The quote reflects on the nature of pain and the human tendency to downplay discomfort. The speaker suggests that repeatedly insisting that something doesn’t hurt can lead to a deeper awareness of pain, paradoxically making it more intense. This cycle of denial and revelation highlights the complexities of emotional and physical suffering.

In the context of Jonathan Safran Foer's "Everything Is Illuminated," the idea emphasizes how confronting hurt, rather than dismissing it, can lead to a greater understanding of oneself. It suggests that acknowledging pain is a critical part of the human experience, and that enlightenment might arise from accepting, rather than denying, our hurtful feelings.