First published January 24, 2019.
Two lines often shared under Arnold Schwarzenegger's name sum up his message on success: that strength comes from struggle rather than from winning, and that the deepest reward in life comes from helping others. Below we look at what the quotes say, where they come from, what Schwarzenegger's own story adds to them, and how to turn them into something practical.
Schwarzenegger's life explains why people listen. Born in 1947 in Thal, a village in Austria, he moved to the United States in 1968 at 21, won the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding title seven times, became a Hollywood star with films such as The Terminator, and served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 to 2011.
(The video originally embedded here is no longer available on YouTube.)
The two quotes
The first is widely attributed to him: "Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths." It continues with the idea that deciding not to give up during hardship is what strength really means.
The second, also widely shared as his: "Help others and give something back." It goes on to promise that while public service improves the world around you, its biggest reward is the new meaning it brings to your own life.
Both lines circulate on many quote sites and in motivational videos, but we could not trace either one to a dated speech or interview, so treat the exact wording as "attributed to" Schwarzenegger. They do match themes he has returned to for years, including in his 2023 book Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life.
Strength from struggle: what the research says
Bodybuilding makes the first quote almost literal: muscles grow by being pushed past what they can comfortably do, then recovering. Psychologists see something similar in people. Resilience, the ability to cope with a crisis and get back on your feet, is generally treated as something that can be developed over time rather than a rare gift.
Psychologist Ann Masten famously called resilience "ordinary magic", because it comes from common human resources rather than special toughness (Wikipedia: Psychological resilience). One of the strongest of those resources is support from other people, which is a useful correction to the lone-hero picture of success. Struggle builds strength most reliably when you are not struggling completely alone.
Giving back: more than a nice idea
The second quote also has some evidence behind it. Studies summarised on Wikipedia link volunteering with better mental health, lower depression risk in older adults and even lower mortality. Most of that research is observational, so it shows an association rather than proof, and happier, healthier people may simply volunteer more. Volunteering can also lead to burnout when it becomes an obligation.
Schwarzenegger has long practised what the quote says. When a Terminator statue was proposed in Graz, he reportedly said the money would be better spent on social projects and the Special Olympics, and his 2023 book is built around the idea of being useful to others.
Separate the lesson from the legend
A biography like Schwarzenegger's is extraordinary, and that can make his advice feel out of reach. Few people will become world champions, film stars and governors. The useful part is not the scale of his success but the habits he talks about: setting a clear goal, making a plan, working steadily, and refusing to quit when things get hard.
It is also worth remembering that quotes like these are polished summaries. Real progress includes luck, help from others, setbacks and changes of direction, and none of that means you lack strength.
Turning the quotes into action
Pick one small, specific step for each idea. For struggle, choose something you have been avoiding because it is hard, such as a difficult conversation, a skill you are bad at, or a project you keep postponing, and commit to the first hour of it. For giving back, find one regular way to be useful: helping a neighbour, mentoring someone at work or volunteering a few hours a month.
Keep the goal about actions rather than feelings. "I will practise for 20 minutes three times this week" is easier to keep than "I will become stronger". Over time those small actions are what the quotes are really describing.
Sources: Wikipedia: Arnold Schwarzenegger; Publishers Weekly: Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life; Wikipedia: Psychological resilience; Wikipedia: Volunteering.
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