---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Shoulder-to-shoulder, swing to the work…"
description: "\"Shoulder-to-shoulder, swing to the work, we must - just two as we are - if we hope to make some headway. The worst cowards, banded together, have their..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/homer-357_coward_shoulder-to-shoulder-swing-to-the-work-w_3158831.png"
---

#  Shoulder-to-shoulder, swing to the work, we must - just…

![“Shoulder-to-shoulder, swing to the work, we must - just two as we are - if we hope to make some headway. The worst cowards, banded together, have their power, but you and I have got the skill to fight their best.” quote by Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/homer-357_coward_shoulder-to-shoulder-swing-to-the-work-w_3158831.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/homer-357_coward_shoulder-to-shoulder-swing-to-the-work-w_3158831.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/homer-357_coward_shoulder-to-shoulder-swing-to-the-work-w_3158831.png)

> “Shoulder-to-shoulder, swing to the work, we must - just two as we are - if we hope to make some headway. The worst cowards, banded together, have their power, but you and I have got the skill to fight their best.”

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Collective effort and skill can overcome even the strongest opposition, but cowardice weakens resolve.

**In simple terms:** Teamwork and skill beat cowardice.

Key Takeaway

Combine teamwork with skill to achieve progress.

Themes

teamwork skill courage

Mood

motivational determined

Type

inspirational strategic

When to use this quote

- military campaigns
- team projects
- social movements

Key Concepts

collective action overcoming fear strategic effort

Questions to Reflect On

- What skill do you need to develop?
- How can you inspire others to act?

A Different Perspective

Cowardice can sometimes be a survival instinct.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward/) [Cowards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowards/) [Cowards Banded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowards-banded-5701948/) [Fight Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-best/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Make Headway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-headway-1687391/) [Rowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rowing/) [Shoulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoulders/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Swings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swings/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) [Worst Cowards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-cowards-4088350/)

## Related quotes

> [“I never sleep late, and I know what this means: the worst cowards are the ones who refuse to look at what they fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/i-never-sleep-late-and-i-know-what-this-means-the-worst-cowards-are/)

[Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/)

> [“Be heady, be a headman, keep your head above the water, have a head for head start and make headway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/be-heady-be-a-headman-keep-your-head-above-the-water-have-a-head-for/)

[Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/)

> [To make headway, improve your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/to-make-headway-improve-your-head/)

[B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/)

> [“We make headway when we make a go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/we-make-headway-when-we-make-a-go/)

[Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/)

> [At first you will make headway, but as your limited resources begin to fail, shut out from the markets of Europe as you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/at-first-you-will-make-headway-but-as-your-limited-resources-begin-to/)

[William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

> [I try to protect Kron in a way that he won't face the worst challenge in his first MMA fight, and then he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickson-gracie/i-try-to-protect-kron-in-a-way-that-he-won-t-face-the-worst-challenge/)

[Rickson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickson-gracie/)

> [When I say I am going to win a world title, I mean it; when I say I'll fight the best, I mean it;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/when-i-say-i-am-going-to-win-a-world-title-i-mean-it-when-i-say-i-ll/)

[Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/)

> [Where my mind is and where I'm going, I'm here to fight the best. I'm here to go after it and be a contender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-rountree-jr/where-my-mind-is-and-where-i-m-going-i-m-here-to-fight-the-best-i-m/)

[Khalil Rountree Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-rountree-jr/)

> [When you've something to fight for, you get the best out of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermain-defoe/when-you-ve-something-to-fight-for-you-get-the-best-out-of-yourself/)

[Jermain Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermain-defoe/)

> [I want to fight whoever the best is. It's been my goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitry-bivol/i-want-to-fight-whoever-the-best-is-it-s-been-my-goal/)

[Dmitry Bivol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitry-bivol/)

> [A fight is a fight. We fight to find out who's the best, whose the best style is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-fitch/a-fight-is-a-fight-we-fight-to-find-out-who-s-the-best-whose-the-best/)

[Jon Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-fitch/)

> [“I was ever a fighter, so---one fight more, The best and the last! I would hate that death bandaged my eyes and forbore, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/i-was-ever-a-fighter-so-one-fight-more-the-best-and-the-last-i-would/)

[Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-browning/)

> [“I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. You are the fire in my blood, the reason I fight. You are my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-newlan/i-ve-loved-you-for-as-long-as-i-can-remember-you-are-the-fire-in-my/)

[Tricia Newlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-newlan/)

> [“the nights you fight best are when all the weapons are pointed at you, when all the voices hurl their insults while the dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/the-nights-you-fight-best-are-when-all-the-weapons-are-pointed-at-you/)

[Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/)

> [I'm looking to fight the best guys in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/i-m-looking-to-fight-the-best-guys-in-the-world/)

[Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/)

## More by Homer

> [He knew the things that were and the things that would be and the things that had been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/he-knew-the-things-that-were-and-the-things-that-would-be-and-the/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [“Few sons are like their fathers--most are worse, few better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/few-sons-are-like-their-fathers-most-are-worse-few-better/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [“Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/sing-in-me-muse-and-through-me-tell-the-story-of-that-man-skilled-in/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [Hateful to me as are the gates of hell, Is he who, hiding one thing in his heart, Utters another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/hateful-to-me-as-are-the-gates-of-hell-is-he-who-hiding-one-thing-in/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [“And Zeus said: “Hera, you can choose some other time for paying your visit to Oceanus — for the present let us devote ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/and-zeus-said-hera-you-can-choose-some-other-time-for-paying-your/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [Ruin, eldest daughter of Zeus, she blinds us all, that fatal madness—she with those delicate feet of hers, never touching the earth, gliding over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/ruin-eldest-daughter-of-zeus-she-blinds-us-all-that-fatal-madness-she/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [“Scepticism is as much the result of knowledge, as knowledge is of scepticism. To be content with what we at present know, is, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/scepticism-is-as-much-the-result-of-knowledge-as-knowledge-is-of/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [Boy, everyone is stupid except me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/boy-everyone-is-stupid-except-me/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [“With that the dream departed, leaving him there, his heart racing with hopes that would not come to pass. He thought he would take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/with-that-the-dream-departed-leaving-him-there-his-heart-racing-with/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [Tell me, O Muse, of that ingenious hero who travelled far and wide after he had sacked the famous town of Troy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/tell-me-o-muse-of-that-ingenious-hero-who-travelled-far-and-wide/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [Ah, beer, my one weakness. My Achille's heel, if you will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/ah-beer-my-one-weakness-my-achille-s-heel-if-you-will/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [My life is more to me than all the wealth of Ilius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/my-life-is-more-to-me-than-all-the-wealth-of-ilius/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [Being popular is the most important thing in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/being-popular-is-the-most-important-thing-in-the-world/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [Urge him with truth to frame his fair replies And sure he will for Wisdom never lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/urge-him-with-truth-to-frame-his-fair-replies-and-sure-he-will-for/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

[Explore all 639 Homer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

## More Coward quotes

> [Only a coward will use a gun to protect and get respect for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-jal/only-a-coward-will-use-a-gun-to-protect-and-get-respect-for-themselves/)

[Emmanuel Jal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-jal/)

> [“The Coward will run away from danger, only to strike in the dark. The Heroine will run through the dark, even though she knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-cleinman/the-coward-will-run-away-from-danger-only-to-strike-in-the-dark-the/)

[David A. Cleinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-cleinman/)

> [“A thousand times a coward and not once a dead man”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suad-amiry/a-thousand-times-a-coward-and-not-once-a-dead-man/)

[Suad Amiry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suad-amiry/)

> [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/)

[Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/)

> [“It is true that only a coward can be brave, as a man who feels no fear has conquered nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-david-iggulden/it-is-true-that-only-a-coward-can-be-brave-as-a-man-who-feels-no-fear/)

[Conn &amp; David Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-david-iggulden/)

> [If you're a generous person, when you get money and fame, you're going to be more generous. If you're a sharer, you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/if-you-re-a-generous-person-when-you-get-money-and-fame-you-re-going/)

[Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/)

> [Where is the coward that would not dare to fight for such a land as Scotland?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/where-is-the-coward-that-would-not-dare-to-fight-for-such-a-land-as/)

[Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/)

> [“To stand at the very moment when all seems lost is the point of insanity for the coward, but it is the home of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-stand-at-the-very-moment-when-all-seems-lost-is-the-point-of/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [My advice to you, if you should ever be in a hold up, is to line up with the cowards and save your bravery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/my-advice-to-you-if-you-should-ever-be-in-a-hold-up-is-to-line-up/)

[O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/)

> [People who keep dogs are cowards who haven't got the guts to bite people themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/people-who-keep-dogs-are-cowards-who-haven-t-got-the-guts-to-bite/)

[August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/)

> [Is there cowardice with the acknowledgement of fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/is-there-cowardice-with-the-acknowledgement-of-fear/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [It is the disease of cowards, who do not have the courage to speak upfront and so talk behind one's back... Watch out against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/it-is-the-disease-of-cowards-who-do-not-have-the-courage-to-speak/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [If our principles are right, why should we be cowards?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/if-our-principles-are-right-why-should-we-be-cowards/)

[Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/)

> [I found from working on the film that I am a bigot, at times. And that I am also a coward, at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/i-found-from-working-on-the-film-that-i-am-a-bigot-at-times-and-that/)

[Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/)

> [A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/a-coward-is-the-kindest-animal-tis-the-most-forgiving-creature-in-a/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

[Browse all 1,331 Coward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward/)

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