--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is always the start that requires the…" description: "\"It is always the start that requires the greatest effort.\" — James Cash Penney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/james-cash-penney-9836_effort_it-is-always-the-start-that-requires-the_3113029.png" --- # It is always the start that requires the greatest effort. ![“It is always the start that requires the greatest effort.” quote by James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/james-cash-penney-9836_effort_it-is-always-the-start-that-requires-the_3113029.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/james-cash-penney-9836_effort_it-is-always-the-start-that-requires-the_3113029.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/james-cash-penney-9836_effort_it-is-always-the-start-that-requires-the_3113029.png) > “It is always the start that requires the greatest effort.” [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The beginning of any endeavor demands the most energy and focus. **In simple terms:** Starting something needs the most effort. Key Takeaway Invest heavily at the start. Themes effort beginnings focus Mood determined optimistic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - starting a new job - launching a project - learning a skill - training for a sport Key Concepts motivation energy commitment Questions to Reflect On - What can you do to conserve energy after the start? - How do you maintain momentum? A Different Perspective Sustained effort later may be harder if the start is rushed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Greatest Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-effort-841600/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Requires Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/requires-greatest-5442024/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Start Requires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-requires-5442025/) ## Related quotes > [If you've given the greatest effort that you can expect of yourself, you always get what you deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-vivian-stringer/if-you-ve-given-the-greatest-effort-that-you-can-expect-of-yourself/) [C. Vivian Stringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-vivian-stringer/) > [Man is made for error; it enters his mind naturally, and he discovers a few truths only with the greatest effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-the-great/man-is-made-for-error-it-enters-his-mind-naturally-and-he-discovers-a/) [Frederick The Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-the-great/) > [If you're not ready to make the greatest effort, don't even think about the greatest goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-twitchell/if-you-re-not-ready-to-make-the-greatest-effort-don-t-even-think/) [Paul Twitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-twitchell/) > [To despise all effort is the greatest effort of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/to-despise-all-effort-is-the-greatest-effort-of-all/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [The greatest effort is not concerned with results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atisa/the-greatest-effort-is-not-concerned-with-results/) [Atisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atisa/) > [The greatest effort geared towards your success keeps you flying above many gaints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jumbo-obiesia-ukot/the-greatest-effort-geared-towards-your-success-keeps-you-flying/) [Jumbo Obiesia Ukot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jumbo-obiesia-ukot/) > [I just try to do the best job I possibly can - put the blinders on, go to work and be the best you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-parcells/i-just-try-to-do-the-best-job-i-possibly-can-put-the-blinders-on-go/) [Bill Parcells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-parcells/) > [Humility is the virtue that requires the greatest amount of effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-philippine-duchesne/humility-is-the-virtue-that-requires-the-greatest-amount-of-effort/) [Rose Philippine Duchesne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-philippine-duchesne/) > [What thwarts us and demands of us the greatest effort is also what can teach us most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/what-thwarts-us-and-demands-of-us-the-greatest-effort-is-also-what/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [“Quitters don’t gain what they have started working on; waiters don’t start what they could have gained. What is common there is failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/quitters-don-t-gain-what-they-have-started-working-on-waiters-don-t/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Effort is the one strictly undervalued and original contribution we make to this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/effort-is-the-one-strictly-undervalued-and-original-contribution-we/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [What I do know is I'm going to give absolute 100 percent effort any time I'm on the court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-ariza/what-i-do-know-is-i-m-going-to-give-absolute-100-percent-effort-any/) [Trevor Ariza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-ariza/) > [Now I try to make efforts, you know, I'm just, the best effort I can do is just stay sober myself. I can at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/now-i-try-to-make-efforts-you-know-i-m-just-the-best-effort-i-can-do/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) ## More by James Cash Penney > [Determine to do some thinking for yourself. Don't live entirely upon the thoughts of others. Don't be an automaton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/determine-to-do-some-thinking-for-yourself-don-t-live-entirely-upon/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [I was long brought up to think that it was nothing short of a crime to miss a sale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/i-was-long-brought-up-to-think-that-it-was-nothing-short-of-a-crime/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [No man can climb the ladder of success without first placing his foot on the bottom rung.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/no-man-can-climb-the-ladder-of-success-without-first-placing-his-foot/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [Do not primarily train men to work. Train them to serve willingly and intelligently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/do-not-primarily-train-men-to-work-train-them-to-serve-willingly-and/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [Men are not great or small because of their material possessions. They are great or small because of what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/men-are-not-great-or-small-because-of-their-material-possessions-they/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [Selling is our No. 1 job. Never get away from selling a lot of merchandise personally. The more you sell the more you learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/selling-is-our-no-1-job-never-get-away-from-selling-a-lot-of/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [I learned that all things come to those who wait-provided they hustle while they wait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/i-learned-that-all-things-come-to-those-who-wait-provided-they-hustle/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [We can serve our customers well only if our buying jobs are right. You cannot sell if you haven't ordered wanted goods into your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/we-can-serve-our-customers-well-only-if-our-buying-jobs-are-right-you/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [In every man s life there lies latent energy. There is, however, a spark that, if kindled, will set the whole being afire, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/in-every-man-s-life-there-lies-latent-energy-there-is-however-a-spark/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [How can we expect our children to know and experience the joy of giving unless we teach them that the greater pleasure in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/how-can-we-expect-our-children-to-know-and-experience-the-joy-of/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [Exchange ideas frequently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/exchange-ideas-frequently/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [The friendly smile, the word of greeting, are certainly something fleeting and seemingly insubstantial. You can’t take them with you. But they work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/the-friendly-smile-the-word-of-greeting-are-certainly-something/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [The five separate fingers are five independent units. Close them and the fist multiplies strength. This is organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/the-five-separate-fingers-are-five-independent-units-close-them-and/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [The problem with the bronco is to get on and stay on. This is the problem with the Golden Rule-to understand and apply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/the-problem-with-the-bronco-is-to-get-on-and-stay-on-this-is-the/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [A merchant who approaches business with the idea of serving the public well has nothing to fear from the competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/a-merchant-who-approaches-business-with-the-idea-of-serving-the/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) [Explore all 70 James Cash Penney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) ## More Effort quotes > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [Now I try to make efforts, you know, I'm just, the best effort I can do is just stay sober myself. I can at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/now-i-try-to-make-efforts-you-know-i-m-just-the-best-effort-i-can-do/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [Reading counts as partying, even if you're not enjoying it! Even if someone's forcing you to read, you can find a way to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-w-k/reading-counts-as-partying-even-if-you-re-not-enjoying-it-even-if/) [Andrew W.K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-w-k/) > [ Bernie \[Ecclestone\] is the commercial rights holder so the more outgoing the champion is, the better. Of course. I also do think about our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-ecclestone/bernie-ecclestone-is-the-commercial-rights-holder-so-the-more/) [Bernie Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-ecclestone/) > [All efforts to render politics aesthetic culminate in one thing: war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/all-efforts-to-render-politics-aesthetic-culminate-in-one-thing-war/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [Im tired, tired of putting more effort than you do. Im tired of always having to start the conversation and if I dont, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-tired-tired-of-putting-more-effort-than-you-do-im-tired-of-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is for the superfluous we sweat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-for-the-superfluous-we-sweat/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Only alone can you go into eternity. Only alone can you feel the transcendental light. It is not a shared experience because if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/only-alone-can-you-go-into-eternity-only-alone-can-you-feel-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I love a pocket. I'm about helping women look as good as possible on the least amount of effort. I want versatility and comfort.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-love-a-pocket-i-m-about-helping-women-look-as-good-as-possible-on/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [I have often spoken of integrity as the most important of these values, realizing that integrity – and personal integrity, at that – is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verghese-kurien/i-have-often-spoken-of-integrity-as-the-most-important-of-these/) [Verghese Kurien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verghese-kurien/) > [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [“Dreams will come true as long as you give some effort towards your goal”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dayana/dreams-will-come-true-as-long-as-you-give-some-effort-towards-your/) [Dayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dayana/) > [I should have liked to get married, but over many decades I have lived essentially alone. I go to sleep when I'm tired, get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-should-have-liked-to-get-married-but-over-many-decades-i-have-lived/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) [Browse all 8,602 Effort quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is always the start that requires the greatest effort.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Cash Penney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/it-is-always-the-start-that-requires-the-greatest-effort/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Effort" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/it-is-always-the-start-that-requires-the-greatest-effort/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/james-cash-penney-9836_effort_it-is-always-the-start-that-requires-the_3113029.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/james-cash-penney-9836_effort_it-is-always-the-start-that-requires-the_3113029.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/james-cash-penney-9836_effort_it-is-always-the-start-that-requires-the_3113029.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is always the start that requires the greatest effort.” — James Cash Penney", "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": "James Cash Penney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is always the start that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/it-is-always-the-start-that-requires-the-greatest-effort/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/it-is-always-the-start-that-requires-the-greatest-effort/#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 } } ] } ```