---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Muscles are fleeting. Bodies give out…"
description: "\"Muscles are fleeting. Bodies give out. But integrity, honor? The confidence to be oneself, to follow one's heart? The compassionate drive to help other..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/marjorie-liu-9464_great_muscles-are-fleeting-bodies-give-out-but_2999778.jpg"
---

#  Muscles are fleeting. Bodies give out. But integrity…

![“Muscles are fleeting. Bodies give out. But integrity, honor? The confidence to be oneself, to follow one's heart? The compassionate drive to help others, even at great risk? That's strength.” quote by Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/marjorie-liu-9464_great_muscles-are-fleeting-bodies-give-out-but_2999778.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/marjorie-liu-9464_great_muscles-are-fleeting-bodies-give-out-but_2999778.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/marjorie-liu-9464_great_muscles-are-fleeting-bodies-give-out-but_2999778.jpg)

> “Muscles are fleeting. Bodies give out. But integrity, honor? The confidence to be oneself, to follow one's heart? The compassionate drive to help others, even at great risk? That's strength.”

[Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/)

## About This Quote

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

Physical strength fades, but moral courage, integrity, and compassion constitute true lasting strength.

**In simple terms:** True strength is moral, not physical.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate integrity and compassion.

Themes

character integrity compassion

Mood

inspirational thoughtful

Type

ethical motivational

When to use this quote

- leadership
- volunteering
- risky professions
- personal growth
- conflict zones

Key Concepts

moral philosophy psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- Can you recall a moment when integrity outweighed physical ability?
- How does compassion become a risk in dangerous contexts?

A Different Perspective

Physical prowess often overshadows inner virtues in society.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Help others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-others/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/)

## Related quotes

> [As a soldier, I've served with the most brave people in an institution that's built on integrity, honor, and duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/as-a-soldier-i-ve-served-with-the-most-brave-people-in-an-institution/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

> [I put my confidence in Ring of Honor because they put their confidence in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-rhodes/i-put-my-confidence-in-ring-of-honor-because-they-put-their/)

[Cody Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-rhodes/)

> [“If it helps you to understand Kathleen a little better,” she said uncertainly, “perhaps I should explain something. Will you swear on your honor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/if-it-helps-you-to-understand-kathleen-a-little-better-she-said/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [Beware of people who constantly assert their integrity and honor. People of character don't have to point it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/beware-of-people-who-constantly-assert-their-integrity-and-honor/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [You can't win integrity and honor from games. You can only earn them from living a life dedicated to those ideals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-win-integrity-and-honor-from-games-you-can-only-earn-them/)

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

> [It is historically true that a large proportion of infidels in all ages have been persons of distinguished integrity and honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/it-is-historically-true-that-a-large-proportion-of-infidels-in-all/)

[John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/)

> [It is painful to face the self we know we have never had the integrity to honor and assert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/it-is-painful-to-face-the-self-we-know-we-have-never-had-the/)

[Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/)

> [“One of the acid tests of our integrity is whether or not we keep the commitments and promises we have made or whether there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-r-callister/one-of-the-acid-tests-of-our-integrity-is-whether-or-not-we-keep-the/)

[Tad R. Callister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-r-callister/)

> [Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-prime-purpose-in-this-life-is-to-help-others-and-if-you-can-t/)

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

> [“People have to be less internally focused and show more of a desire to help others in order to create change for the better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/people-have-to-be-less-internally-focused-and-show-more-of-a-desire/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [When I Asked God for Strength He Gave Me Difficult Situations to Face When I Asked God for Brain &amp; Brawn He Gave Me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-asked-god-for-strength-he-gave-me-difficult-situations-to-face/)

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

> [“A lot of gifted kids are angels who are on this earth with responsibilities to help others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-silverman/a-lot-of-gifted-kids-are-angels-who-are-on-this-earth-with/)

Linda Silverman

> [Often I'm told I'm an inspiration to people which I will forever be grateful for. But the reality is that I'm only able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/often-i-m-told-i-m-an-inspiration-to-people-which-i-will-forever-be/)

[Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/)

> [“My past is what God expects me to use to help others through their present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-sorenson/my-past-is-what-god-expects-me-to-use-to-help-others-through-their/)

[Toni Sorenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-sorenson/)

> [Get rid of the idea that God wants you to sacrifice yourself for others, and that you can secure his favor by doing so;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/get-rid-of-the-idea-that-god-wants-you-to-sacrifice-yourself-for/)

[Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/)

## More by Marjorie Liu

> [As a writer, I find that a good way of evolving a character is through an examination of his or her defining relationships -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/as-a-writer-i-find-that-a-good-way-of-evolving-a-character-is-through/)

[Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/)

> [I love writing prose. I really love writing prose. It's very pleasurable for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/i-love-writing-prose-i-really-love-writing-prose-it-s-very/)

[Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/)

> [At his heart, Gambit is a good man who believes in taking care of his friends, and his friends are what's most important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/at-his-heart-gambit-is-a-good-man-who-believes-in-taking-care-of-his/)

[Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/)

> [Marriage isn't the end-point of a relationship. It's just a stepping stone, one aspect of a long-term evolution between two people who have, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/marriage-isn-t-the-end-point-of-a-relationship-it-s-just-a-stepping/)

[Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/)

> [Freedom to tell any story I want, with all the imaginary tools of my trade, is why I love writing novels. I love taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/freedom-to-tell-any-story-i-want-with-all-the-imaginary-tools-of-my/)

[Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/)

> [I think we worry way too much about where books should fit inside genres. In a romance, the hero and heroine are on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/i-think-we-worry-way-too-much-about-where-books-should-fit-inside/)

[Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/)

> [There are many different ways to express intimacy - a look, a touch - and I think it enriches the characters and stories when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/there-are-many-different-ways-to-express-intimacy-a-look-a-touch-and/)

[Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/)

> [I wanted to be her; I wanted to write her. Red Sonja became anchored in my imagination like a mountain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/i-wanted-to-be-her-i-wanted-to-write-her-red-sonja-became-anchored-in/)

[Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/)

> [To all the young kids of color - and not so young - people who want to use their voices, who are thinking, 'This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/to-all-the-young-kids-of-color-and-not-so-young-people-who-want-to/)

[Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/)

> [We all know that I love writing Gambit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/we-all-know-that-i-love-writing-gambit/)

[Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/)

> [My dad is Chinese, and my mom is a white American, and they married only ten years after the United States Supreme Court ruled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/my-dad-is-chinese-and-my-mom-is-a-white-american-and-they-married/)

[Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/)

> [The greatest enemy one ever faces is one's own self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/the-greatest-enemy-one-ever-faces-is-one-s-own-self/)

[Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/)

> [I don't write fight scenes in comics all that well. I think they're a waste of space unless they can move a story forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/i-don-t-write-fight-scenes-in-comics-all-that-well-i-think-they-re-a/)

[Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/)

> [I feel like the character of Han Solo is irreverent. A very serious, precious story about Han Solo would not be that enjoyable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/i-feel-like-the-character-of-han-solo-is-irreverent-a-very-serious/)

[Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/)

> [I don't think X-23's past is the most interesting thing about her, but it's not like she can escape it, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/i-don-t-think-x-23-s-past-is-the-most-interesting-thing-about-her-but/)

[Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/)

[Explore all 72 Marjorie Liu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/)

## More Great quotes

> [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/)

[William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/)

> [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/)

[Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/)

> [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [I'm very proud of some of the stories I've been given thanks to the team at 'Emmerdale,' they've been great over the years so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-fletcher/i-m-very-proud-of-some-of-the-stories-i-ve-been-given-thanks-to-the/)

[Kelvin Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-fletcher/)

> [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/)

[Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/)

> [To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. The spicing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-me-caribbean-food-is-about-fresh-seasonal-produce-using-what-s-in/)

[Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/)

> [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/)

[Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/)

> [No matter how many great things you say about Jacques Pepin, there's always more. Through his books and videos, he taught me the importance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-kenji-lopez-alt/no-matter-how-many-great-things-you-say-about-jacques-pepin-there-s/)

[J. Kenji Lopez-Alt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-kenji-lopez-alt/)

> [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/)

[Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/)

> [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/)

[Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/)

> [I always bump into people that Ive met. Not great friends, but if I bump into somebody Ive known and I wont recognise them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-franchitti/i-always-bump-into-people-that-ive-met-not-great-friends-but-if-i/)

[Dario Franchitti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-franchitti/)

> [Performance matters because games are built on great performance, but form factor and energy efficiency matter incredibly because they want to build something that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jensen-huang/performance-matters-because-games-are-built-on-great-performance-but/)

[Jensen Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jensen-huang/)

> [I'm a lot of things, but none of them are great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nelson/i-m-a-lot-of-things-but-none-of-them-are-great/)

[Don Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nelson/)

> [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/)

[Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/)

> [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/)

[Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/)

Browse all 24,273 Great quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Muscles are fleeting. Bodies give out. But integrity, honor? The confidence to be oneself, to follow one's heart? The compassionate drive to help others, even at great risk? That's strength.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Marjorie Liu"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/muscles-are-fleeting-bodies-give-out-but-integrity-honor-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Great"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/muscles-are-fleeting-bodies-give-out-but-integrity-honor-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/marjorie-liu-9464_great_muscles-are-fleeting-bodies-give-out-but_2999778.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/marjorie-liu-9464_great_muscles-are-fleeting-bodies-give-out-but_2999778.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/marjorie-liu-9464_great_muscles-are-fleeting-bodies-give-out-but_2999778.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Muscles are fleeting. Bodies give out. But integrity, honor? The confidence to be oneself, to follow one's…” — Marjorie Liu",
                "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": "Marjorie Liu",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Muscles are fleeting. Bodies give out....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/muscles-are-fleeting-bodies-give-out-but-integrity-honor-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/muscles-are-fleeting-bodies-give-out-but-integrity-honor-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
