--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In one of our conversations, she told me…" description: "\"“In one of our conversations, she told me about Finland’s development of sisu, a rough cognate for grit. Etymologically, sisu denotes a person’s viscer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/257/sarah-lewis-16690_communication_in-one-of-our-conversations-she-told-me_449756.jpg" --- # In one of our conversations, she told me about Finland’s… ![“In one of our conversations, she told me about Finland’s development of sisu, a rough cognate for grit. Etymologically, sisu denotes a person’s viscera, their “intestines (sisucunda).” It is defined as “having guts,” intentional, stoic, constant bravery in the face of adversity. 21 For Finns, sisu…” quote by Sarah Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/257/sarah-lewis-16690_communication_in-one-of-our-conversations-she-told-me_449756.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/257/sarah-lewis-16690_communication_in-one-of-our-conversations-she-told-me_449756.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/257/sarah-lewis-16690_communication_in-one-of-our-conversations-she-told-me_449756.jpg) > ““In one of our conversations, she told me about Finland’s development of sisu, a rough cognate for grit. Etymologically, sisu denotes a person’s viscera, their “intestines (sisucunda).” It is defined as “having guts,” intentional, stoic, constant bravery in the face of adversity. 21 For Finns, sisu is a part of national culture, forged through their history of war with Russia and required by the harsh climate. 22 In this Nordic country, pride is equated with endurance. When Finnish mountain climber Veikka Gustafsson ascended a peak in Antarctica, it was named Mount Sisu. The fortitude to withstand war and foreign occupations is lyrically heralded in the Finnish epic poem, The Kalevala. 23 Even the saunas—two million, one for every three Finns in a country of approximately five and a half million—involve fortitude: A sauna roast is often followed by a nude plunge into the ice-cold Baltic Sea. If Iceland is happier than it has any right to be considering the hours the country spends plunged in darkness each year, Finland’s past circumstances, climate, and developed culture have turned it into one of the grittiest. Finland’s educational system is also currently ranked first, ahead of South Korea, now at number two. 24 The United States is midway down the list. 25 In Finland, there is no after-school tutoring or training, no “miracle pedagogy” in the classrooms, where students are on a first-name basis with their teachers, all of whom have master’s degrees. There is also more “creative play.” 26 Perhaps the tradition of sisu and play, I suspect, are part of the larger, unstated reason for its success. 27 “Wouldn’t it be great if you heard people talking about how they were going to do something to build their grit?” Duckworth asked.”” [Sarah Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sisu, a Finnish concept of relentless inner strength, blends grit, stoicism, and cultural endurance, fostering resilience in harsh conditions. **In simple terms:** Sisu is deep, cultural grit that fuels perseverance. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner fortitude and embrace challenges. Themes resilience culture grit Mood inspired determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education reform - sports - adversity coping - leadership development Key Concepts psychology national identity hardiness Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal grit with seeking help? - What cultural factors shape your own resilience? A Different Perspective Sisu may overlook the need for external support and systemic change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Finnish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finnish/) [South korea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-korea/) ## Related quotes > [ “ Mÿnna tachton gernast spuho somen gelen Emÿna daÿda" \[modern: Minä tahdon kernaasti puhua suomen kieltä, \[mutta\] en minä taida\] ("I willingly want to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-wulff/m-nna-tachton-gernast-spuho-somen-gelen-em-na-da-da-modern-min-tahdon/) Christine Wulff > [One of the interesting characteristics of the Ego Tunnel is that it creates (as Finnish philosopher Antti Revonsuo called it) a robust "out-of-the brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-metzinger/one-of-the-interesting-characteristics-of-the-ego-tunnel-is-that-it/) [Thomas Metzinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-metzinger/) > [“Lentokonesuihkuturbiinimoottoriapumekaanikkoaliupseerioppilas (technical warrant officer trainee specialised in aircraft jet engines)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarja-moles/lentokonesuihkuturbiinimoottoriapumekaanikkoaliupseerioppilas/) Tarja Moles > [I sing only in Meronian - my own language - but there are also elements of English and Finnish languages in our songs. 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A young boy from Austin, Texas, Charles Black Jr., stood and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lewis/we-permit-a-new-future-to-enter-the-room-with-these-startling/) [Sarah Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lewis/) > [Success is a label that the world confers on you, but mastery is an ever-onward 'almost.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lewis/success-is-a-label-that-the-world-confers-on-you-but-mastery-is-an/) [Sarah Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lewis/) > [“Sociobiologist Edward O. 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You could argue that failure is not punishment and Success is not reward.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lewis/pain-is-not-a-punishment-and-pleasure-is-not-a-reward-you-could-argue/) [Sarah Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lewis/) > [Completion is a goal, but we hope it is never the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lewis/completion-is-a-goal-but-we-hope-it-is-never-the-end/) [Sarah Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lewis/) > [“How many movements began when an aesthetic encounter indelibly changed our past perceptions of the world? It was an abolitionist’s print, not logical argument,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lewis/how-many-movements-began-when-an-aesthetic-encounter-indelibly/) [Sarah Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lewis/) > [“If you want to see it well, you must not stand in one place . . . If you’re rooted to a spot, you miss a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lewis/if-you-want-to-see-it-well-you-must-not-stand-in-one-place-if-you-re/) [Sarah Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lewis/) > [“He told his story through autobiographies that garnered him wide acclaim (and a warrant for his life—as we know, he fled to Britain to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lewis/he-told-his-story-through-autobiographies-that-garnered-him-wide/) [Sarah Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lewis/) > [“It was a truth that Leo Tolstoy declaimed a century or so ago: our response to art has the agency to do what “external…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lewis/it-was-a-truth-that-leo-tolstoy-declaimed-a-century-or-so-ago-our/) [Sarah Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lewis/) > [“A fuller vision comes from our ability to recognize the fallibility in our current and past forms of sight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lewis/a-fuller-vision-comes-from-our-ability-to-recognize-the-fallibility/) [Sarah Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lewis/) [Explore all 39 Sarah Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lewis/) ## More Communication quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [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 been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. 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The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/) Yoram Wind > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) [Browse all 21,506 Communication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In one of our conversations, she told me about Finland’s development of sisu, a rough cognate for grit. Etymologically, sisu denotes a person’s viscera, their “intestines (sisucunda).” It is defined as “having guts,” intentional, stoic, constant bravery in the face of adversity. 21 For Finns, sisu is a part of national culture, forged through their history of war with Russia and required by the harsh climate. 22 In this Nordic country, pride is equated with endurance. When Finnish mountain climber Veikka Gustafsson ascended a peak in Antarctica, it was named Mount Sisu. The fortitude to withstand war and foreign occupations is lyrically heralded in the Finnish epic poem, The Kalevala. 23 Even the saunas—two million, one for every three Finns in a country of approximately five and a half million—involve fortitude: A sauna roast is often followed by a nude plunge into the ice-cold Baltic Sea. If Iceland is happier than it has any right to be considering the hours the country spends plunged in darkness each year, Finland’s past circumstances, climate, and developed culture have turned it into one of the grittiest. Finland’s educational system is also currently ranked first, ahead of South Korea, now at number two. 24 The United States is midway down the list. 25 In Finland, there is no after-school tutoring or training, no “miracle pedagogy” in the classrooms, where students are on a first-name basis with their teachers, all of whom have master’s degrees. There is also more “creative play.” 26 Perhaps the tradition of sisu and play, I suspect, are part of the larger, unstated reason for its success. 27 “Wouldn’t it be great if you heard people talking about how they were going to do something to build their grit?” Duckworth asked.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah Lewis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lewis/in-one-of-our-conversations-she-told-me-about-finland-s-development/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Communication" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lewis/in-one-of-our-conversations-she-told-me-about-finland-s-development/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/257/sarah-lewis-16690_communication_in-one-of-our-conversations-she-told-me_449756.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/257/sarah-lewis-16690_communication_in-one-of-our-conversations-she-told-me_449756.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/257/sarah-lewis-16690_communication_in-one-of-our-conversations-she-told-me_449756.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In one of our conversations, she told me about Finland’s development of sisu, a rough cognate for grit…” — Sarah Lewis", "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": "Sarah Lewis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lewis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In one of our conversations, she...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lewis/in-one-of-our-conversations-she-told-me-about-finland-s-development/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lewis/in-one-of-our-conversations-she-told-me-about-finland-s-development/#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 } } ] } ```