--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is the individual effort that matters…" description: "\"“It is the individual effort that matters; the ability to take one more step; to understand that the pain of finishing is intense, but finite. In compa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfb/jos-n-harris-929_hard-work_it-is-the-individual-effort-that-matters_1805275.jpg" --- # It is the individual effort that matters; the ability to… ![“It is the individual effort that matters; the ability to take one more step; to understand that the pain of finishing is intense, but finite. In comparison to the the pain of quitting... which is unbearable and eternal.” quote by José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfb/jos-n-harris-929_hard-work_it-is-the-individual-effort-that-matters_1805275.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfb/jos-n-harris-929_hard-work_it-is-the-individual-effort-that-matters_1805275.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfb/jos-n-harris-929_hard-work_it-is-the-individual-effort-that-matters_1805275.jpg) > ““It is the individual effort that matters; the ability to take one more step; to understand that the pain of finishing is intense, but finite. In comparison to the the pain of quitting... which is unbearable and eternal.”” [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individual effort matters more than quitting; finishing is painful but limited, while quitting feels endless and unbearable. **In simple terms:** Hard work ends, quitting never does. Key Takeaway Persist despite difficulty. Themes effort pain perseverance Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - personal goals - project completion - habit formation - overcoming burnout Key Concepts finite vs infinite pain motivation Questions to Reflect On - What task feels endless to you? - When is quitting a wise choice? A Different Perspective Quitting may sometimes be healthier than persisting in a toxic situation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Individual effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-effort/) ## Related quotes > [In the Marine Corps there is no individual effort, we're all a big team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/in-the-marine-corps-there-is-no-individual-effort-we-re-all-a-big-team/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [Everybody knows that effort matters. What was revelatory to me was how much it mattered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/everybody-knows-that-effort-matters-what-was-revelatory-to-me-was-how/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [A little effort & what seemed hopeless failure,may turn in glorious success. It is effort which matters most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/a-little-effort-what-seemed-hopeless-failure-may-turn-in-glorious/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [A little effort and what seems like hopeless failure, may turn into glorious success. It is effort which matters most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-sinha/a-little-effort-and-what-seems-like-hopeless-failure-may-turn-into/) [Anil Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-sinha/) > [“You can’t control what people say about you and what they think about you. You can’t plan for bad luck. You can only work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/you-can-t-control-what-people-say-about-you-and-what-they-think-about/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [It's the individual effort of everybody working together towards a collective goal that causes real, effective change in America and in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hogg/it-s-the-individual-effort-of-everybody-working-together-towards-a/) [David Hogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hogg/) > [Sometimes we feel that one individual's action is very insignificant. Then we think, of course, that effects should come from channeling or from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/sometimes-we-feel-that-one-individual-s-action-is-very-insignificant/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Though it is a team game by definition, it is actually a series of loosely connected individual efforts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-veeck/though-it-is-a-team-game-by-definition-it-is-actually-a-series-of/) [Bill Veeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-veeck/) > [Unions are for 'collective bargaining,' not individual bargaining. It follows that most of the achievements of a union, even if they were more impressive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mancur-olson/unions-are-for-collective-bargaining-not-individual-bargaining-it/) [Mancur Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mancur-olson/) > [Men make opportunity. Every great industrial achievement has been the result of individual effort - the practical development of a dream in the mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schwab/men-make-opportunity-every-great-industrial-achievement-has-been-the/) [Charles M. Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schwab/) > [From my earliest youth I have regarded the connection between Ireland and Great Britain as the curse of the Irish nation, and felt convinced,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theobald-of-bec/from-my-earliest-youth-i-have-regarded-the-connection-between-ireland/) Theobald of Bec > [The true purpose of life is the perfection of humanity through individual effort, under the guidance of God's inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-true-purpose-of-life-is-the-perfection-of-humanity-through/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [I to the We means that both the individual's effort and the power of the network matter, and they work in tandem. Someone with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-casnocha/i-to-the-we-means-that-both-the-individual-s-effort-and-the-power-of/) [Ben Casnocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-casnocha/) > [Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/teamwork-is-the-ability-to-work-together-toward-a-common-vision/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [The greatest works are done by the ones. The hundreds do not often do much-the companies never; it is the units-the single individuals, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-greatest-works-are-done-by-the-ones-the-hundreds-do-not-often-do/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) ## More by José N. Harris > [“Muchos de los ángeles de Dios no tienen alas...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/muchos-de-los-ngeles-de-dios-no-tienen-alas/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“The best teacher is experience. Not by copying the answers off the kid sitting next to you...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/the-best-teacher-is-experience-not-by-copying-the-answers-off-the-kid/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“Fighting can be like champagne. It can go to the head of a coward as quickly as of a hero. Anyone has the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/fighting-can-be-like-champagne-it-can-go-to-the-head-of-a-coward-as/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“Amputees suffer itches, cramps and even severe pains in a leg that is no longer there. It can be the same with love...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/amputees-suffer-itches-cramps-and-even-severe-pains-in-a-leg-that-is/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“Make a wish, Open your eyes, Live your dream...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/make-a-wish-open-your-eyes-live-your-dream/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“Every woman is a living poem... Most men are limericks!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/every-woman-is-a-living-poem-most-men-are-limericks/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“I AM my Brother's Keeper!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/i-am-my-brother-s-keeper/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“Not all scars are visible. Regardless, they are usually painful when you first get them. But with time they might fade or they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/not-all-scars-are-visible-regardless-they-are-usually-painful-when/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“The fastest runners don't always win the race and the greatest heroes don't always win the battles. But just keep running and fighting if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/the-fastest-runners-don-t-always-win-the-race-and-the-greatest-heroes/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“With having a strong faith, no one can snuff out our hope. Shoot me in the head with a gun and my blood will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/with-having-a-strong-faith-no-one-can-snuff-out-our-hope-shoot-me-in/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“There are moments in life, when just the right words, can be as powerful as acts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/there-are-moments-in-life-when-just-the-right-words-can-be-as/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/and-the-king-will-say-i-tell-you-the-truth-when-you-did-it-to-one-of/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“Do not say I didn't loved you Do not say that I didn't give you, My love, body and soul. I gave my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/do-not-say-i-didn-t-loved-you-do-not-say-that-i-didn-t-give-you-my/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“Just when you think you know everything you can about a person... surprise!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/just-when-you-think-you-know-everything-you-can-about-a-person/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“To not share a struggle or challenge you overcame is to betray it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/to-not-share-a-struggle-or-challenge-you-overcame-is-to-betray-it/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) [Explore all 321 José N. Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) ## 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 > [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 the individual effort that matters; the ability to take one more step; to understand that the pain of finishing is intense, but finite. In comparison to the the pain of quitting... which is unbearable and eternal.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "José N. 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