--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Grit doesn’t happen when things are good…" description: "\"“Grit doesn’t happen when things are good. Grit happens when we’re tested. When Elvis is dead, and things are bleak at best, because you’re out of work..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/jolie-sikes-41969_grit_grit-doesn-t-happen-when-things-are-good_704147.jpg" --- # Grit doesn’t happen when things are good. Grit happens… ![“Grit doesn’t happen when things are good. Grit happens when we’re tested. When Elvis is dead, and things are bleak at best, because you’re out of work, you have two toddlers, and you just spent a precious twenty bucks on something not vitally necessary.” quote by Jolie Sikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/jolie-sikes-41969_grit_grit-doesn-t-happen-when-things-are-good_704147.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/jolie-sikes-41969_grit_grit-doesn-t-happen-when-things-are-good_704147.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/jolie-sikes-41969_grit_grit-doesn-t-happen-when-things-are-good_704147.jpg) > ““Grit doesn’t happen when things are good. Grit happens when we’re tested. When Elvis is dead, and things are bleak at best, because you’re out of work, you have two toddlers, and you just spent a precious twenty bucks on something not vitally necessary.”” [Jolie Sikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolie-sikes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grit emerges during hardship, not comfort; adversity tests and strengthens resolve. **In simple terms:** Grit shows up in tough times. Key Takeaway Cultivate resilience under pressure. Themes resilience adversity work family financial strain Mood determined serious Type motivational practical When to use this quote - job loss - parenting - budgeting Key Concepts psychological endurance resourcefulness motivation Questions to Reflect On - What strategies sustain you during crises? - How can you support others facing similar hardships? A Different Perspective Grit alone may not solve systemic challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grit/) [Resilience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resilience/) ## Related quotes > [The parenting style that is good for grit is also the parenting style good for most other things: Be really, really demanding, and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/the-parenting-style-that-is-good-for-grit-is-also-the-parenting-style/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“Every piece of writing... starts from what I call a grit... a sight or sound, a sentence or a happening that does not pass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumer-godden/every-piece-of-writing-starts-from-what-i-call-a-grit-a-sight-or/) [Rumer Godden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumer-godden/) > [“Joy, not grit, is the hallmark of holy obedience. We need to be lighthearted in what we do to avoid taking ourselves too seriously.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/joy-not-grit-is-the-hallmark-of-holy-obedience-we-need-to-be/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“Two indicators could easily be rephrased as passion items for the Grit Scale. Degree to which he works with distant objects in view (as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/two-indicators-could-easily-be-rephrased-as-passion-items-for-the/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [Happiness requires courage, stamina, persistence, fortitude, perseverance, bravery, boldness, valor, vigor, concentration, solidity, substance, backbone, grit, guts, moxie, nerve, pluck, resilience, spunk, tenacity, tolerance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/happiness-requires-courage-stamina-persistence-fortitude-perseverance/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [“The idea of building grit and building self-control is that you get that through failure,” Randolph told me. “And in most highly academic environments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/the-idea-of-building-grit-and-building-self-control-is-that-you-get/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [Grit is the stubborn refusal to quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/grit-is-the-stubborn-refusal-to-quit/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [“When humans say that someone "is full of grit", they mean full of courage. Before long the sisters were to prove that they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-king-smith/when-humans-say-that-someone-is-full-of-grit-they-mean-full-of/) [Dick King-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-king-smith/) > [Develop The Grit To be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-brooks/develop-the-grit-to-be-great/) Barrett Brooks > [“Life is messy. Grit and grace come at us fast, side by side. Sometimes the grit becomes overwhelming and diminishes our spirit. What’s good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-e-rainey/life-is-messy-grit-and-grace-come-at-us-fast-side-by-side-sometimes/) [Sharon E. Rainey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-e-rainey/) > [True grit is making a decision and standing by it, doing what must be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/true-grit-is-making-a-decision-and-standing-by-it-doing-what-must-be/) [John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/) > [Grit can't be measured on pop quizzes, but it can often predict long-term success more than mere intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/grit-can-t-be-measured-on-pop-quizzes-but-it-can-often-predict-long/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [I like this book by Angela Duckworth called 'Grit.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-harris/i-like-this-book-by-angela-duckworth-called-grit/) [Joe Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-harris/) ## More by Jolie Sikes > [“Our philosophy is that home decor shouldn’t be taken too seriously, because we want our homes to reflect who we are, no one else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolie-sikes/our-philosophy-is-that-home-decor-shouldn-t-be-taken-too-seriously/) [Jolie Sikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolie-sikes/) > [“Home is where your mom is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolie-sikes/home-is-where-your-mom-is/) [Jolie Sikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolie-sikes/) > [“When you enter the hallowed halls at the House of Blues, you see a placard that says, “Take with you a piece of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolie-sikes/when-you-enter-the-hallowed-halls-at-the-house-of-blues-you-see-a/) [Jolie Sikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolie-sikes/) > [“When you put in a little sweat equity, it makes the work all the sweeter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolie-sikes/when-you-put-in-a-little-sweat-equity-it-makes-the-work-all-the/) [Jolie Sikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolie-sikes/) > [“To us, a party is more about the electric energy of the event. It’s about the ease of the moment. It’s about creating an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolie-sikes/to-us-a-party-is-more-about-the-electric-energy-of-the-event-it-s/) [Jolie Sikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolie-sikes/) > [“Long ago, we learned to listen to our gypsy souls, because when we do, inspiration comes on strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolie-sikes/long-ago-we-learned-to-listen-to-our-gypsy-souls-because-when-we-do/) [Jolie Sikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolie-sikes/) > [“Amie’s mind is like a glittery tumbleweed: It sometimes touches ground, but usually it spins along a few feet in the air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolie-sikes/amie-s-mind-is-like-a-glittery-tumbleweed-it-sometimes-touches-ground/) [Jolie Sikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolie-sikes/) > [“We love the unexpected, the gloriously chaotic combination of a million different elements. We love things that have history. We’re not looking for perfection.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolie-sikes/we-love-the-unexpected-the-gloriously-chaotic-combination-of-a/) [Jolie Sikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolie-sikes/) > [“Grit. It’s part of who we are. Who we are meant to be. How we were raised. One of the most important things we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolie-sikes/grit-it-s-part-of-who-we-are-who-we-are-meant-to-be-how-we-were/) [Jolie Sikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolie-sikes/) [Explore all 10 Jolie Sikes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolie-sikes/) ## More Grit quotes > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [Londoners are really good at dealing with any crap that's thrown at them. We hunker down, we grit our teeth and we get on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andi-oliver/londoners-are-really-good-at-dealing-with-any-crap-that-s-thrown-at/) [Andi Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andi-oliver/) > [You know I'm from North Carolina, so I grew up eating grits, honey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabitha-brown/you-know-i-m-from-north-carolina-so-i-grew-up-eating-grits-honey/) [Tabitha Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabitha-brown/) > [Grit can't be measured on pop quizzes, but it can often predict long-term success more than mere intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/grit-can-t-be-measured-on-pop-quizzes-but-it-can-often-predict-long/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) > [“The grits were lumpy, but the flavor was incredible: the garlic and onion powder, the cayenne's heat lingering after every bite, the creamy tang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-robinson/the-grits-were-lumpy-but-the-flavor-was-incredible-the-garlic-and/) Shauna Robinson > [I like the man who takes the stones Upon his rocky road With smiling lips instead of groans, Whate'er his heavy load Who seizes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kendrick-bangs/i-like-the-man-who-takes-the-stones-upon-his-rocky-road-with-smiling/) [John Kendrick Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kendrick-bangs/) > [“Before all the little mean things she told me gathered and gathered and lodged like grit in a skinned knee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/before-all-the-little-mean-things-she-told-me-gathered-and-gathered/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [Will you keep going when you don't know why? When you can't get any answers that would make the pain go away, will you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/will-you-keep-going-when-you-don-t-know-why-when-you-can-t-get-any/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [I like grit, I like love and death, I'm tired of irony. ... A lot of good fiction is sentimental. ... The novelist who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harrison/i-like-grit-i-like-love-and-death-i-m-tired-of-irony-a-lot-of-good/) [Jim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harrison/) > [It was 1988, I believe, that I met Grit. We were both appearing in a Canadian Folk Festival and as we sat backstage he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-chapin/it-was-1988-i-believe-that-i-met-grit-we-were-both-appearing-in-a/) [Tom Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-chapin/) > [True grit is making a decision and standing by it, doing what must be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/true-grit-is-making-a-decision-and-standing-by-it-doing-what-must-be/) [John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/) > [“Life is messy. Grit and grace come at us fast, side by side. Sometimes the grit becomes overwhelming and diminishes our spirit. What’s good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-e-rainey/life-is-messy-grit-and-grace-come-at-us-fast-side-by-side-sometimes/) [Sharon E. Rainey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-e-rainey/) > [Develop The Grit To be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-brooks/develop-the-grit-to-be-great/) Barrett Brooks [Browse all 335 Grit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Grit doesn’t happen when things are good. Grit happens when we’re tested. 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