made of sterner stuff
Not easily broken
Made of sterner stuff describes someone with exceptional resilience, courage, or moral fortitude—tougher than ordinary people.
The phrase comes from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, where Antony insists Caesar was not merely ambitious.
It typically appears in comparisons: I would have quit, but she was made of sterner stuff.
Often used with ironic understatement: Marathon runners are made of sterner stuff than I am.
- nerves of steelExceptional calm under pressure
- steelCarbon-hardened iron alloy
- valiantCourageously determined
- resilientAble to recover quickly
- ironElement twenty-six
iron will · grit · true grit · fortitude · tough · hard as nails · stone · perseverance · indomitable · determination · Caesar · Mark Antony · Antony · courage · tenacity · endurance · resolve · backbone