--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you can’t do something truly useful…" description: "\"When you can’t do something truly useful, you tend to vent the pent up energy in something useless but available, like snappy dressing.\" — Lois McMaste..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_available_when-you-can-t-do-something-truly-useful_3032742.jpg" --- # When you can’t do something truly useful, you tend to vent… ![“When you can’t do something truly useful, you tend to vent the pent up energy in something useless but available, like snappy dressing.” quote by Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_available_when-you-can-t-do-something-truly-useful_3032742.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_available_when-you-can-t-do-something-truly-useful_3032742.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_available_when-you-can-t-do-something-truly-useful_3032742.jpg) > “When you can’t do something truly useful, you tend to vent the pent up energy in something useless but available, like snappy dressing.” [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When unable to achieve meaningful work, people often redirect excess energy into trivial, accessible activities. **In simple terms:** Redirect idle energy into harmless distractions. Key Takeaway Find purposeful outlets for frustration. Themes productivity distraction energy management Mood frustrated reflective Type advice observational When to use this quote - workplace stress - creative block - personal downtime - habit formation Key Concepts psychology behavioral economics Questions to Reflect On - What trivial activity consumes your excess energy? - How could you transform that energy into something constructive? A Different Perspective Even harmless distractions can become addictive and prevent real progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Dressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dressing/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) ## Related quotes > [“It was all sympathetic magic. When you couldn't do something truly useful, you tended to vent the pent-up energy in something useless but available,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/it-was-all-sympathetic-magic-when-you-couldn-t-do-something-truly/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [I like snappy dialogue and short descriptions and lots of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-cussler/i-like-snappy-dialogue-and-short-descriptions-and-lots-of-action/) [Clive Cussler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-cussler/) > [Honestly I prefer dressing for comfort rather than style, so whatever is comfortable and looks decent, that'll do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tan/honestly-i-prefer-dressing-for-comfort-rather-than-style-so-whatever/) [Elizabeth Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-tan/) > [You can't complain about your dressing room or you'll look like Celine Dion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele/you-can-t-complain-about-your-dressing-room-or-you-ll-look-like/) [Adele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele/) > [For me, dressing is always a question of principle, respect, a sense of order, not to disguise myself, even in rotten places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/for-me-dressing-is-always-a-question-of-principle-respect-a-sense-of/) [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) > [I am not a person who tries on in the stores. It drives me crazy. So I buy and take back if I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-simpson/i-am-not-a-person-who-tries-on-in-the-stores-it-drives-me-crazy-so-i/) [Jessica Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-simpson/) > [I used to be obsessed about how I presented myself. I didn't want other people dressing me because I didn't want to be treated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/i-used-to-be-obsessed-about-how-i-presented-myself-i-didn-t-want/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [Just remember that, ultimately, dressing is always about attitude, feeling comfortable and confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-moss/just-remember-that-ultimately-dressing-is-always-about-attitude/) [Kate Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-moss/) > [I like to help create team spirit in the dressing room. I feel that I've got loads of love to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gascoigne/i-like-to-help-create-team-spirit-in-the-dressing-room-i-feel-that-i/) [Paul Gascoigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gascoigne/) > [ You \[future first ladies\] will feel that you are no longer clothing yourself, you are dressing a public monument. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/you-future-first-ladies-will-feel-that-you-are-no-longer-clothing/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [I don't remember ever dressing up for Halloween but I must have. I do not like dressing up at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-zucker/i-don-t-remember-ever-dressing-up-for-halloween-but-i-must-have-i-do/) [Rachel Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-zucker/) > [Simplicity, good taste and grooming are the three fundamentals of good dressing and these do not cost money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-dior/simplicity-good-taste-and-grooming-are-the-three-fundamentals-of-good/) [Christian Dior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-dior/) > [You make all the fashion statements just by dressing up your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/you-make-all-the-fashion-statements-just-by-dressing-up-your-mind/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [Every young woman should dress well, that is, neatly, tastefully, modestly, whether she be rich or poor. Conspicuous dressing is vulgar. True refinement avoids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-miller/every-young-woman-should-dress-well-that-is-neatly-tastefully/) [J.R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-miller/) > [Winter dressing is all about having chic outerwear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kotsiopoulos/winter-dressing-is-all-about-having-chic-outerwear/) [George Kotsiopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kotsiopoulos/) ## More by Lois McMaster Bujold > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Never do yourself, what you can con professionals into doing for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/never-do-yourself-what-you-can-con-professionals-into-doing-for-you/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“It reminded him of that definition of his father's. A weapon is a device for making your enemy change his mind. The mind was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/it-reminded-him-of-that-definition-of-his-father-s-a-weapon-is-a/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“I was imagining the most bizarre things befalling you.” “Did they include a six-hundred-pound ice bear and a pirate poet?” “No…” “Then they weren’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/i-was-imagining-the-most-bizarre-things-befalling-you-did-they/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [There is a sad disconnectedness that overcomes a library when its owner is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/there-is-a-sad-disconnectedness-that-overcomes-a-library-when-its/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“No, amusing me only, I wonder if they realize how they are used?" "Not a bit. They think they are the emperors of creation."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/no-amusing-me-only-i-wonder-if-they-realize-how-they-are-used-not-a/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“You bastards are on the top of Imperial Lord Auditor Miles Vorkosigan's very own shit list now, you bet. But under what name? Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/you-bastards-are-on-the-top-of-imperial-lord-auditor-miles-vorkosigan/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“Anyway, if the Cetagandans really wanted to assassinate you, they'd hardly do it here. They'd slip something subtle under your skin that wouldn't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/anyway-if-the-cetagandans-really-wanted-to-assassinate-you-they-d/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Endure pain, find joy, and make your own meaning, because the universe certainly isn't going to supply it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/endure-pain-find-joy-and-make-your-own-meaning-because-the-universe/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Your Reverence, I do not hate any man in this world enough to inflict the results of my prayers upon him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/your-reverence-i-do-not-hate-any-man-in-this-world-enough-to-inflict/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“I always thought my parents could fix anything. Now it's my turn. Dear God, how did this happen?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/i-always-thought-my-parents-could-fix-anything-now-it-s-my-turn-dear/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“I think it is not so much the growth of virtue, as simply the replacement of prior vices with an addiction to one’s god.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/i-think-it-is-not-so-much-the-growth-of-virtue-as-simply-the/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“Mark’s ideas tended to the bland, and there was no point in asking Miles, whose embittered suggestions all ran to things like Vomit Vanilla…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/mark-s-ideas-tended-to-the-bland-and-there-was-no-point-in-asking/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is a duty of the living to do so for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/the-dead-cannot-cry-out-for-justice-it-is-a-duty-of-the-living-to-do/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“Gardens were meant to be seen, smelled, walked through, grubbed in. A hundred objective measurements didn't sum the worth of a garden; only the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/gardens-were-meant-to-be-seen-smelled-walked-through-grubbed-in-a/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) [Explore all 392 Lois McMaster Bujold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) ## More Available quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. 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Belong to the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/never-belong-to-a-crowd-never-belong-to-a-nation-never-belong-to-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I used practically all the money I had available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-ebbers/i-used-practically-all-the-money-i-had-available/) [Bernard Ebbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-ebbers/) > [But we need to be very clear: because of our decades of collective denial, no gradual, incremental options are now available to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/but-we-need-to-be-very-clear-because-of-our-decades-of-collective/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [I m Single , Eligible But Not Available .. Limited Edition :D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faisal-khan-neal/i-m-single-eligible-but-not-available-limited-edition-d/) Faisal Khan Neal > [I do worry because it takes all types to make our culture, to make our art. We need it to be available to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-mcintosh/i-do-worry-because-it-takes-all-types-to-make-our-culture-to-make-our/) [Neve McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-mcintosh/) > [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/) [P. J. 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I work long hours. I have a dog and a wife. 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