--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [...]while we all have the capacity to do…" description: "\"“[...]while we all have the capacity to do harder things, we also have the desire to do exactly the opposite.”\" — Kelly McGonigal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_desire_while-we-all-have-the-capacity-to-do-har_3180109.jpg" --- # \[...\]while we all have the capacity to do harder things… ![“[...]while we all have the capacity to do harder things, we also have the desire to do exactly the opposite.” quote by Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_desire_while-we-all-have-the-capacity-to-do-har_3180109.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_desire_while-we-all-have-the-capacity-to-do-har_3180109.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_desire_while-we-all-have-the-capacity-to-do-har_3180109.jpg) > ““\[...\]while we all have the capacity to do harder things, we also have the desire to do exactly the opposite.”” [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often crave ease even when capable of greater effort, revealing a conflict between ability and desire. **In simple terms:** We want ease despite ability. Key Takeaway Align desire with capability. Themes psychology motivation self‑control Mood motivational thoughtful Type self‑help psychological When to use this quote - fitness training - academic work - career advancement Key Concepts effort aversion goal setting habit formation Questions to Reflect On - Why do we choose easier paths? - How can we motivate harder work? A Different Perspective The quote may understate external constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capacity Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity-harder-5823268/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Exactly Opposite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exactly-opposite-605345/) [Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder/) [Harder Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder-things-1200150/) [Opposite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposite/) ## Related quotes > [Lovers have a way of using this word, nothing, which implies exactly the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/lovers-have-a-way-of-using-this-word-nothing-which-implies-exactly/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [If everybody is doing it one way, there's a good chance you can find your niche by going exactly in the opposite direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/if-everybody-is-doing-it-one-way-there-s-a-good-chance-you-can-find/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [Lots of English people say exactly the opposite of what they mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-krier/lots-of-english-people-say-exactly-the-opposite-of-what-they-mean/) [Leon Krier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-krier/) > [The French will always do exactly the opposite on what the United States wants regardless of what happens, so we're never going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/the-french-will-always-do-exactly-the-opposite-on-what-the-united/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [Protagoras asserted that there are two sides to every question, exactly opposite to each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/protagoras-asserted-that-there-are-two-sides-to-every-question/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [Do exactly the opposite of what the sheep are doing in order to become the Shepherd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-sylver/do-exactly-the-opposite-of-what-the-sheep-are-doing-in-order-to/) [Marshall Sylver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-sylver/) > [“ But there are harder things than being invisible, it said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/but-there-are-harder-things-than-being-invisible-it-said/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Every year, I find things where I can go harder into and things like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/every-year-i-find-things-where-i-can-go-harder-into-and-things-like/) [Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/) > [Trying every day to tell the truth is hard. There are harder things, of course - arguably, living with lies and meaninglessness, living in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kushner/trying-every-day-to-tell-the-truth-is-hard-there-are-harder-things-of/) [Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kushner/) > [Most of the time, I do what I'm offered, but after I worked for it. I think I try much harder for the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/most-of-the-time-i-do-what-i-m-offered-but-after-i-worked-for-it-i/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [“She’d done harder things in her life, she could do this. She had to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-ripley/she-d-done-harder-things-in-her-life-she-could-do-this-she-had-to/) [Alexandra Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-ripley/) > [The harder things get for you, the more you should laugh. If you really want to cry, cry alone. To no one, you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephraim/the-harder-things-get-for-you-the-more-you-should-laugh-if-you-really/) [Ephraim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephraim/) > [I think at the start of writing it was less intense topics, and then once I broke the seal I was more comfortable writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-hemmings/i-think-at-the-start-of-writing-it-was-less-intense-topics-and-then/) [Luke Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-hemmings/) > [Things will get harder, but things wont get harder if you go through them right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/things-will-get-harder-but-things-wont-get-harder-if-you-go-through/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would describe my spirituality as exactly the opposite of having a religious affiliation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-would-describe-my-spirituality-as-exactly-the-opposite-of-having-a/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) ## More by Kelly McGonigal > [“Although dieting is a long standing American pastime, as a method of losing weight it stinks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/although-dieting-is-a-long-standing-american-pastime-as-a-method-of/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [“you’re going to abandon in a week, and there’s no scientific consensus about how much exercise you need to do. A 2010 analysis”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/you-re-going-to-abandon-in-a-week-and-there-s-no-scientific-consensus/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [Chasing meaning is better for your health than trying to avoid discomfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/chasing-meaning-is-better-for-your-health-than-trying-to-avoid/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [Go after what it is that creates meaning in your life and then trust yourself to handle the stress that follows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/go-after-what-it-is-that-creates-meaning-in-your-life-and-then-trust/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [“Ask your brain to do math every day, and it gets better at math. Ask your brain to worry, and it gets better at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/ask-your-brain-to-do-math-every-day-and-it-gets-better-at-math-ask/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [The is a secret for greater self-control, the science points to one thing: the power of paying attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/the-is-a-secret-for-greater-self-control-the-science-points-to-one/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [For most of us, the classic test of willpower is resisting temptation, whether the temptress is a doughnut, a cigarette, a clearance sale, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/for-most-of-us-the-classic-test-of-willpower-is-resisting-temptation/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [“Stress and meaning are inextricably linked. You don’t stress out about things you don’t care about, and you can’t create a meaningful life without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/stress-and-meaning-are-inextricably-linked-you-don-t-stress-out-about/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [“Meditation is not about getting rid of all your thoughts; it’s learning not to get so lost in them that you forget what your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/meditation-is-not-about-getting-rid-of-all-your-thoughts-it-s/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [The development of willpower -I will, I won't and I want- may define what it means to be human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/the-development-of-willpower-i-will-i-won-t-and-i-want-may-define/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [When your mind is preoccupied, your impulses—not your long-term goals—will guide your choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/when-your-mind-is-preoccupied-your-impulses-not-your-long-term-goals/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [“Though our survival system doesn’t always work to our advantage, it is a mistake to think we should conquer the primitive self completely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/though-our-survival-system-doesn-t-always-work-to-our-advantage-it-is/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [“is easiest. Consider a smoker who wants to quit. She needs to recognize the first sign of a craving, and where it’s likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/is-easiest-consider-a-smoker-who-wants-to-quit-she-needs-to-recognize/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [“Research shows that people who think they have the most willpower are actually the most likely to lose control when tempted.1 For example, smokers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/research-shows-that-people-who-think-they-have-the-most-willpower-are/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [“Case in point: Warnings on cigarette packages can increase a smoker’s urge to light up. A 2009 study found that death warnings trigger stress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/case-in-point-warnings-on-cigarette-packages-can-increase-a-smoker-s/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) [Explore all 30 Kelly McGonigal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“[...]while we all have the capacity to do harder things, we also have the desire to do exactly the opposite.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kelly McGonigal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/while-we-all-have-the-capacity-to-do-harder-things-we-also-have-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/while-we-all-have-the-capacity-to-do-harder-things-we-also-have-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_desire_while-we-all-have-the-capacity-to-do-har_3180109.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_desire_while-we-all-have-the-capacity-to-do-har_3180109.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_desire_while-we-all-have-the-capacity-to-do-har_3180109.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[...]while we all have the capacity to do harder things, we also have the desire to do exactly the opposite.” — Kelly McGonigal", "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": "Kelly McGonigal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“[...]while we all have the capacity...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/while-we-all-have-the-capacity-to-do-harder-things-we-also-have-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/while-we-all-have-the-capacity-to-do-harder-things-we-also-have-the/#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 } } ] } ```