---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Really, what matters in the long run is…"
description: "\"Really, what matters in the long run is sticking with things and working daily to get better at them.\" — Angela Duckworth"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/angela-duckworth-2560_better_really-what-matters-in-the-long-run-is-s_2482784.jpg"
---

#  Really, what matters in the long run is sticking with…

![“Really, what matters in the long run is sticking with things and working daily to get better at them.” quote by Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/angela-duckworth-2560_better_really-what-matters-in-the-long-run-is-s_2482784.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/angela-duckworth-2560_better_really-what-matters-in-the-long-run-is-s_2482784.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/angela-duckworth-2560_better_really-what-matters-in-the-long-run-is-s_2482784.jpg)

> “Really, what matters in the long run is sticking with things and working daily to get better at them.”

[Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Long‑term success comes from consistent effort and perseverance over time.

**In simple terms:** Consistent work leads to improvement.

Key Takeaway

Commit to daily practice.

Themes

perseverance growth habit

Mood

motivational steady

Type

inspirational practical

When to use this quote

- Learning a skill
- career development
- fitness training
- academic study

Key Concepts

Grit deliberate practice psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you sustain motivation?
- What habits support your long‑term goals?

A Different Perspective

Daily work may be unsustainable without rest.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Daily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daily/) [Daily Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daily-better-882025/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-run/) [Matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters/) [Matters Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters-long-882026/) [Sticking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sticking/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Things Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-working-882027/) [Working Daily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-daily-882024/)

## Related quotes

> [“practicing five minutes daily is better than practicing once a week for three hours. And if you want to create a genuine culture of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/practicing-five-minutes-daily-is-better-than-practicing-once-a-week/)

[Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/)

> [Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/progress-is-not-achieved-by-luck-or-accident-but-by-working-on/)

[Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/)

> [Being a TV actor, I have done many roles. Working daily at times gets to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautam-rode/being-a-tv-actor-i-have-done-many-roles-working-daily-at-times-gets/)

[Gautam Rode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautam-rode/)

> [I have been sitting around waiting for an opportunity to get to do something that matters for so long. Not just that matters in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/i-have-been-sitting-around-waiting-for-an-opportunity-to-get-to-do/)

[Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/)

> [We each have our lives... What matters is not how long those lives last, but what we do with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-j-anderson/we-each-have-our-lives-what-matters-is-not-how-long-those-lives-last/)

[Kevin J. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-j-anderson/)

> [It matters not how long you live, but how well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-matters-not-how-long-you-live-but-how-well/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [Nothing else matters so much as long as you can come home and be with your family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dempsey/nothing-else-matters-so-much-as-long-as-you-can-come-home-and-be-with/)

[Patrick Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dempsey/)

> [The day is committed to error and floundering; success and achievement are matters of long range.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-day-is-committed-to-error-and-floundering-success-and-achievement/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [As it is with a play, so it is with life, what matters is not how long the acting lasts, but how good it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-it-is-with-a-play-so-it-is-with-life-what-matters-is-not-how-long/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Nothing matters as long as you are kind and authentic. If you are, then you did your best, and that is all you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-forbes/nothing-matters-as-long-as-you-are-kind-and-authentic-if-you-are-then/)

[China Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-forbes/)

> [In the great scheme of things, what matters is not how long you live but why you live, what you stand for and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/in-the-great-scheme-of-things-what-matters-is-not-how-long-you-live/)

[Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/)

> [Castles may crumble. Dreams may not come true. But none of it matters as long as I'm with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/castles-may-crumble-dreams-may-not-come-true-but-none-of-it-matters/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The will is what matters---as long as you have that, you are safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/the-will-is-what-matters-as-long-as-you-have-that-you-are-safe/)

[Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/)

> [It matters not how long we live but how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-james-bailey/it-matters-not-how-long-we-live-but-how/)

[Philip James Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-james-bailey/)

> [I have several things that I'm working on and trying to put together. It's hard to say exactly what's next. I think I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robert-mitchell/i-have-several-things-that-i-m-working-on-and-trying-to-put-together/)

[David Robert Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robert-mitchell/)

## More by Angela Duckworth

> [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/)

[Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

> [“you can, in fact, modify your self-talk, and you can learn to not let it interfere with you moving toward your goals. With practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/you-can-in-fact-modify-your-self-talk-and-you-can-learn-to-not-let-it/)

[Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

> [One thing that's true of gritty people is they love what they do, and they keep loving what they do. So they're not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/one-thing-that-s-true-of-gritty-people-is-they-love-what-they-do-and/)

[Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

> [The focus on just thinking about standardized test scores as being synonymous with achievement for teenagers is ridiculous, right? There are so many things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/the-focus-on-just-thinking-about-standardized-test-scores-as-being/)

[Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

> [“Nobody wants to show you the hours and hours of becoming. They’d rather show the highlight of what they’ve become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/nobody-wants-to-show-you-the-hours-and-hours-of-becoming-they-d/)

[Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

> [I don't spend a lot of time thinking about my genes because I can't do anything about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/i-don-t-spend-a-lot-of-time-thinking-about-my-genes-because-i-can-t/)

[Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

> [“My longitudinal studies show these three virtue clusters predict different outcomes. For academic achievement, including stellar report card grades, the cluster containing grit is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/my-longitudinal-studies-show-these-three-virtue-clusters-predict/)

[Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

> [“For many of us, the companies we work for are an important cultural force in our lives. For instance, growing up, my dad liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/for-many-of-us-the-companies-we-work-for-are-an-important-cultural/)

[Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

> [“trying to do things they can't yet do, failing, and learning what they need to do differently is exactly the way that experts practice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/trying-to-do-things-they-can-t-yet-do-failing-and-learning-what-they/)

[Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

> [Negative feelings are typical of learning, and you shouldn't feel like you're stupid when you're frustrated doing something. You might say to yourself, 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/negative-feelings-are-typical-of-learning-and-you-shouldn-t-feel-like/)

[Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

> [I was a good novice teacher, but I did the things that were obvious. I stayed for lunch for extra tutoring, gave kids my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/i-was-a-good-novice-teacher-but-i-did-the-things-that-were-obvious-i/)

[Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

> [“The separation of talent and skill,” Will Smith points out, “is one of the greatest misunderstood concepts for people who are trying to excel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/the-separation-of-talent-and-skill-will-smith-points-out-is-one-of/)

[Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

> [What we reliably find is that people's perseverance scores are actually higher than their passion scores, and I think it really does get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/what-we-reliably-find-is-that-people-s-perseverance-scores-are/)

[Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

> [Many things matter other than our measured intelligence, so let's get to work on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/many-things-matter-other-than-our-measured-intelligence-so-let-s-get/)

[Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

> [“With everything perfect,” Nietzsche wrote, “we do not ask how it came to be.” Instead, “we rejoice in the present fact as though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/with-everything-perfect-nietzsche-wrote-we-do-not-ask-how-it-came-to/)

[Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

[Explore all 161 Angela Duckworth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

## More Better quotes

> [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/)

[Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/)

> [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/)

[Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/)

> [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/)

[Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/)

> [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

> [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [The Little you Give !! The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/)

[Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/)

> [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/)

[Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/)

> [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/)

[Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/)

> [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/)

[Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/)

> [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/)

[Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/)

> [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/)

[Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/)

> [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/)

[Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/)

> [Cara Delevingne and I took an eyebrow selfie. We both have prominent eyebrows, but hers are much better than mine. Maybe we should do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/cara-delevingne-and-i-took-an-eyebrow-selfie-we-both-have-prominent/)

[Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/)

> [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/)

[Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/)

[Browse all 17,085 Better quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Really, what matters in the long run is sticking with things and working daily to get better at them.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Angela Duckworth"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/really-what-matters-in-the-long-run-is-sticking-with-things-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Better"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/really-what-matters-in-the-long-run-is-sticking-with-things-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/angela-duckworth-2560_better_really-what-matters-in-the-long-run-is-s_2482784.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/angela-duckworth-2560_better_really-what-matters-in-the-long-run-is-s_2482784.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/angela-duckworth-2560_better_really-what-matters-in-the-long-run-is-s_2482784.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Really, what matters in the long run is sticking with things and working daily to get better at them.” — Angela Duckworth",
                "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": "Angela Duckworth",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Really, what matters in the long...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/really-what-matters-in-the-long-run-is-sticking-with-things-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/really-what-matters-in-the-long-run-is-sticking-with-things-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
