"Refuse to be ill. Never tell people you are ill; never own it to yourself. Illness is one of those things which a man should resist on principle at the onset"

Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton’s exhortation urges a stoic and resolute approach to health and personal fortitude. The words advocate not just for physical robustness, but for a prevailing mental attitude in the face of sickness. He encourages individuals to deny illness any power, not by ignoring medical reality, but by refusing to let it define or overwhelm one’s identity.

At the heart of the passage is the conviction that the mind wields considerable influence over the body. By never telling others or even oneself that one is ill, a person resists the passive acceptance that often accompanies sickness. Owning and announcing illness can sometimes invite a cycle of self-pity, and even social reinforcement of a patient’s identity as ‘sick’, a role that may undermine inner strength and the will to heal.

Bulwer-Lytton is not suggesting denial of all signs of bodily distress, nor is he advocating neglect of proper medical care. His principle rather lies in confronting illness promptly and robustly, refusing its attempt to usurp the spirit. Resistance at the onset is crucial; the idea is that the sooner illness is challenged, psychologically, emotionally, and physically, the less purchase it gains over one’s being.

This perspective is rooted in a tradition that values self-mastery and personal agency. The struggle against illness is set on the same footing as other moral battles; to submit too willingly is, in this view, a form of defeat. The advice is both practical and philosophical. It acknowledges that while humans may not control all the circumstances of life, including health, they can control their response.

Bulwer-Lytton’s admonition serves as a call for perseverance and strength, an encouragement to meet adversity not with resignation, but with a spirit that fiercely asserts its own terms. The passage prizes resilience, and the belief that strong will can, if not always conquer, then at least disrupt the dominion of malaise.