One of the greatest myths in the world–and the phrase…
““One of the greatest myths in the world–and the phrase “greatest myths” is just a fancy way of saying “big fat lies”–is that troublesome things get less and less troublesome if you do them more and more. The truth is that troublesome things tend to remain troublesome no matter how many times you do them, and that you should avoid doing them unless they are absolutely urgent.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Repeated exposure does not necessarily reduce difficulty; some problems stay problematic regardless of frequency.
In simple terms: Doing something often doesn’t make it easier.
Key Takeaway
Avoid non‑urgent, troublesome tasks.
Themes
effort
urgency
problem‑solving
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- work deadlines
- health appointments
- legal paperwork
- maintenance tasks
Key Concepts
psychology
habit formation
Questions to Reflect On
- Are you tackling tasks because they’re urgent or because they’re easy?
- How do you prioritize truly urgent problems?
A Different Perspective
Some issues are inherently resistant to habituation.