--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Combating any kind of obstacle is much…" description: "\"Combating any kind of obstacle is much easier if you know that it's real and not your fault, and it's something you can fight against.\" — Eileen Pollack" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74b/eileen-pollack-15253_adversity_combating-any-kind-of-obstacle-is-much-e_1382380.jpg" --- # Combating any kind of obstacle is much easier if you know… ![“Combating any kind of obstacle is much easier if you know that it's real and not your fault, and it's something you can fight against.” quote by Eileen Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74b/eileen-pollack-15253_adversity_combating-any-kind-of-obstacle-is-much-e_1382380.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74b/eileen-pollack-15253_adversity_combating-any-kind-of-obstacle-is-much-e_1382380.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74b/eileen-pollack-15253_adversity_combating-any-kind-of-obstacle-is-much-e_1382380.jpg) > “Combating any kind of obstacle is much easier if you know that it's real and not your fault, and it's something you can fight against.” [Eileen Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-pollack/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing an obstacle as external and solvable makes it easier to confront. **In simple terms:** Seeing problems as real, not personal, helps you fight them. Key Takeaway Identify external challenges and act. Themes resilience problem‑solving self‑efficacy Mood determined empowering Type motivational practical When to use this quote - workplace conflict - personal setbacks - health challenges - legal disputes Key Concepts external attribution agency Questions to Reflect On - What obstacles can you reframe as external? - How do you balance responsibility with external blame? 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No; you blame whoever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/when-a-comm-builds-atop-a-fault-line-do-you-blame-its-walls-when-they/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-real-fault-is-to-have-faults-and-not-amend-them/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Many persons have been confused and discouraged at the very outset of the study by the great variety and the delicate distinctions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-staunton/many-persons-have-been-confused-and-discouraged-at-the-very-outset-of/) [Howard Staunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-staunton/) > [I've been in 30 car crashes, none of 'em my fault, I swear on a stack of midgets... OK, they were probably all my fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-piper/i-ve-been-in-30-car-crashes-none-of-em-my-fault-i-swear-on-a-stack-of/) [Roddy Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-piper/) > [I don't blame anyone .. I did this to myself .. It's my fault .. Everything is my FAULT ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nurnizz95/i-don-t-blame-anyone-i-did-this-to-myself-it-s-my-fault-everything-is/) [Nurnizz95](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nurnizz95/) > [Sometimes I feel that my message has not been clearly heard. But that is not my fault because I feel like too much is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-murad/sometimes-i-feel-that-my-message-has-not-been-clearly-heard-but-that/) [Nadia Murad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-murad/) > [“It's my fault. I am forgetting too much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-s-my-fault-i-am-forgetting-too-much/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [As people who know me know, probably to a fault, I am usually not without thoughts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/as-people-who-know-me-know-probably-to-a-fault-i-am-usually-not/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) ## More by Eileen Pollack > [I write and teach creative nonfiction. I was a reporter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/i-write-and-teach-creative-nonfiction-i-was-a-reporter/) [Eileen Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-pollack/) > [“If you're making love to a man of God, then God must endorse your lovemaking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/if-you-re-making-love-to-a-man-of-god-then-god-must-endorse-your/) [Eileen Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-pollack/) > [I was nearly as far behind in calculus as I was in physics. But I wasn't the only woman in the class, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/i-was-nearly-as-far-behind-in-calculus-as-i-was-in-physics-but-i-wasn/) [Eileen Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-pollack/) > [Many of my friends are scientists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/many-of-my-friends-are-scientists/) [Eileen Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-pollack/) > [I miss my former teachers, John Hersey and James Alan McPherson. I would love to see either or both and ask what I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/i-miss-my-former-teachers-john-hersey-and-james-alan-mcpherson-i/) [Eileen Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-pollack/) > [Figuring out why people who choose not to do something don't in fact do it is like attempting to interview the elves who live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/figuring-out-why-people-who-choose-not-to-do-something-don-t-in-fact/) [Eileen Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-pollack/) > [Judging the political climate in my state by walking around lefty Ann Arbor is like a polar bear judging global warming by staring at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/judging-the-political-climate-in-my-state-by-walking-around-lefty-ann/) [Eileen Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-pollack/) > [When I was in 7th grade, we were all given an exam. It was science and math, and the boys who did well were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/when-i-was-in-7th-grade-we-were-all-given-an-exam-it-was-science-and/) [Eileen Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-pollack/) > [If you're a white male growing up in this society, you're constantly receiving encouragement to go on in science in the form of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/if-you-re-a-white-male-growing-up-in-this-society-you-re-constantly/) [Eileen Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-pollack/) > [I think women need to hear more encouragement in any field, because I see it - I teach creative writing. And even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/i-think-women-need-to-hear-more-encouragement-in-any-field-because-i/) [Eileen Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-pollack/) > [My brother had been given a chemistry set for his bar mitzvah, but he wasn't interested in it. It was upstairs in the attic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/my-brother-had-been-given-a-chemistry-set-for-his-bar-mitzvah-but-he/) [Eileen Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-pollack/) > [Given that many girls are indoctrinated to believe that they should be feminine and modest about their abilities, as well as brought up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/given-that-many-girls-are-indoctrinated-to-believe-that-they-should/) [Eileen Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-pollack/) > [To make computer science more attractive to women, we might help young women change how they think about themselves and what's expected of them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/to-make-computer-science-more-attractive-to-women-we-might-help-young/) [Eileen Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-pollack/) > [If a person's self-worth derives from being the only woman in the field, how much affection can she feel toward another woman who might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/if-a-person-s-self-worth-derives-from-being-the-only-woman-in-the/) [Eileen Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-pollack/) > [We still raise girls to look to other people for assurance they are attractive and smart, while boys are raised to determine their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/we-still-raise-girls-to-look-to-other-people-for-assurance-they-are/) [Eileen Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-pollack/) [Explore all 43 Eileen Pollack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-pollack/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) [James Buckham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckham-kennedy/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) [S.E. SEVER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-sever/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Combating any kind of obstacle is much easier if you know that it's real and not your fault, and it's something you can fight against.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eileen Pollack" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/combating-any-kind-of-obstacle-is-much-easier-if-you-know-that-it-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/combating-any-kind-of-obstacle-is-much-easier-if-you-know-that-it-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74b/eileen-pollack-15253_adversity_combating-any-kind-of-obstacle-is-much-e_1382380.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74b/eileen-pollack-15253_adversity_combating-any-kind-of-obstacle-is-much-e_1382380.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74b/eileen-pollack-15253_adversity_combating-any-kind-of-obstacle-is-much-e_1382380.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Combating any kind of obstacle is much easier if you know that it's real and not your fault, and it's…” — Eileen Pollack", "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": "Eileen Pollack", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-pollack/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Combating any kind of obstacle is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/combating-any-kind-of-obstacle-is-much-easier-if-you-know-that-it-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-pollack/combating-any-kind-of-obstacle-is-much-easier-if-you-know-that-it-s/#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 } } ] } ```