--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Afterwards I learned, that the best way…" description: "\"“Afterwards I learned, that the best way to manage some kinds of painful thoughts, is to dare them to do their worst; to let them lie and gnaw at your ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00b/george-macdonald-295_learning_afterwards-i-learned-that-the-best-way-t_1896339.png" --- # Afterwards I learned, that the best way to manage some… ![“Afterwards I learned, that the best way to manage some kinds of painful thoughts, is to dare them to do their worst; to let them lie and gnaw at your heart till they are tired; and you find you still have a residue of life they cannot kill.” quote by George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00b/george-macdonald-295_learning_afterwards-i-learned-that-the-best-way-t_1896339.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00b/george-macdonald-295_learning_afterwards-i-learned-that-the-best-way-t_1896339.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00b/george-macdonald-295_learning_afterwards-i-learned-that-the-best-way-t_1896339.png) > ““Afterwards I learned, that the best way to manage some kinds of painful thoughts, is to dare them to do their worst; to let them lie and gnaw at your heart till they are tired; and you find you still have a residue of life they cannot kill.”” [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Enduring painful thoughts by confronting them directly, allowing them to exhaust themselves, preserves inner vitality. **In simple terms:** Face pain head‑on to let it fade. Key Takeaway Confront, don’t avoid. Themes resilience mental health acceptance Mood reflective calm Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - grief - anxiety - trauma recovery - personal growth Key Concepts psychology mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How do you usually react to painful thoughts? - What might happen if you let them run their course? 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