It is of common knowledge that unusually strong men suffer more severely from ordinary sicknesses than do women or invalids.
 Jack London, The Star Rover (1915). copy citation

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Author Jack London
Source The Star Rover
Topic sickness suffering
Date 1915
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1162/1162-h/1162-h.htm

Context

“I stick by that.” One compensation I learned. As one grows weaker one is less susceptible to suffering. There is less hurt because there is less to hurt. And the man already well weakened grows weaker more slowly. It is of common knowledge that unusually strong men suffer more severely from ordinary sicknesses than do women or invalids. As the reserves of strength are consumed there is less strength to lose. After all superfluous flesh is gone what is left is stringy and resistant. In fact, that was what I became—a sort of string-like organism that persisted in living.” source