---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What does not kill you makes you stronger…"
description: "\"“What does not kill you makes you stronger but sticks and stones can break your bones AND words do hurt”\" — Chanda Hahn"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce7/chanda-hahn-6880_sticks-and-stones_what-does-not-kill-you-makes-you-stronge_672252.jpg"
---

#  What does not kill you makes you stronger but sticks and…

![“What does not kill you makes you stronger but sticks and stones can break your bones AND words do hurt” quote by Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce7/chanda-hahn-6880_sticks-and-stones_what-does-not-kill-you-makes-you-stronge_672252.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce7/chanda-hahn-6880_sticks-and-stones_what-does-not-kill-you-makes-you-stronge_672252.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce7/chanda-hahn-6880_sticks-and-stones_what-does-not-kill-you-makes-you-stronge_672252.jpg)

> ““What does not kill you makes you stronger but sticks and stones can break your bones AND words do hurt””

[Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/)

## About This Quote

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

The statement highlights that both physical and verbal harm can cause lasting damage, emphasizing resilience and vulnerability.

**In simple terms:** Pain can be physical or verbal; both hurt.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address all forms of harm.

Themes

psychology resilience health

Mood

reflective empathetic

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- school bullying
- workplace harassment
- personal relationships

Key Concepts

Trauma emotional intelligence

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you recover from verbal abuse?
- What support helps heal emotional wounds?

A Different Perspective

Physical strength doesn’t prevent emotional injury.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bones Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bones-words-523785/) [Break Bones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break-bones-678976/) [Sticks and stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sticks-and-stones/) [Sticks Stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sticks-stones-293253/) [Stronger Sticks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stronger-sticks-5335043/) [Words hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-hurt/)

## Related quotes

> [Sticks and stones may break your bones but words can hurt you in a different way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sticks-and-stones-may-break-your-bones-but-words-can-hurt-you-in-a/)

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

> [Sticks and stones may break my bones but words are what will kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-are-what-will-kill-me/)

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

> [“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will make you go into a corner by myself and cry for hours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-will-make-you-go-into/)

[Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/)

> [“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but your words...they'll destroy my soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-giovanni/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-your-words-they-ll-destroy/)

[Cassandra Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-giovanni/)

> [Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will rip my skin apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sangfroid-stalker/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-will-rip-my-skin-apart/)

[SangFroid Stalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sangfroid-stalker/)

> [Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can do much worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madi/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-can-do-much-worse/)

[Madi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madi/)

> [Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will make me go in a corner and cry by myself for hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-will-make-me-go-in-a/)

[Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/)

> [“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words have the power to destroy me”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-messe/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-have-the-power-to/)

[Ellie Messe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-messe/)

> [“Sticks and stones will break your bones, but now words can kill, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/sticks-and-stones-will-break-your-bones-but-now-words-can-kill-too/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [“sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will make me cry by myself in a corner for hours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/sticks-and-stones-will-break-my-bones-but-words-will-make-me-cry-by/)

[Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/)

> [Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words can kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rayy/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-can-kill-me/)

[Rayy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rayy/)

> [Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will always hurt me. Bones mend and become actually stronger in the very place they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-will-always-hurt-me/)

[Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/)

> [“Stick and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/stick-and-stones-may-break-your-bones-but-words-will-never-hurt-you/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [I just think that as much as we say sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me - words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-kostek/i-just-think-that-as-much-as-we-say-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my/)

[Camille Kostek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-kostek/)

> [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/)

## More by Chanda Hahn

> [“Nan was shocked. "What a jerk! Mina, you must feel awful. He didn't try to take advantage of you, did he? I'm so mad-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/nan-was-shocked-what-a-jerk-mina-you-must-feel-awful-he-didn-t-try-to/)

[Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/)

> [“Mina penned the jubilant words into her blue spiral notebook with her favorite ballpoint pen. She faithfully used the same pen when writing all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/mina-penned-the-jubilant-words-into-her-blue-spiral-notebook-with-her/)

[Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/)

> [“Sometimes love is worth fighting for. And if you don’t fight for it, then it slips through your fingers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/sometimes-love-is-worth-fighting-for-and-if-you-don-t-fight-for-it/)

[Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/)

> [“She had always known that Jared was attractive. His dark hair, strong jaw, and gray eyes made him irresistible,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/she-had-always-known-that-jared-was-attractive-his-dark-hair-strong/)

[Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/)

> [“For once in her life, Mina was thankful for the pixie’s interference. Now, if she could only interfere and find a way for Mina…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/for-once-in-her-life-mina-was-thankful-for-the-pixie-s-interference/)

[Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/)

> [“Even a pawn can take down a queen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/even-a-pawn-can-take-down-a-queen/)

[Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/)

> [“Mina turned in dread and then froze, her heart beating loudly in her ears. He was right there, standing mere feet from her. Jared.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/mina-turned-in-dread-and-then-froze-her-heart-beating-loudly-in-her/)

[Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/)

> [“She never used to compare her appearance to Nan, but now that Brody was so near both of them again, she couldn’t help but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/she-never-used-to-compare-her-appearance-to-nan-but-now-that-brody/)

[Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/)

> [“Thanks.” She immediately wanted to bash her head into the dashboard. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She was so stupid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/thanks-she-immediately-wanted-to-bash-her-head-into-the-dashboard/)

[Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/)

> [“Mina. You’re the one who saved Brody!” Her confusion disappeared and her face lit with happiness. “We have much to thank you for…oh, Brody,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/mina-you-re-the-one-who-saved-brody-her-confusion-disappeared-and-her/)

[Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/)

> [“Ouch! Blistering son of a scorpion!” I cussed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/ouch-blistering-son-of-a-scorpion-i-cussed/)

[Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/)

> [“Savannah White, the most popular girl in school, mouthing the words “you’re dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/savannah-white-the-most-popular-girl-in-school-mouthing-the-words-you/)

[Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/)

> [“You there is such a thing as a door," I whispered. "You should try it some time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/you-there-is-such-a-thing-as-a-door-i-whispered-you-should-try-it/)

[Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/)

> [“I cried silently for the pain that I had seen in Kael’s eyes at his inability to be free of me. I cried the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/i-cried-silently-for-the-pain-that-i-had-seen-in-kael-s-eyes-at-his/)

[Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/)

> [“Someone bumped her from behind, and she lost her grip on her notebook and chewed-up pencil, which launched from her hand to land at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/someone-bumped-her-from-behind-and-she-lost-her-grip-on-her-notebook/)

[Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/)

[Explore all 93 Chanda Hahn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/)

## More Sticks and stones quotes

> [“They call it a “Whippoorwill” because the call it makes sounds exactly like it’s saying “WHIPPOOR-WILLL,” but in a whistle. Oh it doesn’t stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-rohrig/they-call-it-a-whippoorwill-because-the-call-it-makes-sounds-exactly/)

[Kyle Rohrig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-rohrig/)

> [Colin thought about the dork mantra: sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. What a dirty lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/colin-thought-about-the-dork-mantra-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [“What is that old children’s rhyme, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’? Anyone who says that doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/what-is-that-old-children-s-rhyme-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [Trust the one Who's been where you are wishing all it was Was sticks and stones Those words cut deep but they don't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-hayes/trust-the-one-who-s-been-where-you-are-wishing-all-it-was-was-sticks/)

[Hunter Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-hayes/)

> [“Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/sticks-and-stones-may-break-our-bones-but-words-will-break-our-hearts/)

[Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/)

> [My parents said sticks and stones will break your bones but names will never hurt you. But I always felt a sense of exhilaration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-franti/my-parents-said-sticks-and-stones-will-break-your-bones-but-names/)

[Michael Franti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-franti/)

> [“Sticks and stones will break your bones, but failure will get you killed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/sticks-and-stones-will-break-your-bones-but-failure-will-get-you/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [I'm not the only kid who grew up this way, surrounded by people who used to say that rhyme about sticks and stones, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-koyczan/i-m-not-the-only-kid-who-grew-up-this-way-surrounded-by-people-who/)

[Shane Koyczan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-koyczan/)

> [I felt bad about myself because certain people were relentlessly attacking me and my reputation. My mom kept saying 'Let it go, Lauren, It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-conrad/i-felt-bad-about-myself-because-certain-people-were-relentlessly/)

[Lauren Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-conrad/)

> [..and only sticks and stones can break my bones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-haddon/and-only-sticks-and-stones-can-break-my-bones/)

[Mark Haddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-haddon/)

> [“Sticks and stones are hard on bones, Aimed with angry art, Words can sting like anything But silence breaks the heart.’ Phyllis McGinley, "Ballade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilliana-anderson/sticks-and-stones-are-hard-on-bones-aimed-with-angry-art-words-can/)

[Lilliana Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilliana-anderson/)

> [“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but I might be a vampire so I don't give a shit. I'll heal”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-i-might-be-a-vampire-so-i/)

[Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/)

> [“Sticks and stones may break my bones’, as they say in the Middle Worlds, but with the right words you can build a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-as-they-say-in-the-middle-worlds/)

[Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/)

> [A liar is one of the nastiest people on the face of the earth. Whoever said sticks and stones may break my bones, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-p/a-liar-is-one-of-the-nastiest-people-on-the-face-of-the-earth-whoever/)

[Donna P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-p/)

> [Now sticks 'n' stones'll break ya bones, a little tokin' never hurt no one. Let's toke, toke, toke about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/now-sticks-n-stones-ll-break-ya-bones-a-little-tokin-never-hurt-no/)

[Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/)

[Browse all 166 Sticks and stones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sticks-and-stones/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“What does not kill you makes you stronger but sticks and stones can break your bones AND words do hurt”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Chanda Hahn"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/what-does-not-kill-you-makes-you-stronger-but-sticks-and-stones-can/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Sticks and stones"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/what-does-not-kill-you-makes-you-stronger-but-sticks-and-stones-can/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce7/chanda-hahn-6880_sticks-and-stones_what-does-not-kill-you-makes-you-stronge_672252.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce7/chanda-hahn-6880_sticks-and-stones_what-does-not-kill-you-makes-you-stronge_672252.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce7/chanda-hahn-6880_sticks-and-stones_what-does-not-kill-you-makes-you-stronge_672252.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What does not kill you makes you stronger but sticks and stones can break your bones AND words do hurt” — Chanda Hahn",
                "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": "Chanda Hahn",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“What does not kill you makes...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/what-does-not-kill-you-makes-you-stronger-but-sticks-and-stones-can/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/what-does-not-kill-you-makes-you-stronger-but-sticks-and-stones-can/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
