--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like how could you do nothing, and say…" description: "\"Like how could you do nothing, and say, 'I'm doing my best.' How could you take almost everything, and then come back for the rest? How could you beg m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/ani-difranco-813_eye_like-how-could-you-do-nothing-and-say-i_2470843.jpg" --- # Like how could you do nothing, and say, 'I'm doing my… ![“Like how could you do nothing, and say, 'I'm doing my best.' How could you take almost everything, and then come back for the rest? How could you beg me to stay, reach out your hands and plead, and then pack up your eyes and run away as soon as I agreed?” quote by Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/ani-difranco-813_eye_like-how-could-you-do-nothing-and-say-i_2470843.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/ani-difranco-813_eye_like-how-could-you-do-nothing-and-say-i_2470843.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/ani-difranco-813_eye_like-how-could-you-do-nothing-and-say-i_2470843.jpg) > “Like how could you do nothing, and say, 'I'm doing my best.' How could you take almost everything, and then come back for the rest? How could you beg me to stay, reach out your hands and plead, and then pack up your eyes and run away as soon as I agreed?” [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A speaker confronts someone who claims effort be trying their best while repeatedly abandoning and pleading, exposing inconsistency and emotional manipulation. **In simple terms:** Someone says they’re trying but keeps leaving and asking to stay. Key Takeaway Recognize and address contradictory behavior. Themes trust relationships integrity communication emotional manipulation Mood frustrated conflicted hopeful Type advice reflective When to use this quote - romantic partnership - friendship - family dynamics - workplace collaboration Key Concepts commitment authenticity psychology Questions to Reflect On - Why do you keep returning to someone who hurts you? - How can you set firm boundaries? A Different Perspective People may genuinely be confused, not malicious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing My Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-my-best/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Running away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running-away/) ## Related quotes > [“I may not be the best... I may even be the worst... But I'm doing my best to be worthy of you...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nerd-seyer/i-may-not-be-the-best-i-may-even-be-the-worst-but-i-m-doing-my-best/) NerD\_Seyer > [I got a lot of people on my team that support me, and I have a family that supports me, and that's all you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-boone/i-got-a-lot-of-people-on-my-team-that-support-me-and-i-have-a-family/) [Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/) > [I am doing my best to get a hold of some of that Zach Braff money. I hope everybody on this planet gets a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-faison/i-am-doing-my-best-to-get-a-hold-of-some-of-that-zach-braff-money-i/) [Donald Faison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-faison/) > [All I can do is try and keep doing my best in training and games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kieran-trippier/all-i-can-do-is-try-and-keep-doing-my-best-in-training-and-games/) [Kieran Trippier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kieran-trippier/) > [I was just doing my job in the ring and doing my best to make people happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-was-just-doing-my-job-in-the-ring-and-doing-my-best-to-make-people/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [I'm doing my best. I've got a famous dad give me some credit!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/i-m-doing-my-best-i-ve-got-a-famous-dad-give-me-some-credit/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) > [I will keep doing my best to show better achievements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ok-taec-yeon/i-will-keep-doing-my-best-to-show-better-achievements/) [Ok Taec-yeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ok-taec-yeon/) > [I'm doing my best to raise my son and give him a nurturing, loving, and caring environment so he can grow up and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/i-m-doing-my-best-to-raise-my-son-and-give-him-a-nurturing-loving-and/) [Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/) > [I will not settle to become No. 2. Ever since I was a child, even before coming here to the Philippines, I've always believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/i-will-not-settle-to-become-no-2-ever-since-i-was-a-child-even-before/) [Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) > [I'm doing my best whether it's for a hundred-copy print run or for a hundred thousand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-immonen/i-m-doing-my-best-whether-it-s-for-a-hundred-copy-print-run-or-for-a/) [Stuart Immonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-immonen/) > [The world is on fire, and I'm doing my best to help steer the firetruck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/the-world-is-on-fire-and-i-m-doing-my-best-to-help-steer-the-firetruck/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [I don't let things stress me out, and I'm doing my best with all the battles life presents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-shears/i-don-t-let-things-stress-me-out-and-i-m-doing-my-best-with-all-the/) [Jake Shears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-shears/) > [I want to be a good human being. I'm doing my best, and I'm working at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-want-to-be-a-good-human-being-i-m-doing-my-best-and-i-m-working-at/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [All I can do is focus on doing my best work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ryder/all-i-can-do-is-focus-on-doing-my-best-work/) [Sam Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ryder/) > [I know when I am in the car I am always doing my best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valtteri-bottas/i-know-when-i-am-in-the-car-i-am-always-doing-my-best/) [Valtteri Bottas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valtteri-bottas/) ## More by Ani DiFranco > [I am getting nowhere with you and I can't let you go and I cant get through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-am-getting-nowhere-with-you-and-i-can-t-let-you-go-and-i-cant-get/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [You've decided to love me for eternity, I'm still deciding who I want to be today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/you-ve-decided-to-love-me-for-eternity-i-m-still-deciding-who-i-want/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I'll walk the plank and I'll jump with a smile, cause if I'm gonna go down I'm gonna do it with style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-ll-walk-the-plank-and-i-ll-jump-with-a-smile-cause-if-i-m-gonna-go/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [Having more exposure is kind of a bittersweet thing for me, honestly, because it's nice to have a little more job security in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/having-more-exposure-is-kind-of-a-bittersweet-thing-for-me-honestly/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I can jump ship and swim-- that the ocean will hold me, that there's got to be more than this boat I'm in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-can-jump-ship-and-swim-that-the-ocean-will-hold-me-that-there-s-got/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [God help you if you are an ugly girl, 'course too pretty is also your doom, 'cause everyone harbors a secret hatred for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/god-help-you-if-you-are-an-ugly-girl-course-too-pretty-is-also-your/) [Ani Difranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I cannot name this, I cannot explain this, and I really don't want to so just call me shameless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-cannot-name-this-i-cannot-explain-this-and-i-really-don-t-want-to/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [Somedays the line I walk turns out to be straight - Other days the line tends to deviate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/somedays-the-line-i-walk-turns-out-to-be-straight-other-days-the-line/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [Taking me seriously is a big mistake. I certainly wouldn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/taking-me-seriously-is-a-big-mistake-i-certainly-wouldn-t/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I am a work in progress Dressed in the fabric of a world unfolding Offering me intricate patterns of questions Rhythms that never come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-am-a-work-in-progress-dressed-in-the-fabric-of-a-world-unfolding/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [We have a complete void of progressive politics in this country right now. The will of the people goes ignored and unrealized. I'm searching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/we-have-a-complete-void-of-progressive-politics-in-this-country-right/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I'm home in New Orleans!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-m-home-in-new-orleans/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I don't take good pictures 'cause I have the kind of beauty that moves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-don-t-take-good-pictures-cause-i-have-the-kind-of-beauty-that-moves/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [The scary truth is, you have to scratch some veneer off to gauge where the moral fiber really is in certain pockets of society.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/the-scary-truth-is-you-have-to-scratch-some-veneer-off-to-gauge-where/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [Both hands... Now use both hands. Oh no, don't close your eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/both-hands-now-use-both-hands-oh-no-don-t-close-your-eyes/) [Ani Difranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) [Explore all 363 Ani DiFranco quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) ## More Eye quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [“He blinked. His eyes fell as he processed her response. Then he lifted his chin and attempted a grin that was almost painfully dejected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/he-blinked-his-eyes-fell-as-he-processed-her-response-then-he-lifted/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/how-could-anybody-confuse-truth-with-beauty-i-thought-as-i-looked-at/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [Quotations can be valuable, like raisins in the rice pudding, for adding iron as well as eye appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-bracken/quotations-can-be-valuable-like-raisins-in-the-rice-pudding-for/) [Peg Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-bracken/) > [Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/clearly-when-we-baptize-our-eyes-should-gaze-beyond-the-baptismal/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [It lies around us like a cloud- A world we do not see; Yet the sweet closing of an eye May bring us there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/it-lies-around-us-like-a-cloud-a-world-we-do-not-see-yet-the-sweet/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [She'd read once that if you ran into a bear in the woods you should avoid eye contact and you shouldn't run away, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/she-d-read-once-that-if-you-ran-into-a-bear-in-the-woods-you-should/) [Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/) > [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) Browse all 16,237 Eye quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Like how could you do nothing, and say, 'I'm doing my best.' How could you take almost everything, and then come back for the rest? 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