---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But some things have to be done. It’s…"
description: "\"“But some things have to be done. It’s better to do them, than to live with the fear of them.”\" — Joe Abercrombie"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/joe-abercrombie-791_better_but-some-things-have-to-be-done-it-s-bet_2183539.png"
---

#  But some things have to be done. It’s better to do them…

![“But some things have to be done. It’s better to do them, than to live with the fear of them.” quote by Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/joe-abercrombie-791_better_but-some-things-have-to-be-done-it-s-bet_2183539.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/joe-abercrombie-791_better_but-some-things-have-to-be-done-it-s-bet_2183539.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/joe-abercrombie-791_better_but-some-things-have-to-be-done-it-s-bet_2183539.png)

> ““But some things have to be done. It’s better to do them, than to live with the fear of them.””

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Facing unavoidable tasks reduces anxiety more than avoiding them.

**In simple terms:** Do it, don’t dread it.

Key Takeaway

Act promptly to lessen fear.

Themes

responsibility fear action

Mood

anxious determined

Type

motivational practical

When to use this quote

- personal deadlines
- health appointments
- financial obligations
- relationship conflicts

Key Concepts

psychology decision making

Questions to Reflect On

- What task are you avoiding?
- How would completing it change your mindset?

A Different Perspective

Avoidance can lead to paralysis and missed opportunities.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Better Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-live/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Live Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-fear/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Things Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-better/)

## Related quotes

> [“Once you’ve got a task to do, it’s better to do it than to live with the fear of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/once-you-ve-got-a-task-to-do-it-s-better-to-do-it-than-to-live-with/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“But some things have to be done. Better to do ’em, than to live with the fear of ’em”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/but-some-things-have-to-be-done-better-to-do-em-than-to-live-with-the/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“Better to live without fear than follow rules that will bring you down anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-denmark/better-to-live-without-fear-than-follow-rules-that-will-bring-you/)

[Evangeline Denmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-denmark/)

> [It's better to live a world where you can hear different languages and sensibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rithy-panh/it-s-better-to-live-a-world-where-you-can-hear-different-languages/)

[Rithy Panh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rithy-panh/)

> [Happy Monday! Live without fear! Face your fears and see them as an OPPORTUNITY for strength and growth. You'll see, once you face them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-edmonds/happy-monday-live-without-fear-face-your-fears-and-see-them-as-an/)

[Tracey Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-edmonds/)

> [It might not be your day that day, but just stay positive and things will get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-sexton/it-might-not-be-your-day-that-day-but-just-stay-positive-and-things/)

[Collin Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-sexton/)

> [I prefer being able to choose who I want to help or what I want to improve in the world by making a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-dotcom/i-prefer-being-able-to-choose-who-i-want-to-help-or-what-i-want-to/)

[Kim Dotcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-dotcom/)

> [I suppose things are better now, but ... I don't know. People still hate each other, they just know how to hide it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-suppose-things-are-better-now-but-i-don-t-know-people-still-hate/)

[Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/)

> [“Better to live a day on your feet than a lifetime on your knees.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-mcnab/better-to-live-a-day-on-your-feet-than-a-lifetime-on-your-knees/)

[Andy McNab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-mcnab/)

> [And if you only have 24 hours and 1.400 minutes before your dreams gone than you better go live it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machine-gun-kelly/and-if-you-only-have-24-hours-and-1-400-minutes-before-your-dreams/)

[Machine Gun Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machine-gun-kelly/)

> [It is better not to live at all than to live disgraced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/it-is-better-not-to-live-at-all-than-to-live-disgraced/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [And I knew that it was better to live out one's absurdity than to die for that of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ellison/and-i-knew-that-it-was-better-to-live-out-one-s-absurdity-than-to-die/)

[Ralph Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ellison/)

> [“Sometimes it's better to live without a mother than not to live at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-millard/sometimes-it-s-better-to-live-without-a-mother-than-not-to-live-at-all/)

[Glenda Millard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-millard/)

> [“It is better to live one-shot loving and living your life to the fullest than live chapters hating and grudging.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michiyo-yamashita/it-is-better-to-live-one-shot-loving-and-living-your-life-to-the/)

[Michiyo Yamashita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michiyo-yamashita/)

> [It's better to live richly than to die rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-mbululo/it-s-better-to-live-richly-than-to-die-rich/)

[Ally Mbululo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-mbululo/)

## More by Joe Abercrombie

> [“She shrugged. “I fell. I’m a clumsy fool.” “I know how you feel. I’m such a fool I knocked half my teeth out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/she-shrugged-i-fell-i-m-a-clumsy-fool-i-know-how-you-feel-i-m-such-a/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [Things aren't what they used to be' is the rallying cry of small minds. When men say things used to be better, they invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/things-aren-t-what-they-used-to-be-is-the-rallying-cry-of-small-minds/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“Mercy and weakness are the same thing in war, and there's no prize for nice behavior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/mercy-and-weakness-are-the-same-thing-in-war-and-there-s-no-prize-for/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“The lowly have small ambitions, and are satisfied with small indulgences. They need not get fair treatment. They need only think that they do... ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/the-lowly-have-small-ambitions-and-are-satisfied-with-small/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“What do the dice say?" Dice say nothing. They are dice." Why roll'em, then?" They are dice. What else would I do with them?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/what-do-the-dice-say-dice-say-nothing-they-are-dice-why-roll-em-then/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“You have to realistic about these things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/you-have-to-realistic-about-these-things/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“That was the difference between a hero and a villain, a soldier and a murderer, a victory and a crime. Which side of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/that-was-the-difference-between-a-hero-and-a-villain-a-soldier-and-a/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“Nostalgia was becoming a favoured hobby of his. Strange, how the best moments of our lives we scarcely notice except in looking back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/nostalgia-was-becoming-a-favoured-hobby-of-his-strange-how-the-best/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“The only difference between war and murder is the number of dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/the-only-difference-between-war-and-murder-is-the-number-of-dead/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [Names turned over by time, like the plough turning the soil. Bringing up the new while the old were buried in the mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/names-turned-over-by-time-like-the-plough-turning-the-soil-bringing/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“Knives,’ muttered Calder, ‘and threats, and bribes, and war?’ Bayaz’ eyes shone with the lamplight. ‘Yes?’ ‘What kind of a fucking wizard are you?’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/knives-muttered-calder-and-threats-and-bribes-and-war-bayaz-eyes/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“Straining and straining, getting nowhere, but unable to stop pushing in case the rock should fall and crush him. Meanwhile, arrogant bastards who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/straining-and-straining-getting-nowhere-but-unable-to-stop-pushing-in/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“Yarvi: 'If we had known the hardship of it, we might have chosen another.' Shidwala: 'So it is with many choices.' Yarvi: 'All we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/yarvi-if-we-had-known-the-hardship-of-it-we-might-have-chosen-another/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [Sometimes men change for the better. Sometimes men change for the worse. And often, very often, given time and opportunity . . .’ He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/sometimes-men-change-for-the-better-sometimes-men-change-for-the/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

> [“A bitter ending' said Yarvi. 'Many sweet stories have them', said Jaud.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/a-bitter-ending-said-yarvi-many-sweet-stories-have-them-said-jaud/)

[Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

[Explore all 364 Joe Abercrombie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/)

## More Better quotes

> [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/)

[Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/)

> [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/)

[Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/)

> [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/)

[Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/)

> [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

> [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [The Little you Give !! The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/)

[Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/)

> [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/)

[Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/)

> [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/)

[Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/)

> [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/)

[Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/)

> [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/)

[Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/)

> [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/)

[Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/)

> [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/)

[Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/)

> [Cara Delevingne and I took an eyebrow selfie. We both have prominent eyebrows, but hers are much better than mine. Maybe we should do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/cara-delevingne-and-i-took-an-eyebrow-selfie-we-both-have-prominent/)

[Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/)

> [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/)

[Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/)

[Browse all 17,085 Better quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“But some things have to be done. It’s better to do them, than to live with the fear of them.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Joe Abercrombie"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/but-some-things-have-to-be-done-it-s-better-to-do-them-than-to-live/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Better"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/but-some-things-have-to-be-done-it-s-better-to-do-them-than-to-live/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/joe-abercrombie-791_better_but-some-things-have-to-be-done-it-s-bet_2183539.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/joe-abercrombie-791_better_but-some-things-have-to-be-done-it-s-bet_2183539.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/joe-abercrombie-791_better_but-some-things-have-to-be-done-it-s-bet_2183539.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“But some things have to be done. It’s better to do them, than to live with the fear of them.” — Joe Abercrombie",
                "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": "Joe Abercrombie",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“But some things have to be...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/but-some-things-have-to-be-done-it-s-better-to-do-them-than-to-live/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/but-some-things-have-to-be-done-it-s-better-to-do-them-than-to-live/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
