--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And that just makes it all the harder…" description: "\"“And that just makes it all the harder, doesn’t it? Not being special. Not having that funny mark or that omen at your birth. Just an ordinary person a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/ian-c-esslemont-23897_ordinary-person_and-that-just-makes-it-all-the-harder-do_1050099.png" --- # And that just makes it all the harder, doesn’t it? Not… ![“And that just makes it all the harder, doesn’t it? Not being special. Not having that funny mark or that omen at your birth. Just an ordinary person asked to step up to do the extraordinary.” quote by Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/ian-c-esslemont-23897_ordinary-person_and-that-just-makes-it-all-the-harder-do_1050099.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/ian-c-esslemont-23897_ordinary-person_and-that-just-makes-it-all-the-harder-do_1050099.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/ian-c-esslemont-23897_ordinary-person_and-that-just-makes-it-all-the-harder-do_1050099.png) > ““And that just makes it all the harder, doesn’t it? Not being special. Not having that funny mark or that omen at your birth. Just an ordinary person asked to step up to do the extraordinary.”” [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An ordinary person is called to extraordinary deeds, feeling the weight of lacking a unique destiny or sign. **In simple terms:** A regular person must rise to greatness despite feeling ordinary. Key Takeaway Greatness can arise from anyone, not just the “chosen”. Themes Do we need a special sign to act heroically? How can ordinary people embrace extraordinary roles? Mood motivational reflective Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - heroism - self‑doubt - purpose Key Concepts inspirational determined empathetic Practical Applications - career challenges - family crises - community leadership - personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What inner strengths can you draw upon? - How do you define your own significance? A Different Perspective Ordinary status may cause self‑imposed limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Makes Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-harder-246783/) [Ordinary person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-person/) [Person Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-asked-1986625/) [Special Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-having-1079412/) [Step Extraordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step-extraordinary-2505565/) ## Related quotes > [The first step toward becoming extraordinary is, of course, to stop being ordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-first-step-toward-becoming-extraordinary-is-of-course-to-stop/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [It's very special having a new little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-middleton/it-s-very-special-having-a-new-little-girl/) [Kate Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-middleton/) > [Having everything in the world doesn't make you special. Having someone who values you more than everything in the world, that makes you special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/having-everything-in-the-world-doesn-t-make-you-special-having/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not a super-selfish person, so whatever I'm asked to do I don't mind doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/i-m-not-a-super-selfish-person-so-whatever-i-m-asked-to-do-i-don-t/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [And since I have become an actor, not one person has asked me what degree I got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-ritchie/and-since-i-have-become-an-actor-not-one-person-has-asked-me-what/) [Charlotte Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-ritchie/) > [“Perhaps I am the only person who, asked whether she were a witch or not, could truthfully say, "I do not know. I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-lofts/perhaps-i-am-the-only-person-who-asked-whether-she-were-a-witch-or/) [Norah Lofts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-lofts/) > [President Obama called me on his last day in office and said the only person who never asked him for anything was me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/president-obama-called-me-on-his-last-day-in-office-and-said-the-only/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [I'm not a big theory person. 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Esslemont > [“The superstitions of the ignorant are no concern of mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/the-superstitions-of-the-ignorant-are-no-concern-of-mine/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“There is much running of vomit and faeces on board this ship. Please stop adding to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/there-is-much-running-of-vomit-and-faeces-on-board-this-ship-please/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“Messinath of Purge,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/messinath-of-purge/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“I was very young when I joined. I’d grown up sheltered – and a touch spoiled. Like anyone, I suppose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/i-was-very-young-when-i-joined-i-d-grown-up-sheltered-and-a-touch/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“for all went to dark then and he allowed himself release without regret, without anger, without expectation of anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/for-all-went-to-dark-then-and-he-allowed-himself-release-without/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“Did we not look out together upon the dark waters of the lake And behold there the constellations Of both hemispheres at once? -Love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/did-we-not-look-out-together-upon-the-dark-waters-of-the-lake-and/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“Yes. It is your turn – as it is everyone’s at some time. The test is in our response.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/yes-it-is-your-turn-as-it-is-everyone-s-at-some-time-the-test-is-in/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [ “Who are you,’ it boomed, ‘to light a fire here in the depths of Himatan?’ \[...\] ‘Someone who would dare to do so,’ Pon-lor… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/who-are-you-it-boomed-to-light-a-fire-here-in-the-depths-of-himatan/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [I've come to understand that the truth isn't really what's important...what really matters is what people agree is the truth. -Greymane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/i-ve-come-to-understand-that-the-truth-isn-t-really-what-s-important/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“Xethel laughed again, though rather nervously this time. ‘Then I name you Amman-an-ash. The One Who Would Know Everything.’ She nodded in Dancer’s direction.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/xethel-laughed-again-though-rather-nervously-this-time-then-i-name/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“We do not follow the philosophy of purity versus pollution. That is a false choice, a false dichotomy. The truth is, nothing is “pure”.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/we-do-not-follow-the-philosophy-of-purity-versus-pollution-that-is-a/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [When you do not recognize the wrongs of the past, the future takes its revenge. -Author forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/when-you-do-not-recognize-the-wrongs-of-the-past-the-future-takes-its/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“Damn them for tormenting me! Don’t they see I’m not what they think? That they are casting upon me the weight of their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/damn-them-for-tormenting-me-don-t-they-see-i-m-not-what-they-think/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“Here, all directions lead to the centre.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/here-all-directions-lead-to-the-centre/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) > [“A rather arrogant beggar – you are nothing without your precious title.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-esslemont/a-rather-arrogant-beggar-you-are-nothing-without-your-precious-title/) [Ian C. Esslemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) [Explore all 25 Ian C. Esslemont quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-esslemont/) ## More Ordinary person quotes > [When the camera is on, I am an actor; otherwise, I am an ordinary person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-patekar/when-the-camera-is-on-i-am-an-actor-otherwise-i-am-an-ordinary-person/) [Nana Patekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-patekar/) > [Even though I am nearly deaf, I seem to be gifted with a kind of inner hearing which enables me to detect sounds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/even-though-i-am-nearly-deaf-i-seem-to-be-gifted-with-a-kind-of-inner/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [“The knowledge of the Spirit is the true secret of creativity, leadership and happiness. It is spiritual intelligence that makes an ordinary person a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/awdhesh-singh/the-knowledge-of-the-spirit-is-the-true-secret-of-creativity/) [Awdhesh Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/awdhesh-singh/) > [Guess what? I am an ordinary person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/guess-what-i-am-an-ordinary-person/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [The truth is that God can do anything He pleases through an ordinary person who is fully dedicated to Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-that-god-can-do-anything-he-pleases-through-an-ordinary/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was just an ordinary person before I met you, but ever since you came into my life everything feels better than ever before.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/superman/i-was-just-an-ordinary-person-before-i-met-you-but-ever-since-you/) [Superman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/superman/) > [I reject all evidence that my fabulous beloved is an ordinary person who worries, watches TV, and has bouts of indigestion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/i-reject-all-evidence-that-my-fabulous-beloved-is-an-ordinary-person/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The vice president had a bargaining asset, however, that no ordinary person has: He was next in line to the presidency. I saw no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliot-richardson/the-vice-president-had-a-bargaining-asset-however-that-no-ordinary/) [Elliot Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliot-richardson/) > [The ordinary person senses the greatness of the odds against him even without thought or analysis, and he adapts his attitudes unconsciously. A huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/the-ordinary-person-senses-the-greatness-of-the-odds-against-him-even/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [The capitalists owned everything in the world, and everyone else was their slave. They owned all the land, all the houses, all the factories,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-capitalists-owned-everything-in-the-world-and-everyone-else-was/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [All good qualities must be sown and cultivated. We can’t expect to change overnight from an ordinary person into one with high realizations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/all-good-qualities-must-be-sown-and-cultivated-we-can-t-expect-to/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [A hero is an ordinary person doing things in an extra ordinary way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/a-hero-is-an-ordinary-person-doing-things-in-an-extra-ordinary-way/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [“the fourth obstacle: the fear of realizing the dream for which we fought all our lives. Oscar Wilde said: “Each man kills the thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-fourth-obstacle-the-fear-of-realizing-the-dream-for-which-we/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“You know what I am?" he says. "What?" "I'm an ordinary person." "Come on." "I know. Who isn't an ordinary person? How horribly presumptuous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/you-know-what-i-am-he-says-what-i-m-an-ordinary-person-come-on-i-know/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“I was an ordinary person who studied hard. There are no miracle people. It happens they get interested in this thing and they learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-feynman/i-was-an-ordinary-person-who-studied-hard-there-are-no-miracle-people/) [Richard Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-feynman/) [Browse all 195 Ordinary person quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-person/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“And that just makes it all the harder, doesn’t it? Not being special. Not having that funny mark or that omen at your birth. Just an ordinary person asked to step up to do the extraordinary.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ian C. 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