--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great thing in life is not to be able…" description: "\"The great thing in life is not to be able to do things, because then they are always done for you.\" — Angela Thirkell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/angela-thirkell-20005_able_the-great-thing-in-life-is-not-to-be-abl_2917754.png" --- # The great thing in life is not to be able to do things… ![“The great thing in life is not to be able to do things, because then they are always done for you.” quote by Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/angela-thirkell-20005_able_the-great-thing-in-life-is-not-to-be-abl_2917754.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/angela-thirkell-20005_able_the-great-thing-in-life-is-not-to-be-abl_2917754.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/angela-thirkell-20005_able_the-great-thing-in-life-is-not-to-be-abl_2917754.png) > “The great thing in life is not to be able to do things, because then they are always done for you.” [Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It suggests true fulfillment comes from personal effort, not from having everything done for you. **In simple terms:** Personal effort brings fulfillment. Key Takeaway Do the work yourself. Themes self-reliance fulfillment effort Mood reflective motivational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - learning new skill - personal projects - volunteering Key Concepts existentialism autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What task can you take ownership of today? - How does reliance on others affect your growth? A Different Perspective If you lack ability, effort alone may not suffice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Able Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able-things-587639/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-able-413078/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Thing Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-life/) [Things in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-in-life/) ## Related quotes > [There is only one thing in life which never changes, and it is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-only-one-thing-in-life-which-never-changes-and-it-is-change/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I have been able to do things I never thought I would accomplish. From traveling the world, to meeting incredible people and working with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-consani/i-have-been-able-to-do-things-i-never-thought-i-would-accomplish-from/) [Alex Consani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-consani/) > [I may not say alot but I am able i can do things you wish you could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daneillia-daly/i-may-not-say-alot-but-i-am-able-i-can-do-things-you-wish-you-could/) [Daneillia Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daneillia-daly/) > [Productivity is being able to do things that you were never able to do before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/productivity-is-being-able-to-do-things-that-you-were-never-able-to/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Consistency is what counts; you have to be able to do things over and over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/consistency-is-what-counts-you-have-to-be-able-to-do-things-over-and/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [Do what you need to do, when you need to do it - and SOMEDAY - you will be able to do the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/do-what-you-need-to-do-when-you-need-to-do-it-and-someday-you-will-be/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [My teams have never been supposed to be able to do the things that they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/my-teams-have-never-been-supposed-to-be-able-to-do-the-things-that/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [I feel as if I've been able to do so many things I never expected to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-studdard/i-feel-as-if-i-ve-been-able-to-do-so-many-things-i-never-expected-to/) [Ruben Studdard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-studdard/) > [It's critical to be able to see things in other people that sometimes they don't see in themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/it-s-critical-to-be-able-to-see-things-in-other-people-that-sometimes/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [There is one thing in life that you can always rely on: life being as it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joko-beck/there-is-one-thing-in-life-that-you-can-always-rely-on-life-being-as/) [Joko Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joko-beck/) > [We are not all able to do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-are-not-all-able-to-do-all-things/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [And then a great thing in my life was going to India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beatrice-wood/and-then-a-great-thing-in-my-life-was-going-to-india/) [Beatrice Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beatrice-wood/) > [Habit is the strongest thing in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-black/habit-is-the-strongest-thing-in-life/) [Jack Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-black/) > [If I am only sure of one thing in life, it's that it's meant to be lived!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-gaskarth/if-i-am-only-sure-of-one-thing-in-life-it-s-that-it-s-meant-to-be/) [Alex Gaskarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-gaskarth/) > [I am actually able to do other things. I'm not just this writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/i-am-actually-able-to-do-other-things-i-m-not-just-this-writer/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) ## More by Angela Thirkell > [“I am what is known as an omnivorous reader and it all goes right through me and out of my mouth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-thirkell/i-am-what-is-known-as-an-omnivorous-reader-and-it-all-goes-right/) [Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) > [“Besides,’ he added, ‘Catriona Ellangowan is a charming woman. I nearly married her myself once, but she very rightly turned me down for Ellangowan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-thirkell/besides-he-added-catriona-ellangowan-is-a-charming-woman-i-nearly/) [Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) > [“I never did take sugar in my tea, or in coffee,’ said the Vicar. ‘I have always disliked it. But I understood that by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-thirkell/i-never-did-take-sugar-in-my-tea-or-in-coffee-said-the-vicar-i-have/) [Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) > [“Why a widow should raise an attractive or pathetic image in one’s mind, or at the worst something rather bold and dashing, while widower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-thirkell/why-a-widow-should-raise-an-attractive-or-pathetic-image-in-one-s/) [Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) > [“My first novel was only a try-out,’ said David carelessly. The sort of thing every undergraduate has to write, but now I know much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-thirkell/my-first-novel-was-only-a-try-out-said-david-carelessly-the-sort-of/) [Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) > [“It need hardly be said that the qualities which filled Martin with the pangs of hero-worship were not altogether those which David’s parents would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-thirkell/it-need-hardly-be-said-that-the-qualities-which-filled-martin-with/) [Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) > [“Madame Boulle, in spite of her experiences among the highest English families, was amazed at the coolness shown by Lady Emily. A grandchild in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-thirkell/madame-boulle-in-spite-of-her-experiences-among-the-highest-english/) [Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) > [First love is an astounding experience and if the object happens to be totally unworthy and love not really love at all, it makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-thirkell/first-love-is-an-astounding-experience-and-if-the-object-happens-to/) [Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) > [If there is one pleasure on earth which surpasses all others, it is leaving a play before the end. I might perhaps except the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-thirkell/if-there-is-one-pleasure-on-earth-which-surpasses-all-others-it-is/) [Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) > [“To Mrs Belton’s relief the lights in the hall were now put out and the curtains drawn apart. As all amateur theatricals are exclusively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-thirkell/to-mrs-belton-s-relief-the-lights-in-the-hall-were-now-put-out-and/) [Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) > [I suppose everybody has a mental picture of the days of the week, some seeing them as a circle, some as an endless line,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-thirkell/i-suppose-everybody-has-a-mental-picture-of-the-days-of-the-week-some/) [Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) > [If only life were one long crisis, everyone would be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-thirkell/if-only-life-were-one-long-crisis-everyone-would-be-perfect/) [Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) > [“A simple love-story,’ said David piously, ‘about a girl that loves a man frightfully and he is married, so she goes and lives with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-thirkell/a-simple-love-story-said-david-piously-about-a-girl-that-loves-a-man/) [Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) > [“She then swung out towards the middle of the lake. It has long been obvious to the meanest of our readers – we allude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-thirkell/she-then-swung-out-towards-the-middle-of-the-lake-it-has-long-been/) [Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) > [If one cannot invent a really convincing lie, it is often better to stick to the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-thirkell/if-one-cannot-invent-a-really-convincing-lie-it-is-often-better-to/) [Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) [Explore all 31 Angela Thirkell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. 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