--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It would be an endless battle if it were…" description: "\"It would be an endless battle if it were all up to ego because it does not destroy and is not destroyed by itself It is like a wave it makes itself up,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/agnes-martin-13825_battle_it-would-be-an-endless-battle-if-it-were_1606708.jpg" --- # It would be an endless battle if it were all up to ego… ![“It would be an endless battle if it were all up to ego because it does not destroy and is not destroyed by itself It is like a wave it makes itself up, it rushes forward getting nowhere really it crashes, withdraws and makes itself up again pulls itself together with pride towers with pride rushes…” quote by Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/agnes-martin-13825_battle_it-would-be-an-endless-battle-if-it-were_1606708.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/agnes-martin-13825_battle_it-would-be-an-endless-battle-if-it-were_1606708.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/agnes-martin-13825_battle_it-would-be-an-endless-battle-if-it-were_1606708.jpg) > “It would be an endless battle if it were all up to ego because it does not destroy and is not destroyed by itself It is like a wave it makes itself up, it rushes forward getting nowhere really it crashes, withdraws and makes itself up again pulls itself together with pride towers with pride rushes forward into imaginary conquest crashes in frustration withdraws with remorse and repentance pulls itself together with new resolution” [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ego drives endless cycles of conflict, creating temporary momentum that ends in frustration and renewal. **In simple terms:** Ego causes repetitive struggles and resets. Key Takeaway Recognize ego’s pattern and seek humility. Themes ego conflict renewal pride resolution Mood reflective critical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership decisions - creative projects - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology philosophy self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - How does ego influence your decisions? - What practices help you move beyond ego? A Different Perspective Ego can also motivate positive change when balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Battle Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle-ego-6119968/) [Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquest/) [Crash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crash/) [Destroyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroyed/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Ego Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego-does-1866896/) [Endless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endless/) [Endless Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endless-battle-703339/) [Frustration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustration/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Imaginary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imaginary/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Pulls Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pulls-pride-6119969/) [Remorse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remorse/) [Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance/) [Resolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolution/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Towers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/towers/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wave/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [Every night, its an endless battle between Sleep and The Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeromy-shingongo/every-night-its-an-endless-battle-between-sleep-and-the-internet/) [Jeromy Shingongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeromy-shingongo/) > [Endless Battle: What we know Vs. What we Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerald-delacruz/endless-battle-what-we-know-vs-what-we-feel/) [Jerald Delacruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerald-delacruz/) > [“I tell ya! The road to success is an endless battle for you and me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-jackson/i-tell-ya-the-road-to-success-is-an-endless-battle-for-you-and-me/) [Steven Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-jackson/) > [The world is an endless battle of contrasting memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-world-is-an-endless-battle-of-contrasting-memories/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ “The world \[...\] an endless battle of contrasting memories.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-world-an-endless-battle-of-contrasting-memories/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Every night,It's an endless battle between sleep and facebook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/every-night-it-s-an-endless-battle-between-sleep-and-facebook/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [That's what the world is , after all: an endless battle of contrasting memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/that-s-what-the-world-is-after-all-an-endless-battle-of-contrasting/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [It's true what's the point of fighting if you don't know what your fighting for it's like a endless battle because you don't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-cab/it-s-true-what-s-the-point-of-fighting-if-you-don-t-know-what-your/) [The Cab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-cab/) > [“I do not attack your ego. I do work with your higher mind, the home of the Holy Spirit, whether you are asleep or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-course-in-miracles-foundation-for-inner-peace/i-do-not-attack-your-ego-i-do-work-with-your-higher-mind-the-home-of/) [A Course in Miracles Foundation for Inner Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-course-in-miracles-foundation-for-inner-peace/) > [The ego does not want to be wrong, ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/the-ego-does-not-want-to-be-wrong-ever/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Do things the ego does not like to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-wilde/do-things-the-ego-does-not-like-to-do/) [Stuart Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-wilde/) > [Your ego does not make you human it makes you selfish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-ego-does-not-make-you-human-it-makes-you-selfish/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Ego does not experience happiness or misery. It does not enjoy sex either. It is just the egoism it does that, ‘I enjoyed sex!’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/ego-does-not-experience-happiness-or-misery-it-does-not-enjoy-sex/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [I don't want it to end, and so, as every therapist knows, the ego does not want an end to its “problems” because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/i-don-t-want-it-to-end-and-so-as-every-therapist-knows-the-ego-does/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [The biggest ego trip is getting rid of your ego, and of course the joke of it all is that your ego does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/the-biggest-ego-trip-is-getting-rid-of-your-ego-and-of-course-the/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) ## More by Agnes Martin > [I once taught art to adults in a night course. I had a woman who painted her back yard, and she said it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/i-once-taught-art-to-adults-in-a-night-course-i-had-a-woman-who/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [There's nobody living who couldn't stand all afternoon in front of a waterfall … Anyone who can sit on a stone in a field…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/there-s-nobody-living-who-couldn-t-stand-all-afternoon-in-front-of-a/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [The adventurous state of mind is a high house... The joy of adventure is unaccountable. This is the attractiveness of artwork. It is adventurous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/the-adventurous-state-of-mind-is-a-high-house-the-joy-of-adventure-is/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [Doing what you were born to do … That's the way to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/doing-what-you-were-born-to-do-that-s-the-way-to-be-happy/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [The enormous pitfall is devotion to oneself instead of to life. All works that are self-devoted are absolutely ineffective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/the-enormous-pitfall-is-devotion-to-oneself-instead-of-to-life-all/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [The value of art is in the observer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/the-value-of-art-is-in-the-observer/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [“Beauty is in the mind, not the eye.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/beauty-is-in-the-mind-not-the-eye/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [The Minimalists are idealist. They want to minimise themselves in favour of the ideal. But I just can't. You see, my paintings are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/the-minimalists-are-idealist-they-want-to-minimise-themselves-in/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [When you look in your mind you find it covered with a lot of rubbishy thoughts. You have to penetrate these and hear what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/when-you-look-in-your-mind-you-find-it-covered-with-a-lot-of-rubbishy/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [I think everyone is born 100 percent ego, and after that it's just adjustment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/i-think-everyone-is-born-100-percent-ego-and-after-that-it-s-just/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [Art is the concrete representation of our most subtle feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/art-is-the-concrete-representation-of-our-most-subtle-feelings/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [When I first made a grid, I happened to be thinking of the innocence of trees, and then a grid came into my mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/when-i-first-made-a-grid-i-happened-to-be-thinking-of-the-innocence/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [I often paint tranquility. If you stop thinking and rest, then a little happiness comes into your mind. At perfect rest you are comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/i-often-paint-tranquility-if-you-stop-thinking-and-rest-then-a-little/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [Inspiration is there all the time. For everyone whose mind is not clouded over with thoughts whether they realize it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/inspiration-is-there-all-the-time-for-everyone-whose-mind-is-not/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [Beauty and happiness and life are all the same and they are pervasive, unattached and abstract and they are our only concern. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/beauty-and-happiness-and-life-are-all-the-same-and-they-are-pervasive/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) [Explore all 49 Agnes Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. He actually did a bit on stage about how stupid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/it-s-almost-ironic-sitting-here-watching-stories-about-norm-s/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [“Other folk thought the Rage was simple bloodlust, a berserk savagery that neither knew nor cared what its target was, and so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/other-folk-thought-the-rage-was-simple-bloodlust-a-berserk-savagery/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It would be an endless battle if it were all up to ego because it does not destroy and is not destroyed by itself It is like a wave it makes itself up, it rushes forward getting nowhere really it crashes, withdraws and makes itself up again pulls itself together with pride towers with pride rushes forward into imaginary conquest crashes in frustration withdraws with remorse and repentance pulls itself together with new resolution", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Agnes Martin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/it-would-be-an-endless-battle-if-it-were-all-up-to-ego-because-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Battle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/it-would-be-an-endless-battle-if-it-were-all-up-to-ego-because-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/agnes-martin-13825_battle_it-would-be-an-endless-battle-if-it-were_1606708.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/agnes-martin-13825_battle_it-would-be-an-endless-battle-if-it-were_1606708.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/agnes-martin-13825_battle_it-would-be-an-endless-battle-if-it-were_1606708.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It would be an endless battle if it were all up to ego because it does not destroy and is not destroyed by…” — Agnes Martin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Agnes Martin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It would be an endless battle...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/it-would-be-an-endless-battle-if-it-were-all-up-to-ego-because-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/it-would-be-an-endless-battle-if-it-were-all-up-to-ego-because-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```