--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't believe in expending energy on…" description: "\"I don't believe in expending energy on something you can't do anything about. If there was some easy way of fixing things, I'd probably do it.\" — Franc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0f/francesca-annis-7461_believe_i-don-t-believe-in-expending-energy-on-s_361650.jpg" --- # I don't believe in expending energy on something you can't… ![“I don't believe in expending energy on something you can't do anything about. If there was some easy way of fixing things, I'd probably do it.” quote by Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0f/francesca-annis-7461_believe_i-don-t-believe-in-expending-energy-on-s_361650.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0f/francesca-annis-7461_believe_i-don-t-believe-in-expending-energy-on-s_361650.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0f/francesca-annis-7461_believe_i-don-t-believe-in-expending-energy-on-s_361650.jpg) > “I don't believe in expending energy on something you can't do anything about. If there was some easy way of fixing things, I'd probably do it.” [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Energy should be spent on controllable actions; futile effort on immutable problems wastes resources. **In simple terms:** Focus on what you can change. Key Takeaway Prioritize controllable tasks. Themes personal agency efficiency stress management Mood reflective pragmatic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - project planning - personal goal setting - stress reduction techniques Key Concepts cognitive bias learned helplessness resource allocation Questions to Reflect On - What can you influence right now? - How do you decide where to invest effort? A Different Perspective Some issues may seem uncontrollable but have indirect solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Easy way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy-way/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Fixing things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fixing-things/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes in this country, we don't focus a lot on people's experience and their resume. Mitt Romney would be the most experienced executive to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artur-davis/sometimes-in-this-country-we-don-t-focus-a-lot-on-people-s-experience/) [Artur Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artur-davis/) > [Fixing things requires change and change always creates conflict. But that is why you are a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/fixing-things-requires-change-and-change-always-creates-conflict-but/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [And I specialize in fixing things up and restoring them to their former glory.” She wondered if that talent extended to humans, maybe even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/and-i-specialize-in-fixing-things-up-and-restoring-them-to-their/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [Fixing things around the house was the last bastion of manliness. But now, even that is getting taken away. As women become more economically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanna-rosin/fixing-things-around-the-house-was-the-last-bastion-of-manliness-but/) [Hanna Rosin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanna-rosin/) > [ I have an organization called BLIND \[Beautiful Love Incorporated Nonprofit Development\], so named because even though my interest is in the black community, because… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/i-have-an-organization-called-blind-beautiful-love-incorporated/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [Congratulations to the Auburn team and coach Malzahn. The piece for us was that we took some first and ten's and could not get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-miles/congratulations-to-the-auburn-team-and-coach-malzahn-the-piece-for-us/) [Les Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-miles/) > [I've always loved painting, although I never show anyone what I've done. Mainly because I don't do it well. But it's like a form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/i-ve-always-loved-painting-although-i-never-show-anyone-what-i-ve/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Our thoughts, or in other words, our state of mind, is ever at work 'fixing up' things good or bad in advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prentice-mulford/our-thoughts-or-in-other-words-our-state-of-mind-is-ever-at-work/) [Prentice Mulford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prentice-mulford/) > [Women can do anything men can do. Except math, chess, running, jumping, lifting stuff, fixing things, making money, hockey, surfing, driving, making decisions, being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tosh/women-can-do-anything-men-can-do-except-math-chess-running-jumping/) [Daniel Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tosh/) > [Perfectionism has nothing to do with getting it right. It has nothing to do with fixing things. It has nothing to do with standards.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/perfectionism-has-nothing-to-do-with-getting-it-right-it-has-nothing/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [Sometimes its better to move on than to be the one thats always fixing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-rogers/sometimes-its-better-to-move-on-than-to-be-the-one-thats-always/) [Sydney Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-rogers/) > [I was always good at fixing things growing up. I wanted to work on boats. That was what my dad did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-cole/i-was-always-good-at-fixing-things-growing-up-i-wanted-to-work-on/) [Finn Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-cole/) > [“You’re great at fixing things. If anyone could do it, you could. But you can’t do this one. You can’t fix me. I’m broke.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/you-re-great-at-fixing-things-if-anyone-could-do-it-you-could-but-you/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Have you ever noticed, when things seem to be working against you, that if you focus on fixing things, think about a solution, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everett-peacock/have-you-ever-noticed-when-things-seem-to-be-working-against-you-that/) Everett Peacock > [“I like fixing things," he said as he worked. "The world is always breaking, here and there, this way and that. Fix a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-coville/i-like-fixing-things-he-said-as-he-worked-the-world-is-always/) [Bruce Coville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-coville/) ## More by Francesca Annis > [I'm an actress, not a pin-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-m-an-actress-not-a-pin-up/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [Some actors get fired up by the sound of the audience. I just want to retreat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/some-actors-get-fired-up-by-the-sound-of-the-audience-i-just-want-to/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [I couldn't imagine playing someone young now; it would be so boring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-couldn-t-imagine-playing-someone-young-now-it-would-be-so-boring/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [We all know now that people can look good for their age. It isn't so extraordinary, I don't know why people go on about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/we-all-know-now-that-people-can-look-good-for-their-age-it-isn-t-so/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [Fame and stardom sat very easily on Elizabeth Taylor's shoulders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/fame-and-stardom-sat-very-easily-on-elizabeth-taylor-s-shoulders/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [I was always going to be a dancer - I drifted into acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-was-always-going-to-be-a-dancer-i-drifted-into-acting/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [Truly charismatic people, in my experience, don't come along very often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/truly-charismatic-people-in-my-experience-don-t-come-along-very-often/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [The funny thing is I'm not bothered or sad about being on my own - after all I've never had a husband.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/the-funny-thing-is-i-m-not-bothered-or-sad-about-being-on-my-own/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [I used to suffer from excessive pride. Well, I got over that one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-used-to-suffer-from-excessive-pride-well-i-got-over-that-one/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [Eat well and sleep well. That will feed your nervous system and your psyche. As you get older, you look how you feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/eat-well-and-sleep-well-that-will-feed-your-nervous-system-and-your/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [However successful you are, there is no substitute for a close relationship. We all need them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/however-successful-you-are-there-is-no-substitute-for-a-close/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [I am not going to share my private life with millions of people. I don't find a need to do that and nobody else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-am-not-going-to-share-my-private-life-with-millions-of-people-i-don/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [In the theatre, once you've gone about eight rows back, everybody else is just listening to you. You're very small, and nobody can really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/in-the-theatre-once-you-ve-gone-about-eight-rows-back-everybody-else/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [As you grow older, your whole life becomes very rich, multifaceted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/as-you-grow-older-your-whole-life-becomes-very-rich-multifaceted/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [Each decade, I've lived in that decade, so I could easily shed the '20s, the '30s, the '40s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/each-decade-i-ve-lived-in-that-decade-so-i-could-easily-shed-the-20s/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) [Explore all 91 Francesca Annis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't believe in expending energy on something you can't do anything about. 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