--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you’re in a hole, quit digging!" description: "\"“When you’re in a hole, quit digging!”\" — Howard Schultz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/howard-schultz-1317_digging_when-you-re-in-a-hole-quit-digging-31995_3199531.png" --- # When you’re in a hole, quit digging! ![“When you’re in a hole, quit digging!” quote by Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/howard-schultz-1317_digging_when-you-re-in-a-hole-quit-digging-31995_3199531.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/howard-schultz-1317_digging_when-you-re-in-a-hole-quit-digging-31995_3199531.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/howard-schultz-1317_digging_when-you-re-in-a-hole-quit-digging-31995_3199531.png) > ““When you’re in a hole, quit digging!”” [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When trapped in a difficult situation, persisting only deepens the problem; sometimes stopping is the wiser choice. **In simple terms:** Quit digging when you’re stuck. Key Takeaway Recognize when to change tactics. Themes resilience decision making strategy self‑awareness Mood cautious thoughtful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - business crisis - personal setbacks - career crossroads Key Concepts problem solving risk assessment mental health Questions to Reflect On - When is quitting a sign of strength? - How do you know when to persist? A Different Perspective Stopping can be seen as giving up. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [When you find yourself in a hole, quit digging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/when-you-find-yourself-in-a-hole-quit-digging/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [The first thing you ought to do when you find yourself in a hole is quit digging. . . . Instead they are looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-when-you-find-yourself-in-a-hole-is/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [“The way to quit digging holes is to get rid of the shovels and stay away from the dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-way-to-quit-digging-holes-is-to-get-rid-of-the-shovels-and-stay/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging. —WILL ROGERS”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/if-you-find-yourself-in-a-hole-the-first-thing-to-do-is-stop-digging-2/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [I'm the sort of person that starts digging a hole and doesn't stop until it's finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-m-the-sort-of-person-that-starts-digging-a-hole-and-doesn-t-stop/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“The most important thing to do if you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-most-important-thing-to-do-if-you-find-yourself-in-a-hole-is-to/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Remember what to do when you're at the bottom of a hole? You've got to stop digging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-mackler/remember-what-to-do-when-you-re-at-the-bottom-of-a-hole-you-ve-got-to/) [Carolyn Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-mackler/) > [When you are in a hole, the top priority is to stop digging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-easterly/when-you-are-in-a-hole-the-top-priority-is-to-stop-digging/) [William Easterly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-easterly/) > [If you're digging a hole in the wrong place, making it deeper doesn't help anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-chwast/if-you-re-digging-a-hole-in-the-wrong-place-making-it-deeper-doesn-t/) [Seymour Chwast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-chwast/) > [First law on holes - when you're in one, stop digging!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-healey/first-law-on-holes-when-you-re-in-one-stop-digging/) [Denis Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-healey/) > [A guy digging ditches or a plumber wiping joints - it solves problems, you know? You have to dig this hole so wide, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-marvin/a-guy-digging-ditches-or-a-plumber-wiping-joints-it-solves-problems/) [Lee Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-marvin/) > [“I'm in a hole because at some point I found a shovel and started digging. Maybe I should trade my shovels for ladders and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-m-in-a-hole-because-at-some-point-i-found-a-shovel-and-started/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [If You're In A Hole, Stop Digging: 'Do Not Create More Trouble For Yourself When You Are Already Facing Some.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/if-you-re-in-a-hole-stop-digging-do-not-create-more-trouble-for/) Pacifiersucker > [If you dig a hole and it's in the wrong place, digging it deeper isn't going to help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-chwast/if-you-dig-a-hole-and-it-s-in-the-wrong-place-digging-it-deeper-isn-t/) [Seymour Chwast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-chwast/) > [If you find yourself in a hole the first thing to do is stop digging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/church-bulletin-board/if-you-find-yourself-in-a-hole-the-first-thing-to-do-is-stop-digging/) Church Bulletin Board ## More by Howard Schultz > [For Starbucks, there will be no shortage of the highest-quality arabica beans. I suspect that for some others there could potentially be a problem,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/for-starbucks-there-will-be-no-shortage-of-the-highest-quality/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [If it Captures Your Imagination, it will captivate others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/if-it-captures-your-imagination-it-will-captivate-others/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [If you look at coffee, tea, food and juice, we think there are inherent opportunities. If you look at health bars or grab-and-go products…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/if-you-look-at-coffee-tea-food-and-juice-we-think-there-are-inherent/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [The success of the Starbucks has been based on this balance between profitability and a social conscience. Everywhere we're doing business, were trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/the-success-of-the-starbucks-has-been-based-on-this-balance-between/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [Companies should not have a singular view of profitability. There needs to be a balance between commerce and social responsibility... The companies that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/companies-should-not-have-a-singular-view-of-profitability-there/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [Success is best when its shared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/success-is-best-when-its-shared/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [While their service is ending, our responsibility is just beginning!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/while-their-service-is-ending-our-responsibility-is-just-beginning/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [“Living in the same city as Microsoft, I’m only too aware that, even in low-technology businesses like coffee, the Next Big Thing could knock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/living-in-the-same-city-as-microsoft-i-m-only-too-aware-that-even-in/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [We have a big opportunity in China. We think the number of stores here can rival the number in North America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/we-have-a-big-opportunity-in-china-we-think-the-number-of-stores-here/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [Starbucks is not an advertiser; people think we are a great marketing company, but in fact we spend very little money on marketing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/starbucks-is-not-an-advertiser-people-think-we-are-a-great-marketing/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [We woke up one day, and all the sudden Starbucks was in the middle of this political crossfire between the people who want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/we-woke-up-one-day-and-all-the-sudden-starbucks-was-in-the-middle-of/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [I'm in a different position than most CEO's. I'm a founder. I'm not a hired CEO. Now, I can be fired by the board,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/i-m-in-a-different-position-than-most-ceo-s-i-m-a-founder-i-m-not-a/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [Profitability is a shallow goal if it doesn't have a real purpose, and the purpose has to be share the profits with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/profitability-is-a-shallow-goal-if-it-doesn-t-have-a-real-purpose-and/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [And with the right mentor, don't be afraid to expose your vulnerabilities. Admit you don't know what you don't know. When you acknowledge your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/and-with-the-right-mentor-don-t-be-afraid-to-expose-your/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [People in Washington need to put their feet in the shoes of working Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/people-in-washington-need-to-put-their-feet-in-the-shoes-of-working/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) [Explore all 252 Howard Schultz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) ## More Digging quotes > [Some people are like ants. Give them a warm day and a piece of ground and they start digging. There the similarity ends. Ants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-borland/some-people-are-like-ants-give-them-a-warm-day-and-a-piece-of-ground/) [Hal Borland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-borland/) > [In a delightful garden, sowing, planting or digging are not hardship but are done with a zeal and a certain pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/in-a-delightful-garden-sowing-planting-or-digging-are-not-hardship/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [In archaeology you uncover the unknown. In diplomacy you cover the known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-archaeology-you-uncover-the-unknown-in-diplomacy-you-cover-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought I knew a lot about music. Then you start digging and the deeper you go, the more there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/i-thought-i-knew-a-lot-about-music-then-you-start-digging-and-the/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [From my image of digging around in the mud like a grunt, I preferred fighting the war from ships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haskell-wexler/from-my-image-of-digging-around-in-the-mud-like-a-grunt-i-preferred/) [Haskell Wexler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haskell-wexler/) > [When you consider the sheer magnitude of investable equities to choose from in the world's emerging markets, you realize that finding one that looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mobius/when-you-consider-the-sheer-magnitude-of-investable-equities-to/) [Mark Mobius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mobius/) > [I love the little garden in the back of my family's brownstone in Brooklyn. Digging out there in the dirt is a joy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/i-love-the-little-garden-in-the-back-of-my-family-s-brownstone-in/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [ The Ancient One, as you know, is the master, is the Sorcerer Supreme, and \[Doctor\] Strange comes to learn how to heal himself and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilda-swinton/the-ancient-one-as-you-know-is-the-master-is-the-sorcerer-supreme-and/) [Tilda Swinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilda-swinton/) > [I wish I lived back in the Old West days, because I'd save up my money for about twenty years so I could buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-wish-i-lived-back-in-the-old-west-days-because-i-d-save-up-my-money/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [If you really want to be a good archaeologist, you have to understand ancient DNA; you have to understand chemical analysis to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-parcak/if-you-really-want-to-be-a-good-archaeologist-you-have-to-understand/) [Sarah Parcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-parcak/) > [I was a manual labourer. I figured out really early on that the value of my life could be determined by my hourly rate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-curtis/i-was-a-manual-labourer-i-figured-out-really-early-on-that-the-value/) [Cliff Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-curtis/) > [Archaeology, I found, comprehended all manner of excitement and achievement. Adventure is coupled with bookish toil. Romantic excursions go hand in hand with scholarly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/archaeology-i-found-comprehended-all-manner-of-excitement-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've never met a girl who thinks like you." "A lot of people tell me that," she said, digging at a cuticle. "But it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-ve-never-met-a-girl-who-thinks-like-you-a-lot-of-people-tell-me/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [If you don't break a hole through the brick wall, don't just start digging a new hole. Keep going until you break through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/if-you-don-t-break-a-hole-through-the-brick-wall-don-t-just-start/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Keep digging, Flynn. Six feet makes a grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-monk/keep-digging-flynn-six-feet-makes-a-grave/) [Devon Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-monk/) Browse all 487 Digging quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When you’re in a hole, quit digging!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Howard Schultz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/when-you-re-in-a-hole-quit-digging/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Digging" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/when-you-re-in-a-hole-quit-digging/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/howard-schultz-1317_digging_when-you-re-in-a-hole-quit-digging-31995_3199531.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/howard-schultz-1317_digging_when-you-re-in-a-hole-quit-digging-31995_3199531.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/howard-schultz-1317_digging_when-you-re-in-a-hole-quit-digging-31995_3199531.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you’re in a hole, quit digging!” — Howard Schultz", "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": "Howard Schultz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When you’re in a hole, quit...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/when-you-re-in-a-hole-quit-digging/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/when-you-re-in-a-hole-quit-digging/#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 } } ] } ```