--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And there was nothing quite like the…" description: "\"“And there was nothing quite like the surprise attack of a snarling black bear, even one missing all forty-two teeth, to urge someone back to work. Wak..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/cole-alpaugh-33101_bear_and-there-was-nothing-quite-like-the-sur_163675.jpg" --- # And there was nothing quite like the surprise attack of a… ![“And there was nothing quite like the surprise attack of a snarling black bear, even one missing all forty-two teeth, to urge someone back to work. Waking up with several hundred mud-encrusted, reeking pounds on top of you — your neck suffering a hickey of epic proportions — just pushed the limits…” quote by Cole Alpaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/cole-alpaugh-33101_bear_and-there-was-nothing-quite-like-the-sur_163675.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/cole-alpaugh-33101_bear_and-there-was-nothing-quite-like-the-sur_163675.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/cole-alpaugh-33101_bear_and-there-was-nothing-quite-like-the-sur_163675.jpg) > ““And there was nothing quite like the surprise attack of a snarling black bear, even one missing all forty-two teeth, to urge someone back to work. Waking up with several hundred mud-encrusted, reeking pounds on top of you — your neck suffering a hickey of epic proportions — just pushed the limits on what was tolerable.”” [Cole Alpaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-alpaugh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A shocking, absurd hardship can jolt a person into renewed effort, highlighting how extreme discomfort can motivate productivity. **In simple terms:** Extreme discomfort can spur you to work harder. Key Takeaway Use discomfort as a catalyst for action. Themes motivation adversity productivity Mood determined humorous Type motivational humorous When to use this quote - office deadlines - physical training - creative projects - emergency situations Key Concepts psychology stress response resilience Questions to Reflect On - What discomfort have you been avoiding? - How can you turn minor setbacks into motivation? A Different Perspective The metaphor may exaggerate, making it hard to apply realistically. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Circus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circus/) [Literary fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary-fiction/) ## Related quotes > [“It is as if you are the legend of the black bear come to life." Merida's breath caught in her throat. Then Elinor laughed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-rochon/it-is-as-if-you-are-the-legend-of-the-black-bear-come-to-life-merida/) [Farrah Rochon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-rochon/) > [We are told, that the black bear is innocent; but I should not like to trust myself with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/we-are-told-that-the-black-bear-is-innocent-but-i-should-not-like-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“yoga soul today. instant resonation. Spring Somewhere a black bear has just risen from sleep and is staring down the mountain. All night in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/yoga-soul-today-instant-resonation-spring-somewhere-a-black-bear-has/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [We had a black bear on the 'Hunger Games' set, and that was a little scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-hemsworth/we-had-a-black-bear-on-the-hunger-games-set-and-that-was-a-little/) [Liam Hemsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-hemsworth/) > [“He yawned like a black bear coming out of hibernation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-vickers/he-yawned-like-a-black-bear-coming-out-of-hibernation/) [Dennis Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-vickers/) > [“He saw that there was something alive in it, and went near enough to read a sign that said, TWO DEADLY ENEMIES. HAVE A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/he-saw-that-there-was-something-alive-in-it-and-went-near-enough-to/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [“Gracie leaned out the back, craning her neck as far as she could around the side, trying to catch the wind in her nose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-alpaugh/gracie-leaned-out-the-back-craning-her-neck-as-far-as-she-could/) [Cole Alpaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-alpaugh/) > [“It was a year ago today your daughter went missing.’ Bagg had closed his eyes, feeling the death going on inside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-alpaugh/it-was-a-year-ago-today-your-daughter-went-missing-bagg-had-closed/) [Cole Alpaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-alpaugh/) > [“You know, I used to think you were snarling at me, but now I see that...it’s actually just your face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-wright/you-know-i-used-to-think-you-were-snarling-at-me-but-now-i-see-that/) [Suzanne Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-wright/) > [“Zik spits into the dirt in from of home plate, his own little ritual. He digs in and grits his teeth, snarling at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-lyga/zik-spits-into-the-dirt-in-from-of-home-plate-his-own-little-ritual/) [Barry Lyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-lyga/) > [“Bad kitty!" he screeched, snarling and baring his fangs at Grimalkin, who yawned and turned away to groom his tail. "Evil, evil, sneaky kitty!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/bad-kitty-he-screeched-snarling-and-baring-his-fangs-at-grimalkin-who/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [A dog reflects the family life. Whoever saw a frisky dog in a gloomy family, or a sad dog in a happy one? Snarling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/a-dog-reflects-the-family-life-whoever-saw-a-frisky-dog-in-a-gloomy/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [There are two brands of discontent: the brand that merely fosters greed and snarling and back-biting, and the brand that inspires greater and greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/there-are-two-brands-of-discontent-the-brand-that-merely-fosters/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [“It’s just taking some getting used to. The snarling, the hissing, the purring. Then I have to deal with it from the baby….” “Ha,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-laurenston/it-s-just-taking-some-getting-used-to-the-snarling-the-hissing-the/) [Shelly Laurenston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-laurenston/) > [Immediately upon entering the weighing-in zone, I sensed an oppressive tension in the air, the lightweights staring and glaring at each other, snarling like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-alan-lewis/immediately-upon-entering-the-weighing-in-zone-i-sensed-an-oppressive/) [Brad Alan Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-alan-lewis/) ## More by Cole Alpaugh > [“Taking a couple short backup swigs, Flint’s crippling headache started to release its grip, sort of the way he imagined an octopus would release…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-alpaugh/taking-a-couple-short-backup-swigs-flint-s-crippling-headache-started/) [Cole Alpaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-alpaugh/) > [“Shit, man, if you see a dog scratching at the dirt trying to dig something up, walk away real fast,” he said, then pulled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-alpaugh/shit-man-if-you-see-a-dog-scratching-at-the-dirt-trying-to-dig/) [Cole Alpaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-alpaugh/) > [“It was a year ago today your daughter went missing.’ Bagg had closed his eyes, feeling the death going on inside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-alpaugh/it-was-a-year-ago-today-your-daughter-went-missing-bagg-had-closed/) [Cole Alpaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-alpaugh/) > [“Bearing witness from the sides of the room, ten or more lepers shouted at the bizarre scene, “Diable! Diable!” And then chants of some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-alpaugh/bearing-witness-from-the-sides-of-the-room-ten-or-more-lepers-shouted/) [Cole Alpaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-alpaugh/) > [“Whenever I’d get howlin’ over something, he’d grab my ass up from wherever I was and head straight for the john. Momma said my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-alpaugh/whenever-i-d-get-howlin-over-something-he-d-grab-my-ass-up-from/) [Cole Alpaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-alpaugh/) > [“I believe a family just isn’t complete without skeletons. My dearest momma clean bit off my daddy’s nose right around the time they divorced.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-alpaugh/i-believe-a-family-just-isn-t-complete-without-skeletons-my-dearest/) [Cole Alpaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-alpaugh/) > [“Gracie leaned out the back, craning her neck as far as she could around the side, trying to catch the wind in her nose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-alpaugh/gracie-leaned-out-the-back-craning-her-neck-as-far-as-she-could/) [Cole Alpaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-alpaugh/) > [“Kids never jumped head first from the top ledge. Never. It seemed forever before Stoney came back to the surface. Most of the white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-alpaugh/kids-never-jumped-head-first-from-the-top-ledge-never-it-seemed/) [Cole Alpaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-alpaugh/) > [“The two smallest boys were cut down first, bodies bounding in different directions as they were shot from opposite sides of the field, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-alpaugh/the-two-smallest-boys-were-cut-down-first-bodies-bounding-in/) [Cole Alpaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-alpaugh/) > [“Grandpa said that we could solve a lot of the world’s problems if we considered cats and dogs edible. Like the neighbor’s dog who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-alpaugh/grandpa-said-that-we-could-solve-a-lot-of-the-world-s-problems-if-we/) [Cole Alpaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-alpaugh/) > [“Noriega wound up like a baseball pitcher on top of the bed and hurled the small gun, but was low and outside for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-alpaugh/noriega-wound-up-like-a-baseball-pitcher-on-top-of-the-bed-and-hurled/) [Cole Alpaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-alpaugh/) > [“The monkey liked most humans. They left food cans outside their homes for his family to rummage through in the morning sun. Some yelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-alpaugh/the-monkey-liked-most-humans-they-left-food-cans-outside-their-homes/) [Cole Alpaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-alpaugh/) > [“Limp finally spoke. “Do you think you could kill a person and not get all crazy about it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-alpaugh/limp-finally-spoke-do-you-think-you-could-kill-a-person-and-not-get/) [Cole Alpaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-alpaugh/) > [“And in a land accustomed to so much anguish, Chase tried to be careful with words. His soccer moms began assigning nicknames during the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-alpaugh/and-in-a-land-accustomed-to-so-much-anguish-chase-tried-to-be-careful/) [Cole Alpaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-alpaugh/) [Explore all 15 Cole Alpaugh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-alpaugh/) ## More Bear quotes > [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I looked at Randy White... I looked at Klecko. I looked at Gino Marchetti. I looked at a lot of players. Bob Lilly. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/i-looked-at-randy-white-i-looked-at-klecko-i-looked-at-gino-marchetti/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [“Hand in hand they whispered for a while. The girl nodded and the bear laughed. Together, they made their way down the corridor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-craig/hand-in-hand-they-whispered-for-a-while-the-girl-nodded-and-the-bear/) [Stephen Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-craig/) > [No one likes to admit they are racist or bear prejudices. Nor do they even like to be open and honest when they witness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/no-one-likes-to-admit-they-are-racist-or-bear-prejudices-nor-do-they/) [Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/) > [I'm Irish and always will be, but America has taught me so much. Maybe it's here in the U.S. that we find a healing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fionnula-flanagan/i-m-irish-and-always-will-be-but-america-has-taught-me-so-much-maybe/) [Fionnula Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fionnula-flanagan/) > [Getting head-to-head with a polar bear was amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-strachan/getting-head-to-head-with-a-polar-bear-was-amazing/) [Michaela Strachan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-strachan/) > [“I have always held… that the skin of the bear must not be distributed until the bear has been killed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-r-manchester/i-have-always-held-that-the-skin-of-the-bear-must-not-be-distributed/) [William R. Manchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-r-manchester/) > [When I was in Greenough, Montana, I came across a bear cub. I was off this path, and I thought, If there's a bear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-roker/when-i-was-in-greenough-montana-i-came-across-a-bear-cub-i-was-off/) [Al Roker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-roker/) > [I was much more upset by the situation with Jacob than by the possibility of being eaten by a bear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-was-much-more-upset-by-the-situation-with-jacob-than-by-the/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [I like men. They are hugely entertaining, but they have a lot of shortcomings and you just have to bear those in mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-like-men-they-are-hugely-entertaining-but-they-have-a-lot-of/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [Yogi Bear changed my life in ways that I can't explain because it's not a full feature on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-miller/yogi-bear-changed-my-life-in-ways-that-i-can-t-explain-because-it-s/) [T. J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-miller/) > [“Rabbit underground, rabbit safe and sound.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/rabbit-underground-rabbit-safe-and-sound/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [Are there bears in these mountains?" he asked. His companion nodded. "Of course. But it's a bit early in the year for them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/are-there-bears-in-these-mountains-he-asked-his-companion-nodded-of/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [“Fighting with tangles, fighting with curls, the poor barber yanked, the poor barber pulled, until with one last effort (and to the wonder of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mili-fay/fighting-with-tangles-fighting-with-curls-the-poor-barber-yanked-the/) Mili Fay > [Bears are simultaneously so graceful and so strong. Bears know who they are, but they often don’t know who you are, which is why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/bears-are-simultaneously-so-graceful-and-so-strong-bears-know-who/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) Browse all 827 Bear quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“And there was nothing quite like the surprise attack of a snarling black bear, even one missing all forty-two teeth, to urge someone back to work. 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