--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most of us are called on to perform tasks…" description: "\"Most of us are called on to perform tasks far beyond what we can do. Our capabilities seldom match our aspirations, and we are often woefully unprepare..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/lloyd-alexander-1645_aspiration_most-of-us-are-called-on-to-perform-task_2711013.png" --- # Most of us are called on to perform tasks far beyond what… ![“Most of us are called on to perform tasks far beyond what we can do. Our capabilities seldom match our aspirations, and we are often woefully unprepared. To this extent, we are all Assistant Pig-Keepers at heart.” quote by Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/lloyd-alexander-1645_aspiration_most-of-us-are-called-on-to-perform-task_2711013.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/lloyd-alexander-1645_aspiration_most-of-us-are-called-on-to-perform-task_2711013.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/lloyd-alexander-1645_aspiration_most-of-us-are-called-on-to-perform-task_2711013.png) > “Most of us are called on to perform tasks far beyond what we can do. Our capabilities seldom match our aspirations, and we are often woefully unprepared. To this extent, we are all Assistant Pig-Keepers at heart.” [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People are often assigned responsibilities that exceed their skills, leaving them feeling unprepared and overwhelmed. **In simple terms:** We get tasks beyond our ability. Key Takeaway Seek growth and ask for help. Themes responsibility self‑doubt growth Mood anxious determined Type advice reflective When to use this quote - new job - leadership role - team project - personal development Key Concepts skill gap overextension learning mindset Questions to Reflect On - How can you bridge the gap between ability and duty? - What support do you need to succeed? A Different Perspective Assuming tasks without preparation can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspiration/) [Assistant Pig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assistant-pig-1676060/) [Assistants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assistants/) [Capabilities Seldom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capabilities-seldom-2808677/) [Capability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Keepers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keepers/) [Perform Tasks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perform-tasks-1808426/) [Pig Keepers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pig-keepers-2808676/) [Pigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pigs/) [Tasks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tasks/) [Unprepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unprepared/) ## Related quotes > [No matter what has happened, you're not a pig-boy; you're an Assistant Pig Keeper!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/no-matter-what-has-happened-you-re-not-a-pig-boy-you-re-an-assistant/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [And thus did an Assistant Pig-Keeper become High King of Prydain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/and-thus-did-an-assistant-pig-keeper-become-high-king-of-prydain/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [It is as if a king had sent you to a country to carry out one special, specific task. You go to the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/it-is-as-if-a-king-had-sent-you-to-a-country-to-carry-out-one-special/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“I want you to understand what you are doing, not just perform tasks because I say so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dowding/i-want-you-to-understand-what-you-are-doing-not-just-perform-tasks/) [Charles Dowding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dowding/) > [“Thank you, Pig Keeper," Phillip said, and placed a few gold coins in the boy's hand. The boy's eyes went wide as he felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-riley/thank-you-pig-keeper-phillip-said-and-placed-a-few-gold-coins-in-the/) [James Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-riley/) > [A crown is a pitiless master, harsher than the staff of a pig-keeper; while a staff bears up, a crown weighs down, beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/a-crown-is-a-pitiless-master-harsher-than-the-staff-of-a-pig-keeper/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [But we cannot live the afternoon of life according to the programme of life's morning — for what was great in the morning will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/but-we-cannot-live-the-afternoon-of-life-according-to-the-programme/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [I will not go into a story unprepared. 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The real catastrophes are always different -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/but-i-guess-it-never-is-what-you-worry-over-that-comes-to-pass-in-the/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Those who are unprepared to demonstrate tolerance cannot expect or even demand tolerance for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kasper/those-who-are-unprepared-to-demonstrate-tolerance-cannot-expect-or/) [Walter Kasper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kasper/) > [Sunday morning, before we go to hear the Word of God preached...let us not rush into God’s presence careless, reckless, and unprepared, as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/sunday-morning-before-we-go-to-hear-the-word-of-god-preached-let-us/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [I don't think people ever were free of fear of death, but clinging to life and being so unprepared for it is a modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-butler/i-don-t-think-people-ever-were-free-of-fear-of-death-but-clinging-to/) [Katy Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-butler/) ## More by Lloyd Alexander > [“There are heroes and heroes. I don't deny he's acted bravely on occasion. He's fought beside Lord Gwydion and been proud of himself as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/there-are-heroes-and-heroes-i-don-t-deny-he-s-acted-bravely-on/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“I shall not lie!" Eilonwy cried, "not for this traitor and deserter." 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Had I given it more thought, I would have called you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/forgive-me-i-called-you-an-idiot-i-spoke-too-hastily-you-are-not-had/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“On the level of high art, in their common efforts to express human truths, relationships, attitudes, and personal visions, children's literature and adult literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/on-the-level-of-high-art-in-their-common-efforts-to-express-human/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [What seems to be love beyond any question is usually a simple case of indigestion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/what-seems-to-be-love-beyond-any-question-is-usually-a-simple-case-of/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [The art is more important than the artist. The work is more important than the person who does it. You must be prepared to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/the-art-is-more-important-than-the-artist-the-work-is-more-important/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“Once," he added, "you told me that the seeking counts more than the finding. So, too, must the striving count more than the gain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/once-he-added-you-told-me-that-the-seeking-counts-more-than-the/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [I came to fantasy fairly late. For some ten years, I had been happily writing fiction and non-fiction for adults. But I always loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/i-came-to-fantasy-fairly-late-for-some-ten-years-i-had-been-happily/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [Talented people are finding that writing for young people is as demanding of high quality as writing for adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/talented-people-are-finding-that-writing-for-young-people-is-as/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“In some cases we learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/in-some-cases-we-learn-more-by-looking-for-the-answer-to-a-question/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [A crown is more discomfort than adornment. If you have learned that, you have already learned much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/a-crown-is-more-discomfort-than-adornment-if-you-have-learned-that/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) [Explore all 220 Lloyd Alexander quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) ## More Aspiration quotes > [To refer even in passing to unpublished or struggling authors and their problems is to put oneself at some risk, so I will say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/to-refer-even-in-passing-to-unpublished-or-struggling-authors-and/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [We were all children once. And we all share the desire for the well-being of our children, which has always been and will continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/we-were-all-children-once-and-we-all-share-the-desire-for-the-well/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Noise has taken the place of punk rock. People who play noise have no real aspirations to being part of the mainstream culture. Punk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/noise-has-taken-the-place-of-punk-rock-people-who-play-noise-have-no/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [“A responsible woman doesn’t see opportunities and needs and look the other way pretending not to see them rather she gets to work to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agu-jaachynma-n-e/a-responsible-woman-doesn-t-see-opportunities-and-needs-and-look-the/) [Agu Jaachynma N.E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agu-jaachynma-n-e/) > [Our task today is to bring India to the threshold of the twenty-first century, free of burden of poverty, legacy of our colonial past,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-gandhi/our-task-today-is-to-bring-india-to-the-threshold-of-the-twenty-first/) [Rajiv Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-gandhi/) > [I know well, Monsieur, how much you have to endure in your present duty, and I ask Our Lord to strengthen you in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/i-know-well-monsieur-how-much-you-have-to-endure-in-your-present-duty/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [“Don't die without fulfilling your purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/don-t-die-without-fulfilling-your-purpose/) [Jaachynma N.E. 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