---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life is often like that, the best…"
description: "\"Life is often like that, the best balancing on a knife edge with the worst.\" — Laurell K. Hamilton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/laurell-k-hamilton-199_balancing_life-is-often-like-that-the-best-balanci_3079566.png"
---

#  Life is often like that, the best balancing on a knife…

![“Life is often like that, the best balancing on a knife edge with the worst.” quote by Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/laurell-k-hamilton-199_balancing_life-is-often-like-that-the-best-balanci_3079566.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/laurell-k-hamilton-199_balancing_life-is-often-like-that-the-best-balanci_3079566.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/laurell-k-hamilton-199_balancing_life-is-often-like-that-the-best-balanci_3079566.png)

> “Life is often like that, the best balancing on a knife edge with the worst.”

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Life’s extremes coexist; success and failure are often side by side.

**In simple terms:** Good and bad balance on a thin line.

Key Takeaway

Embrace both sides of life.

Themes

balance uncertainty risk growth

Mood

thoughtful hopeful

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- career decisions
- personal relationships
- creative projects

Key Concepts

dualism probability

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you navigate tight balances?
- When does risk become worthwhile?

A Different Perspective

Focusing on extremes may cause anxiety.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/)

## Related quotes

> [Most of the books and films I love walk a knife edge between romance and cynicism, and I wanted 'One Day' to stay on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/most-of-the-books-and-films-i-love-walk-a-knife-edge-between-romance/)

[David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/)

> [Happiness, for you we walk on a knife edge. To the eyes you are a flickering light, to the feet, thin ice that cracks;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugenio-montale/happiness-for-you-we-walk-on-a-knife-edge-to-the-eyes-you-are-a/)

[Eugenio Montale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugenio-montale/)

> [It's a great time to be doing political satire when the world is on a knife edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oliver/it-s-a-great-time-to-be-doing-political-satire-when-the-world-is-on-a/)

[John Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oliver/)

> [“I mean, we live on a knife's edge, between the ordinary and whatever isn't - something terrible, something hilarious or very exciting, whatever. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhaskar-ghose/i-mean-we-live-on-a-knife-s-edge-between-the-ordinary-and-whatever/)

[Bhaskar Ghose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhaskar-ghose/)

> [“There is a saying among the peoples of the Northwest Coast: “The world is as sharp as the edge of a knife,” and Robert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vaillant/there-is-a-saying-among-the-peoples-of-the-northwest-coast-the-world/)

[John Vaillant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vaillant/)

> [“It’s important to hold the knife with the edge down. How important? Well, it depends. How important is your life?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-reinhardt/it-s-important-to-hold-the-knife-with-the-edge-down-how-important/)

Hank Reinhardt

> [You can't save everybody. In fact, there are days when I think you can't save anyone. Each person has to save himself first, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/you-can-t-save-everybody-in-fact-there-are-days-when-i-think-you-can/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [I'm always balancing how much I can be gone, and how much I can be around for my kids and standard poodles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-freese/i-m-always-balancing-how-much-i-can-be-gone-and-how-much-i-can-be/)

[Josh Freese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-freese/)

> [For every apparent gain, in short, we now observe a balancing danger. This is the world we have created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kingwell/for-every-apparent-gain-in-short-we-now-observe-a-balancing-danger/)

[Mark Kingwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kingwell/)

> [Balancing hopes, desires and an appreciating of the possibilities with a clear-eyed assessment of the limitations: that is the art of choosing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-iyengar/balancing-hopes-desires-and-an-appreciating-of-the-possibilities-with/)

[Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/)

> [We are all trying to balance our careers and children and give as much of ourselves and our time to them. You work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-preston/we-are-all-trying-to-balance-our-careers-and-children-and-give-as/)

[Kelly Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-preston/)

> [I find that balancing my life with my work with the kids at St. Jude, working on books, working on my career as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlo-thomas/i-find-that-balancing-my-life-with-my-work-with-the-kids-at-st-jude/)

[Marlo Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlo-thomas/)

> [I think balancing work and family takes constant adjustment. Its not something you can say you've accomplished and move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-rocha/i-think-balancing-work-and-family-takes-constant-adjustment-its-not/)

[Coco Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-rocha/)

> [“Distribution of weight is preferable to balancing everything on the head of a pin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/psixaristw/distribution-of-weight-is-preferable-to-balancing-everything-on-the/)

Psixaristw

> [Balancing is good to isolate the abs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-wagner/balancing-is-good-to-isolate-the-abs/)

[Jill Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-wagner/)

## More by Laurell K. Hamilton

> [“Edward: I don't know whether to put my fingers in my ears and go la-la-la or find more of your guards so we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/edward-i-don-t-know-whether-to-put-my-fingers-in-my-ears-and-go-la-la/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [So many wonderful books to write, and not enough hours in the day. An embarrassment of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/so-many-wonderful-books-to-write-and-not-enough-hours-in-the-day-an/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [Money doesn't spend in hell… The devil deals in a different coin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/money-doesn-t-spend-in-hell-the-devil-deals-in-a-different-coin/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [There comes a point when you either embrace who and what you are, or condemn yourself to be miserable all your days. Other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/there-comes-a-point-when-you-either-embrace-who-and-what-you-are-or/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [“I slowed, just a little, one to save energy, and one to let Russell catch up sooner. I took a big breath and prepared.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-slowed-just-a-little-one-to-save-energy-and-one-to-let-russell/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [“It wasn't just my beast's hunger, but Jean-Claude's blood thirst and Richard's craving for flesh. It was all that and the ardeur running through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/it-wasn-t-just-my-beast-s-hunger-but-jean-claude-s-blood-thirst-and/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [I know that look, Blake. You are a drowning woman, and the only way out is down the aisle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-know-that-look-blake-you-are-a-drowning-woman-and-the-only-way-out/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [“Just another day in my life. This was one of those days when I thought that maybe a new life, a different life, wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/just-another-day-in-my-life-this-was-one-of-those-days-when-i-thought/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [“What is that old children’s rhyme, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’? Anyone who says that doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/what-is-that-old-children-s-rhyme-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [...you don't need ghosts to be haunted. Memory does that just fine without any supernatural help at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/you-don-t-need-ghosts-to-be-haunted-memory-does-that-just-fine/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [I hated missing the end of anything. I was always convinced that the bit I'd miss would be the best part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-hated-missing-the-end-of-anything-i-was-always-convinced-that-the/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [He made a small sigh, as he swallowed the first blood, then his mouth closed over my earlobe, mouth working at the wound, tongue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/he-made-a-small-sigh-as-he-swallowed-the-first-blood-then-his-mouth/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [He gave a small nod, and I smiled back, and that was it. He understood that I'd understood that he'd understood. It took us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/he-gave-a-small-nod-and-i-smiled-back-and-that-was-it-he-understood/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [ \[T\]hese last few days where I've moped around damn near depressed for real, because of people who do not exist. Not really. I can… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/t-hese-last-few-days-where-i-ve-moped-around-damn-near-depressed-for/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

[Explore all 921 Laurell K. Hamilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

## More Balancing quotes

> [Balancing is good to isolate the abs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-wagner/balancing-is-good-to-isolate-the-abs/)

[Jill Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-wagner/)

> [“Distribution of weight is preferable to balancing everything on the head of a pin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/psixaristw/distribution-of-weight-is-preferable-to-balancing-everything-on-the/)

Psixaristw

> [I think balancing work and family takes constant adjustment. Its not something you can say you've accomplished and move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-rocha/i-think-balancing-work-and-family-takes-constant-adjustment-its-not/)

[Coco Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-rocha/)

> [I find that balancing my life with my work with the kids at St. Jude, working on books, working on my career as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlo-thomas/i-find-that-balancing-my-life-with-my-work-with-the-kids-at-st-jude/)

[Marlo Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlo-thomas/)

> [We are all trying to balance our careers and children and give as much of ourselves and our time to them. You work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-preston/we-are-all-trying-to-balance-our-careers-and-children-and-give-as/)

[Kelly Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-preston/)

> [Balancing hopes, desires and an appreciating of the possibilities with a clear-eyed assessment of the limitations: that is the art of choosing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-iyengar/balancing-hopes-desires-and-an-appreciating-of-the-possibilities-with/)

[Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/)

> [For every apparent gain, in short, we now observe a balancing danger. This is the world we have created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kingwell/for-every-apparent-gain-in-short-we-now-observe-a-balancing-danger/)

[Mark Kingwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kingwell/)

> [I'm always balancing how much I can be gone, and how much I can be around for my kids and standard poodles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-freese/i-m-always-balancing-how-much-i-can-be-gone-and-how-much-i-can-be/)

[Josh Freese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-freese/)

> [I have the luxury of balancing and juggling films in different languages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dulquer-salmaan/i-have-the-luxury-of-balancing-and-juggling-films-in-different/)

[Dulquer Salmaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dulquer-salmaan/)

> [You're always going to feel like you're catching up, and part of that is just balancing work and motherhood and the whole feeling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-gordon/you-re-always-going-to-feel-like-you-re-catching-up-and-part-of-that/)

[Kim Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-gordon/)

> [I don't love the phrase 'balancing work and family.' It sets up this idea of scales of justice with work on one side and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-o-donnell/i-don-t-love-the-phrase-balancing-work-and-family-it-sets-up-this/)

[Norah O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-o-donnell/)

> [We're going to sing about things that matter to us. The balancing act is to present these ideas but also make the music exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/we-re-going-to-sing-about-things-that-matter-to-us-the-balancing-act/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [When it comes to losing weight, balancing your hormones is absolutely crucial. Not only will it help you lose weight by correcting a sluggish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-somers/when-it-comes-to-losing-weight-balancing-your-hormones-is-absolutely/)

[Suzanne Somers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-somers/)

> [“You know that feeling of invincibility you sometimes get, especially when young and testing yourself - well that could be because actually know deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-woodman/you-know-that-feeling-of-invincibility-you-sometimes-get-especially/)

[Jay Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-woodman/)

> [I wanted to build a tool for my generation: people 20 to 40 who don't want to spend time balancing a checkbook or checking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-patzer/i-wanted-to-build-a-tool-for-my-generation-people-20-to-40-who-don-t/)

[Aaron Patzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-patzer/)

Browse all 110 Balancing quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Life is often like that, the best balancing on a knife edge with the worst.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Laurell K. Hamilton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/life-is-often-like-that-the-best-balancing-on-a-knife-edge-with-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Balancing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/life-is-often-like-that-the-best-balancing-on-a-knife-edge-with-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/laurell-k-hamilton-199_balancing_life-is-often-like-that-the-best-balanci_3079566.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/laurell-k-hamilton-199_balancing_life-is-often-like-that-the-best-balanci_3079566.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/laurell-k-hamilton-199_balancing_life-is-often-like-that-the-best-balanci_3079566.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Life is often like that, the best balancing on a knife edge with the worst.” — Laurell K. Hamilton",
                "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": "Laurell K. Hamilton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Life is often like that, the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/life-is-often-like-that-the-best-balancing-on-a-knife-edge-with-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/life-is-often-like-that-the-best-balancing-on-a-knife-edge-with-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
