--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's impossible to go through life…" description: "\"It's impossible to go through life unscathed. Nor should you want to. By the hurts we accumulate, we measure both our follies and our accomplishments.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/christopher-paolini-622_accomplishment_it-s-impossible-to-go-through-life-unsca_2703271.png" --- # It's impossible to go through life unscathed. Nor should… ![“It's impossible to go through life unscathed. Nor should you want to. By the hurts we accumulate, we measure both our follies and our accomplishments.” quote by Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/christopher-paolini-622_accomplishment_it-s-impossible-to-go-through-life-unsca_2703271.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/christopher-paolini-622_accomplishment_it-s-impossible-to-go-through-life-unsca_2703271.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/christopher-paolini-622_accomplishment_it-s-impossible-to-go-through-life-unsca_2703271.png) > “It's impossible to go through life unscathed. Nor should you want to. By the hurts we accumulate, we measure both our follies and our accomplishments.” [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s inevitable wounds shape both our mistakes and achievements, making scars essential to growth. **In simple terms:** Scars teach us about mistakes and successes. Key Takeaway Accept wounds as growth markers. Themes pain growth experience resilience Mood hopeful reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - self-improvement - storytelling - mental health Key Concepts psychology of trauma personal development philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How have wounds shaped you? - Can we learn from every hurt? A Different Perspective Pain can be overwhelming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) [Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Hurts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurts/) [Hurts Accumulate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurts-accumulate-1396447/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Unscathed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-unscathed-376196/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Unscathed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unscathed/) [Unscathed Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unscathed-want-2750187/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [“Do not feel bad because of it.  It's impossible to go through life unscathed.  Nor should you want to.  By the hurts we accumulate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/do-not-feel-bad-because-of-it-it-s-impossible-to-go-through-life/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [You're not going to live your life unscathed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirstie-alley/you-re-not-going-to-live-your-life-unscathed/) [Kirstie Alley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirstie-alley/) > [“By the hurts we accumulate, we measure both our follies and our accomplishments..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/by-the-hurts-we-accumulate-we-measure-both-our-follies-and-our/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [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/) > [To know who you are without any delusions or sympathy is a moment of revelation that no one experiences unscathed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/to-know-who-you-are-without-any-delusions-or-sympathy-is-a-moment-of/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“You fell in love with a storm. Did you really think you would get out unscathed?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-gill/you-fell-in-love-with-a-storm-did-you-really-think-you-would-get-out/) [Nikita Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-gill/) > [I dont think anyone can get away from high school unscathed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-morrison/i-dont-think-anyone-can-get-away-from-high-school-unscathed/) [Matthew Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-morrison/) > [Keep unscathed the good name; keep out of peril the honor without which even your battered old soldier who is hobbling into his grave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/keep-unscathed-the-good-name-keep-out-of-peril-the-honor-without/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [“She knew she couldn’t escape unscathed, and the trauma would take her a long time to get past. And she might never fully heal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-mccray/she-knew-she-couldn-t-escape-unscathed-and-the-trauma-would-take-her/) [Cheyenne McCray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-mccray/) > [Nobody could emerge from a childhood at MGM unscathed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/nobody-could-emerge-from-a-childhood-at-mgm-unscathed/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [Getting injured is always a concern on films like this. Film sets are dangerous. Knowing that something could happen actually adds to the excitement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrien-brody/getting-injured-is-always-a-concern-on-films-like-this-film-sets-are/) [Adrien Brody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrien-brody/) > [“The older I grow, the more I understand what the burned woman meant. Things I was able to walk through unscathed in my youth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-echols/the-older-i-grow-the-more-i-understand-what-the-burned-woman-meant/) [Damien Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-echols/) > [“But before I ran out and got shot by someone I merely hadn't seen, I examined the remote. There were a lot of buttons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gini-koch/but-before-i-ran-out-and-got-shot-by-someone-i-merely-hadn-t-seen-i/) [Gini Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gini-koch/) > [“Why is it when you fall in love with someone (and especially when you are trying extremely hard not to do so), the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-megan-varnadore/why-is-it-when-you-fall-in-love-with-someone-and-especially-when-you/) [Jennifer Megan Varnadore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-megan-varnadore/) > [Make no mistake, adolescence is a war. No one gets out unscathed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/make-no-mistake-adolescence-is-a-war-no-one-gets-out-unscathed/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) ## More by Christopher Paolini > [Life is pain...anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/life-is-pain-anyone-who-tells-you-otherwise-is-selling-something/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“Understanding breeds empathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/understanding-breeds-empathy/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [If he fancied her anymore," Saphira said to both Eragon and Roran, "I'd be trying to kiss Arya myself." "Saphira!" Mortified, Eragon swatted her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/if-he-fancied-her-anymore-saphira-said-to-both-eragon-and-roran-i-d/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“Clear your mind of such thoughts. They cannot be answered and will make you no happier.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/clear-your-mind-of-such-thoughts-they-cannot-be-answered-and-will/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [We are about to change history, said Saphira. We’re throwing ourselves off a cliff without knowing how deep the water below is. Ah, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/we-are-about-to-change-history-said-saphira-we-re-throwing-ourselves/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [I don't discuss my own beliefs in public, but I will say the beliefs I've given my characters do not necessarily represent what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-don-t-discuss-my-own-beliefs-in-public-but-i-will-say-the-beliefs-i/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [I've never been helpless, I just have powerful enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-ve-never-been-helpless-i-just-have-powerful-enemies/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“Islanzadi sighed, and suddenly appeared tired. “Ormomis may have been your proper teacher, but you have proved yourself to be Brom’s heir, not Oromis’s.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/islanzadi-sighed-and-suddenly-appeared-tired-ormomis-may-have-been/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [Regardless of whether I can shift my affections to another - and the heart, as you observed, is a notoriously fickle beast - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/regardless-of-whether-i-can-shift-my-affections-to-another-and-the/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“You worry about a crack in the floor while the whole mountain is about to come down on us!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/you-worry-about-a-crack-in-the-floor-while-the-whole-mountain-is/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“The only thing she could be certain of was that she existed. All else was suspect, even her own thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/the-only-thing-she-could-be-certain-of-was-that-she-existed-all-else/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“But you possess one quality that no one else does. Oh? Your identity. Your history, deeds and situation. Use those to shape your creation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/but-you-possess-one-quality-that-no-one-else-does-oh-your-identity/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“Left weaponless, Roran was forced to retreat before the remaining soldier. He stumbled over a corpse, cutting his calf on a sword as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/left-weaponless-roran-was-forced-to-retreat-before-the-remaining/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“Let go of your worries and focus only on the task at hand. The future will be what it will, and fretting about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/let-go-of-your-worries-and-focus-only-on-the-task-at-hand-the-future/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [I've always been very grateful that enough people have enjoyed reading what I've written that I've been able to pursue writing professionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-ve-always-been-very-grateful-that-enough-people-have-enjoyed/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) [Explore all 393 Christopher Paolini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) ## More Accomplishment quotes > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. 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The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/) [Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/) > [I'm not always right, but I learn from my mistakes and make it a productive experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-kolhoff/i-m-not-always-right-but-i-learn-from-my-mistakes-and-make-it-a/) [Carson Kolhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-kolhoff/) > [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/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Research is the live heart of the scientific life ... 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No passing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/our-purpose-on-this-earth-is-not-one-single-event-an-accomplishment/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [An untrained or uneducated Marine ... deployed to the combat zone is a bigger threat to mission accomplishment ... than the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/an-untrained-or-uneducated-marine-deployed-to-the-combat-zone-is-a/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) [Browse all 1,598 Accomplishment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's impossible to go through life unscathed. Nor should you want to. 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