--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of my life principles is that if…" description: "\"One of my life principles is that if something isn't working, doing something harder isn't necessarily going to produce the same result.\" — Angus King" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/angus-king-22040_doing_one-of-my-life-principles-is-that-if-som_1078849.jpg" --- # One of my life principles is that if something isn't… ![“One of my life principles is that if something isn't working, doing something harder isn't necessarily going to produce the same result.” quote by Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/angus-king-22040_doing_one-of-my-life-principles-is-that-if-som_1078849.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/angus-king-22040_doing_one-of-my-life-principles-is-that-if-som_1078849.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/angus-king-22040_doing_one-of-my-life-principles-is-that-if-som_1078849.jpg) > “One of my life principles is that if something isn't working, doing something harder isn't necessarily going to produce the same result.” [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If a method fails, increasing effort on it doesn’t guarantee success; alternative approaches may be needed. **In simple terms:** Harder work isn’t always the solution. Key Takeaway Seek new strategies when current ones fail. Themes problem solving perseverance innovation strategy Mood determined thoughtful Type strategic inspirational When to use this quote - business projects - personal goals - team management - learning new skills Key Concepts effort vs. effectiveness adaptive thinking flexibility Questions to Reflect On - When have you persisted with a failing method? - What alternative could you try? A Different Perspective Hard work without reflection can waste resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-principles/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) ## Related quotes > [“Not doing harder than doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-wright/not-doing-harder-than-doing/) [Natalie Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-wright/) > [Action based only on principles isn't always good even if it feels good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-chancellor/action-based-only-on-principles-isn-t-always-good-even-if-it-feels/) [John Chancellor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-chancellor/) > [What I've learnt is when you walk into a family argument and people tell you it's about principle don't get involved. There is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-glasman-baron-glasman/what-i-ve-learnt-is-when-you-walk-into-a-family-argument-and-people/) Maurice Glasman, Baron Glasman > [Old cranks have practiced all their lives, just as old saints have likewise practiced all their lives. They just practiced different life principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-powell/old-cranks-have-practiced-all-their-lives-just-as-old-saints-have/) [John Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-powell/) > [One of my life's principles is to develop myself to the maximum of my potential in all ways and to help others do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/one-of-my-life-s-principles-is-to-develop-myself-to-the-maximum-of-my/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) > [Principles are concepts that can be applied over and over again in similar circumstances as distinct from narrow answers to specific questions. Every game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/principles-are-concepts-that-can-be-applied-over-and-over-again-in/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [Its only take ur time to understand life and it principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/its-only-take-ur-time-to-understand-life-and-it-principles/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [Listen to me: Life is not about principles; it's about happiness.' 'But if you don't have any principles, and if you don't have faith,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/listen-to-me-life-is-not-about-principles-it-s-about-happiness-but-if/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [Jiva (individual soul) is the conscious ruler of this body, in whom the five life principles come into unity, and yet that very Jiva…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/jiva-individual-soul-is-the-conscious-ruler-of-this-body-in-whom-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Back of every noble life there are principles that have fashioned it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-horace-lorimer/back-of-every-noble-life-there-are-principles-that-have-fashioned-it/) [George Horace Lorimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-horace-lorimer/) > [Compassion and understanding are like my life principles I plan on practicing till the day I die. It may take a long, long time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/compassion-and-understanding-are-like-my-life-principles-i-plan-on/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The principles that will save Earth's life are the same principles that save the living souls of humans: ineluctable spiritual principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/the-principles-that-will-save-earth-s-life-are-the-same-principles/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [There are principles which govern our life-they are the principles of Life. If our life is lived according to these principles all is well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-thomas-hamblin/there-are-principles-which-govern-our-life-they-are-the-principles-of/) [Henry Thomas Hamblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-thomas-hamblin/) > [“If your strategy isn’t working, try it from another angle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sehrish/if-your-strategy-isn-t-working-try-it-from-another-angle/) Sehrish > [As with any large investment, it can be emotionally difficult to abandon a line of research when it isn't working out. But in science,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-garrett-lisi/as-with-any-large-investment-it-can-be-emotionally-difficult-to/) [Antony Garrett Lisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-garrett-lisi/) ## More by Angus King > [I have a Twitter account; I have a fantastic Facebook page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/i-have-a-twitter-account-i-have-a-fantastic-facebook-page/) [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) > [I think it's important to also realize that this isn't a case of Apple being asked to simply flip a switch or, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/i-think-it-s-important-to-also-realize-that-this-isn-t-a-case-of/) [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) > [The only, the only possibility would be if the Republicans are in the majority and they can offer me something that would be especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/the-only-the-only-possibility-would-be-if-the-republicans-are-in-the/) [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) > [I think that people have to reward those individuals who are prepared to work across the political aisle. I don't see any other way;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/i-think-that-people-have-to-reward-those-individuals-who-are-prepared/) [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) > [I'm too fiscally conservative for the Democrats and too socially liberal for the Republicans, like 75% of the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/i-m-too-fiscally-conservative-for-the-democrats-and-too-socially/) [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) > [There's a host of difficult issues here, and that's why when you mentioned at the top of the show that the committees were looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/there-s-a-host-of-difficult-issues-here-and-that-s-why-when-you/) [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) > [The intelligence community, in particular the FBI, have been sounding alarms about this for more than a year. So to argue that suddenly we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/the-intelligence-community-in-particular-the-fbi-have-been-sounding/) [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) > [I haven't seen - I haven't heard the arguments that would make that case. And I haven't seen a proposal yet that satisfies the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/i-haven-t-seen-i-haven-t-heard-the-arguments-that-would-make-that/) [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) > [We are at this moment where what concerns me is that we're all so caught up in Donald Trump, James Comey, and David Kushner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/we-are-at-this-moment-where-what-concerns-me-is-that-we-re-all-so/) [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) > [How can you work with someone if you went into their state to campaign against them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/how-can-you-work-with-someone-if-you-went-into-their-state-to/) [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) > [My desire is to be as independent as I can be, as long as I can be, subject to being effective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/my-desire-is-to-be-as-independent-as-i-can-be-as-long-as-i-can-be/) [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) > [Every day in America, about 25,000 people buy a quarter-inch drill. But nobody in America wants a quarter-inch drill. What they want are holes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/every-day-in-america-about-25-000-people-buy-a-quarter-inch-drill-but/) [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) > [Well, first let's say that the fundamental responsibility of any government is national security - in the preamble to the Constitution, provide for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/well-first-let-s-say-that-the-fundamental-responsibility-of-any/) [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) > [The idea of some contact of Donald Trump's office with the Russians to try to find areas of common ground is not irrational or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/the-idea-of-some-contact-of-donald-trump-s-office-with-the-russians/) [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) > [James Comey had nine interactions with Bob Mueller after the Donald Trump's election. And in none of those, Comey testified, did he express any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/james-comey-had-nine-interactions-with-bob-mueller-after-the-donald/) [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) [Explore all 28 Angus King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) ## More Doing quotes > [I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm damn well gonna do it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geri-halliwell/i-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-but-i-m-damn-well-gonna-do-it/) [Geri Halliwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geri-halliwell/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [If you think you're doing everything right, then you have a tendency to stand pat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/if-you-think-you-re-doing-everything-right-then-you-have-a-tendency/) [John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/) [Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/) > [I was in high school and I had an independent album out, and we kept sending that out, and I was doing shows. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hilton/i-was-in-high-school-and-i-had-an-independent-album-out-and-we-kept/) [Tyler Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hilton/) > [If I'm not thinking about you then I am texting you , if I am not texting you then I am on the phone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-m-not-thinking-about-you-then-i-am-texting-you-if-i-am-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [.\*. why u hate me..Bitches be doing the most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty/why-u-hate-me-bitches-be-doing-the-most/) Kitty > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the dollar collapses, it's not doing it in a vacuum. If the dollar loses value, it's doing so relative to some other currency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/when-the-dollar-collapses-it-s-not-doing-it-in-a-vacuum-if-the-dollar/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/) [Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/) > [I really can't live without my In-N-Out burgers. Honestly, I can't. Even when I'm doing the whole no-carb thing occasionally, I make an exception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-really-can-t-live-without-my-in-n-out-burgers-honestly-i-can-t-even/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [You can't drain the swamp, as President Trump has touted doing, without getting rid of Mitch McConnell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/you-can-t-drain-the-swamp-as-president-trump-has-touted-doing-without/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) Browse all 10,133 Doing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of my life principles is that if something isn't working, doing something harder isn't necessarily going to produce the same result.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Angus King" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/one-of-my-life-principles-is-that-if-something-isn-t-working-doing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/one-of-my-life-principles-is-that-if-something-isn-t-working-doing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/angus-king-22040_doing_one-of-my-life-principles-is-that-if-som_1078849.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/angus-king-22040_doing_one-of-my-life-principles-is-that-if-som_1078849.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/angus-king-22040_doing_one-of-my-life-principles-is-that-if-som_1078849.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One of my life principles is that if something isn't working, doing something harder isn't necessarily going…” — Angus King", "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": "Angus King", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One of my life principles is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/one-of-my-life-principles-is-that-if-something-isn-t-working-doing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/one-of-my-life-principles-is-that-if-something-isn-t-working-doing/#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 } } ] } ```