--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the sore spot is not fatal, if it does…" description: "\"“If the sore spot is not fatal, if it does not grow and block something, you can use its power for many years, until the heart resorbs it.”\" — Annie Di..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/annie-dillard-509_sore_if-the-sore-spot-is-not-fatal-if-it-does_2256854.jpg" --- # If the sore spot is not fatal, if it does not grow and… ![“If the sore spot is not fatal, if it does not grow and block something, you can use its power for many years, until the heart resorbs it.” quote by Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/annie-dillard-509_sore_if-the-sore-spot-is-not-fatal-if-it-does_2256854.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/annie-dillard-509_sore_if-the-sore-spot-is-not-fatal-if-it-does_2256854.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/annie-dillard-509_sore_if-the-sore-spot-is-not-fatal-if-it-does_2256854.jpg) > ““If the sore spot is not fatal, if it does not grow and block something, you can use its power for many years, until the heart resorbs it.”” [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pain that does not become overwhelming can be transformed into lasting strength and purpose over time. **In simple terms:** Non‑fatal pain can become lasting power. Key Takeaway Turn lingering pain into a source of strength. Themes resilience healing inner strength Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - grief counseling - chronic illness management - creative work - spiritual practice Key Concepts psychology post‑traumatic growth energy conversion Questions to Reflect On - How can you recognize when pain is still manageable? - What practices help you channel lingering discomfort? A Different Perspective If the pain intensifies, the conversion may fail. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [It's a bit of a sore spot, the Thanksgiving in Indian country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-robertson/it-s-a-bit-of-a-sore-spot-the-thanksgiving-in-indian-country/) [Robbie Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-robertson/) > [“All however agreed, that the spot was fatal to the Ravenswood family; and to drink of the waters of the well or even approach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/all-however-agreed-that-the-spot-was-fatal-to-the-ravenswood-family/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [You know, really - actually, it's funny because it's a sore spot with me because I have all these recipes that, you know, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trisha-yearwood/you-know-really-actually-it-s-funny-because-it-s-a-sore-spot-with-me/) [Trisha Yearwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trisha-yearwood/) > [“Perhaps they assumed that he would have a hard time putting her first. Perhaps they had not understood that for a long time she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-yglesias/perhaps-they-assumed-that-he-would-have-a-hard-time-putting-her-first/) [Rafael Yglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-yglesias/) > [“He felt as if he hadn't slept because he spent all night wandering through the world looking for a maiden who bore his heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/he-felt-as-if-he-hadn-t-slept-because-he-spent-all-night-wandering/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) > [Five golden years, Heart of Mine, have we walked the way of life together, and there is not an hour I would have changed;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrtle-reed/five-golden-years-heart-of-mine-have-we-walked-the-way-of-life/) [Myrtle Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myrtle-reed/) > [It took me two years to give him all of my heart, and he threw it away in one night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-took-me-two-years-to-give-him-all-of-my-heart-and-he-threw-it-away/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It wasn’t like she hadn’t come across hot guys throughout the course of the last three years, so why was her heart racing? Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-lund/it-wasn-t-like-she-hadn-t-come-across-hot-guys-throughout-the-course/) [Tami Lund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-lund/) > [“After all these years, my heart still wants you. It still misses you. it still aches for you. I can't control what my heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eveli-acosta/after-all-these-years-my-heart-still-wants-you-it-still-misses-you-it/) [Eveli Acosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eveli-acosta/) > [Years go by, but the heart of what we all fight and die for at the core is the same. We fight and die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barr/years-go-by-but-the-heart-of-what-we-all-fight-and-die-for-at-the/) [Matt Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barr/) > [Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old only by deserting their ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/nobody-grows-old-by-merely-living-a-number-of-years-people-grow-old/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [It's not like we have a formula, but I think one of the reasons this show has survived is that it has a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-parker/it-s-not-like-we-have-a-formula-but-i-think-one-of-the-reasons-this/) [Trey Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-parker/) > [During the season, I'm sore everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-tucker/during-the-season-i-m-sore-everywhere/) [P. J. Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-tucker/) > [For me, I think one of the biggest battles is mentally. You have good days, and you have bad days. Randomly, you'll feel good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/for-me-i-think-one-of-the-biggest-battles-is-mentally-you-have-good/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [Being sore makes me happy cause I know I worked hard and and am getting stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-sore-makes-me-happy-cause-i-know-i-worked-hard-and-and-am/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Annie Dillard > [Like everyone in his right mind, I feared Santa Claus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/like-everyone-in-his-right-mind-i-feared-santa-claus/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“This is a spendthrift economy; though nothing is lost, all is spent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/this-is-a-spendthrift-economy-though-nothing-is-lost-all-is-spent/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The creatures I seek do not want to be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-creatures-i-seek-do-not-want-to-be-seen/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Nothing moves a woman so deeply as the boyhood of the man she loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/nothing-moves-a-woman-so-deeply-as-the-boyhood-of-the-man-she-loves/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [We live in all we seek. The hidden shows up in too-plain sight. It lives captive on the face of the obvious - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/we-live-in-all-we-seek-the-hidden-shows-up-in-too-plain-sight-it/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“...The mockingbird took a single step into the air and dropped. His wings were still folded against his sides as though he were singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-mockingbird-took-a-single-step-into-the-air-and-dropped-his-wings/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“Father had stretched out his long legs and was tilting back in his chair. Mother sat with her knees crossed, in blue slacks, smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/father-had-stretched-out-his-long-legs-and-was-tilting-back-in-his/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I am a frayed and nibbled survivor in a fallen world, and I am getting along. I am aging and eaten and have done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-frayed-and-nibbled-survivor-in-a-fallen-world-and-i-am-getting/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [It should surprise no one that the life of the writer - such as it is - is colorless to the point of sensory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-should-surprise-no-one-that-the-life-of-the-writer-such-as-it-is/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [It is madness to wear ladies' straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-is-madness-to-wear-ladies-straw-hats-and-velvet-hats-to-church-we/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The sense impressions of one-celled animals are not edited for the brain. This is philosophically interesting in a rather mournful way, since it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-sense-impressions-of-one-celled-animals-are-not-edited-for-the/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“What can we make of the inexpressible joy of children? It is a kind of gratitude, I think—the gratitude of the ten-year-old who wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/what-can-we-make-of-the-inexpressible-joy-of-children-it-is-a-kind-of/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“If we were to judge nature by its common sense or likelihood, we wouldn't believe the world existed. In nature, improbabilities are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/if-we-were-to-judge-nature-by-its-common-sense-or-likelihood-we/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [For writing a first draft requires from the writer a peculiar internal state which ordinary life does not induce. ... how to set yourself spinning?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/for-writing-a-first-draft-requires-from-the-writer-a-peculiar/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I am a fugitive and a vagabond, a sojourner seeking signs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-fugitive-and-a-vagabond-a-sojourner-seeking-signs/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) [Explore all 509 Annie Dillard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## More Sore quotes > [Being sore makes me happy cause I know I worked hard and and am getting stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-sore-makes-me-happy-cause-i-know-i-worked-hard-and-and-am/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For me, I think one of the biggest battles is mentally. You have good days, and you have bad days. Randomly, you'll feel good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/for-me-i-think-one-of-the-biggest-battles-is-mentally-you-have-good/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [During the season, I'm sore everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-tucker/during-the-season-i-m-sore-everywhere/) [P. J. Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-tucker/) > [Wife, you deserve the label but, you been hurt before so you sore and don't feel you able.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale-diary/wife-you-deserve-the-label-but-you-been-hurt-before-so-you-sore-and/) Wale - Diary > [If the arm got sore, we went out and pitched until the soreness left - we had to, or we would have been dropped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-nichols/if-the-arm-got-sore-we-went-out-and-pitched-until-the-soreness-left/) [Kid Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-nichols/) > [Eating less, Sleeping more, Waking up sore, laughing more, smiling less, one day no-body would know I exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-laura/eating-less-sleeping-more-waking-up-sore-laughing-more-smiling-less/) [Jasmine Laura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-laura/) > [“Strive always to be pacient in life,it takes time for a sore to get healed! http://webcashplaza.webs.com ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smart-oyejide/strive-always-to-be-pacient-in-life-it-takes-time-for-a-sore-to-get/) [Smart Oyejide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smart-oyejide/) > [Soreness is not something you should always look for. It's good once in a while: it means you are pushing back on plateaus. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kaiser/soreness-is-not-something-you-should-always-look-for-it-s-good-once/) [Anna Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kaiser/) > [Some persons take reproof good-humoredly enough, unless you are so unlucky as to hit a sore place. Then they wince and writhe, and start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-william-hare/some-persons-take-reproof-good-humoredly-enough-unless-you-are-so/) [Augustus William Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-william-hare/) > [“I am sore wounded but not slain I will lay me down and bleed a while And then rise up to fight again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/i-am-sore-wounded-but-not-slain-i-will-lay-me-down-and-bleed-a-while/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [A wise doctor does not mutter incantations over a sore that needs the knife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-wise-doctor-does-not-mutter-incantations-over-a-sore-that-needs-the/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A consumer is a shopper who is sore about something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-coffin/a-consumer-is-a-shopper-who-is-sore-about-something/) [Harold Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-coffin/) > [“I switched from the surgical masks to the KN95 masks and found that I had an irritated and sore throat. I have stopped wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-switched-from-the-surgical-masks-to-the-kn95-masks-and-found-that-i/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“To sore make bad energy, make innocent cry, Aisyx no spread pain plague.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppet/to-sore-make-bad-energy-make-innocent-cry-aisyx-no-spread-pain-plague/) Poppet > [“Later. You’re too sore to fuck again.” He washed quickly. “And if you touch me, my dick will be going up your ass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cox/later-you-re-too-sore-to-fuck-again-he-washed-quickly-and-if-you/) [James Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cox/) Browse all 129 Sore quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If the sore spot is not fatal, if it does not grow and block something, you can use its power for many years, until the heart resorbs it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Annie Dillard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/if-the-sore-spot-is-not-fatal-if-it-does-not-grow-and-block-something/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Sore" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/if-the-sore-spot-is-not-fatal-if-it-does-not-grow-and-block-something/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/annie-dillard-509_sore_if-the-sore-spot-is-not-fatal-if-it-does_2256854.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/annie-dillard-509_sore_if-the-sore-spot-is-not-fatal-if-it-does_2256854.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/annie-dillard-509_sore_if-the-sore-spot-is-not-fatal-if-it-does_2256854.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If the sore spot is not fatal, if it does not grow and block something, you can use its power for many…” — Annie Dillard", "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": "Annie Dillard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If the sore spot is not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/if-the-sore-spot-is-not-fatal-if-it-does-not-grow-and-block-something/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/if-the-sore-spot-is-not-fatal-if-it-does-not-grow-and-block-something/#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 } } ] } ```