--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you can’t accomplish your goal with…" description: "\"“If you can’t accomplish your goal with patient persistence, it probably can’t be accomplished by any means. Anger is never needed, and is most often c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/george-hammond-20383_anger_if-you-can-t-accomplish-your-goal-with-p_367757.jpg" --- # If you can’t accomplish your goal with patient… ![“If you can’t accomplish your goal with patient persistence, it probably can’t be accomplished by any means. Anger is never needed, and is most often counterproductive, since it is the result of railing against reality.” quote by George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/george-hammond-20383_anger_if-you-can-t-accomplish-your-goal-with-p_367757.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/george-hammond-20383_anger_if-you-can-t-accomplish-your-goal-with-p_367757.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ac/george-hammond-20383_anger_if-you-can-t-accomplish-your-goal-with-p_367757.jpg) > ““If you can’t accomplish your goal with patient persistence, it probably can’t be accomplished by any means. Anger is never needed, and is most often counterproductive, since it is the result of railing against reality.”” [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Achieving goals requires patient persistence; anger is counterproductive because it stems from resisting reality. **In simple terms:** Patience beats anger in goal pursuit. Key Takeaway Persist patiently, avoid anger. Themes perseverance patience emotional regulation Mood determined calm Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - business projects - personal development - conflict resolution Key Concepts goal setting psychology resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you channel frustration productively? - When is anger a useful signal? A Different Perspective Patience alone may not guarantee success without strategic action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Persistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persistence/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) ## Related quotes > [“There is a level of positive anger that needed to be alive and to make a head way in this life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-is-a-level-of-positive-anger-that-needed-to-be-alive-and-to/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Anger needed an anchor, a plug, a wall. (I am angry because of \_\_\_\_.) Otherwise you had a beam of red feeling searching vainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-russell/anger-needed-an-anchor-a-plug-a-wall-i-am-angry-because-of-otherwise/) [Karen Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-russell/) > [What I do know is that drones are a modern weapon. When used effectively, when taking out ISIS or terrorist leaders, that's pretty impressive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/what-i-do-know-is-that-drones-are-a-modern-weapon-when-used/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Dwelling too much on the past, other than to learn specific things is counterproductive for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-condit/dwelling-too-much-on-the-past-other-than-to-learn-specific-things-is/) [Carlos Condit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-condit/) > [I want to compliment the fraternity and sorority organizations for taking the time to meet with us and then removing their support from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-want-to-compliment-the-fraternity-and-sorority-organizations-for/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [Tackling the environment should not be a licence to lecture people, because they have no excuse not to exercise, or eat their fruit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lansley/tackling-the-environment-should-not-be-a-licence-to-lecture-people/) [Andrew Lansley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lansley/) > [I spent so much of my life being counterproductive to society that to be in a place where I'm able to help people has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jelly-roll/i-spent-so-much-of-my-life-being-counterproductive-to-society-that-to/) [Jelly Roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jelly-roll/) > [“Regret is counterproductive. It's looking back on a past that you can't change. Questioning things as they occur can prevent regret in the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/regret-is-counterproductive-it-s-looking-back-on-a-past-that-you-can/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [I would need to see changes in the Iraq governance. Otherwise I don't think strikes are going to have any impact and could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-schiff/i-would-need-to-see-changes-in-the-iraq-governance-otherwise-i-don-t/) [Adam Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-schiff/) > [We are born for synergy, just like the feet, just like the hands, just like the eyes, just like the rows of upper and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-are-born-for-synergy-just-like-the-feet-just-like-the-hands-just/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Everything that the administration has done has been counterproductive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/everything-that-the-administration-has-done-has-been-counterproductive/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [It's a terrible and tragic and counterproductive policy to avoid communicating with people who disagree with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/it-s-a-terrible-and-tragic-and-counterproductive-policy-to-avoid/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [“The tools of the Internet and social media have made it possible to track, test, iterate, and improve marketing to the point where these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-tools-of-the-internet-and-social-media-have-made-it-possible-to/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [It's counterproductive. The problem with sentimentality is that it kills the emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-dardenne/it-s-counterproductive-the-problem-with-sentimentality-is-that-it/) Jean-Pierre Dardenne > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) ## More by George Hammond > [“One of the eternal verities of human life is that if you make the same choices as other people, they will think you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/one-of-the-eternal-verities-of-human-life-is-that-if-you-make-the/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) > [“Laws should act as the lower limits of acceptable behavior, not as a guide to noble action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/laws-should-act-as-the-lower-limits-of-acceptable-behavior-not-as-a/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) > [“Anachron’s Law: There is no myth which is so irrational that no one will believe it. Anachron’s Corollary: There is no truth which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/anachron-s-law-there-is-no-myth-which-is-so-irrational-that-no-one/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) > [Faith in the Lord begins in fear, and comes to an end in spiritual courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/faith-in-the-lord-begins-in-fear-and-comes-to-an-end-in-spiritual/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) > [“It is hard for people to think clearly because their emotional needs keep getting in the way. The trick is to make thinking clearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/it-is-hard-for-people-to-think-clearly-because-their-emotional-needs/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) > [“People who believe that justice is a pendulum are willing to swing it wildly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/people-who-believe-that-justice-is-a-pendulum-are-willing-to-swing-it/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) > [“The easiest way to be inscrutable is to be completely straightforward and honest. Then no one will be able to figure out what you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/the-easiest-way-to-be-inscrutable-is-to-be-completely-straightforward/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) > [“Just because it’s forbidden doesn’t mean it’s good for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/just-because-it-s-forbidden-doesn-t-mean-it-s-good-for-you/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) > [“Even if wisdom could be communicated from “beyond”, that is insufficient reason to trust it. And perhaps even more skepticism is warranted than usual.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/even-if-wisdom-could-be-communicated-from-beyond-that-is-insufficient/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) > [“The fiercely competitive are fierce because they don’t see themselves as competitive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/the-fiercely-competitive-are-fierce-because-they-don-t-see-themselves/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) > [“Revolutionary behavior and violence are usually only indulged in when people are at their wits’ end. So social stability depends a lot on how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/revolutionary-behavior-and-violence-are-usually-only-indulged-in-when/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) > [“Unquestioning obedience is hailed as a great virtue only by those leaders whose commands are highly questionable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/unquestioning-obedience-is-hailed-as-a-great-virtue-only-by-those/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) > [“Playing God is as dangerous for God as it is for humans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/playing-god-is-as-dangerous-for-god-as-it-is-for-humans/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) > [“The world is mad, but let's not get angry about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/the-world-is-mad-but-let-s-not-get-angry-about-it/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) > [“It is natural to feel helpless when attempting the impossible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/it-is-natural-to-feel-helpless-when-attempting-the-impossible/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) [Explore all 31 George Hammond quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) ## More Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you can’t accomplish your goal with patient persistence, it probably can’t be accomplished by any means. 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