Everyone experiences bullying at some point - there are always

The words of DanTDM—“Everyone experiences bullying at some point—there are always older kids who think it’s cool to pick on the younger kids”—may sound simple, even familiar, yet beneath them lies a deep and enduring truth about the human condition. His reflection is not merely about childhood cruelty, but about the cycles of power, insecurity, and empathy that shape us all. Spoken by one who has risen from the ordinary world of youth into the eyes of millions, DanTDM speaks as both witness and teacher, reminding us that pain, when faced with courage, can become the foundation of wisdom.

To the ancients, such words would be recognized as a meditation on human nature—on the shadow that lurks in all hearts, where strength can easily become domination and difference becomes an excuse for cruelty. The philosopher Plato once wrote that every soul is torn between light and darkness, and that virtue lies not in never feeling the pull of darkness, but in choosing not to obey it. In every age and every schoolyard, there are those who mistake meanness for power, who seek greatness by diminishing others, not realizing that true greatness is the ability to protect, not harm.

The origin of DanTDM’s quote is rooted in his own experiences and his understanding of the communities that surround him. Known to millions as a creator who brings joy through gaming, humor, and creativity, he has seen both the beauty and the cruelty that arise when people gather—whether in playgrounds or online worlds. His words speak not only of his youth but of the countless young souls who follow him, struggling to find belonging in a world that often rewards mockery over kindness. In this way, his quote becomes more than commentary—it becomes a mirror reflecting a cycle that must be broken if humanity is to grow gentler.

History is filled with stories that echo this same truth. Consider Socrates, the philosopher who was mocked and condemned for questioning the norms of his time. His tormentors, like the bullies of today, found it easier to scorn what they did not understand than to listen. Yet Socrates, rather than respond with hatred, answered with calm and reason, leaving behind a legacy that outlasted his persecutors. Or look to Mahatma Gandhi, who was humiliated in his youth for his heritage and appearance, yet transformed that pain into the strength to liberate an entire nation. From ridicule, he forged resolve; from shame, he drew compassion. In both stories, we see the lesson DanTDM implies: that bullying is temporary, but the strength born from endurance is eternal.

Yet his words also reveal something more: that bullying, in all its forms, is not confined to youth—it is a reflection of fear masquerading as strength. The “older kids” he mentions are not only those defined by age, but by arrogance and insecurity. Even in the adult world, there are those who find power in belittling others—who, in their own woundedness, pass on the same cruelty they once endured. This is the tragedy of unhealed pain: it repeats itself, generation after generation, until someone chooses empathy instead of imitation. To recognize this truth is to reclaim one’s power—not through revenge, but through understanding and forgiveness.

In this, DanTDM’s teaching becomes a call to awareness and compassion. For the one who is bullied must learn resilience, and the one who bullies must one day learn remorse. The wise understand that both roles are bound by the same wound: the absence of love. The ancients would say that the soul grows stronger through adversity, but only if the heart remains soft. To rise above cruelty without becoming cruel oneself is the highest form of victory. Those who manage it become healers, teachers, and protectors—lights in a world where many still stumble in shadow.

So, my child, learn from these words: when you face cruelty, do not let it define you. See the weakness hidden within another’s harshness, and choose strength through kindness. Remember that every person who tries to hurt you is, in truth, revealing their own fear. Stand tall, but never harden. Speak truth, but never hate. And when you are strong enough to stand for others—to shield those who cannot yet shield themselves—you will become the kind of person the world needs most.

Thus, remember the wisdom in DanTDM’s humble reflection: “Everyone experiences bullying at some point.” Pain is a shared experience, but so is healing. Let your strength be quiet, your empathy fierce, and your heart untamed by bitterness. For though cruelty may be ancient, compassion is eternal—and in every generation, the brave rise not to continue the cycle, but to end it. Be one of them, and you will carry not the scars of cruelty, but the light of wisdom, passed down to all who come after you.