what a boy did in innocence against what a man has to do for the rest of his life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/you-can-t-measure-what-a-boy-did-in-innocence-against-what-a-man-has/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [Life is like an analogy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/life-is-like-an-analogy/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [No, General. I'm not your subordinate. And what I'm coming dangerously close to is violence. -General Wedge Antilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/no-general-i-m-not-your-subordinate-and-what-i-m-coming-dangerously/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [Luke, I don't want to discourage your curiosity, but I have to remind you, if something goes wrong, this is an exceptionally embarassing way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/luke-i-don-t-want-to-discourage-your-curiosity-but-i-have-to-remind/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [“When are they going to stop calling me General?" "When are they going to stop calling me Princess?" Han & Leia”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/when-are-they-going-to-stop-calling-me-general-when-are-they-going-to/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [“Begging your pardon, sir, but you’re crazy enough to be a Wraith." "Until you’ve crewed with me for a few years, kid, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/begging-your-pardon-sir-but-you-re-crazy-enough-to-be-a-wraith-until/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [I marked their location in case Kell wanted to blow them up or something.” “I don’t have to blow up everything I see. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/i-marked-their-location-in-case-kell-wanted-to-blow-them-up-or/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [Lawyers are the first refuge of the incompetent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/lawyers-are-the-first-refuge-of-the-incompetent/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [“…The Antilles and Horn clans sat at a folding table between two StealthXs, playing what looked like a cutthroat game of sabacc.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/the-antilles-and-horn-clans-sat-at-a-folding-table-between-two/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [This would not be a problem if I were driving a snowplow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/this-would-not-be-a-problem-if-i-were-driving-a-snowplow/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [Tomer: “What's this?” Cabinet: “Wt's ths?” Wedge: “Cabinet.” Tomer: “I know it's a cabinet, but it's talking.” Cabinet: “...ts tlkng” Janson: “Oh that. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/tomer-what-s-this-cabinet-wt-s-ths-wedge-cabinet-tomer-i-know-it-s-a/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [“Mission One is the meeting with Zsinj. Face commands and has chosen Dia and Kell to accompany him. This is all intelligence gathering, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/mission-one-is-the-meeting-with-zsinj-face-commands-and-has-chosen/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

> [Feminism is sort of like God. Many people profess to believe in it, but no one seems to be able to define it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/feminism-is-sort-of-like-god-many-people-profess-to-believe-in-it-but/)

[Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

[Explore all 60 Aaron Allston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/)

## More Firsts quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/)

[Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/)

> [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/)

[A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/)

> [You sort of can't talk about the post production unless you talk about what comes first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/you-sort-of-can-t-talk-about-the-post-production-unless-you-talk/)

[Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/)

> [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/)

[Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/)

> [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/)

[Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/)

> [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/)

[Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/)

> [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/)

[Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/)

> [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/)

[Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/)

> [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/)

[Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/)

> [Meanwhile someone is shining my head to get it dry to attach my top-hat to my head with toupee tape. I get into microphone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/meanwhile-someone-is-shining-my-head-to-get-it-dry-to-attach-my-top/)

[Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/)

> [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/)

[Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/)

[Browse all 32,432 Firsts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Sometimes to heal, you must first get hurt.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Aaron Allston"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/sometimes-to-heal-you-must-first-get-hurt/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Firsts"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/sometimes-to-heal-you-must-first-get-hurt/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/aaron-allston-11395_firsts_sometimes-to-heal-you-must-first-get-hur_2458204.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/aaron-allston-11395_firsts_sometimes-to-heal-you-must-first-get-hur_2458204.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/aaron-allston-11395_firsts_sometimes-to-heal-you-must-first-get-hur_2458204.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Sometimes to heal, you must first get hurt.” — Aaron Allston",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Aaron Allston",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Sometimes to heal, you must first...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/sometimes-to-heal-you-must-first-get-hurt/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/sometimes-to-heal-you-must-first-get-hurt/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```