To cut out every negative root would simultaneously mean choking off positive elements that might arise from it further up the stem of the plant. We should not feel embarrassed by our difficulties, only by our failure to grow anything beautiful from them.

Alain de Botton (b. 1969) Swiss-British author

The Consolations of Philosophy, ch. 6 “Consolation for Difficulties” (2000)
    (Source)

Discussing Nietzsche.