Did you deem yourself strong, because you were able to twist the heads off civilized folk, poor weaklings with muscles like rotten string? Hell! Break the neck of a wild Cimmerian bull before you call yourself strong. I did that, before I was a full-grown man...!
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- True strength is shown by breaking a wild bull’s neck, not by merely defeating weaker foes.
- In plain terms
- Real power is proven against the toughest challenges.
- What can you take from it?
- Seek to test yourself against the hardest obstacles.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What is your 'bull' to overcome?
- Is strength only physical?
Another view
Violent metaphor may not suit all audiences.
More from Robert E. Howard
Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
Permalink to quote #3 [The] chief [of the gods of Cimmeria] is Crom. He dwells on a great mountain. What use to call on him? Little he cares if men live or die. Better to be silent …
Permalink to quote #5 When I was a fighting-man, the kettle-drums they beat, The people scattered gold-dust before my horses feet; But now I am a great king, the people hound my tra…
Permalink to quote #2
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