Increscunt animi, virescit volnere virtus.
Many philosophers have tried to reduce our suffering. They offered advices on how to ease the pain by comforting us; And religions, such as Christianity, that offer comfort to their believers.
Suffering is seen as a feeling that causes pain, desolation, anguish, lack of self-confidence. But who said these feelings are necessarily bad? According to the German philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900), suffering means much more than that.
Suffering, according to Niet's philosophy, contrary to popular opinion, is advantageous in life. Without suffering there is no victory, there is no success. Although many people imagine success as easy and natural for some people, in Nietzsche's view there is no straight path to the top.
"Don't talk about innate gifts or talents." he wrote. "We can list many important figures who didn't have talent, but conquered their merit and became geniuses. They did it overcoming difficulties."
Suffering produces perseverance. Romans 5:3. The Apostle Paul wrote that about 1800 years before Nietzsche existed.