--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thrive on obstacles. If I'm told that…" description: "\"I thrive on obstacles. If I'm told that it can't be told, then I push harder.\" — Issa Rae" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/361/issa-rae-11768_adversity_i-thrive-on-obstacles-if-i-m-told-that-i_2744635.jpg" --- # I thrive on obstacles. If I'm told that it can't be told… ![“I thrive on obstacles. If I'm told that it can't be told, then I push harder.” quote by Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/361/issa-rae-11768_adversity_i-thrive-on-obstacles-if-i-m-told-that-i_2744635.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/361/issa-rae-11768_adversity_i-thrive-on-obstacles-if-i-m-told-that-i_2744635.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/361/issa-rae-11768_adversity_i-thrive-on-obstacles-if-i-m-told-that-i_2744635.jpg) > “I thrive on obstacles. If I'm told that it can't be told, then I push harder.” [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Obstacles become motivation when doubted; the challenge fuels determination to prove skeptics wrong. **In simple terms:** Use doubt as fuel to work harder. Key Takeaway Turn criticism into drive. Themes resilience motivation self‑belief Mood determined inspired Type personal development When to use this quote - career setbacks - creative projects - personal goals - skill development Key Concepts growth mindset psychology performance Questions to Reflect On - What internal standards guide you? - How do you balance confidence and humility? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on external validation can be destabilizing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Obstacles Told](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles-told-1230289/) [Push](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/push/) [Push Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/push-harder-296314/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Thrive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrive/) [Thrive Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrive-obstacles-3053179/) [Told Push](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/told-push-2282797/) ## Related quotes > [“However, we don’t all have the courage to confront our own dream. Why? There are four obstacles. First: we are told from childhood onward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/however-we-don-t-all-have-the-courage-to-confront-our-own-dream-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“There are four obstacles. First: we are told from childhood onward that everything we want to do is impossible. The second obstacle: love. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/there-are-four-obstacles-first-we-are-told-from-childhood-onward-that/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [So the first thing we're gonna do," I told him, "is push you off the roof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/so-the-first-thing-we-re-gonna-do-i-told-him-is-push-you-off-the-roof/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“Max:"So the first thing we're going to do," I told him, "is push you off the roof.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/max-so-the-first-thing-we-re-going-to-do-i-told-him-is-push-you-off/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [/Haven't I told you not to push me pass my limited... remember when I said I would rather go down fighting you then stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-country/haven-t-i-told-you-not-to-push-me-pass-my-limited-remember-when-i/) [Michael Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-country/) > [I guess I just like to challenge myself and push myself harder to do things that I don't think I can, to do things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-hamilton/i-guess-i-just-like-to-challenge-myself-and-push-myself-harder-to-do/) [Bethany Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-hamilton/) > [I like to be nervous, as I push myself harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-like-to-be-nervous-as-i-push-myself-harder/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [Don't give up just because of what people said. Use that as motivation to push harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-give-up-just-because-of-what-people-said-use-that-as-motivation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The natural urge when running a distance is to push harder and finish sooner - to race against time. Every second behind a deadline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-henderson/the-natural-urge-when-running-a-distance-is-to-push-harder-and-finish/) [Joe Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-henderson/) > [Sometimes I wake up in the morning with the struggle to get up and out of bed but then I think about life plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gee-linder/sometimes-i-wake-up-in-the-morning-with-the-struggle-to-get-up-and/) [Gee Linder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gee-linder/) > [If success seems unlikely, that should be your reason to push even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-success-seems-unlikely-that-should-be-your-reason-to-push-even/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I put so much pressure on myself. I'm my toughest critic. I always push myself to go harder than I did last time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polo-g/i-put-so-much-pressure-on-myself-i-m-my-toughest-critic-i-always-push/) [Polo G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polo-g/) > [When I train against men, I always find that I push myself harder to my absolute maximum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-vonn/when-i-train-against-men-i-always-find-that-i-push-myself-harder-to/) [Lindsey Vonn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-vonn/) > [The more you push yourself, the harder you go, the further you excel, the closer you are to your own success. There's no easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-you-push-yourself-the-harder-you-go-the-further-you-excel/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fight and push harder for what you believe in, you'd be surprised, you are much stronger than you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/fight-and-push-harder-for-what-you-believe-in-you-d-be-surprised-you/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) ## More by Issa Rae > [It's a bit cliche, but you can't go wrong by writing what you know. Even if you're a horrible writer, your own knowledge and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/it-s-a-bit-cliche-but-you-can-t-go-wrong-by-writing-what-you-know/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [“I needed to see more from my movies than the extremely tragic black woman, or the magic helpless Negro, or the many black men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-needed-to-see-more-from-my-movies-than-the-extremely-tragic-black/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I'm transitioning to television and film, but ultimately, I want to have a stronger presence on the web and be able to curate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-m-transitioning-to-television-and-film-but-ultimately-i-want-to/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I really want to be the black Tina Fey, where I just am able to produce my own content and produce other content for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-really-want-to-be-the-black-tina-fey-where-i-just-am-able-to/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [The black characters on TV are the sidekicks, or they're insignificant. You could put all the black sidekicks on one show, and it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/the-black-characters-on-tv-are-the-sidekicks-or-they-re-insignificant/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [You know, you have a lot of people - I've met a lot of people in the past, I've gone to private schools, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/you-know-you-have-a-lot-of-people-i-ve-met-a-lot-of-people-in-the/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [There's so many, 'no, black people aren't like that' barriers in mainstream media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/there-s-so-many-no-black-people-aren-t-like-that-barriers-in/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I personally don't feel any pressure to make jokes about multiple baby-fathers and stereotypical black jokes, because one, that's just not my life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-personally-don-t-feel-any-pressure-to-make-jokes-about-multiple/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I'm a social media addict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-m-a-social-media-addict/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [Especially being a woman of color, sometimes it's hard for to put our foot down. You work with a lot of men, and they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/especially-being-a-woman-of-color-sometimes-it-s-hard-for-to-put-our/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I'm always tempted to say, 'Nah, that won't work.' But I think you should be willing to try ideas out before saying no. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-m-always-tempted-to-say-nah-that-won-t-work-but-i-think-you-should/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [Every black film feels like it's Tyler Perry, and that just needs to stop. But people seem to slowly be looking for what else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/every-black-film-feels-like-it-s-tyler-perry-and-that-just-needs-to/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [“When I was a teenager, for example, others questioned my blackness because some of the life choices I made weren’t considered to be “black”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/when-i-was-a-teenager-for-example-others-questioned-my-blackness/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [Sometimes if I'm stuck on something, I'll have a drink, and it'll get me inspired and ready to keep going. But the trick to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/sometimes-if-i-m-stuck-on-something-i-ll-have-a-drink-and-it-ll-get/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [“In high school, I developed a new love: acting. I went to a predominantly black and Latino school in Compton and, outside of television,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/in-high-school-i-developed-a-new-love-acting-i-went-to-a/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) [Explore all 58 Issa Rae quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) [James Buckham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckham-kennedy/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) [S.E. SEVER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-sever/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thrive on obstacles. 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