--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The gigantic challenge is the magnitude…" description: "\"The gigantic challenge is the magnitude of the individual differences in the optimal set point for \"good stress.\" For one person, it's doing something ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f80/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_becoming_the-gigantic-challenge-is-the-magnitude_3009881.png" --- # The gigantic challenge is the magnitude of the individual… ![“The gigantic challenge is the magnitude of the individual differences in the optimal set point for "good stress." For one person, it's doing something risky with your bishop in a chess game; for someone else, it's becoming a mercenary in Yemen.” quote by Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f80/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_becoming_the-gigantic-challenge-is-the-magnitude_3009881.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f80/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_becoming_the-gigantic-challenge-is-the-magnitude_3009881.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f80/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_becoming_the-gigantic-challenge-is-the-magnitude_3009881.png) > “The gigantic challenge is the magnitude of the individual differences in the optimal set point for "good stress." For one person, it's doing something risky with your bishop in a chess game; for someone else, it's becoming a mercenary in Yemen.” [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individual differences make “good stress” vary widely, from chess risks to war. **In simple terms:** Stress tolerance differs per person. Key Takeaway Recognize personal stress thresholds. Themes stress individual differences optimal arousal biology Mood informative scientific Type educational analytical When to use this quote - sports competition - high‑stakes jobs - military service - personal growth Key Concepts psychophysiology risk perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you gauge your optimal stress level? - What activities push you beyond healthy limits? A Different Perspective One size does not fit all; misjudging stress can harm health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bishops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bishops/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Chess game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess-game/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-differences/) [Mercenary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercenary/) [Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress/) ## Related quotes > [As long as we define stress as how some person or situation is making us feel, we will have to change the world around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-crawford/as-long-as-we-define-stress-as-how-some-person-or-situation-is-making/) [Bill Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-crawford/) > [No one wants to trivialise the gigantic challenge of battling terrorism or undermine the sacrifice of our soldiers and policemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkha-dutt/no-one-wants-to-trivialise-the-gigantic-challenge-of-battling/) [Barkha Dutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkha-dutt/) > [“This brings up a key concept, namely the inverted U. The complete absence of stress is aversively boring. Moderate, transient stress is wonderful—various aspects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/this-brings-up-a-key-concept-namely-the-inverted-u-the-complete/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“While average finger number is an inherited trait, the heritability of finger number is low—genes don’t explain individual differences much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/while-average-finger-number-is-an-inherited-trait-the-heritability-of/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [Individual differences in testosterone level predict very little about differences in aggression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/individual-differences-in-testosterone-level-predict-very-little/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Genes have plenty to do with behavior. Even more appropriately, all behavioral traits are affected to some degree by genetic variability.65 They have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/genes-have-plenty-to-do-with-behavior-even-more-appropriately-all/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [Problems who needs any, give them to God then washed your hands and walked off with a big smile. Life is good no stress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gee-linder/problems-who-needs-any-give-them-to-god-then-washed-your-hands-and/) [Gee Linder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gee-linder/) > [For me, working out is a form of therapy. It's cathartic for me; it's a good stress reliever. I know that when I go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-harper/for-me-working-out-is-a-form-of-therapy-it-s-cathartic-for-me-it-s-a/) [Bob Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-harper/) > [I think a certain amount of stress in life is good. The stress of just working, which takes effort - I think it keeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-think-a-certain-amount-of-stress-in-life-is-good-the-stress-of-just/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [“knowing that what you already have is good enough, why would you ever stress about chasing more, more, more again?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/knowing-that-what-you-already-have-is-good-enough-why-would-you-ever/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [To foster creativity, I think a little pressure can be good, but stress isn't good. Knowing that you have a defined window of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukimi-nagano/to-foster-creativity-i-think-a-little-pressure-can-be-good-but-stress/) [Yukimi Nagano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukimi-nagano/) > [Yea sum times is okay to feel sad have that good stress or be angry at the world for a mement but when depression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-vino-del-monte/yea-sum-times-is-okay-to-feel-sad-have-that-good-stress-or-be-angry/) Santiago Vino del Monte > [There's such a thing as good stress and bad stress. Bad stress is when somebody else stresses you out, and good stress is when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/there-s-such-a-thing-as-good-stress-and-bad-stress-bad-stress-is-when/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [The challenge for the church is how do we have unity about basic beliefs and yet respect individual differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-leahy/the-challenge-for-the-church-is-how-do-we-have-unity-about-basic/) [William P. Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-leahy/) > [Tolerance and celebration of individual differences is the fire that fuels lasting love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hannah/tolerance-and-celebration-of-individual-differences-is-the-fire-that/) Tom Hannah ## More by Robert M. Sapolsky > [“Secure-attachment 7Rs show more generosity than average. Thus 7R has something to do with generosity—but its effect is entirely context dependent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/secure-attachment-7rs-show-more-generosity-than-average-thus-7r-has/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [But if you get chronically, psychosocially stressed, you're going to compromise your health. So, essentially, we've evolved to be smart enough to make ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/but-if-you-get-chronically-psychosocially-stressed-you-re-going-to/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Finally, for the same criminal conviction, the more stereotypically Af-rican a black individual’s facial features, the longer the sentence.15 In contrast, juries view black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/finally-for-the-same-criminal-conviction-the-more-stereotypically-af/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“So testosterone does subtle things to behavior. Nonetheless, this doesn’t tell us much because everything can be interpreted every which way. Testosterone increases anxiety—you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/so-testosterone-does-subtle-things-to-behavior-nonetheless-this-doesn/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“pain makes aggressive people more aggressive, while doing the opposite to unaggressive individuals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/pain-makes-aggressive-people-more-aggressive-while-doing-the-opposite/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Thus, for our purposes, genes aren’t about inevitability. Instead they’re about context-dependent tendencies, propensities, potentials, and vulnerabilities. All embedded in the fabric of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/thus-for-our-purposes-genes-aren-t-about-inevitability-instead-they/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“If we accept that there will always be sides, it’s a nontrivial to-do list item to always be on the side of angels. Distrust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/if-we-accept-that-there-will-always-be-sides-it-s-a-nontrivial-to-do/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“In other words, the more genomically complex the organism, the larger the percentage of the genome devoted to gene regulation by the environment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/in-other-words-the-more-genomically-complex-the-organism-the-larger/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“The subject of one experiment is a rat that receives mild electric shocks (roughly equivalent to the static shock you might get from scuffing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/the-subject-of-one-experiment-is-a-rat-that-receives-mild-electric/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“No brain region is an island, and the formation of circuits connecting far-flung brain regions is crucial—how else can the frontal cortex use its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/no-brain-region-is-an-island-and-the-formation-of-circuits-connecting/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“We process emotionally salient information more rapidly and automatically, but with less accuracy. Frontal function—working memory, impulse control, executive decision making, risk assessment, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/we-process-emotionally-salient-information-more-rapidly-and/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Most broadly, the PFC chooses between conflicting options—Coke or Pepsi; blurting out what you really think or restraining yourself; pulling the trigger or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/most-broadly-the-pfc-chooses-between-conflicting-options-coke-or/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“One stretch of the gene is repeated a variable number of times, and the version with seven repeats (the “7R” form) produces a receptor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/one-stretch-of-the-gene-is-repeated-a-variable-number-of-times-and/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“some people always get more than their share of equality than others”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/some-people-always-get-more-than-their-share-of-equality-than-others/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [It's probably even the case that if you stoked up some Buddhist monks with tons of testosterone, they'd become wildly competitive as to who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/it-s-probably-even-the-case-that-if-you-stoked-up-some-buddhist-monks/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) [Explore all 280 Robert M. Sapolsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) ## More Becoming quotes > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [The path I choose through the maze makes me what I am. I am not only a thing, but also a way of being--one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/the-path-i-choose-through-the-maze-makes-me-what-i-am-i-am-not-only-a/) [Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/) > [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/) [Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/) > [One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius; and the feminine situation has up to the present rendered this becoming practically impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/one-is-not-born-a-genius-one-becomes-a-genius-and-the-feminine/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/) [Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/) > [I'm getting to a point where everything is becoming streamlined in my life. I'm learning how to stand onstage for two hours and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-m-getting-to-a-point-where-everything-is-becoming-streamlined-in-my/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [The term 'Pre-Raphaelite' is in danger of becoming one of the most misused tags in art history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-wood/the-term-pre-raphaelite-is-in-danger-of-becoming-one-of-the-most/) Christopher Wood > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [The reason so many of us are obsessed with becoming stars is because we are not yet starring in our own lives. The cosmic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-reason-so-many-of-us-are-obsessed-with-becoming-stars-is-because/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [In a personal way, to do with family and the father-son relationship, in a kind of artistic way with regard to him being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/in-a-personal-way-to-do-with-family-and-the-father-son-relationship/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [Trying to be perfect may be inevitable for people who are smart and ambitious and interested in the world and its good opinion...What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/trying-to-be-perfect-may-be-inevitable-for-people-who-are-smart-and/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) Browse all 4,715 Becoming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The gigantic challenge is the magnitude of the individual differences in the optimal set point for \"good stress.\" For one person, it's doing something risky with your bishop in a chess game; for someone else, it's becoming a mercenary in Yemen.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert M. Sapolsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/the-gigantic-challenge-is-the-magnitude-of-the-individual-differences/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Becoming" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/the-gigantic-challenge-is-the-magnitude-of-the-individual-differences/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f80/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_becoming_the-gigantic-challenge-is-the-magnitude_3009881.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f80/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_becoming_the-gigantic-challenge-is-the-magnitude_3009881.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f80/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_becoming_the-gigantic-challenge-is-the-magnitude_3009881.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The gigantic challenge is the magnitude of the individual differences in the optimal set point for \"good…” — Robert M. Sapolsky", "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": "Robert M. Sapolsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The gigantic challenge is the magnitude...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/the-gigantic-challenge-is-the-magnitude-of-the-individual-differences/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/the-gigantic-challenge-is-the-magnitude-of-the-individual-differences/#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 } } ] } ```