Both

I think this question is more suited for asklemmy community.

This is a question about a subjective opinion and should probably be on asklemmy

Both. There are situations where either of this applies. Or both. People regularly fight over things, land or other people. To their own benefit and it makes them stronger, or more determined. At the same time the same thing can be exploited by other people. Or even get lost due to circumstances, breaking someones spirit. It's all of this.

And you better have something to lose, or there isn't much of value in your life.

I don't think a person having something to lose makes them stronger. I would imagine it's the opposite: having nothing to lose makes a person stronger since there's nothing holding them back.

inb4 "it depends" but, well, really, it depends, on the what.

Having something to lose because you care for them means they are a liability and a weak point that can be exploited. They are also a natural distraction. In that sense, their presence and status as "things to care for" make you weaker; however, the fact that you care grants you motivation, as well as spite, that can be pretty hard to find elsewhere. You won't find people who truly care so much as to give their lives for their employer, even top level bootlickers shy away once things get dicey. And spite is quite the damn effective motivator! So, the fact that you can have something to lose promotes you to keep up a higher "action baseline": waking up in the mornings, keeping yourself healthy and open enough to actually go and protect, etc...; those make you stronger.

As someone who has had 8 cats before and has also provided support for 7 other ones, I can easily tell that their cute little purrs are energizing and I'm more active and aware of the world around me simply because I have to find good quality cat food for cheaper. So if anything I'm a "stronger" agent in the commerce.