Could you explain what these phrases mean? (sentence, grammar, speech)

[nicesinging1]

I have straightfoward Q for you guys. Can you please help me understand what the following phrases or cliches mean?

"This is my cross to bear in this world."

"The only thing to fear is the fear itself."

"No matter how painful and unbearable, we should never turn our back on life."

"Even if your purpose in life is to endure and suffer all your life, you have to accept it and push through it. In afterlife, you will be rewarded."

"The only thing that can stop myself is myself."

Thanks in advance for any insights.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by nicesinging1

I have straightfoward Q for you guys. Can you please help me understand what the following phrases or cliches mean?

"This is my cross to bear in this world."

"The only thing to fear is the fear itself."

"No matter how painful and unbearable, we should never turn our back on life."

"Even if your purpose in life is to endure and suffer all your life, you have to accept it and push through it. In afterlife, you will be rewarded."

"The only thing that can stop myself is myself."

Thanks in advance for any insights.

Having a "cross to bear" is a reference to the Christian story of Jesus having to carry his own cross to his execution by crucifixion.

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" is a quote from President Franklin D. Roosevelt's first inaugural speech. The United States was in the Great Depression at the time.

Not sure of the source of the others--not familiar with them as quotes, although the concepts pop up in different ways.

[RanchoNan]

I think they're all versions of "Keep On Keepin' On"

[dmarie123]

"This is my cross to bear in this world."

- Already explained. Jesus had to carry his own cross, with no help, to be cruxified on. It's kinda like saying, "No matter how much it sucks, I have to do this myself, no one can help me with it- I'll have to just suffer through this burden."

"The only thing to fear is the fear itself."

. To me, this means to be strong and avoid being afraid. Like if you are getting ready to ride a roller coaster, but you are scared. The roller coaster is not dangerous, and is nothing to be feared. The reason people freak-out is because they are afraid of being scared. If you are not scared, then there is nothing to be afraid of.

"No matter how painful and unbearable, we should never turn our back on life."

- To me this is saying that life might suck at times, but don't give up. Don't commit suicide would be the most literal take on it. Don't pull the covers up over your head, go into a drug stuppor, or just stop trying to be in your life.

"Even if your purpose in life is to endure and suffer all your life, you have to accept it and push through it. In afterlife, you will be rewarded."

- This isn't really a cliche- this is just a statement. It's pretty literal and self explanitory. If you believe in religion, and subscribe to a specific belief in the afterlife, many people believe that suffering is to make us learn. That we must suffer in this life in order to appreciate the glory of an afterlife. It's a saying to help us get through the hard times in life, that there is something better waiting for us when the suffering of this world ends.

"The only thing that can stop myself is myself."

. I've never heard this before, and it's not even grammatically correct- but it just means that you can do anything, if you believe it. If you give up on yourself, and you stop trying cuz you don't believe that you can do something, then you will fail. But if you believe you can do it, and you keep trying, eventually you'll have success.

Thanks in advance for any insights.

These are all designed to help you get through a tough situation that seems hopeless.

Together, they meant that you should face your fears. If you face them head on, and you conquer the fear (since that's the only thing to fear) things will automatically get easier. You are the only thing that can stop yourself from trying to face those fears. If you face the fears and the hard situations, and believe that you can get through them, you will. This life is full of a lot of suffering, but just get through it, one day at a time, one challenge at a time, and eventually it'll all be worth it.

[tinynot]

"This is my cross to bear"

I think this means that your problem that you have in life such as a physical affliction or maybe a child afflicted with a debilitating condition,
are the problems that you endure throughout your life.


"The only thing to fear is fear itself"

Objects or people are not to fear because you can manipulate these things, but the emotion of fear can manipulate your thoughts and feelings.

"The only thing that can stop myself is myself."

We are responsible for our actions, the only person who can stop themself from a bad decision, an addiction or lifestyle is themself.

[Nighteyes]

Originally Posted by nicesinging1

I have straightfoward Q for you guys. Can you please help me understand what the following phrases or cliches mean?

"This is my cross to bear in this world."

Others have answered this one quite well.

"The only thing to fear is the fear itself."

"No matter how painful and unbearable, we should never turn our back on life."

"Even if your purpose in life is to endure and suffer all your life, you have to accept it and push through it. In afterlife, you will be rewarded."

"The only thing that can stop myself is myself."

All four of these refer to what I'll call the caveat against self-defeat. All too often in life, we are our own worst enemy. We fail only when we decide to fail, or when we give up, or when we let others determine the 'victory conditions', or when we [fill in the blank].

In simpler words, each of them says, in their varying ways, "Don't let the bastards wear you down." (With apologies to those who may take exception to the "B-word".)

[in_newengland]

Almost missed--The only thing that can stop ME is myself. It is incorrect as it was originally stated.

[figmalt]

Originally Posted by in_newengland

Almost missed--The only thing that can stop ME is myself. It is incorrect as it was originally stated.

This is also incorrect - it should be, "The only thing that can stop me is me."

'Myself' is a reflexive pronoun and must have a referent that is the subject of the sentence, not the object. In the example sentence, "the only thing" is the subject, and "me" is the object. You could say, "I am the only one who can stop myself."

[in_newengland]

This is also incorrect - it should be, "The only thing that can stop me is me."

You're right! I'm glad somebody saw that.

[Nighteyes]

Yeesh, folks! With all due respect, and IMO, we're getting wrapped around the grammar axle and losing sight of the original question!!!