--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not stress that kills us ,It is our…" description: "\"“It is not stress that kills us ,It is our reaction to it”\" — Hans Selye" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/hans-selye-17189_kills_it-is-not-stress-that-kills-us-it-is-our_2827676.png" --- # It is not stress that kills us ,It is our reaction to it ![“It is not stress that kills us ,It is our reaction to it” quote by Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/hans-selye-17189_kills_it-is-not-stress-that-kills-us-it-is-our_2827676.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/hans-selye-17189_kills_it-is-not-stress-that-kills-us-it-is-our_2827676.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/hans-selye-17189_kills_it-is-not-stress-that-kills-us-it-is-our_2827676.png) > ““It is not stress that kills us ,It is our reaction to it”” [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stress itself isn’t fatal; it’s the way we respond that determines harm. **In simple terms:** Reaction, not stress, causes damage. Key Takeaway Control your response to stress. Themes stress health psychology coping Mood cautionary motivational Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - workplace - personal health - crisis management Key Concepts physiological response resilience mindset Questions to Reflect On - What coping strategies work best for you? - Can you reframe stress as a signal? A Different Perspective If you ignore response, stress still harms you. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Kills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kills/) [Kills Reaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kills-reaction-3635748/) [Reaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaction/) [Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress/) [Stress Kills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress-kills-1276046/) ## Related quotes > [Its not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/its-not-stress-that-kills-us-it-is-our-reaction-to-it/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [It’s not stress that kills people, but how they react to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ringer/it-s-not-stress-that-kills-people-but-how-they-react-to-it/) [Robert Ringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ringer/) > [Brain cells create ideas. Stress kills brain cells. Stress is not a good idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/brain-cells-create-ideas-stress-kills-brain-cells-stress-is-not-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is not stress that kills us. It is effective adaptation to stress that allows us to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-vaillant/it-is-not-stress-that-kills-us-it-is-effective-adaptation-to-stress/) [George Vaillant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-vaillant/) > [If life doesnt kill you, emptiness will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sangfroid-stalker/if-life-doesnt-kill-you-emptiness-will/) [SangFroid Stalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sangfroid-stalker/) > [“that's what kills a man: lack of change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/that-s-what-kills-a-man-lack-of-change/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Be happy In front of people who don't like you it kills them <3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-happy-in-front-of-people-who-don-t-like-you-it-kills-them-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Every dead body that is not exterminated, gets up and kills. The people it kills, get up and kill!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-james-foster/every-dead-body-that-is-not-exterminated-gets-up-and-kills-the-people/) [Dr. James Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-james-foster/) > [Man is the poet who kills, Woman the angel who eats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-bear/man-is-the-poet-who-kills-woman-the-angel-who-eats/) [Greg Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-bear/) > [It really hurts... my silence kills me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessey-kaur/it-really-hurts-my-silence-kills-me/) [Jessey Kaur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessey-kaur/) > [Why does man kill? He kills for food. And not only food: frequently there must be a beverage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/why-does-man-kill-he-kills-for-food-and-not-only-food-frequently/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“everything kills everything else in some way. Fishing kills me exactly as it keeps me alive. The boy keeps me alive, he thought. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/everything-kills-everything-else-in-some-way-fishing-kills-me-exactly/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Every shot that kills ricochets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-parker/every-shot-that-kills-ricochets/) [Gilbert Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-parker/) > [Making a definitive declaration of intent or meaning kills the photograph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daido-moriyama/making-a-definitive-declaration-of-intent-or-meaning-kills-the/) [Daido Moriyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daido-moriyama/) > [“He who kills from afar knows nothing at all about act of killing. He who kills from afar derives no lesson from life or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arturo-p-rez-reverte/he-who-kills-from-afar-knows-nothing-at-all-about-act-of-killing-he/) [Arturo Pérez-Reverte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arturo-p-rez-reverte/) ## More by Hans Selye > [The element of chance in basic research is overrated. Chance is a lady who smiles only upon those few who know how to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/the-element-of-chance-in-basic-research-is-overrated-chance-is-a-lady/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [To remain healthy a man must have some goal, some purpose in life that he can respect and be proud to work for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/to-remain-healthy-a-man-must-have-some-goal-some-purpose-in-life-that/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [Leaders are leaders only as long as they have the respect and loyalty of their followers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/leaders-are-leaders-only-as-long-as-they-have-the-respect-and-loyalty/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [Stress is the spice of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/stress-is-the-spice-of-life/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [Stress, in addition to being itself, was also the cause of itself, and the result of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/stress-in-addition-to-being-itself-was-also-the-cause-of-itself-and/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [Stress is not necessarily something bad it all depends on how you take it. The stress of exhilarating, creative successful work is beneficial, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/stress-is-not-necessarily-something-bad-it-all-depends-on-how-you/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [Every stress leaves an indelible scar, and the organism pays for its survival after a stressful situation by becoming a little older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/every-stress-leaves-an-indelible-scar-and-the-organism-pays-for-its/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [My advice to any young person at the beginning of their career is to try to look for the mere outlines of big things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/my-advice-to-any-young-person-at-the-beginning-of-their-career-is-to/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [Gratitude conserves the vital energies of a person more than any other attitude tested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/gratitude-conserves-the-vital-energies-of-a-person-more-than-any/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [As much as we thirst for approval we dread condemnation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/as-much-as-we-thirst-for-approval-we-dread-condemnation/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [Even after the greatest defeats, the depressing thought of being a failure is best combated by taking stock of all your past achievements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/even-after-the-greatest-defeats-the-depressing-thought-of-being-a/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/adopting-the-right-attitude-can-convert-a-negative-stress-into-a/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [The builder of the best racing car is not necessarily its best driver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/the-builder-of-the-best-racing-car-is-not-necessarily-its-best-driver/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [The fairest thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true science. He who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/the-fairest-thing-we-can-experience-is-the-mysterious-it-is-the/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [To make a great dream come true, you must first have a great dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/to-make-a-great-dream-come-true-you-must-first-have-a-great-dream/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) [Explore all 37 Hans Selye quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) ## More Kills quotes > [“He who kills from afar knows nothing at all about act of killing. He who kills from afar derives no lesson from life or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arturo-p-rez-reverte/he-who-kills-from-afar-knows-nothing-at-all-about-act-of-killing-he/) [Arturo Pérez-Reverte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arturo-p-rez-reverte/) > [Making a definitive declaration of intent or meaning kills the photograph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daido-moriyama/making-a-definitive-declaration-of-intent-or-meaning-kills-the/) [Daido Moriyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daido-moriyama/) > [Every shot that kills ricochets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-parker/every-shot-that-kills-ricochets/) [Gilbert Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-parker/) > [“everything kills everything else in some way. Fishing kills me exactly as it keeps me alive. The boy keeps me alive, he thought. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/everything-kills-everything-else-in-some-way-fishing-kills-me-exactly/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Why does man kill? He kills for food. And not only food: frequently there must be a beverage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/why-does-man-kill-he-kills-for-food-and-not-only-food-frequently/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [It really hurts... my silence kills me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessey-kaur/it-really-hurts-my-silence-kills-me/) [Jessey Kaur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessey-kaur/) > [Man is the poet who kills, Woman the angel who eats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-bear/man-is-the-poet-who-kills-woman-the-angel-who-eats/) [Greg Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-bear/) > [“Every dead body that is not exterminated, gets up and kills. The people it kills, get up and kill!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-james-foster/every-dead-body-that-is-not-exterminated-gets-up-and-kills-the-people/) [Dr. James Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-james-foster/) > [Be happy In front of people who don't like you it kills them <3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-happy-in-front-of-people-who-don-t-like-you-it-kills-them-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“that's what kills a man: lack of change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/that-s-what-kills-a-man-lack-of-change/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [If life doesnt kill you, emptiness will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sangfroid-stalker/if-life-doesnt-kill-you-emptiness-will/) [SangFroid Stalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sangfroid-stalker/) > [“War is no joke, it seems. It destroys, kills, burns, separates, brings unhappiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zlata-filipovi/war-is-no-joke-it-seems-it-destroys-kills-burns-separates-brings/) [Zlata Filipović](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zlata-filipovi/) > [“Yet each man kills the thing he loves, By each let this be heard, Some do it with a bitter look, Some with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/yet-each-man-kills-the-thing-he-loves-by-each-let-this-be-heard-some/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Three-letter word that kills you for sure - Ego.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saru-singhal/three-letter-word-that-kills-you-for-sure-ego/) [Saru Singhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saru-singhal/) > [“Fame kills brain cells”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fame-kills-brain-cells/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 276 Kills quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kills/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is not stress that kills us ,It is our reaction to it”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hans Selye" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/it-is-not-stress-that-kills-us-it-is-our-reaction-to-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Kills" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/it-is-not-stress-that-kills-us-it-is-our-reaction-to-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/hans-selye-17189_kills_it-is-not-stress-that-kills-us-it-is-our_2827676.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/hans-selye-17189_kills_it-is-not-stress-that-kills-us-it-is-our_2827676.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/hans-selye-17189_kills_it-is-not-stress-that-kills-us-it-is-our_2827676.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is not stress that kills us ,It is our reaction to it” — Hans Selye", "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": "Hans Selye", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It is not stress that kills...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/it-is-not-stress-that-kills-us-it-is-our-reaction-to-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/it-is-not-stress-that-kills-us-it-is-our-reaction-to-it/#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 } } ] } ```