---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Desperate men are easy to inspire but…"
description: "\"“Desperate men are easy to inspire but difficult to reassure.”\" — Barry S. Strauss"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5c/barry-s-strauss-27463_desperate_desperate-men-are-easy-to-inspire-but-di_2704126.jpg"
---

#  Desperate men are easy to inspire but difficult to reassure.

![“Desperate men are easy to inspire but difficult to reassure.” quote by Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5c/barry-s-strauss-27463_desperate_desperate-men-are-easy-to-inspire-but-di_2704126.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5c/barry-s-strauss-27463_desperate_desperate-men-are-easy-to-inspire-but-di_2704126.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5c/barry-s-strauss-27463_desperate_desperate-men-are-easy-to-inspire-but-di_2704126.jpg)

> ““Desperate men are easy to inspire but difficult to reassure.””

[Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/)

## About This Quote

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

Desperate individuals are easily motivated but hard to reassure, highlighting the challenge of sustaining hope after inspiration.

**In simple terms:** Inspiration is easy; reassurance is hard.

Key Takeaway

Provide ongoing support after motivating someone.

Themes

motivation desperation reassurance

Mood

inspiring cautious

Type

psychological practical

When to use this quote

- emergency response
- coaching
- mental health

Key Concepts

psychology leadership crisis management

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you maintain hope after an initial boost?
- What support systems help sustain reassurance?

A Different Perspective

Reassurance may require resources beyond simple encouragement.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Desperate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/)

## Related quotes

> [Desperate men do desperate things when you take hope away. And that's where the Palestinians are today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-hagel/desperate-men-do-desperate-things-when-you-take-hope-away-and-that-s/)

[Chuck Hagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-hagel/)

> [O mischief, thou art swift to enter in the thoughts of desperate men!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-mischief-thou-art-swift-to-enter-in-the-thoughts-of-desperate-men/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Soldiers, I had lately like to have been taken from you by the attempt of a few desperate men, but by the grace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/soldiers-i-had-lately-like-to-have-been-taken-from-you-by-the-attempt/)

[Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/)

> [Why are women always described as 'desperate,' while men are just... irrational?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/why-are-women-always-described-as-desperate-while-men-are-just/)

[Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/)

> [“I didn’t think Joe was that desperate,” one of the men grumbled. “I’m not,” Joe said, walking past him. “I lost a bet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-mathewson/i-didn-t-think-joe-was-that-desperate-one-of-the-men-grumbled-i-m-not/)

[R.L. Mathewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-mathewson/)

> [“Destiny was a hope found in the hearts of desperate men. But sometimes, if they believed strongly enough, desperate men could do great things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/destiny-was-a-hope-found-in-the-hearts-of-desperate-men-but-sometimes/)

[A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/)

> [Grace is the discovery of desperate men who can find no other solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-messerli/grace-is-the-discovery-of-desperate-men-who-can-find-no-other-solution/)

[Mike Messerli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-messerli/)

> [There arc no such things as desperate situations. Only desperate men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/there-arc-no-such-things-as-desperate-situations-only-desperate-men/)

[Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/)

> [“Desperate men fight best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/desperate-men-fight-best/)

[Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/)

> [“O mischief, thou art swift to enter in the hearts of desperate men!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-mischief-thou-art-swift-to-enter-in-the-hearts-of-desperate-men/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [If men, who in their hearts are friends to a government, forbear giving it their utmost assistance against its enemies, they put it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/if-men-who-in-their-hearts-are-friends-to-a-government-forbear-giving/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [“Why did all these men find it so easy to be in love with me then and so complex to be in love with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/why-did-all-these-men-find-it-so-easy-to-be-in-love-with-me-then-and/)

[Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/)

> [For me, writing the 'X-Men' was easy - is easy. I know these people, they're my friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/for-me-writing-the-x-men-was-easy-is-easy-i-know-these-people-they-re/)

[Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/)

> [Men are very easy- You treat them well, and they behave right. You don't treat them well, and they don't behave right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/men-are-very-easy-you-treat-them-well-and-they-behave-right-you-don-t/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

> [“Men are so easy to manipulate, poor things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-peters/men-are-so-easy-to-manipulate-poor-things/)

[Elizabeth Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-peters/)

## More by Barry S. Strauss

> [The Greek in me wanted to know what it felt like to pull an oar. The intellectual wondered about how to get eight individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/the-greek-in-me-wanted-to-know-what-it-felt-like-to-pull-an-oar-the/)

[Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/)

> [It's the quintessential Greek sport: harmonious, competitive, agonizing, nautical, and above all, intelligent. It combines Odysseus's brains and brawn and love of the sea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/it-s-the-quintessential-greek-sport-harmonious-competitive-agonizing/)

[Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/)

> [When you are on the erg your mind is too busy to pay attention to the sounds of the machine; you notice only that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/when-you-are-on-the-erg-your-mind-is-too-busy-to-pay-attention-to-the/)

[Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/)

> [Ergometer is Greek for 'work meter'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/ergometer-is-greek-for-work-meter/)

[Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/)

> [The greatest poet who ever wrote about rowing is Virgil, the greatest historian is Thucydides, but the greatest imagination ever to turn its attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/the-greatest-poet-who-ever-wrote-about-rowing-is-virgil-the-greatest/)

[Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/)

> [If rowing is a trial then the ergometer is the courtroom, the meter is the jury. And an honest jury at that, because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/if-rowing-is-a-trial-then-the-ergometer-is-the-courtroom-the-meter-is/)

[Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/)

> [There is a place where cerebral an corporeal meet: they call it rowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/there-is-a-place-where-cerebral-an-corporeal-meet-they-call-it-rowing/)

[Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/)

> [The feel of a good row stays with you hours afterward. Your muscles glow, your mind wanders from the papers on you desk and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/the-feel-of-a-good-row-stays-with-you-hours-afterward-your-muscles/)

[Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/)

> [So to the lyre of Orpheus they struck with their oars, The furious water of the sea, and the surge broke into waves. Here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/so-to-the-lyre-of-orpheus-they-struck-with-their-oars-the-furious/)

[Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/)

> [Rowing it was pointed out, was a sport that risked few injuries. So it was, I ould discover, but only if you did it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/rowing-it-was-pointed-out-was-a-sport-that-risked-few-injuries-so-it/)

[Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/)

> [Think of aerobics plus weight lifting minus the music or camaraderie. Combine unalloyed endurance with straightforward strength and demand poise, timing, and practiced form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/think-of-aerobics-plus-weight-lifting-minus-the-music-or-camaraderie/)

[Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/)

> [In college, I was an editor on the student daily... To the extent that I noticed the existence of crew at all, I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/in-college-i-was-an-editor-on-the-student-daily-to-the-extent-that-i/)

[Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/)

> [The single sculler, alone on the river at dawn, or spotlighted in his lane during a race, is th emost romantic, the most quixotic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/the-single-sculler-alone-on-the-river-at-dawn-or-spotlighted-in-his/)

[Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/)

> [When you are rowing well and hard, the rhythm of the stroke takes over. It drives your days and restores your nights. It imparts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/when-you-are-rowing-well-and-hard-the-rhythm-of-the-stroke-takes-over/)

[Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/)

> [Eakins rejected gentlemen athletics as his theme. Instead, he took a subject that had been the stuff of illustrated weeklies and the penny press…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/eakins-rejected-gentlemen-athletics-as-his-theme-instead-he-took-a/)

[Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/)

[Explore all 20 Barry S. Strauss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/)

## More Desperate quotes

> [Marriage is a desperate thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/marriage-is-a-desperate-thing/)

[John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/)

> [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/)

[Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/)

> [“I am a desperate romantic. I love the idea of random collisions of the heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-thompson/i-am-a-desperate-romantic-i-love-the-idea-of-random-collisions-of-the/)

[Jessica Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-thompson/)

> [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/)

[Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/)

> [“Really? I'm trying to place you. It seems like we've met before." Did I just issue him a pick up line? Fantastic, I've now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/really-i-m-trying-to-place-you-it-seems-like-we-ve-met-before-did-i/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [Never be desperate. Get rid of your insecurities. Know your worth. Believe in yourself and go get what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-be-desperate-get-rid-of-your-insecurities-know-your-worth/)

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

> [“She was stupid and lonely. So desperate to be touched and loved with a good love. I need you, don't leave me, you're all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian-bane/she-was-stupid-and-lonely-so-desperate-to-be-touched-and-loved-with-a/)

[Lucian Bane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian-bane/)

> [You mostly know that you want to be funny, know that you have the desire. It's not like people who grow up beautiful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/you-mostly-know-that-you-want-to-be-funny-know-that-you-have-the/)

[Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/)

> [I had to smile when stories emerged questioning whether I was gay. Obviously I knew I wasn't but people were curiously desperate to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-had-to-smile-when-stories-emerged-questioning-whether-i-was-gay/)

[Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/)

> [The World Health Organisation has a lot of its medical experts sitting in Geneva while hospitals in Africa have no drugs and desperate patients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-hanson/the-world-health-organisation-has-a-lot-of-its-medical-experts/)

[Pauline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-hanson/)

> [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/)

[Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/)

> [I know it's a film and all of that, and it's a Hollywood film, but it kind of feels like this sometimes, when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-marber/i-know-it-s-a-film-and-all-of-that-and-it-s-a-hollywood-film-but-it/)

[Patrick Marber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-marber/)

> [“you think I"m that desperate?" "The raging hard-on jabbing at me says yes." ~Creed/Annika”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-croft/you-think-i-m-that-desperate-the-raging-hard-on-jabbing-at-me-says/)

[Sydney Croft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-croft/)

> [Along with a livable wage, many parents are desperate for quality affordable child care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/along-with-a-livable-wage-many-parents-are-desperate-for-quality/)

[Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/)

> [As a player, if a club is desperate to sign you, then you can benefit from that. Desperate clubs are prepared to pay more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/as-a-player-if-a-club-is-desperate-to-sign-you-then-you-can-benefit/)

[Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/)

[Browse all 1,618 Desperate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Desperate men are easy to inspire but difficult to reassure.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Barry S. Strauss"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/desperate-men-are-easy-to-inspire-but-difficult-to-reassure/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Desperate"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/desperate-men-are-easy-to-inspire-but-difficult-to-reassure/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5c/barry-s-strauss-27463_desperate_desperate-men-are-easy-to-inspire-but-di_2704126.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5c/barry-s-strauss-27463_desperate_desperate-men-are-easy-to-inspire-but-di_2704126.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5c/barry-s-strauss-27463_desperate_desperate-men-are-easy-to-inspire-but-di_2704126.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Desperate men are easy to inspire but difficult to reassure.” — Barry S. Strauss",
                "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": "Barry S. Strauss",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Desperate men are easy to inspire...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/desperate-men-are-easy-to-inspire-but-difficult-to-reassure/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/desperate-men-are-easy-to-inspire-but-difficult-to-reassure/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
