--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They have a word in Finnish called sisu…" description: "\"They have a word in Finnish called sisu, which basically means guts. It’s the strongest word in the Finnish language. You tell a Finn he doesn’t have s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/arthur-lydiard-29344_athletics_they-have-a-word-in-finnish-called-sisu_1104261.png" --- # They have a word in Finnish called sisu, which basically… ![“They have a word in Finnish called sisu, which basically means guts. It’s the strongest word in the Finnish language. You tell a Finn he doesn’t have sisu, that’s like spitting in his face.” quote by Arthur Lydiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/arthur-lydiard-29344_athletics_they-have-a-word-in-finnish-called-sisu_1104261.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/arthur-lydiard-29344_athletics_they-have-a-word-in-finnish-called-sisu_1104261.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/arthur-lydiard-29344_athletics_they-have-a-word-in-finnish-called-sisu_1104261.png) > “They have a word in Finnish called sisu, which basically means guts. It’s the strongest word in the Finnish language. You tell a Finn he doesn’t have sisu, that’s like spitting in his face.” [Arthur Lydiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lydiard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Finnish concept sisu denotes extreme perseverance and courage, a cultural badge of honor. **In simple terms:** Sisu means deep grit and courage. Key Takeaway Embrace resilience and honor cultural values. Themes courage perseverance culture identity Mood determined proud Type motivational cultural When to use this quote - team building - personal challenges - leadership training - cultural exchange Key Concepts Finnish ethos psychology social identity Questions to Reflect On - How do you cultivate genuine resilience? - When does pride hinder growth? A Different Perspective Sisu may be romanticized, overlooking vulnerability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athletics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletics/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Finnish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finnish/) [Guts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guts/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Offence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offence/) [Track and field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/track-and-field/) [Verbal abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verbal-abuse/) [Words can hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-can-hurt/) ## Related quotes > [It's ok to cry, because that only means you have more guts than those who are afraid too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-ok-to-cry-because-that-only-means-you-have-more-guts-than-those/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Finnish is not a language, it is a way of setting at the end of the bench with your fur cap pulled over your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paavo-haavikko/finnish-is-not-a-language-it-is-a-way-of-setting-at-the-end-of-the/) Paavo Haavikko > [I tried to learn the Finnish language, which is really, really, really hard, and I realized that if I want to really learn it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floor-jansen/i-tried-to-learn-the-finnish-language-which-is-really-really-really/) [Floor Jansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floor-jansen/) > [Words can hurt a milian times worser than you think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/be-real-4ever/words-can-hurt-a-milian-times-worser-than-you-think/) Be\_real\_4ever > [I don't think some people know how bad words can hurt they really don't ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-think-some-people-know-how-bad-words-can-hurt-they-really-don/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Geminis are not fake. They're nice people. Words can hurt people and so they're careful about that. How is that fake? check yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/geminis-are-not-fake-they-re-nice-people-words-can-hurt-people-and-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Think before you speak, words can hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farahjayne809/think-before-you-speak-words-can-hurt/) Farahjayne809 > [Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit--- YOU choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/words-kill-words-give-life-they-re-either-poison-or-fruit-you-choose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Words can hurt. Speech can harm. Always think through before you talk and you will save a heart from feeling bitter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/words-can-hurt-speech-can-harm-always-think-through-before-you-talk/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I never thought about how much words can hurt, but now I realize that they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-thought-about-how-much-words-can-hurt-but-now-i-realize-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes, small little words can hurt you so much or make you fall deeply in love. It changes everything, nothing is ever the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-small-little-words-can-hurt-you-so-much-or-make-you-fall/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you calls someone fat, it really hurts. It might just be a joke to you, but think about how they feel. Words can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-calls-someone-fat-it-really-hurts-it-might-just-be-a-joke-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [How would you feel if youre the one next to having to put the rope around your self and choke a silent slowly death?,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myothersweetangel199/how-would-you-feel-if-youre-the-one-next-to-having-to-put-the-rope/) Myothersweetangel199 > [Sticks and stones may break your bones but words can hurt like hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/sticks-and-stones-may-break-your-bones-but-words-can-hurt-like-hell/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Sometimes, words can hurt a human more than a sword can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-words-can-hurt-a-human-more-than-a-sword-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Arthur Lydiard > [There are champions everywhere. Every street's got them. All we need to do is train them properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lydiard/there-are-champions-everywhere-every-street-s-got-them-all-we-need-to/) [Arthur Lydiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lydiard/) > [They're very tenacious. They're dedicated. Once a woman decides she's going to do something, she'll probably stick to it. The only problem with women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lydiard/they-re-very-tenacious-they-re-dedicated-once-a-woman-decides-she-s/) [Arthur Lydiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lydiard/) > [When aerobic running becomes a daily habit, strength and confidence follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lydiard/when-aerobic-running-becomes-a-daily-habit-strength-and-confidence/) [Arthur Lydiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lydiard/) > [Encourage kids to enjoy running and play in athletics. Don't force them to run too much competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lydiard/encourage-kids-to-enjoy-running-and-play-in-athletics-don-t-force/) [Arthur Lydiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lydiard/) > [The idea that you can't lose contact with the leaders has cut more throats than it has saved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lydiard/the-idea-that-you-can-t-lose-contact-with-the-leaders-has-cut-more/) [Arthur Lydiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lydiard/) > [I get more gratification out of getting some obese person who had a heart attack running around and enjoying life within a year. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lydiard/i-get-more-gratification-out-of-getting-some-obese-person-who-had-a/) [Arthur Lydiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lydiard/) > [My most frequent admonition to athletes and coaches is: train, do not strain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lydiard/my-most-frequent-admonition-to-athletes-and-coaches-is-train-do-not/) [Arthur Lydiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lydiard/) > [I have a saying 'train, don't strain.' The Americans have the saying 'no pain, no gain' and that's why they have no distance running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lydiard/i-have-a-saying-train-don-t-strain-the-americans-have-the-saying-no/) [Arthur Lydiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lydiard/) > [No one will burn out doing aerobic running. It is too much anaerobic running, which the American scholastic athletic system tends to put young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lydiard/no-one-will-burn-out-doing-aerobic-running-it-is-too-much-anaerobic/) [Arthur Lydiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lydiard/) > [“Train, don't strain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lydiard/train-don-t-strain/) [Arthur Lydiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lydiard/) > [If you want to be a successful runner, you have to consider everything. It's no good just thinking about endurance and not to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lydiard/if-you-want-to-be-a-successful-runner-you-have-to-consider-everything/) [Arthur Lydiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lydiard/) > [Athletes need to enjoy their training. They don't enjoy going down to the track with a coach making them do repetitions until they're exhausted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lydiard/athletes-need-to-enjoy-their-training-they-don-t-enjoy-going-down-to/) [Arthur Lydiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lydiard/) > [It's just a matter of understanding what's necessary and discipline yourself to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lydiard/it-s-just-a-matter-of-understanding-what-s-necessary-and-discipline/) [Arthur Lydiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lydiard/) > [Well, no athlete respects a big, fat coach who's going to stand there and rest the watch on his stomach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lydiard/well-no-athlete-respects-a-big-fat-coach-who-s-going-to-stand-there/) [Arthur Lydiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lydiard/) > [Champions are everywhere, you just have to train them properly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lydiard/champions-are-everywhere-you-just-have-to-train-them-properly/) [Arthur Lydiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lydiard/) [Explore all 18 Arthur Lydiard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lydiard/) ## More Athletics quotes > [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/) [Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/) > [Combining the experience of a seasoned university president with the analysis of a respected legal scholar, Derek Bok explores what he concludes are 'signs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-h-t-rhodes/combining-the-experience-of-a-seasoned-university-president-with-the/) Frank H. 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If you take away the Eastern Bloc, you take away 50% of the medals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-pickering/the-games-have-been-decimated-if-you-take-away-the-eastern-bloc-you/) [Ron Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-pickering/) > [If you have the sense of participation in sports or athletics, of being a player, then you are not really into the Zen mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-have-the-sense-of-participation-in-sports-or-athletics-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [While receiving radiation treatment for a thyroid illness, I had refused to take beta-blockers - a medication that would have eased its side effects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/while-receiving-radiation-treatment-for-a-thyroid-illness-i-had/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [Everyone is an athlete. The only difference is that some of us are in training, and some are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-sheehan/everyone-is-an-athlete-the-only-difference-is-that-some-of-us-are-in/) [George A. Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-sheehan/) > [And with alphabetical irony Nigeria follows New Zealand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-coleman/and-with-alphabetical-irony-nigeria-follows-new-zealand/) [David Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-coleman/) > [The very advanced practitioners of martial arts never had to raise a hand. They could knock an opponent down without physically touching them, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-very-advanced-practitioners-of-martial-arts-never-had-to-raise-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [There's discussion in athletics about how sport - where they say 'SportsCenter' has ruined the fundamentals of basketball because it's - it only applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pfeiffer/there-s-discussion-in-athletics-about-how-sport-where-they-say/) [Dan Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pfeiffer/) > [In the game of Frisbee you throw the disk to someone else. The point of Frisbee is perfect communication. The person at the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-the-game-of-frisbee-you-throw-the-disk-to-someone-else-the-point/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Physical perfection, working out, adds to your spiritual perfection if that is your intent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/physical-perfection-working-out-adds-to-your-spiritual-perfection-if/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [If you get a great wife who understands the demands of someone in athletics, I think that's important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-romo/if-you-get-a-great-wife-who-understands-the-demands-of-someone-in/) [Tony Romo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-romo/) > [Few would deny that blacks have become very dominant in athletics: football, basketball, track, now dominant in tennis and dominant in golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/few-would-deny-that-blacks-have-become-very-dominant-in-athletics/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Participating in athletics gives all students an opportunity to learn about themselves, to compete, to negotiate with a team and learn skills that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/participating-in-athletics-gives-all-students-an-opportunity-to-learn/) [Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/) [Browse all 347 Athletics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "They have a word in Finnish called sisu, which basically means guts. 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