Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without

Winston Churchill, master of words and indomitable spirit, once declared with both humor and gravity: “Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result.” This saying was born of his own life, for Churchill knew the sting of battle and the brush of death. As a young war correspondent and soldier, he had stood where bullets sang through the air, and he had lived to tell of it. His words are not mere wit, but testimony to the strange alchemy of survival—the rush of joy when danger comes close, yet spares you.

The exhilaration he names is the ecstasy of life renewed. When one has faced the shadow of death and yet steps away untouched, existence itself is made vivid. Colors seem brighter, breath seems deeper, and the heart beats with a fierceness unknown to the sheltered. In that moment, the soul recognizes its fragility and its strength: that though life hangs by a thread, the thread still holds. Churchill, who would later guide his nation through its darkest hours, knew that such experiences forge a spirit that fears little, for it has already stared into the abyss and returned.

The ancients too spoke of this paradox. The warriors of Sparta were trained to look death in the face and return with songs of triumph. Roman generals, in their moments of peril, found renewed faith in their destiny when fate spared them amidst battle. To be “shot at without result” is the modern echo of an old truth: that the closer one comes to losing life, the more one learns to cherish it. Survival in the face of danger awakens the deepest gratitude and the most powerful courage.

History gives us countless examples. Consider Theodore Roosevelt, who during a campaign speech was shot in the chest by an assassin. With the bullet lodged within him, he stood before the crowd and spoke for ninety minutes, declaring, “It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose!” He had been shot at without result, and the exhilaration of survival, coupled with courage, transformed him into legend. Churchill’s words describe exactly such moments: when fate brushes by but does not claim, and the survivor rises stronger.

Yet there is more than mere thrill in this teaching. Beneath the humor lies a lesson about perspective. When one has come so near to losing everything, the petty troubles of daily life lose their power. The irritations, the fears, the doubts—all seem small compared to the enormity of survival. The man who has been shot at without result carries within him a freedom, for he knows how close he has come to the end, and therefore fears less the ordinary struggles of existence.

O children of tomorrow, hear this: you need not face bullets to learn the lesson of Churchill’s words. Every narrow escape, every danger survived, every trial endured holds within it the same wisdom—that life is precious, that fear can be mastered, that courage is awakened when we realize how fragile yet resilient we are. When storms pass over you without destroying you, rejoice, for you have been tested and remain standing.

The lesson is clear: do not flee from challenges, for even in danger there is a gift. When you survive, you emerge stronger, bolder, and more alive than before. Face your fears, endure your trials, and remember that the brush of peril often awakens the deepest joy. Let Churchill’s words remind you that life itself is an adventure, and that sometimes the moments closest to disaster teach us the most about how truly exhilarating it is to live.

Thus, remember: “Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result.” Live bravely, endure fear, and when you emerge from trials unscathed, carry with you the fire of gratitude and the strength of courage. For survival itself is victory, and to live boldly is to honor the precious gift of life.