--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Suffering is one of life's great teachers." description: "\"Suffering is one of life's great teachers.\" — Bryant H. McGill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9e/bryant-h-mcgill-2612_great-teachers_suffering-is-one-of-life-s-great-teacher_1102307.jpg" --- # Suffering is one of life's great teachers. ![“Suffering is one of life's great teachers.” quote by Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9e/bryant-h-mcgill-2612_great-teachers_suffering-is-one-of-life-s-great-teacher_1102307.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9e/bryant-h-mcgill-2612_great-teachers_suffering-is-one-of-life-s-great-teacher_1102307.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9e/bryant-h-mcgill-2612_great-teachers_suffering-is-one-of-life-s-great-teacher_1102307.jpg) > “Suffering is one of life's great teachers.” [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suffering provides deep lessons that shape character and wisdom. **In simple terms:** Pain teaches growth. Key Takeaway Embrace hardship as a teacher. Themes growth resilience learning Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - grief counseling - health recovery - leadership development Key Concepts philosophy psychology spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn pain into purpose? - What lesson is hidden in your current struggle? A Different Perspective Suffering alone does not guarantee insight without reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great teachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-teachers/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Teachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teachers/) ## Related quotes > [I've been very lucky in my life to have some great teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-lindstrom/i-ve-been-very-lucky-in-my-life-to-have-some-great-teachers/) [Brian Lindstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-lindstrom/) > [Accept your mistakes. They're great teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accept-your-mistakes-they-re-great-teachers/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Great teachers are usually a little crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/great-teachers-are-usually-a-little-crazy/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [I just want to make a point that it's not just great teachers that sometimes shape your life. Sometimes it's the absence of great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/i-just-want-to-make-a-point-that-it-s-not-just-great-teachers-that/) [Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/) > [“There are lots of great teachers and speakers - you'll just need to find one who will dress up, clean up, and shut up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/there-are-lots-of-great-teachers-and-speakers-you-ll-just-need-to/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Take the teacher not the course. Find out who the great professors are - the great teachers - and take their courses because a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/take-the-teacher-not-the-course-find-out-who-the-great-professors-are/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [The great teachers are always those who can live the tension. They are not criticizing everybody, they're not complaining. They give young people a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-great-teachers-are-always-those-who-can-live-the-tension-they-are/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Great teachers have high expectations for their students, but higher expectations for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-whitaker/great-teachers-have-high-expectations-for-their-students-but-higher/) Todd Whitaker > [I've focused on making sure we have talented teachers and principals in our schools through proposals like the GREAT Teachers and Principals Act and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bennet/i-ve-focused-on-making-sure-we-have-talented-teachers-and-principals/) [Michael Bennet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bennet/) > [Teachers teach and students educate. Students are the only true educators. Historically, every other method of education has failed. Education occurs when students get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/teachers-teach-and-students-educate-students-are-the-only-true/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [“Great players don't always make great teachers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-harris/great-players-don-t-always-make-great-teachers/) [Paul Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-harris/) > [Suffering, if you're a Christian, suffering is a part of life. And it's not a bad thing, it is an essential thing in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/suffering-if-you-re-a-christian-suffering-is-a-part-of-life-and-it-s/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [Suffering in life can uncover untold depths of character and unknown strength for service. People who go through life unscathed by sorrow and untouched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/suffering-in-life-can-uncover-untold-depths-of-character-and-unknown/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“For believers in Christ, affliction often has a softening effect on the heart. This is why cancer patients are posting uplifting thoughts in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-c-wilson/for-believers-in-christ-affliction-often-has-a-softening-effect-on/) [Jared C. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-c-wilson/) > [Suffering is how Life tells you that you are resisting or misperceiving what is real and true. It is the way Life suggests that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/suffering-is-how-life-tells-you-that-you-are-resisting-or/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) ## More by Bryant H. McGill > [True education is limited to those people who would die without knowing, whereas the masses in the institutions are merely going through the motions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/true-education-is-limited-to-those-people-who-would-die-without/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [You reclaim your power by loving what you were once taught to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/you-reclaim-your-power-by-loving-what-you-were-once-taught-to-hate/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [It will feel impossible; like you are dying inside this is your soul crying out for life. It may take everything you have; every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/it-will-feel-impossible-like-you-are-dying-inside-this-is-your-soul/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [Genius is always accompanied by enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/genius-is-always-accompanied-by-enthusiasm/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [My self-esteem had been crushed through years of childhood bullying and serious abuses, which would take me decades to overcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/my-self-esteem-had-been-crushed-through-years-of-childhood-bullying/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [Good manners are appreciated as much as bad manners are abhorred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/good-manners-are-appreciated-as-much-as-bad-manners-are-abhorred/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [Become empty to become complete, for it is the void that defines the form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/become-empty-to-become-complete-for-it-is-the-void-that-defines-the/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [Dare to love every person, including yourself. Become the energy of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/dare-to-love-every-person-including-yourself-become-the-energy-of-love/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [A mistake made by many people with great convictions is that they will let nothing stand in the way of their views, not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/a-mistake-made-by-many-people-with-great-convictions-is-that-they/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [You are the artist and the art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/you-are-the-artist-and-the-art/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [In America, educators punish those who actually think for themselves. There is only acceptance for popular opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/in-america-educators-punish-those-who-actually-think-for-themselves/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [Hate controls everything it touches, but love sets everything it touches free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/hate-controls-everything-it-touches-but-love-sets-everything-it/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [Let people speak. Let people disagree. Communicate. Listen. Have high-respect, if not for your opponent, then for your own comportment and conduct as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/let-people-speak-let-people-disagree-communicate-listen-have-high/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [While it is important for people to see your promise you must also remember that hope is the keeper of both happiness and disappointment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/while-it-is-important-for-people-to-see-your-promise-you-must-also/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [Stop your worrying, panicking and stressing. Breathe. Remember, you made it this far through difficulties that seemed impossible. Remember how many times you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/stop-your-worrying-panicking-and-stressing-breathe-remember-you-made/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) [Explore all 158 Bryant H. McGill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) ## More Great teachers quotes > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Students deserve great teachers. And teachers deserve the support they need to become great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/students-deserve-great-teachers-and-teachers-deserve-the-support-they/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [“Great players don't always make great teachers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-harris/great-players-don-t-always-make-great-teachers/) [Paul Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-harris/) > [“You cannot trade the courage needed to live every moment for immunity from life's sorrows. We may say we know this but ours is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriah-mountain-dreamer/you-cannot-trade-the-courage-needed-to-live-every-moment-for-immunity/) [Oriah Mountain Dreamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriah-mountain-dreamer/) > [Performers should really go to the best schools, like Lady Gaga, you know, she went to NYU and had great teachers... It's best to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bennett/performers-should-really-go-to-the-best-schools-like-lady-gaga-you/) [Tony Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bennett/) > [Teachers teach and students educate. Students are the only true educators. Historically, every other method of education has failed. Education occurs when students get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/teachers-teach-and-students-educate-students-are-the-only-true/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [Good teachers make the best of a pupil's means; great teachers foresee a pupil's ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-callas/good-teachers-make-the-best-of-a-pupil-s-means-great-teachers-foresee/) [Maria Callas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-callas/) > [“In the evening we shall be examined on love.” –St. John of the Cross And it won’t be multiple choice, though some of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-centolella/in-the-evening-we-shall-be-examined-on-love-st-john-of-the-cross-and/) Thomas Centolella > [Dogs are great teachers. They are at home in the world. They live in the moment, and they force us to stay there with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cheever/dogs-are-great-teachers-they-are-at-home-in-the-world-they-live-in/) [Susan Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cheever/) > [The best teachers coach their students and the best coaches are great teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-teaff/the-best-teachers-coach-their-students-and-the-best-coaches-are-great/) Grant Teaff > [There are some great teachers who have had great students, but they themselves can't play a note. I don't understand it, because the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/there-are-some-great-teachers-who-have-had-great-students-but-they/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [I've focused on making sure we have talented teachers and principals in our schools through proposals like the GREAT Teachers and Principals Act and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bennet/i-ve-focused-on-making-sure-we-have-talented-teachers-and-principals/) [Michael Bennet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bennet/) > [Public libraries are our great teachers and storytellers, and are a vital adjunct to our schools. In this day of standardized and homogenized education,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/public-libraries-are-our-great-teachers-and-storytellers-and-are-a/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [LIFE and TIME are the two great teachers: LIFE teaches us, The use of Timeand TIME teaches us, The value of Life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-and-time-are-the-two-great-teachers-life-teaches-us-the-use-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Great teachers have high expectations for their students, but higher expectations for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-whitaker/great-teachers-have-high-expectations-for-their-students-but-higher/) Todd Whitaker [Browse all 131 Great teachers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-teachers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Suffering is one of life's great teachers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bryant H. McGill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/suffering-is-one-of-life-s-great-teachers/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Great teachers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/suffering-is-one-of-life-s-great-teachers/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9e/bryant-h-mcgill-2612_great-teachers_suffering-is-one-of-life-s-great-teacher_1102307.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9e/bryant-h-mcgill-2612_great-teachers_suffering-is-one-of-life-s-great-teacher_1102307.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9e/bryant-h-mcgill-2612_great-teachers_suffering-is-one-of-life-s-great-teacher_1102307.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Suffering is one of life's great teachers.” — Bryant H. McGill", "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": "Bryant H. McGill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Suffering is one of life's great...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/suffering-is-one-of-life-s-great-teachers/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/suffering-is-one-of-life-s-great-teachers/#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 } } ] } ```