Derrick Lewis Quotes

Turn your wounds into wisdom.

It made me a stronger person, and more determined. I don't know if I'd still be as strong if I didn't have all that hate. I needed hate to make me more determined.

That's what really gets me going, thinking about my past. I think about all the tough times and bad times I've had in my life and I bring all that into the Octagon. That's only because it's hard going in there trying to fight someone who didn't do anything to you.

My past made me who I am today. I can’t just pretend it never happened. But the biggest lesson I learnt from that, is that I can be an example for others who are still struggling! There’s always hope and help for everyone. I think it’s my responsibility to do that, to help. I always refer to this as the “moment of clarity”. It’s hard to explain what really happened, but it was a once in a lifetime kind of moment. I had reached my lowest point and I just knew things had to change quickly because there was just no other way, you know.

I believe my past is my strength.

I am not a victim. I am an angry survivor.

The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering.

We acquire the strength we have overcome.

The depth of darkness to which you can descend and still live is an exact measure of the height to which you can aspire to reach.

The terrorists thought they would change my aims and stop my ambitions, but nothing changed in my life except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage were born.

I think some of the funniest and most artistic people I know are the ones who had a hard time at school. They often have humility and artistry. So, as much as I feel bad for kids who have to go through a rough childhood, I believe that if they can turn it around, it's going to make them better people later on.

I learned that you go through things, you deal with them and that's what empowers you and ultimately makes you a happy person.

Turn your scars into stars.

You don't have to fear defeat if you believe it may reveal powers that you didn't know you possessed.

A really strong woman accepts the war she went through and is ennobled by her scars.

You put me in here a cub, but I will come out a roaring lion.

Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting.

Real pain hurts so bad. When you've gone through something and you've overcome it, you're able to heal other people.

All we can do in life is push through the things that make us afraid and try to be better.

The human spirit and what it can go through... that's pretty inspiring.

I can't change the past. It made me what I am.

I get why we don't want to be in pain, but there's something very essential about what happens when we're in pain and some of the growth that can come from it if we stare at it straight in the face.

I am a big believer in life in this fact: Scars are a very beautiful thing.

Nothing in my life has necessarily been easy, but eventually I see where it's gotten me to, and I say, 'Okay, it's been worth it.'

The human spirit is so resilient, and failure teaches you so much.