Glenn Stovall's Public Notebook

Too Much Comfort Produces Weakness

Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.

As stressors can provide strength to antifragile systems, conversely, a lack of stressors can lead to weakness.

Examples

  • Roman statesman Cato the Censor saw all comfort as weakness. If things were too easy he worried about a weakening of the will.
  • A lack of strength training or other exercise leads to weakness in muscles.
  • Horses compete better against strong competition than they do against weaker horses. They need the challenge to thrive.