--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are three things extremely hard…" description: "\"There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one's self.\" — Benjamin Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/benjamin-franklin-65_diamond_there-are-three-things-extremely-hard-st_1199297.png" --- # There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond… ![“There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one's self.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/benjamin-franklin-65_diamond_there-are-three-things-extremely-hard-st_1199297.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/benjamin-franklin-65_diamond_there-are-three-things-extremely-hard-st_1199297.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/benjamin-franklin-65_diamond_there-are-three-things-extremely-hard-st_1199297.png) > “There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one's self.” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Steel, diamonds, and self‑knowledge are all extremely difficult to obtain. **In simple terms:** Self‑knowledge is as hard as steel or diamonds. Key Takeaway Pursue deep self‑understanding. Themes self‑knowledge hardship wisdom Mood introspective motivational Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - therapy - journaling - mindfulness - coaching Key Concepts psychology philosophy personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to know yourself better? - How do you handle the discomfort of self‑examination? A Different Perspective Self‑knowledge can be uncomfortable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diamond/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) ## Related quotes > [Remember, things extremely hard to come by are not necessarily good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-chung/remember-things-extremely-hard-to-come-by-are-not-necessarily-good/) [Joe Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-chung/) > [We've the new hard-steel, though why they're all so hot to pay twice the price when men're soft as clay and even wood will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/we-ve-the-new-hard-steel-though-why-they-re-all-so-hot-to-pay-twice/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [I think being able to really fall in love with someone is the craziest thing that could ever happen. You know, allowing yourself to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoey-deutch/i-think-being-able-to-really-fall-in-love-with-someone-is-the/) [Zoey Deutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoey-deutch/) > [I have passed on a lot of things that would have been extremely lucrative, because they were nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/i-have-passed-on-a-lot-of-things-that-would-have-been-extremely/) [Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/) > [I'm trying to find things that are extremely challenging or mean something to me deeply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-m-trying-to-find-things-that-are-extremely-challenging-or-mean/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [What do nations care about the cost of war, if by spending a few hundred millions in steel and gunpowder they can gain a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-do-nations-care-about-the-cost-of-war-if-by-spending-a-few/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No virtue can be real that has not been tried. The gold in the crucible alone is perfect; the loadstone tests the steel, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-calder-n-de-la-barca/no-virtue-can-be-real-that-has-not-been-tried-the-gold-in-the/) [Pedro Calderon de la Barca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-calder-n-de-la-barca/) > [Steel can be tempered and hardened, and so can men. In this world of struggle, which was not designed for softies, a man must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-newton-casson/steel-can-be-tempered-and-hardened-and-so-can-men-in-this-world-of/) [Herbert Newton Casson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-newton-casson/) > [I'm extremely hard to finish and I have a huge gas tank, and historically that's a big problem for B.J. Penn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-fitch/i-m-extremely-hard-to-finish-and-i-have-a-huge-gas-tank-and/) [Jon Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-fitch/) > [“Everyone is extremely hard and troubled to be around. Everyone has something substantially wrong with them. Everyone is extremely hard to live with. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/everyone-is-extremely-hard-and-troubled-to-be-around-everyone-has/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Even with the quality of players that we have, they're an extremely hard side to break down and once they get on top of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lampard/even-with-the-quality-of-players-that-we-have-they-re-an-extremely/) [Frank Lampard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lampard/) > [“Only when you can be extremely pliable and soft can you be extremely hard and strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zen-proverb/only-when-you-can-be-extremely-pliable-and-soft-can-you-be-extremely/) [Zen Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zen-proverb/) > [I work extremely hard doing what I love, mainly to ensure that I don't have to work extremely hard doing what I hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-work-extremely-hard-doing-what-i-love-mainly-to-ensure-that-i-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I understand the ref's job out there is extremely hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-understand-the-ref-s-job-out-there-is-extremely-hard/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [I've worked extremely hard. There's always that part that people don't see, the things you do behind the scenes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/i-ve-worked-extremely-hard-there-s-always-that-part-that-people-don-t/) [Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/) ## More by Benjamin Franklin > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [How do you become better tomorrow? By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More Diamond quotes > [People from all walks of life that you might find as a King Diamond fan - you don't look a certain way; you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-diamond/people-from-all-walks-of-life-that-you-might-find-as-a-king-diamond/) [King Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-diamond/) > [Asanas bring perfection in body, beauty in form, grace, strength, compactness, and the hardness and brilliance of a diamond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patanjali/asanas-bring-perfection-in-body-beauty-in-form-grace-strength/) [Patanjali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patanjali/) > [The brightest and most valuable diamond started life as just a lump of carbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dilger/the-brightest-and-most-valuable-diamond-started-life-as-just-a-lump/) Peter Dilger > [It was an incredible experience performing for the members and attendees at the Diamond Resorts Invitational; it was such an impressive event, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-swindell/it-was-an-incredible-experience-performing-for-the-members-and/) [Cole Swindell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-swindell/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The only difference between black coal and a precious diamond is the amount of pressure it endured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/the-only-difference-between-black-coal-and-a-precious-diamond-is-the/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I like everything with a heaping dose of feminitity, including my cell phone. I created this phone for the classic woman, who like me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimora-lee-simmons/i-like-everything-with-a-heaping-dose-of-feminitity-including-my-cell/) [Kimora Lee Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimora-lee-simmons/) > [The sky was a sparkling succession of black diamonds on black velvet made crystal clear by the blackout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/the-sky-was-a-sparkling-succession-of-black-diamonds-on-black-velvet/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [“You're the proverbial diamond in the rough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/you-re-the-proverbial-diamond-in-the-rough/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [My crown is in my heart, not on my head; not decked with diamonds and Indian stones, nor to be seen: my crown is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/my-crown-is-in-my-heart-not-on-my-head-not-decked-with-diamonds-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Instead of the 1997 film directed, written, by James Cameron with Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane creating a love story and a large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-baker/instead-of-the-1997-film-directed-written-by-james-cameron-with/) [Tom Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-baker/) > [“I had a dream that my boyfriend went back to his ex…I woke up and giggled because you don’t pick up a rock after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/starley-ard/i-had-a-dream-that-my-boyfriend-went-back-to-his-ex-i-woke-up-and/) [Starley Ard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/starley-ard/) > [I'll just do a round around of the house and make sure the rest of the family are fast asleep. We don't want that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerstin-gier/i-ll-just-do-a-round-around-of-the-house-and-make-sure-the-rest-of/) [Kerstin Gier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerstin-gier/) > [“A diamond's happy ending is on a crown, but its beauty was formed in dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-diamond-s-happy-ending-is-on-a-crown-but-its-beauty-was-formed-in/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [What do nations care about the cost of war, if by spending a few hundred millions in steel and gunpowder they can gain a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-do-nations-care-about-the-cost-of-war-if-by-spending-a-few/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 1,004 Diamond quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diamond/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one's self.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/there-are-three-things-extremely-hard-steel-a-diamond-and-to-know-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Diamond" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/there-are-three-things-extremely-hard-steel-a-diamond-and-to-know-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/benjamin-franklin-65_diamond_there-are-three-things-extremely-hard-st_1199297.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/benjamin-franklin-65_diamond_there-are-three-things-extremely-hard-st_1199297.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/benjamin-franklin-65_diamond_there-are-three-things-extremely-hard-st_1199297.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one's self.” — Benjamin Franklin", "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": "Benjamin Franklin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There are three things extremely hard:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/there-are-three-things-extremely-hard-steel-a-diamond-and-to-know-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/there-are-three-things-extremely-hard-steel-a-diamond-and-to-know-one/#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 } } ] } ```