---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For me, sitting still is harder than any…"
description: "\"For me, sitting still is harder than any kind of work.\" — Annie Oakley"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85a/annie-oakley-35993_harder_for-me-sitting-still-is-harder-than-any_2006879.png"
---

#  For me, sitting still is harder than any kind of work.

![“For me, sitting still is harder than any kind of work.” quote by Annie Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85a/annie-oakley-35993_harder_for-me-sitting-still-is-harder-than-any_2006879.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85a/annie-oakley-35993_harder_for-me-sitting-still-is-harder-than-any_2006879.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85a/annie-oakley-35993_harder_for-me-sitting-still-is-harder-than-any_2006879.png)

> “For me, sitting still is harder than any kind of work.”

[Annie Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-oakley/)

## About This Quote

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

Emphasizes that mental stillness can be more demanding than physical labor.

**In simple terms:** Sitting still is harder than work.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate mental discipline.

Themes

focus patience mental effort

Mood

calm determined

Type

motivational psychological

When to use this quote

- meditation
- creative work
- strategic planning

Key Concepts

mindfulness self‑control psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- Why is mental stillness challenging?
- How can one train the mind to stay still?

A Different Perspective

May not apply to all personality types.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Sitting still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting-still/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [It's harder to be kind than clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/it-s-harder-to-be-kind-than-clever/)

[Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/)

> [“one day you’ll understand that it’s harder to be kind than clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stone/one-day-you-ll-understand-that-it-s-harder-to-be-kind-than-clever/)

[Brad Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stone/)

> [My grandfather taught me that it is harder to be kind than it is to be clever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/my-grandfather-taught-me-that-it-is-harder-to-be-kind-than-it-is-to/)

[Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/)

> [The reality is I'm not a 'get knocked down and come back harder' kind of guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-giraldo/the-reality-is-i-m-not-a-get-knocked-down-and-come-back-harder-kind/)

[Greg Giraldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-giraldo/)

> [I know that anybody who does all this and doesn't have to, everything thinks she's very driven. The truth is, I enjoy it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-sills/i-know-that-anybody-who-does-all-this-and-doesn-t-have-to-everything/)

[Beverly Sills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-sills/)

> [It's hard to be strong and be weak at the same time. So I spent a lot of time sitting still. Sitting still for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/it-s-hard-to-be-strong-and-be-weak-at-the-same-time-so-i-spent-a-lot/)

[Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/)

> [In an age of constant movement, nothing is more urgent than sitting still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/in-an-age-of-constant-movement-nothing-is-more-urgent-than-sitting/)

[Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/)

> [The man who barely abstains from violating either the person, or the estate, or the reputation of his neighbours, has surely very little positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-man-who-barely-abstains-from-violating-either-the-person-or-the/)

[Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/)

> [When mental development is under discussion, there are many who say, 'How does movement come into it? We are talking about the mind.' And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/when-mental-development-is-under-discussion-there-are-many-who-say/)

[Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/)

> [Simply wait, be quiet, still The world will freely offer itself to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/simply-wait-be-quiet-still-the-world-will-freely-offer-itself-to-you/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/and-the-raven-never-flitting-still-is-sitting-still-is-sitting/)

[Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/)

> [It is cruelty to children to keep five-year-olds sitting still, gazing into vacancy even for one hour at a time. We have little idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/it-is-cruelty-to-children-to-keep-five-year-olds-sitting-still-gazing/)

[Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/)

> [When Christ comes with regenerating grace, he finds no man sitting still, but all posting to eternal ruin, and making haste toward hell; till,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/when-christ-comes-with-regenerating-grace-he-finds-no-man-sitting/)

[Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/)

> [A thousand secrets are hidden in simply sitting still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karlfried-graf-durckheim/a-thousand-secrets-are-hidden-in-simply-sitting-still/)

[Karlfried Graf Durckheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karlfried-graf-durckheim/)

> [Be mindful, which is more of a passive meditation practice. It is passive when you are active. Then there is active meditation, when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/be-mindful-which-is-more-of-a-passive-meditation-practice-it-is/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

## More by Annie Oakley

> [“Aim at a high mark and you'll hit it. No, not the first time, nor the second time. Maybe not the third. But keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-oakley/aim-at-a-high-mark-and-you-ll-hit-it-no-not-the-first-time-nor-the/)

[Annie Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-oakley/)

> [A crowned queen was never treated with more reverence than I was by those whole-souled western boys…And for seventeen long years I was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-oakley/a-crowned-queen-was-never-treated-with-more-reverence-than-i-was-by/)

[Annie Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-oakley/)

> [Even in the best and most peacefully civilized countries many occasions arise when a woman versed inthe knowledge and use of firarms may find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-oakley/even-in-the-best-and-most-peacefully-civilized-countries-many/)

[Annie Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-oakley/)

> [Aim at a high mark and you will hit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-oakley/aim-at-a-high-mark-and-you-will-hit-it/)

[Annie Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-oakley/)

> [ \[On Sitting Bull:\] The contents of his pockets were often emptied into the hands of small, ragged little boys, nor could he understand how… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-oakley/on-sitting-bull-the-contents-of-his-pockets-were-often-emptied-into/)

[Annie Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-oakley/)

> [I ain't afraid to love a man ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-oakley/i-ain-t-afraid-to-love-a-man/)

[Annie Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-oakley/)

> [I ain't afraid to love a man. I ain't afraid to shoot him either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-oakley/i-ain-t-afraid-to-love-a-man-i-ain-t-afraid-to-shoot-him-either/)

[Annie Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-oakley/)

> [God intended women to be outside as well as men, and they do not know what they are missing when they stay cooped up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-oakley/god-intended-women-to-be-outside-as-well-as-men-and-they-do-not-know/)

[Annie Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-oakley/)

> [Aim for the high mark and you will hit it. No, not the first time, not the second time and maybe not the third.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-oakley/aim-for-the-high-mark-and-you-will-hit-it-no-not-the-first-time-not/)

[Annie Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-oakley/)

> [I would like to see every woman know how to handle guns as naturally as they know how to handle babies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-oakley/i-would-like-to-see-every-woman-know-how-to-handle-guns-as-naturally/)

[Annie Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-oakley/)

> [After traveling through fourteen foreign countries and appearing before all the royalty and nobility I have only one wish today. That is that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-oakley/after-traveling-through-fourteen-foreign-countries-and-appearing/)

[Annie Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-oakley/)

> [My mother…was perfectly horrified when I began shooting and tried to keep me in school, but I would run away and go quail shooting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-oakley/my-mother-was-perfectly-horrified-when-i-began-shooting-and-tried-to/)

[Annie Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-oakley/)

[Explore all 13 Annie Oakley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-oakley/)

## More Harder quotes

> [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/)

[Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/)

> [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/)

[Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/)

> [Politics only makes the difficult challenge of marriage even harder, with the demands of the job and the public spotlight it casts on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/politics-only-makes-the-difficult-challenge-of-marriage-even-harder/)

[Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/)

> [We've all seen talented young players who get to a certain level but there comes a point where that talent will only take you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/we-ve-all-seen-talented-young-players-who-get-to-a-certain-level-but/)

[Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/)

> [Forgive me for noting that conservatives seem to believe that the rich will work harder if we give them more, and the poor will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/forgive-me-for-noting-that-conservatives-seem-to-believe-that-the/)

[E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/)

> [Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/fossil-fuels-including-oil-are-running-out-and-supplies-are-getting/)

[Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/)

> [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [It is easy to take a photograph, but it is harder to make a masterpiece in photography than in any other art medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-adams/it-is-easy-to-take-a-photograph-but-it-is-harder-to-make-a/)

[Ansel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-adams/)

> [Harder to get in than out, like so little else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/harder-to-get-in-than-out-like-so-little-else/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Indifference is harder to fight than hostility, and there is nothing that kills an agitation like having everybody admit that it is fundamentally right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-eastman/indifference-is-harder-to-fight-than-hostility-and-there-is-nothing/)

[Crystal Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-eastman/)

> [There's nothing harder than making a mellow, clean record. It's really scary. I can see why people would never want to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-segall/there-s-nothing-harder-than-making-a-mellow-clean-record-it-s-really/)

[Ty Segall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-segall/)

> [I met Tyler Perry and we did 'House of Payne' and a movie. We've done a couple other films since then, but it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-gross/i-met-tyler-perry-and-we-did-house-of-payne-and-a-movie-we-ve-done-a/)

[Lance Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-gross/)

> [God puts you where God needs you. You are where you are supposed to be. The job you are doing may not be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kushner/god-puts-you-where-god-needs-you-you-are-where-you-are-supposed-to-be/)

[Lawrence Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kushner/)

> [What is needed, however, isn't just that people working together be nice to each other. It is discipline. Discipline is hard--harder than trustworthiness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/what-is-needed-however-isn-t-just-that-people-working-together-be/)

[Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/)

Browse all 3,695 Harder quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "For me, sitting still is harder than any kind of work.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Annie Oakley"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-oakley/for-me-sitting-still-is-harder-than-any-kind-of-work/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Harder"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-oakley/for-me-sitting-still-is-harder-than-any-kind-of-work/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85a/annie-oakley-35993_harder_for-me-sitting-still-is-harder-than-any_2006879.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85a/annie-oakley-35993_harder_for-me-sitting-still-is-harder-than-any_2006879.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85a/annie-oakley-35993_harder_for-me-sitting-still-is-harder-than-any_2006879.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“For me, sitting still is harder than any kind of work.” — Annie Oakley",
                "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": "Annie Oakley",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-oakley/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "For me, sitting still is harder...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-oakley/for-me-sitting-still-is-harder-than-any-kind-of-work/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-oakley/for-me-sitting-still-is-harder-than-any-kind-of-work/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
