--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life is not easy. But that's not the only…" description: "\"“Life is not easy. But that's not the only truth that matters in this context. It also happens to be true that it takes just as much effort to have a \"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/david-bach-35530_bad-life_life-is-not-easy-but-that-s-not-the-only_2235935.jpg" --- # Life is not easy. But that's not the only truth that… ![“Life is not easy. But that's not the only truth that matters in this context. It also happens to be true that it takes just as much effort to have a "bad life," in which you don't get what you want, as it does to have a "good life," where you do. So given the choice, why not go for the good life?” quote by David Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/david-bach-35530_bad-life_life-is-not-easy-but-that-s-not-the-only_2235935.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/david-bach-35530_bad-life_life-is-not-easy-but-that-s-not-the-only_2235935.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/david-bach-35530_bad-life_life-is-not-easy-but-that-s-not-the-only_2235935.jpg) > ““Life is not easy. But that's not the only truth that matters in this context. It also happens to be true that it takes just as much effort to have a "bad life," in which you don't get what you want, as it does to have a "good life," where you do. So given the choice, why not go for the good life?”” [David Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effort is required for both good and bad outcomes; choosing the good life means deliberately applying effort toward positive goals. **In simple terms:** Good life requires effort, just like a bad one. Key Takeaway Choose effort that aligns with desired outcomes. Themes effort choice life quality goal‑setting mindset conscious living Mood motivational thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - personal finance - health habits - relationship building Key Concepts philosophy behavioral economics self‑help Questions to Reflect On - What effort will you invest to create a good life? - How do you differentiate productive effort from wasted struggle? A Different Perspective Effort alone doesn’t guarantee good results without direction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-life/) [Being true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-true/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choice Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-good-522909/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Given Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given-choice/) [Good life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-life/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Life is not easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is-not-easy/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [What you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-you-want/) [Why not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why-not/) ## Related quotes > [“And, really, if she had been given the choice- the whole choice, the good, and the bad, the pain and the glory,- she would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mcbride/and-really-if-she-had-been-given-the-choice-the-whole-choice-the-good/) [Laura McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mcbride/) > [God gave us two gifts; one is choice, second is chance...The choice of a good life and The chance to make it the best!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/god-gave-us-two-gifts-one-is-choice-second-is-chance-the-choice-of-a/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [The difference between a good life and a bad life is how well you walk through the fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-difference-between-a-good-life-and-a-bad-life-is-how-well-you/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [“If you're living a good life, the most important question here is: Did you deserve it? If you're living a bad life, the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-re-living-a-good-life-the-most-important-question-here-is-did/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF YOUR SELF AND IF YOU MAKE SOMETHING GOOD OF YOUR LIFE THAN LIVE IT UP BUT IF YOU…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoinette/life-is-what-you-make-of-your-self-and-if-you-make-something-good-of/) [ANTOINETTE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoinette/) > [We are not given a good life or a bad life. We are given a life. It's up to us to make it good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-not-given-a-good-life-or-a-bad-life-we-are-given-a-life-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We don't always get the kind of work we want, but we always have a choice of whether to do it with good grace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lee/we-don-t-always-get-the-kind-of-work-we-want-but-we-always-have-a/) [Christopher Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lee/) > [“if it comes to a choice between being a good soldier and a good human being -- try to be a good human being".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-myrer/if-it-comes-to-a-choice-between-being-a-good-soldier-and-a-good-human/) [Anton Myrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-myrer/) > [The good or ill hap of a good or ill life, is the good or ill choice of a good or ill wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-or-ill-hap-of-a-good-or-ill-life-is-the-good-or-ill-choice/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Though either choice was good, one was truer to myself... Ultimately, I reflected on Geothe's invocation to 'make a commitment and the forces of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-novogratz/though-either-choice-was-good-one-was-truer-to-myself-ultimately-i/) [Jacqueline Novogratz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-novogratz/) > [God is good if you are blessed with foresight. To reflect within a moment and see the positivity through the negativity in your choice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/god-is-good-if-you-are-blessed-with-foresight-to-reflect-within-a/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) > [“It is downright incredible that an extremely significant proportion of people make the wrong choice. But the good news is that we can course-correct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamees-alhassar/it-is-downright-incredible-that-an-extremely-significant-proportion/) [Lamees Alhassar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamees-alhassar/) > [“Dysfunctional Belief: To be happy, I have to make the right choice. Reframe: There is no right choice—only good choosing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/dysfunctional-belief-to-be-happy-i-have-to-make-the-right-choice/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [It is our choice of good or evil that determines our character, not our opinion about good or evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/it-is-our-choice-of-good-or-evil-that-determines-our-character-not/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Life's tricky for women because they have to make more choices than men. And yes, choice is good, but boy, you better be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/life-s-tricky-for-women-because-they-have-to-make-more-choices-than/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) ## More by David Bach > [This market right now is moving on nothing more than emotions. Guess what? It almost always moves on emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bach/this-market-right-now-is-moving-on-nothing-more-than-emotions-guess/) [David Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bach/) > [The earlier you start, the easier it is to accumulate major wealth. Still, it's never really too late to begin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bach/the-earlier-you-start-the-easier-it-is-to-accumulate-major-wealth/) [David Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bach/) > [The past will continue to be your future if you drag it along with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bach/the-past-will-continue-to-be-your-future-if-you-drag-it-along-with-you/) [David Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bach/) > [When I read in Fortune magazine that Warren Buffet, the billionaire investor and one of the world's richest men, was investing in a direct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bach/when-i-read-in-fortune-magazine-that-warren-buffet-the-billionaire/) [David Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bach/) > [Knowledge without action cost money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bach/knowledge-without-action-cost-money/) [David Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bach/) > [Financial education needs to become a part of our national curriculum and scoring systems so that it's not just the rich kids that learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bach/financial-education-needs-to-become-a-part-of-our-national-curriculum/) [David Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bach/) > [The more I study the wealthy.. in an effort to learn how to help more people around the world become one of them.. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bach/the-more-i-study-the-wealthy-in-an-effort-to-learn-how-to-help-more/) [David Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bach/) > [Remember that small steps can create giant leaps over time, so never think of any financial or spending matter as a small one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bach/remember-that-small-steps-can-create-giant-leaps-over-time-so-never/) [David Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bach/) > [Nothing you will ever do in your lifetime is likely to make you as much money as buying a home and living in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bach/nothing-you-will-ever-do-in-your-lifetime-is-likely-to-make-you-as/) [David Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bach/) > [Before you can really start setting financial goals, you need to determine where you stand financially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bach/before-you-can-really-start-setting-financial-goals-you-need-to/) [David Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bach/) > [Darren Hardy has written a new bible for the self-improvement space. If you are looking for the real deal-a real program, with real tools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bach/darren-hardy-has-written-a-new-bible-for-the-self-improvement-space/) [David Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bach/) > [People should take every opportunity they can to save money because it really adds up, and the best way I know to do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bach/people-should-take-every-opportunity-they-can-to-save-money-because/) [David Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bach/) [Explore all 13 David Bach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bach/) ## More Bad life quotes > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Take a deep breath. It,s just a bad day not a bad life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-a-deep-breath-it-s-just-a-bad-day-not-a-bad-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Dr. Armonson stitched up her wrist wounds. Within five minutes of the transfusion he declared her out of danger. Chucking her under the chin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/dr-armonson-stitched-up-her-wrist-wounds-within-five-minutes-of-the/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [Life teaches us that we must take the good with the bad but it's up to yourself on how you handle the good with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gee-linder/life-teaches-us-that-we-must-take-the-good-with-the-bad-but-it-s-up/) [Gee Linder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gee-linder/) > [You can't litter negativity everywhere and then wonder why you've got a trashy life...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-litter-negativity-everywhere-and-then-wonder-why-you-ve-got/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The worst feeling in the world hands down is hopelessness, although it is not the only bad feeling. Other bad feelings include death of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-frisch/the-worst-feeling-in-the-world-hands-down-is-hopelessness-although-it/) [Matt Frisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-frisch/) > [We are not given a good life or a bad life. We are given a life. It's up to us to make it good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-not-given-a-good-life-or-a-bad-life-we-are-given-a-life-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is not a bad life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/this-is-not-a-bad-life/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [We have too accept the fact if we change for better and leave a bad lifestyle that we was born in or we create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-too-accept-the-fact-if-we-change-for-better-and-leave-a-bad/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We're not going to waste our valuable space or your precious energy by giving equal time to stories of tragedy, failure, and tumult. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/we-re-not-going-to-waste-our-valuable-space-or-your-precious-energy/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [If you've lived a bad life, they send you to Hell. But if you've been truly wicked, they give you a tour of Heaven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/if-you-ve-lived-a-bad-life-they-send-you-to-hell-but-if-you-ve-been/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [I got expelled from my school when I was 12; I was quite bad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/i-got-expelled-from-my-school-when-i-was-12-i-was-quite-bad/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [I am, of course, a frustrated rock star - I'd much rather be a rock star than a writer. Or own a record shop.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-rankin/i-am-of-course-a-frustrated-rock-star-i-d-much-rather-be-a-rock-star/) [Ian Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-rankin/) > [Hold On To Old Lies To Justify Them For Having A Bad Life Nobody Can Mess You Up Forever Only You Can Do That](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington/hold-on-to-old-lies-to-justify-them-for-having-a-bad-life-nobody-can/) [Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington/) > [No one really has a bad life. Not even a bad day. Just bad moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-brett/no-one-really-has-a-bad-life-not-even-a-bad-day-just-bad-moments/) [Regina Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-brett/) [Browse all 169 Bad life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Life is not easy. But that's not the only truth that matters in this context. 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