--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Looking for a gem, we are sometimes dumb…" description: "\"Looking for a gem, we are sometimes dumb enough to try to hold on to a lump of coal, convinced that it will turn into a diamond in our lifetime... but ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e1/ingrid-weir-20918_coal_looking-for-a-gem-we-are-sometimes-dumb_558986.jpg" --- # Looking for a gem, we are sometimes dumb enough to try to… ![“Looking for a gem, we are sometimes dumb enough to try to hold on to a lump of coal, convinced that it will turn into a diamond in our lifetime... but all it does it get sh*t all over you until you burn it and use the energy for something else.” quote by Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e1/ingrid-weir-20918_coal_looking-for-a-gem-we-are-sometimes-dumb_558986.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e1/ingrid-weir-20918_coal_looking-for-a-gem-we-are-sometimes-dumb_558986.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e1/ingrid-weir-20918_coal_looking-for-a-gem-we-are-sometimes-dumb_558986.jpg) > “Looking for a gem, we are sometimes dumb enough to try to hold on to a lump of coal, convinced that it will turn into a diamond in our lifetime... but all it does it get sh\*t all over you until you burn it and use the energy for something else.” [Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Holding onto false hopes can cause damage; better to transform the waste into useful energy. **In simple terms:** Don’t cling to unrealistic expectations; repurpose the result. Key Takeaway Redirect effort into productive use. Themes expectations transformation resilience Mood reflective motivational Type personal development psychological When to use this quote - personal goals - career planning - relationship expectations - creative projects Key Concepts psychology resource management Questions to Reflect On - What are you clinging to that harms you? - How can you turn that loss into fuel? A Different Perspective May underestimate the value of persistence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coal/) [Coal Convinced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coal-convinced-4638167/) [Convinced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convinced/) [Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diamond/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Gem Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gem-dumb-4638168/) [Gems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gems/) [Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime/) [Looking Gem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-gem-4638169/) [Lump Coal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lump-coal-1914302/) [Lumps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lumps/) [Over you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over-you/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) ## Related quotes > [A diamond is just a lump of coal that stuck to its job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/a-diamond-is-just-a-lump-of-coal-that-stuck-to-its-job/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Inside every lump of coal there's a diamond waiting to get out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/inside-every-lump-of-coal-there-s-a-diamond-waiting-to-get-out/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [She said he's just a lump of coal. She put the weight of the world on his shoulders. Then she threw him in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-taylor/she-said-he-s-just-a-lump-of-coal-she-put-the-weight-of-the-world-on/) [Zach Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-taylor/) > [A diamond is merely a lump of coal that did well under pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-diamond-is-merely-a-lump-of-coal-that-did-well-under-pressure/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But most weeks I've gone through 12 books, maybe even 15 some weeks, depending on the length. So I go through my long form,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-popova/but-most-weeks-i-ve-gone-through-12-books-maybe-even-15-some-weeks/) [Maria Popova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-popova/) > [Donald Trump is a big Christmas gift wrapped under the tree for Hillary Clinton. She desperately hopes she runs against Donald Trump. I, however,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/donald-trump-is-a-big-christmas-gift-wrapped-under-the-tree-for/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [There are chemists who spend their whole lives trying to find out what's in a lump of sugar. I want to know one thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/there-are-chemists-who-spend-their-whole-lives-trying-to-find-out/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [This Great God, Like a mammy bending over her baby, Kneeled down in the dust Toiling over a lump of clay Till He shaped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/this-great-god-like-a-mammy-bending-over-her-baby-kneeled-down-in-the/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [The camera hound of the future wears on his forehead a lump a little larger than a walnut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/the-camera-hound-of-the-future-wears-on-his-forehead-a-lump-a-little/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [The capitalist system of coordination by trade seems to be largely populated by indigestible lumps of socialism called corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-carson/the-capitalist-system-of-coordination-by-trade-seems-to-be-largely/) [Kevin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-carson/) > [An overdose of praise is like 10 lumps of sugar in coffee; only a very few people can swallow it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/an-overdose-of-praise-is-like-10-lumps-of-sugar-in-coffee-only-a-very/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [A lump in the throat is worth two on the head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-kelly/a-lump-in-the-throat-is-worth-two-on-the-head/) [Walt Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-kelly/) > [At first he thought he felt bad because he was afraid of leading an army, but it wasn't true. He knew he'd make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/at-first-he-thought-he-felt-bad-because-he-was-afraid-of-leading-an/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [When a buddha is painted, not only a clay altar or lump of earth is used, but the thirty-two marks, a blade of grass,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/when-a-buddha-is-painted-not-only-a-clay-altar-or-lump-of-earth-is/) [Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) ## More by Ingrid Weir > [What if reincarnation really happens, and Jesus were reincarnated, & you were a total d\*ck to him? It could happen. You should probably treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/what-if-reincarnation-really-happens-and-jesus-were-reincarnated-you/) [Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/) > [The only complicated things worth fighting for will change the world in some way and/or make you lots of money, and a complicated relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/the-only-complicated-things-worth-fighting-for-will-change-the-world/) [Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/) > [The more obstacles you encounter, the harder you must fight to meet your destiny. Never let adversity win. Never give up on yourself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/the-more-obstacles-you-encounter-the-harder-you-must-fight-to-meet/) [Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/) > [Why would they have book covers if we aren't supposed to judge the book by them? It makes no sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/why-would-they-have-book-covers-if-we-aren-t-supposed-to-judge-the/) [Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/) > [If you aren't happy with your life, change things until you are... if you can't change something, change your attitude about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/if-you-aren-t-happy-with-your-life-change-things-until-you-are-if-you/) [Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/) > [It may be easier to get forgiveness than permission, but trust is harder to get back than both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/it-may-be-easier-to-get-forgiveness-than-permission-but-trust-is/) [Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/) > [If at first you don't succeed, sure, try again... but if you keep not succeeding, you should probably concentrate on something (or someone) else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-sure-try-again-but-if-you-keep-not/) [Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/) > [Teach by example and treat yourself the way you would want your children to treat themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/teach-by-example-and-treat-yourself-the-way-you-would-want-your/) [Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/) > [Since all men are created equal, I have to thank God I was born a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/since-all-men-are-created-equal-i-have-to-thank-god-i-was-born-a-woman/) [Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/) > [Insecurity isn't an attractive quality in a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/insecurity-isn-t-an-attractive-quality-in-a-man/) [Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/) > [I've never understood why people get mad at others for not being interested in them romantically - especially when there are so many reasons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/i-ve-never-understood-why-people-get-mad-at-others-for-not-being/) [Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/) > [If it isn't going to matter to you in 5 years, quit stressing about it. (Also, quit b\*tching about it. It might matter when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/if-it-isn-t-going-to-matter-to-you-in-5-years-quit-stressing-about-it/) [Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/) > [As a kid, I dreamed of a knight in shining armor coming to rescue me. Now, I just dream of equal pay for equal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/as-a-kid-i-dreamed-of-a-knight-in-shining-armor-coming-to-rescue-me/) [Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/) > [Today is the first day of the rest of your life, and if you screw that up, you can start again tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/today-is-the-first-day-of-the-rest-of-your-life-and-if-you-screw-that/) [Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/) > [Once you acknowledge that reality is not your enemy, it will no longer be your enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/once-you-acknowledge-that-reality-is-not-your-enemy-it-will-no-longer/) [Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/) [Explore all 30 Ingrid Weir quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/) ## More Coal quotes > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The only difference between black coal and a precious diamond is the amount of pressure it endured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/the-only-difference-between-black-coal-and-a-precious-diamond-is-the/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [In that sense, I became politicized because the people in the coal mining villages who were involved in the struggle knew why they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/in-that-sense-i-became-politicized-because-the-people-in-the-coal/) [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) > [Dusty, dark, cold, and hard, coal has no beauty of its own, but when it is consummated by fire it is beautiful and becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederica-mathewes-green/dusty-dark-cold-and-hard-coal-has-no-beauty-of-its-own-but-when-it-is/) [Frederica Mathewes-Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederica-mathewes-green/) > [a TEN-YEAR-OLD lad in Indianapolis who was arrested for picking up coal along the side of railroad tracks is now in jail. If the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-jones/a-ten-year-old-lad-in-indianapolis-who-was-arrested-for-picking-up/) [Mother Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-jones/) > [Coal is the moral choice, particularly for the developing world... The model for the world right now should be Australia. Australia gets it. Scientifically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morano/coal-is-the-moral-choice-particularly-for-the-developing-world-the/) [Marc Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morano/) > [Iron and coal dominated everywhere, from grey to black: the black boots, the black stove-pipe hat, the black coach or carriage, the black iron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/iron-and-coal-dominated-everywhere-from-grey-to-black-the-black-boots/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [I remember being very influenced by 'Taxi Driver', and also Tommy Lee Jones in 'Coal Miner's Daughter' a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/i-remember-being-very-influenced-by-taxi-driver-and-also-tommy-lee/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [I have visited sweatshops, factories, and crowded slums. If I could not see it, I could smell it. The foundation of society is laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-have-visited-sweatshops-factories-and-crowded-slums-if-i-could-not/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Shakespeare doesn't belong to the past. If his material is valid, it is valid now. It's like coal. The only meaningfulness of a piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-brook/shakespeare-doesn-t-belong-to-the-past-if-his-material-is-valid-it-is/) [Peter Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-brook/) > [Coal is My Worst Nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-chu/coal-is-my-worst-nightmare/) [Steven Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-chu/) > [America is the Saudi Arabia of coal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-is-the-saudi-arabia-of-coal/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“...those others - they're looking for trends - subjects to catch a spark - but I have you - a coal from God's altar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/those-others-they-re-looking-for-trends-subjects-to-catch-a-spark-but/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [We're not going to be living in a world of abundant coal power in a hundred years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/we-re-not-going-to-be-living-in-a-world-of-abundant-coal-power-in-a/) [Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/) [Browse all 720 Coal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Looking for a gem, we are sometimes dumb enough to try to hold on to a lump of coal, convinced that it will turn into a diamond in our lifetime... but all it does it get sh*t all over you until you burn it and use the energy for something else.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ingrid Weir" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/looking-for-a-gem-we-are-sometimes-dumb-enough-to-try-to-hold-on-to-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Coal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/looking-for-a-gem-we-are-sometimes-dumb-enough-to-try-to-hold-on-to-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e1/ingrid-weir-20918_coal_looking-for-a-gem-we-are-sometimes-dumb_558986.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e1/ingrid-weir-20918_coal_looking-for-a-gem-we-are-sometimes-dumb_558986.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e1/ingrid-weir-20918_coal_looking-for-a-gem-we-are-sometimes-dumb_558986.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Looking for a gem, we are sometimes dumb enough to try to hold on to a lump of coal, convinced that it will…” — Ingrid Weir", "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": "Ingrid Weir", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Looking for a gem, we are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/looking-for-a-gem-we-are-sometimes-dumb-enough-to-try-to-hold-on-to-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/looking-for-a-gem-we-are-sometimes-dumb-enough-to-try-to-hold-on-to-a/#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 } } ] } ```