--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The worst, the hardest, the most…" description: "\"The worst, the hardest, the most disagreeable thing that you may have to do may be the thing that counts most, because it is the hard discipline, and i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/elihu-root-16522_disagreeable_the-worst-the-hardest-the-most-disagreea_2984561.jpg" --- # The worst, the hardest, the most disagreeable thing that… ![“The worst, the hardest, the most disagreeable thing that you may have to do may be the thing that counts most, because it is the hard discipline, and it alone, that makes possible the highest efficiency.” quote by Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/elihu-root-16522_disagreeable_the-worst-the-hardest-the-most-disagreea_2984561.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/elihu-root-16522_disagreeable_the-worst-the-hardest-the-most-disagreea_2984561.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/elihu-root-16522_disagreeable_the-worst-the-hardest-the-most-disagreea_2984561.jpg) > “The worst, the hardest, the most disagreeable thing that you may have to do may be the thing that counts most, because it is the hard discipline, and it alone, that makes possible the highest efficiency.” [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The most valuable tasks are often the hardest, demanding discipline for peak efficiency. **In simple terms:** Hard work yields results. Key Takeaway Embrace difficult tasks. Themes discipline efficiency hardship Mood determined serious Type motivational practical When to use this quote - project management - exercise routines - skill mastery Key Concepts productivity philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What hard task will you tackle? - How do you sustain discipline? A Different Perspective Hard work can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Efficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efficiency/) [Productivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity/) ## Related quotes > [It's hard to discipline yourself not to explain yourself or apologize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/it-s-hard-to-discipline-yourself-not-to-explain-yourself-or-apologize/) [Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) > [Anyone can train hard. Do you have the discipline to recover?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-fleshman/anyone-can-train-hard-do-you-have-the-discipline-to-recover/) [Lauren Fleshman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-fleshman/) > [It's not the work that's hard, it's the discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-not-the-work-that-s-hard-it-s-the-discipline/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's a difference between someone who's 'harsh' and someone who is 'hard.' Life was hard. You lived in the South, as my grandparents did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/there-s-a-difference-between-someone-who-s-harsh-and-someone-who-is/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [European citizens expect that there will be also a fair system inside the European Union and in the euro, and that's why we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarja-halonen/european-citizens-expect-that-there-will-be-also-a-fair-system-inside/) [Tarja Halonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarja-halonen/) > [The hard discipline, with the exception of one great good point, is fraught with evil. The good point is that men can do one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hard-discipline-with-the-exception-of-one-great-good-point-is/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As long as you have discipline, you can be a success. Discipline is what makes you do everything you need to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-joshua/as-long-as-you-have-discipline-you-can-be-a-success-discipline-is/) [Anthony Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-joshua/) > [Education gives you knowledge, power of understanig & to analyse the given situation.But self discipline makes you a person of character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/education-gives-you-knowledge-power-of-understanig-to-analyse-the/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Self discipline makes you a person of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/self-discipline-makes-you-a-person-of-character/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [The real test is this one: When you're alone in a room, when you're in a private place and nobody else can see you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/the-real-test-is-this-one-when-you-re-alone-in-a-room-when-you-re-in/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [Discipline makes hard men. Every hard man is capable of being a killer. But every killer is not capable of being a hard man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/discipline-makes-hard-men-every-hard-man-is-capable-of-being-a-killer/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [I think passion gives you the energy to do what is right, and discipline makes sure you do what is right. So I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/i-think-passion-gives-you-the-energy-to-do-what-is-right-and/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“Discipline 'makes' individuals; it is the specific technique of a power that regards individuals both as objects and as instruments of its exercise. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/discipline-makes-individuals-it-is-the-specific-technique-of-a-power/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [Though there are some disagreeable things in Venice there is nothing so disagreeable as the visitors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/though-there-are-some-disagreeable-things-in-venice-there-is-nothing/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) ## More by Elihu Root > [I guess you will have to go to jail. If that is the result of not understanding the Income Tax Law, I will meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/i-guess-you-will-have-to-go-to-jail-if-that-is-the-result-of-not/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [Human life is held in much higher esteem, and the taking of it, whether in private quarrel or by judicial procedure, is looked upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/human-life-is-held-in-much-higher-esteem-and-the-taking-of-it-whether/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [The line of least resistance in the progress of civilization is to make that theoretical postulate real by the continually increasing force of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/the-line-of-least-resistance-in-the-progress-of-civilization-is-to/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [It is not uncommon in modern times to see governments straining every nerve to keep the peace, and the people whom they represent, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/it-is-not-uncommon-in-modern-times-to-see-governments-straining-every/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [Politics is the practical exercise of the art of self-government, and somebody must attend to it if we are to have self-government; somebody must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/politics-is-the-practical-exercise-of-the-art-of-self-government-and/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [Nobody knows through how many thousands of years fighting men have made a place for themselves while the weak and peaceable have gone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/nobody-knows-through-how-many-thousands-of-years-fighting-men-have/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [Prejudice and passion and suspicion are more dangerous than the incitement of self-interest or the most stubborn adherence to real differences of opinion regarding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/prejudice-and-passion-and-suspicion-are-more-dangerous-than-the/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [The attractive idea that we can now have a parliament of man with authority to control the conduct of nations by legislation or an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/the-attractive-idea-that-we-can-now-have-a-parliament-of-man-with/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [The mere assemblage of peace loving people to interchange convincing reasons for their common faith, mere exhortation and argument to the public in favor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/the-mere-assemblage-of-peace-loving-people-to-interchange-convincing/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [The popular tendency is to listen approvingly to the most extreme statements and claims of politicians and orators who seek popularity by declaring their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/the-popular-tendency-is-to-listen-approvingly-to-the-most-extreme/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [In the first place, when there is a policy of intentional aggression, inspired by a desire to get possession of the territory or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/in-the-first-place-when-there-is-a-policy-of-intentional-aggression/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [The framers of the Constitution realized that . . . there needed to be some guardian of the sober second thought, and so they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/the-framers-of-the-constitution-realized-that-there-needed-to-be-some/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [Human nature must have come much nearer perfection than it is now, or will be in many generations, to exclude from such a control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/human-nature-must-have-come-much-nearer-perfection-than-it-is-now-or/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [It is not a question of religion, or of creed, or of party; it is a question of declaring and maintaining the great American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/it-is-not-a-question-of-religion-or-of-creed-or-of-party-it-is-a/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [About half the practice of a decent lawyer is telling would-be clients that they are damned fools and should shut up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/about-half-the-practice-of-a-decent-lawyer-is-telling-would-be/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) [Explore all 39 Elihu Root quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) ## More Disagreeable quotes > [Though there are some disagreeable things in Venice there is nothing so disagreeable as the visitors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/though-there-are-some-disagreeable-things-in-venice-there-is-nothing/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [What am I in most people's eyes? A nonentity or an eccentric and disagreeable man... I should want my work to show what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/what-am-i-in-most-people-s-eyes-a-nonentity-or-an-eccentric-and/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [“It's a very bad habit to put off disagreeable things...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/it-s-a-very-bad-habit-to-put-off-disagreeable-things/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-a-vocabulary-all-my-own-i-pass-the-time-when-itis-wet-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I love my fellow creatures - I do all the good I can - yet everybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/i-love-my-fellow-creatures-i-do-all-the-good-i-can-yet-everybody-says/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [You do have to do business with and to try to influence people you don't agree with, or find disagreeable, so it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hague/you-do-have-to-do-business-with-and-to-try-to-influence-people-you/) [William Hague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hague/) > [Resentment is, in every stage of the passion, painful, but it is not disagreeable, unless in excess; pity is always painful, yet always agreeable;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-douglas-home/resentment-is-in-every-stage-of-the-passion-painful-but-it-is-not/) [Alec Douglas-Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-douglas-home/) > [I was extremely timid and to be made to feel that I was not wanted, although in a place where I had every right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ossawa-tanner/i-was-extremely-timid-and-to-be-made-to-feel-that-i-was-not-wanted/) [Henry Ossawa Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ossawa-tanner/) > [“this tedious existence is starting to make us all disagreeable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/this-tedious-existence-is-starting-to-make-us-all-disagreeable/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [Anyone who finds himself putting down several commas close to one another should reflect that he is making himself disagreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-watson-fowler/anyone-who-finds-himself-putting-down-several-commas-close-to-one/) [Henry Watson Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-watson-fowler/) > [In God's name, Monsieur, let us remain indifferent; let us strive to be equally attached to whatever obedience marks out for us, be it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/in-god-s-name-monsieur-let-us-remain-indifferent-let-us-strive-to-be/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [Thus we have now for many centuries triumphed over nature to the extent of making certain secondary characteristics of the male (such as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/thus-we-have-now-for-many-centuries-triumphed-over-nature-to-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Politeness is fictitious benevolence. Depend upon it, the want of it never fails to produce something disagreeable to one or other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/politeness-is-fictitious-benevolence-depend-upon-it-the-want-of-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Thou shalt not do to others what is disagreeable to thyself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thou-shalt-not-do-to-others-what-is-disagreeable-to-thyself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 266 Disagreeable quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The worst, the hardest, the most disagreeable thing that you may have to do may be the thing that counts most, because it is the hard discipline, and it alone, that makes possible the highest efficiency.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elihu Root" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/the-worst-the-hardest-the-most-disagreeable-thing-that-you-may-have/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Disagreeable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/the-worst-the-hardest-the-most-disagreeable-thing-that-you-may-have/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/elihu-root-16522_disagreeable_the-worst-the-hardest-the-most-disagreea_2984561.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/elihu-root-16522_disagreeable_the-worst-the-hardest-the-most-disagreea_2984561.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/elihu-root-16522_disagreeable_the-worst-the-hardest-the-most-disagreea_2984561.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The worst, the hardest, the most disagreeable thing that you may have to do may be the thing that counts…” — Elihu Root", "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": "Elihu Root", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The worst, the hardest, the most...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/the-worst-the-hardest-the-most-disagreeable-thing-that-you-may-have/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/the-worst-the-hardest-the-most-disagreeable-thing-that-you-may-have/#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 } } ] } ```