--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the going gets tough, I'm not always…" description: "\"When the going gets tough, I'm not always sure what you do. I'm not saying that I know how to fix everything when the going gets tough, but I do know t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/john-madden-4704_always_when-the-going-gets-tough-i-m-not-always_2342502.png" --- # When the going gets tough, I'm not always sure what you… ![“When the going gets tough, I'm not always sure what you do. I'm not saying that I know how to fix everything when the going gets tough, but I do know this: when the going goes tough, you don't quit. And you don't fold up. And you don't go in the other direction.” quote by John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/john-madden-4704_always_when-the-going-gets-tough-i-m-not-always_2342502.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/john-madden-4704_always_when-the-going-gets-tough-i-m-not-always_2342502.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/john-madden-4704_always_when-the-going-gets-tough-i-m-not-always_2342502.png) > “When the going gets tough, I'm not always sure what you do. I'm not saying that I know how to fix everything when the going gets tough, but I do know this: when the going goes tough, you don't quit. And you don't fold up. And you don't go in the other direction.” [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Persistence in difficulty requires refusing to quit, stay forward, and avoid retreat. **In simple terms:** Don’t quit when things get hard. Key Takeaway Keep moving forward despite challenges. Themes perseverance resilience determination Mood determined serious Type motivational practical When to use this quote - coaching - business crises - personal health setbacks Key Concepts sports psychology leadership Questions to Reflect On - When should you change tactics? - How to balance persistence with flexibility? A Different Perspective Sustained effort may need strategic adjustment, not just stubbornness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Fix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fix/) [Fix Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fix-going-1270609/) [Fold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fold/) [Gets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gets/) [Gets Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gets-tough/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Goes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes/) [Goes Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-tough-2916454/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Going Goes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-goes-1532688/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other/) [Quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quit/) [Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/) [Sure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sure/) [Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [I think kids are making a lot of bad decisions because we're teaching them that the minute something goes tough, to get the hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/i-think-kids-are-making-a-lot-of-bad-decisions-because-we-re-teaching/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [Everybody goes through some tough times in their life, no matter what you do. Man, I've had my tough times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ortiz/everybody-goes-through-some-tough-times-in-their-life-no-matter-what/) [David Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ortiz/) > [My music is what keeps me going and so it goes with me wherever I go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanishk-bagchi/my-music-is-what-keeps-me-going-and-so-it-goes-with-me-wherever-i-go/) [Tanishk Bagchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanishk-bagchi/) > [Where I come from Nobody knows; And where I'm going Everything goes. The wind blows, The sea flows - And nobody knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/where-i-come-from-nobody-knows-and-where-i-m-going-everything-goes/) [Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/) > [The love goes where it wants; you hear it rustling but you do not know where it's going and where it goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksis-kivi/the-love-goes-where-it-wants-you-hear-it-rustling-but-you-do-not-know/) [Aleksis Kivi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksis-kivi/) > [If something is working, don't fix it. Keep going. Go with the glow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/if-something-is-working-don-t-fix-it-keep-going-go-with-the-glow/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [It's all gravy when everything's great, but if there comes a point where there's a problem, as with any kind of relationship you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erol-alkan/it-s-all-gravy-when-everything-s-great-but-if-there-comes-a-point/) [Erol Alkan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erol-alkan/) > [She said she'd rather fix her makeup, than try to fix what's going on...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-chable/she-said-she-d-rather-fix-her-makeup-than-try-to-fix-what-s-going-on/) [Ana Chable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-chable/) > [You're responsible for yourself. You messed up your life, and it's up to you to fix it. No one else is going to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/you-re-responsible-for-yourself-you-messed-up-your-life-and-it-s-up/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [Fold and live to fold again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stu-ungar/fold-and-live-to-fold-again/) [Stu Ungar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stu-ungar/) > [“But you have to direct yourself out of this thing, not into it. Don't fold up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/but-you-have-to-direct-yourself-out-of-this-thing-not-into-it-don-t/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [There is one fold and one shepherd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-boniface-viii/there-is-one-fold-and-one-shepherd/) [Pope Boniface VIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-boniface-viii/) > [When the phonies are expelled from their leadership roles and the Republican Party backs a moderate gubernatorial candidate acceptable to the rank and file…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-paladino/when-the-phonies-are-expelled-from-their-leadership-roles-and-the/) [Carl Paladino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-paladino/) > [Whatever you give, if you give it freely and without conditions it'll come back to you two fold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-chang/whatever-you-give-if-you-give-it-freely-and-without-conditions-it-ll/) [Victor Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-chang/) > [People used to come knocking on my door saying, 'Your trouble is that you're a sex symbol who doesn't do enough sexy things.' I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raquel-welch/people-used-to-come-knocking-on-my-door-saying-your-trouble-is-that/) [Raquel Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raquel-welch/) ## More by John Madden > [The Dallas Cowboys have 2 types of plays in their playbook. Passing plays, and running plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/the-dallas-cowboys-have-2-types-of-plays-in-their-playbook-passing/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [They're on the right road, but there's a long way to go on concussions, not only in the NFL, but college football, high school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/they-re-on-the-right-road-but-there-s-a-long-way-to-go-on-concussions/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [If you think about it, I've never held a job in my life. I went from being an NFL player to a coach to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/if-you-think-about-it-i-ve-never-held-a-job-in-my-life-i-went-from/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [You got one guy going boom, one guy going whack, and one guy not getting in the endzone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/you-got-one-guy-going-boom-one-guy-going-whack-and-one-guy-not/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [Here's a guy who can use his arms and legs at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/here-s-a-guy-who-can-use-his-arms-and-legs-at-the-same-time/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [Both of my sons used to coach high school football. When they started, I'd say things I shouldn't have. So I learned my lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/both-of-my-sons-used-to-coach-high-school-football-when-they-started/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [If you see a defense team with dirt and mud on their backs they've had a bad day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/if-you-see-a-defense-team-with-dirt-and-mud-on-their-backs-they-ve/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [It's been the video game ever since I got out of coaching. Even when I was an announcer, fewer and fewer people remembered me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/it-s-been-the-video-game-ever-since-i-got-out-of-coaching-even-when-i/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [The only yardstick for success our society has is being a champion. No one remembers anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/the-only-yardstick-for-success-our-society-has-is-being-a-champion-no/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [As I look back now on my coaching career, I think of my family, I think of the days that we spent together. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/as-i-look-back-now-on-my-coaching-career-i-think-of-my-family-i-think/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [Theyre either going to run the ball here or their going to pass it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/theyre-either-going-to-run-the-ball-here-or-their-going-to-pass-it/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [I get a certain feeling when I go to Lambeau field in Green Bay. Soldier field in Chicago is special to me. Those are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/i-get-a-certain-feeling-when-i-go-to-lambeau-field-in-green-bay/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [The road to Easy Street goes through the sewer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/the-road-to-easy-street-goes-through-the-sewer/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [I'd like to work with kids in special education - younger kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/i-d-like-to-work-with-kids-in-special-education-younger-kids/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [Any defensive coordinator is worried about two things: a running quarterback and a deep ball. You know, don't get beat deep and don't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/any-defensive-coordinator-is-worried-about-two-things-a-running/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) [Explore all 107 John Madden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When the going gets tough, I'm not always sure what you do. 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