---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't waste your time trying to win…"
description: "\"“Don't waste your time trying to win people over that can never be won over.”\" — Joel Osteen"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/joel-osteen-194_god_don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-win-peop_97358.jpg"
---

#  Don't waste your time trying to win people over that can…

![“Don't waste your time trying to win people over that can never be won over.” quote by Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/joel-osteen-194_god_don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-win-peop_97358.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/joel-osteen-194_god_don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-win-peop_97358.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/joel-osteen-194_god_don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-win-peop_97358.jpg)

> ““Don't waste your time trying to win people over that can never be won over.””

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

## About This Quote

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

Investing effort in persuading those who are unwilling to change is futile; focus energy on receptive audiences.

**In simple terms:** Don’t chase the unchangeable; target those open to influence.

Key Takeaway

Energy should go to receptive people

Themes

communication influence efficiency boundaries

Mood

pragmatic resolute

Type

cautionary philosophical

When to use this quote

- sales pitches
- political campaigning
- relationship counseling

Key Concepts

psychology of persuasion acceptance of limits

Practical Applications

- identify willing listeners first
- set realistic goals

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you decide when to disengage?
- What signs indicate a person is open to persuasion?

A Different Perspective

Sometimes a small shift can eventually change a resistant mind.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Haters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haters/) [Joel-osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joel-osteen-2/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Waste time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-time/)

## Related quotes

> [“One touch of His (God’s) favor can put you fifty years ahead of where you thought you’d be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/one-touch-of-his-god-s-favor-can-put-you-fifty-years-ahead-of-where/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [“Satan knows, if you are against YOURSELF you will never fulfill your destiny. :(”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/satan-knows-if-you-are-against-yourself-you-will-never-fulfill-your/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [“Because you have honored God, He will put you in a position you never could have attained on your own. It’s not just your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/because-you-have-honored-god-he-will-put-you-in-a-position-you-never/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [“Where is the love that will overlook a person's faults?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/where-is-the-love-that-will-overlook-a-person-s-faults/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [“If you hold on to what you want so tightly, it almost becomes an idol.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/if-you-hold-on-to-what-you-want-so-tightly-it-almost-becomes-an-idol/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [There will always be people for and against you, and its pointless wasting time trying to win over some of the people who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-hopkins/there-will-always-be-people-for-and-against-you-and-its-pointless/)

[Cathy Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-hopkins/)

> [If you're from South London you feel like you're always trying to win people over, so perhaps that underdog passion comes through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-ware/if-you-re-from-south-london-you-feel-like-you-re-always-trying-to-win/)

[Jessie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-ware/)

> [Don't spend all your time trying to win over your critics. Just run your own race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/don-t-spend-all-your-time-trying-to-win-over-your-critics-just-run/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [“the ability of a religious or business leader to inspire, motivate, generate interest, capture attention, depends critically on metaphor. if you actually listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grinder/the-ability-of-a-religious-or-business-leader-to-inspire-motivate/)

John Grinder

> [“Success comes with failure which leads to doubts but with determination we can still achieve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-anthony-burkett/success-comes-with-failure-which-leads-to-doubts-but-with/)

[Jonathan Anthony Burkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-anthony-burkett/)

> [“Doctrine? Is that some kind of Pokémon?' - Joel Osteen”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-babylon-bee/doctrine-is-that-some-kind-of-pok-mon-joel-osteen/)

The Babylon Bee

> [“I don't mind getting a job, but You need to understand that I have an 80 foot motor yacht on my Vision board.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitry-dyatlov/i-don-t-mind-getting-a-job-but-you-need-to-understand-that-i-have-an/)

[Dmitry Dyatlov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitry-dyatlov/)

> [“The true principle to promotion and advancement is generosity.The giving of oneself… your time, talent and substance. Today, I choose to be a giver.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-mcclary/the-true-principle-to-promotion-and-advancement-is-generosity-the/)

Kathy McClary

> [The NBC News people won't get caught dead on MSNBC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ailes/the-nbc-news-people-won-t-get-caught-dead-on-msnbc/)

[Roger Ailes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ailes/)

> [“They will win' said Whiskey Jack flatly. ' They won already. You lost already. Like the white man and my people. They won. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-will-win-said-whiskey-jack-flatly-they-won-already-you-lost/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

## More by Joel Osteen

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I don't have to figure out how God is going to solve my problem. I don't have to understand how He's going to bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-don-t-have-to-figure-out-how-god-is-going-to-solve-my-problem-i-don/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [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/)

> [Faith is easy; I think people complicate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/faith-is-easy-i-think-people-complicate-it/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [There's pros and cons of a big church. Cons is I don't get to know everybody, I don't get to go to their ballgame,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/there-s-pros-and-cons-of-a-big-church-cons-is-i-don-t-get-to-know/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [When you smile and project an aura of warmth, kindness, and friendliness, you will attract warms, kindness, and friendliness. Happy people will be drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/when-you-smile-and-project-an-aura-of-warmth-kindness-and/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-were-never-created-to-live-depressed-defeated-guilty-condemned/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [You may not have the approval of someone 'important,' but you have the favor of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-may-not-have-the-approval-of-someone-important-but-you-have-the/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [“In the Bible, God called Gideon a mighty man of (fearless) courage. Gideon looked around and said, “Who’s He talking to? That’s not me.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/in-the-bible-god-called-gideon-a-mighty-man-of-fearless-courage/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [At the start of each new day, remind yourself: I am talented. I am creative. I am greatly favored by God. I am equipped.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/at-the-start-of-each-new-day-remind-yourself-i-am-talented-i-am/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [Don't be intimidated by the size of your problem or the size of your dream. God will see to it that it is finished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/don-t-be-intimidated-by-the-size-of-your-problem-or-the-size-of-your/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [No matter what's happening, choose to be happy. Don't focus on what's wrong. Find something positive in your life. Thank God for the small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/no-matter-what-s-happening-choose-to-be-happy-don-t-focus-on-what-s/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I deal with more practical issues of the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-deal-with-more-practical-issues-of-the-bible/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I've learned a simple principle: all I have to do is be the best 'me' that I can be. One day when I read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-ve-learned-a-simple-principle-all-i-have-to-do-is-be-the-best-me/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [“Too often we don’t realize how great we have it until something is taken away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/too-often-we-don-t-realize-how-great-we-have-it-until-something-is/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

[Explore all 960 Joel Osteen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

## More God quotes

> [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/)

[Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/)

> [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/)

[Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/)

> [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/)

[Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/)

> [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/)

[Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/)

[Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/)

> [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/)

[Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/)

> [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/)

[Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/)

> [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/)

[Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/)

> [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/)

[Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/)

> [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

[Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Don't waste your time trying to win people over that can never be won over.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Joel Osteen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-win-people-over-that-can-never-be-won/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "God"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-win-people-over-that-can-never-be-won/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/joel-osteen-194_god_don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-win-peop_97358.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/joel-osteen-194_god_don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-win-peop_97358.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/joel-osteen-194_god_don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-win-peop_97358.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Don't waste your time trying to win people over that can never be won over.” — Joel Osteen",
                "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": "Joel Osteen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Don't waste your time trying to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-win-people-over-that-can-never-be-won/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-win-people-over-that-can-never-be-won/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
