--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been good about keeping my nose to…" description: "\"I've been good about keeping my nose to the grindstone.\" — Andy Roddick" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c5/andy-roddick-6537_grindstone_i-ve-been-good-about-keeping-my-nose-to_2655550.png" --- # I've been good about keeping my nose to the grindstone. ![“I've been good about keeping my nose to the grindstone.” quote by Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c5/andy-roddick-6537_grindstone_i-ve-been-good-about-keeping-my-nose-to_2655550.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c5/andy-roddick-6537_grindstone_i-ve-been-good-about-keeping-my-nose-to_2655550.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c5/andy-roddick-6537_grindstone_i-ve-been-good-about-keeping-my-nose-to_2655550.png) > “I've been good about keeping my nose to the grindstone.” [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consistent effort and focus are essential for success; staying diligent yields results. **In simple terms:** Hard work and focus lead to achievement. Key Takeaway Maintain steady, focused effort. Themes hard work focus discipline Mood determined energetic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - training routines - academic study - career projects - creative work Key Concepts Sports psychology habit formation Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep your focus over long periods? - What strategies help you stay diligent? A Different Perspective Ignoring rest can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good Keeping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-keeping-850820/) [Grindstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grindstone/) [Keeping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeping/) [Keeping Nose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeping-nose-1709640/) [Nose Grindstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nose-grindstone-977115/) [Noses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noses/) ## Related quotes > [If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you don’t have any nose,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/if-you-keep-your-nose-to-the-grindstone-you-don-t-have-any-nose/) [Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/) > [Keep your nose to the grindstone. It sharpens your boogers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/keep-your-nose-to-the-grindstone-it-sharpens-your-boogers/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) > [A man may, if he knows not how to save as he gets, keep his nose to the grindstone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/a-man-may-if-he-knows-not-how-to-save-as-he-gets-keep-his-nose-to-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Hold your nose to the grindstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/hold-your-nose-to-the-grindstone/) [Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverb/) > [Exposure is exposure, whether it's good or bad. But you know what? You live and you learn, and I know who to trust and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/exposure-is-exposure-whether-it-s-good-or-bad-but-you-know-what-you/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [I've been pretty good about keeping my nose to the grindstone. I feel like I won a lot of matches from hard work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-ve-been-pretty-good-about-keeping-my-nose-to-the-grindstone-i-feel/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [I'm actually really good at keeping secrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramin-djawadi/i-m-actually-really-good-at-keeping-secrets/) [Ramin Djawadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramin-djawadi/) > [I'm not very good at keeping secrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-saylor/i-m-not-very-good-at-keeping-secrets/) [Morgan Saylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-saylor/) > [I was never any good at keeping secrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-levy/i-was-never-any-good-at-keeping-secrets/) [Ariel Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-levy/) > [I was good at keeping my mother from crying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/i-was-good-at-keeping-my-mother-from-crying/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [Underneath runs the main current of preoccupation, which is keeping one's nose clean at all times. This means that when things go wrong you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/underneath-runs-the-main-current-of-preoccupation-which-is-keeping/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [The world is a grindstone and life is your nose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-allen/the-world-is-a-grindstone-and-life-is-your-nose/) [Fred Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-allen/) > [It's almost comical that astronauts are stereotyped as daredevils and cowboys. As a rule, we're highly methodical and detail-oriented. Our passion isn't for thrills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/it-s-almost-comical-that-astronauts-are-stereotyped-as-daredevils-and/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [So much for industry, my friends, and attention to one's own business; but to these we must add frugality if we would make our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/so-much-for-industry-my-friends-and-attention-to-one-s-own-business/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The faith that anyone could move from rags to riches - with enough guts and gumption, hard work and nose to the grindstone -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/the-faith-that-anyone-could-move-from-rags-to-riches-with-enough-guts/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) ## More by Andy Roddick > [I played basketball in high school, and I love watching sports - I'll watch everything except maybe hockey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-played-basketball-in-high-school-and-i-love-watching-sports-i-ll/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [You ask me a question, I'm going to give you an honest answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/you-ask-me-a-question-i-m-going-to-give-you-an-honest-answer/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [One little secret of the guys who have won one slam, is that we don't want other guys to win one because its like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/one-little-secret-of-the-guys-who-have-won-one-slam-is-that-we-don-t/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [I'm not going to go run and hide because I'm catching some heat. I'm not going to stay at home and pout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-m-not-going-to-go-run-and-hide-because-i-m-catching-some-heat-i-m/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [I always said if I had to pick one Grand Slam to win, it would be the U.S. Open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-always-said-if-i-had-to-pick-one-grand-slam-to-win-it-would-be-the/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [I don't really rate press conferences. It's not as though I leave the room fist-pumping my way down the corridor after a good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-don-t-really-rate-press-conferences-it-s-not-as-though-i-leave-the/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [I used to, like, hit for a half hour and then go eat Cheetos the rest of the day, come out and drill forehands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-used-to-like-hit-for-a-half-hour-and-then-go-eat-cheetos-the-rest/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [For every bad moment I've had, there have been 25 positives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/for-every-bad-moment-i-ve-had-there-have-been-25-positives/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [I'm gonna have to start winning some of the matches to call it a rivalry!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-m-gonna-have-to-start-winning-some-of-the-matches-to-call-it-a/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [Once you get to a certain level, anybody can beat anybody else on any given day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/once-you-get-to-a-certain-level-anybody-can-beat-anybody-else-on-any/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [I think the medical term for the injury is 'the bottom of my ass hurts.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-think-the-medical-term-for-the-injury-is-the-bottom-of-my-ass-hurts/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [I'm just glad to see that Pete (Sampras) shut everyone up last year. That was satisfying. You can't bag on guys like Pete or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-m-just-glad-to-see-that-pete-sampras-shut-everyone-up-last-year/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [I had a very detailed retirement plan, and I feel like I've met every aspect of it: a lot of golf, a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-had-a-very-detailed-retirement-plan-and-i-feel-like-i-ve-met-every/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [ I do understand that when someone gives you a \[expletive\] load of money, you take that money. Someone like Larry Ellison wants to invest… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-do-understand-that-when-someone-gives-you-a-expletive-load-of-money/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [I used to go to the U.S. Open on my birthdays and sit in the nosebleeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-used-to-go-to-the-u-s-open-on-my-birthdays-and-sit-in-the-nosebleeds/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) [Explore all 98 Andy Roddick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) ## More Grindstone quotes > [Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds a man down or polishes him up depends on the stuff he's made of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/life-is-a-grindstone-and-whether-it-grinds-a-man-down-or-polishes-him/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [The faith that anyone could move from rags to riches - with enough guts and gumption, hard work and nose to the grindstone -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/the-faith-that-anyone-could-move-from-rags-to-riches-with-enough-guts/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you don’t have any nose,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-wexner/if-you-keep-your-nose-to-the-grindstone-you-don-t-have-any-nose/) [Les Wexner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-wexner/) > [So much for industry, my friends, and attention to one's own business; but to these we must add frugality if we would make our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/so-much-for-industry-my-friends-and-attention-to-one-s-own-business/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [We encounter the grinding wheels that sharpen our mental blades many places in life. Adversity, school, parents, spiritual guides, books, experience are all sharpening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-kall/we-encounter-the-grinding-wheels-that-sharpen-our-mental-blades-many/) [Rob Kall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-kall/) > [It's almost comical that astronauts are stereotyped as daredevils and cowboys. As a rule, we're highly methodical and detail-oriented. Our passion isn't for thrills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/it-s-almost-comical-that-astronauts-are-stereotyped-as-daredevils-and/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [Opinions, theories, and systems pass by turns over the grindstone of time, which at first gives them brilliancy and sharpness, but finally wears them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-rivarol/opinions-theories-and-systems-pass-by-turns-over-the-grindstone-of/) [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) > [Life is a grindstone. Whether it grinds us down or polishes us up depends on us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-holcroft/life-is-a-grindstone-whether-it-grinds-us-down-or-polishes-us-up/) [Thomas Holcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-holcroft/) > [“The Grindstone III. The Shadow IV. Calm in Storm V. The Wood-Sawyer”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-grindstone-iii-the-shadow-iv-calm-in-storm-v-the-wood-sawyer/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Life is a grindstone. Whether it grinds you down or polishes you up depends on you. —L. Thomas Holdcroft”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-l-abernethy/life-is-a-grindstone-whether-it-grinds-you-down-or-polishes-you-up/) [Kim L. Abernethy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-l-abernethy/) > [We are kept keen on the grindstone of pain and necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-kept-keen-on-the-grindstone-of-pain-and-necessity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Experience is a grindstone; and it is lucky for us, if we can get brightened by it, and not ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/experience-is-a-grindstone-and-it-is-lucky-for-us-if-we-can-get/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [The world is a grindstone and life is your nose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-allen/the-world-is-a-grindstone-and-life-is-your-nose/) [Fred Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-allen/) > [Life really is like a grindstone, in that it will either grind you down or polish you up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/life-really-is-like-a-grindstone-in-that-it-will-either-grind-you/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [I'm just having fun making jokes and writing books. But you see me once a year, I come on when I have a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-c-boyle/i-m-just-having-fun-making-jokes-and-writing-books-but-you-see-me/) [T.C. Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-c-boyle/) [Browse all 38 Grindstone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grindstone/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've been good about keeping my nose to the grindstone.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Andy Roddick" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-ve-been-good-about-keeping-my-nose-to-the-grindstone/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Grindstone" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-ve-been-good-about-keeping-my-nose-to-the-grindstone/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c5/andy-roddick-6537_grindstone_i-ve-been-good-about-keeping-my-nose-to_2655550.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c5/andy-roddick-6537_grindstone_i-ve-been-good-about-keeping-my-nose-to_2655550.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c5/andy-roddick-6537_grindstone_i-ve-been-good-about-keeping-my-nose-to_2655550.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've been good about keeping my nose to the grindstone.” — Andy Roddick", "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": "Andy Roddick", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've been good about keeping my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-ve-been-good-about-keeping-my-nose-to-the-grindstone/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-ve-been-good-about-keeping-my-nose-to-the-grindstone/#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 } } ] } ```