--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know, I say, after he says, This is…" description: "\"I know, I say, after he says, This is hard, for the third time. This is what happens when you have a TRM, I tell him. You make a mess. It's okay. You j..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bea/kathryn-erskine-31340_being-polite_i-know-i-say-after-he-says-this-is-hard_1869478.jpg" --- # I know, I say, after he says, This is hard, for the third… ![“I know, I say, after he says, This is hard, for the third time. This is what happens when you have a TRM, I tell him. You make a mess. It's okay. You just have to try harder next time. I am trying hard, Dad says. I know. You get a sticker. Thank you. Okay. You get another sticker for being polite.” quote by Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bea/kathryn-erskine-31340_being-polite_i-know-i-say-after-he-says-this-is-hard_1869478.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bea/kathryn-erskine-31340_being-polite_i-know-i-say-after-he-says-this-is-hard_1869478.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bea/kathryn-erskine-31340_being-polite_i-know-i-say-after-he-says-this-is-hard_1869478.jpg) > “I know, I say, after he says, This is hard, for the third time. This is what happens when you have a TRM, I tell him. You make a mess. It's okay. You just have to try harder next time. I am trying hard, Dad says. I know. You get a sticker. Thank you. Okay. You get another sticker for being polite.” [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Repeated failure teaches perseverance; effort and encouragement lead to improvement. **In simple terms:** Hard work and patience bring progress after setbacks. Key Takeaway Encourage persistence and reward effort. Themes resilience effort learning Mood supportive optimistic Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - education - parenting - skill building Key Concepts growth mindset positive reinforcement Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to keep trying after failure? - How can you celebrate small successes? A Different Perspective Constant pressure can cause burnout without balance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being polite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-polite/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Next time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-time/) [Polite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polite/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“They think I am glass,” she says. She’s hard again. “But I am not. I am not delicate. I am stone. If they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-think-i-am-glass-she-says-she-s-hard-again-but-i-am-not-i-am-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We are not here to play, to dream, to drift,” he says to it. “We have hard work to do, and loads to lift.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/we-are-not-here-to-play-to-dream-to-drift-he-says-to-it-we-have-hard/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/an-intellectual-says-a-simple-thing-in-a-hard-way-an-artist-says-a/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Children are natural mimics who act like their parents despite every effort to teach them good manners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/children-are-natural-mimics-who-act-like-their-parents-despite-every/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Being polite to a person is not a sign of respect for them. It is merely a sign of a good upbringing and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/being-polite-to-a-person-is-not-a-sign-of-respect-for-them-it-is/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [After a while, being so honest and so vulnerable on the page ends up affecting my own kind of self possession in the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/after-a-while-being-so-honest-and-so-vulnerable-on-the-page-ends-up/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [You lose nothing by being polite. The answer is 'No', but please say it politely and give the reasons. ... Explain to me why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-lee/you-lose-nothing-by-being-polite-the-answer-is-no-but-please-say-it/) [Mr. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-lee/) > [A lot of our lives are about being polite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/a-lot-of-our-lives-are-about-being-polite/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [What have you done to my cat?" Magnus demanded... "You drank his blood, didn't you? You said you weren't hungry!" Simon was indignant. "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/what-have-you-done-to-my-cat-magnus-demanded-you-drank-his-blood-didn/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [We must recall the most important of humanity guidelines: Be polite. Being polite is possibly the greatest daily contribution everyone can make to life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/we-must-recall-the-most-important-of-humanity-guidelines-be-polite/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [The toughest thing about being a celebrity, I suppose, is being polite when I don't want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/the-toughest-thing-about-being-a-celebrity-i-suppose-is-being-polite/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [We're so concerned about being polite in society, and rightfully so, that it carries over onto a football team. But on a good football…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-frost/we-re-so-concerned-about-being-polite-in-society-and-rightfully-so/) [Scott Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-frost/) > [Lies hold civilization together. If people ever seriously begin telling each other what they really think, there'd be no peace. Good-bye to tact. Good-bye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/lies-hold-civilization-together-if-people-ever-seriously-begin/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/manners-are-a-sensitive-awareness-of-the-feelings-of-others/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [Normally when people say they haven't decided, they're being polite but they're definitely not voting for you. I think it's different this time. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/normally-when-people-say-they-haven-t-decided-they-re-being-polite/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) ## More by Kathryn Erskine > [“You have to try even if it’s hard and you think you can never do it and you just want to scream and hide”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/you-have-to-try-even-if-it-s-hard-and-you-think-you-can-never-do-it/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [Ignore and ignorance share the same root.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/ignore-and-ignorance-share-the-same-root/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [Empathy isn't as hard as it sounds because people have a lot of the same feelings. And it helps to understand other people because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/empathy-isn-t-as-hard-as-it-sounds-because-people-have-a-lot-of-the/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [“He said sometimes hope is the only thing that keeps us going”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/he-said-sometimes-hope-is-the-only-thing-that-keeps-us-going/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [“He can kick as hard as he wants but he cannot destroy what is inside. I have a strong spirit and the Rat will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/he-can-kick-as-hard-as-he-wants-but-he-cannot-destroy-what-is-inside/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [Books are not like people. Books are safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/books-are-not-like-people-books-are-safe/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [“Even though I didn't think I'd like empathy it kind of creeps up on you and makes you feel all warm and glowy inside.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/even-though-i-didn-t-think-i-d-like-empathy-it-kind-of-creeps-up-on/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [Sometimes I read the same books over and over and over. What's great about books is that the stuff inside doesn't change. People say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/sometimes-i-read-the-same-books-over-and-over-and-over-what-s-great/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [I don't think I'm going to like it at all. I think it's going to hurt. But after the hurt I think maybe something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/i-don-t-think-i-m-going-to-like-it-at-all-i-think-it-s-going-to-hurt/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [“I think about what Devon would say. You have to Work At It Dad. You have to try even if it's hard and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/i-think-about-what-devon-would-say-you-have-to-work-at-it-dad-you/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [“Haven’t you ever seen someone standing alone? I shrug. Just one. Why don’t you talk to that child? Because it’s me and Devon told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/haven-t-you-ever-seen-someone-standing-alone-i-shrug-just-one-why-don/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [I feel like Snow White because now I have a bunch of little dwarf friends who love me. I may not know how Scout's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/i-feel-like-snow-white-because-now-i-have-a-bunch-of-little-dwarf/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [Understanding people's difficulties and-just as crucial-helping people understand their own difficulties and teaching them concrete ways to help themselves will help them better deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/understanding-people-s-difficulties-and-just-as-crucial-helping/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [I don't like the word soon because you don't know when it's going to sneak up on you and turn into NOW. Or maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/i-don-t-like-the-word-soon-because-you-don-t-know-when-it-s-going-to/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [A movie is better than real life because in the movies only the bad guys die. Or you can pick the good movies where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/a-movie-is-better-than-real-life-because-in-the-movies-only-the-bad/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) [Explore all 16 Kathryn Erskine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) ## More Being polite quotes > [Normally when people say they haven't decided, they're being polite but they're definitely not voting for you. I think it's different this time. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/normally-when-people-say-they-haven-t-decided-they-re-being-polite/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/manners-are-a-sensitive-awareness-of-the-feelings-of-others/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [Lies hold civilization together. If people ever seriously begin telling each other what they really think, there'd be no peace. Good-bye to tact. Good-bye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/lies-hold-civilization-together-if-people-ever-seriously-begin/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [We're so concerned about being polite in society, and rightfully so, that it carries over onto a football team. But on a good football…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-frost/we-re-so-concerned-about-being-polite-in-society-and-rightfully-so/) [Scott Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-frost/) > [The toughest thing about being a celebrity, I suppose, is being polite when I don't want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/the-toughest-thing-about-being-a-celebrity-i-suppose-is-being-polite/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [We must recall the most important of humanity guidelines: Be polite. Being polite is possibly the greatest daily contribution everyone can make to life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/we-must-recall-the-most-important-of-humanity-guidelines-be-polite/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [What have you done to my cat?" Magnus demanded... "You drank his blood, didn't you? You said you weren't hungry!" Simon was indignant. "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/what-have-you-done-to-my-cat-magnus-demanded-you-drank-his-blood-didn/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [A lot of our lives are about being polite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/a-lot-of-our-lives-are-about-being-polite/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [You lose nothing by being polite. The answer is 'No', but please say it politely and give the reasons. ... Explain to me why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-lee/you-lose-nothing-by-being-polite-the-answer-is-no-but-please-say-it/) [Mr. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-lee/) > [After a while, being so honest and so vulnerable on the page ends up affecting my own kind of self possession in the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/after-a-while-being-so-honest-and-so-vulnerable-on-the-page-ends-up/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [Being polite to a person is not a sign of respect for them. It is merely a sign of a good upbringing and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/being-polite-to-a-person-is-not-a-sign-of-respect-for-them-it-is/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [Children are natural mimics who act like their parents despite every effort to teach them good manners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/children-are-natural-mimics-who-act-like-their-parents-despite-every/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Political correctness is what right-wing bigots call what everybody else calls being polite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/political-correctness-is-what-right-wing-bigots-call-what-everybody/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [Being polite is not only the right way to respond to people but also the easiest. Life is so filled with unavoidable conflict that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/being-polite-is-not-only-the-right-way-to-respond-to-people-but-also/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [The trouble is, if you go too far towards being polite, the label that applies is "doormat".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/the-trouble-is-if-you-go-too-far-towards-being-polite-the-label-that/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) [Browse all 36 Being polite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-polite/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know, I say, after he says, This is hard, for the third time. This is what happens when you have a TRM, I tell him. You make a mess. It's okay. You just have to try harder next time. I am trying hard, Dad says. I know. You get a sticker. Thank you. Okay. 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