--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is experience if not the…" description: "\"“What is experience if not the accumulation of scars and lessons that allow us to use our mind, bodies, and powers more effectively?”\" — Drew Hayes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/drew-hayes-17984_experience_what-is-experience-if-not-the-accumulati_3013363.jpg" --- # What is experience if not the accumulation of scars and… ![“What is experience if not the accumulation of scars and lessons that allow us to use our mind, bodies, and powers more effectively?” quote by Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/drew-hayes-17984_experience_what-is-experience-if-not-the-accumulati_3013363.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/drew-hayes-17984_experience_what-is-experience-if-not-the-accumulati_3013363.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/drew-hayes-17984_experience_what-is-experience-if-not-the-accumulati_3013363.jpg) > ““What is experience if not the accumulation of scars and lessons that allow us to use our mind, bodies, and powers more effectively?”” [Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Experience is built from painful lessons that sharpen mental, physical, and personal abilities. **In simple terms:** Scars teach us to use our mind and body better. Key Takeaway Learn from pain to improve capability. Themes growth resilience learning Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - recovering from injury - career development - skill acquisition - personal trauma Key Concepts psychology self‑improvement embodiment Questions to Reflect On - What lessons have your hardships taught you? - How can you transform pain into strength? A Different Perspective Painful experiences can also cause lasting trauma that hinders growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accumulation Scars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accumulation-scars-4842047/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Experience Accumulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience-accumulation-1702414/) [Mind Bodies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-bodies-2387832/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Scars Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scars-lessons-2385481/) ## Related quotes > [What you experience is the accumulation of what you have thought about and wished for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/what-you-experience-is-the-accumulation-of-what-you-have-thought/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“Faith is about going through hell, coming out with some scars, and becoming a wiser person from the lessons you’ve learned along the way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-murphy/faith-is-about-going-through-hell-coming-out-with-some-scars-and/) [James A. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-murphy/) > [Friendship is one mind in two bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/friendship-is-one-mind-in-two-bodies/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [“Friendship is one mind in two bodies." Right. Until your BFF went out of her mind and after your ex-boyfriend's body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-landers/friendship-is-one-mind-in-two-bodies-right-until-your-bff-went-out-of/) [Melissa Landers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-landers/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [Experience is a thorough teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-holmes/experience-is-a-thorough-teacher/) [Mary Jane Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jane-holmes/) > [Prison experience puts distance between me and any person who hasn't been there, done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/prison-experience-puts-distance-between-me-and-any-person-who-hasn-t/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [Education is a lifelong experience. Experience is a lifelong education. Education plus experience equals expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bugeja/education-is-a-lifelong-experience-experience-is-a-lifelong-education/) [Michael Bugeja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bugeja/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [Experience makes a lesson to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/experience-makes-a-lesson-to-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Drew Hayes > [“I said it was embarrassing. It is, having all these eyes worshipping me,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/i-said-it-was-embarrassing-it-is-having-all-these-eyes-worshipping-me/) [Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/) > [“The next time he spoke it was with fury, hope, and desperation all rolled together like a burrito of command.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/the-next-time-he-spoke-it-was-with-fury-hope-and-desperation-all/) [Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/) > [“Thus the Guild of Villainous Reformation has three new apprentices.” Ivan resisted the urge to groan inwardly at the Guild’s full name. He always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/thus-the-guild-of-villainous-reformation-has-three-new-apprentices/) [Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/) > [“We’ve gotten wind of a confluence.” Apollo set the folder on Quorum’s desk. Quorum pulled the folder over and flicked it open with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/we-ve-gotten-wind-of-a-confluence-apollo-set-the-folder-on-quorum-s/) [Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/) > [“I am still a god, after all. There’s a certain way these things are done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/i-am-still-a-god-after-all-there-s-a-certain-way-these-things-are-done/) [Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/) > [“Krystal snorted out a laugh. “Hit on me? Freddy, Bubba is gay. Like really gay. Gayer than a unicorn butt-fucking a rainbow. You’re the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/krystal-snorted-out-a-laugh-hit-on-me-freddy-bubba-is-gay-like-really/) [Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/) > [“Ivan, task handled, lowered his hand, pausing only to pop his knuckles. He turned to face his apprentice. He cleared his throat, and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/ivan-task-handled-lowered-his-hand-pausing-only-to-pop-his-knuckles/) [Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/) > [“The first of us who were set free weren’t the worst of the lot, though we were some of the most powerful. More than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/the-first-of-us-who-were-set-free-weren-t-the-worst-of-the-lot-though/) [Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/) > [“I'm working on the future, instead of being caught up in where I am today. - Roy Daniels”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/i-m-working-on-the-future-instead-of-being-caught-up-in-where-i-am/) [Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/) > [“I can really feel the love in this apprenticeship already,” Tory said. “You’re not dead yet. That’s about as loving as the Guild can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/i-can-really-feel-the-love-in-this-apprenticeship-already-tory-said/) [Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/) > [“There may come times that you will regret not just dying when you had a chance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/there-may-come-times-that-you-will-regret-not-just-dying-when-you-had/) [Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/) > [“Along the way, he followed his own advice and snagged a pair of mismatched daggers from the corpses of fallen archers. They weren’t as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/along-the-way-he-followed-his-own-advice-and-snagged-a-pair-of/) [Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/) > [“To put it as simply as possible, I ate a god.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/to-put-it-as-simply-as-possible-i-ate-a-god/) [Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/) > [“Try not to let them scare you too much. But, don’t forget, that they are scary people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/try-not-to-let-them-scare-you-too-much-but-don-t-forget-that-they-are/) [Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/) > [“All of us, together, are the unlovable, the unreformable. We, the people, who are deemed incapable of existing alongside society. But, we did just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/all-of-us-together-are-the-unlovable-the-unreformable-we-the-people/) [Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/) [Explore all 36 Drew Hayes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/) ## More Experience quotes > [Experience makes a lesson to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/experience-makes-a-lesson-to-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [Education is a lifelong experience. Experience is a lifelong education. Education plus experience equals expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bugeja/education-is-a-lifelong-experience-experience-is-a-lifelong-education/) [Michael Bugeja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bugeja/) > [Prison experience puts distance between me and any person who hasn't been there, done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/prison-experience-puts-distance-between-me-and-any-person-who-hasn-t/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [Experience is a thorough teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-holmes/experience-is-a-thorough-teacher/) [Mary Jane Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jane-holmes/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I've had a great experience with pretty much everybody I've worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/i-ve-had-a-great-experience-with-pretty-much-everybody-i-ve-worked/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [It wasn't a mistake, it was a fun learning experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-wasn-t-a-mistake-it-was-a-fun-learning-experience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) [Browse all 11,792 Experience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What is experience if not the accumulation of scars and lessons that allow us to use our mind, bodies, and powers more effectively?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Drew Hayes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/what-is-experience-if-not-the-accumulation-of-scars-and-lessons-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Experience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/what-is-experience-if-not-the-accumulation-of-scars-and-lessons-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/drew-hayes-17984_experience_what-is-experience-if-not-the-accumulati_3013363.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/drew-hayes-17984_experience_what-is-experience-if-not-the-accumulati_3013363.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/drew-hayes-17984_experience_what-is-experience-if-not-the-accumulati_3013363.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What is experience if not the accumulation of scars and lessons that allow us to use our mind, bodies, and…” — Drew Hayes", "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": "Drew Hayes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“What is experience if not the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/what-is-experience-if-not-the-accumulation-of-scars-and-lessons-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/what-is-experience-if-not-the-accumulation-of-scars-and-lessons-that/#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 } } ] } ```