--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had to use my wits or else I'd have…" description: "\"I had to use my wits or else I'd have been sunk - and nothings going to sink me. Everyone was always pulling at me, tugging at me, as if they wanted a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/063/marilyn-monroe-416_jobs_i-had-to-use-my-wits-or-else-i-d-have-be_1086308.jpg" --- # I had to use my wits or else I'd have been sunk - and… ![“I had to use my wits or else I'd have been sunk - and nothings going to sink me. Everyone was always pulling at me, tugging at me, as if they wanted a piece of me. It was always, 'do this, do that,' and not just on the job but off, too. God, I've tried to stay intact, whole.” quote by Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/063/marilyn-monroe-416_jobs_i-had-to-use-my-wits-or-else-i-d-have-be_1086308.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/063/marilyn-monroe-416_jobs_i-had-to-use-my-wits-or-else-i-d-have-be_1086308.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/063/marilyn-monroe-416_jobs_i-had-to-use-my-wits-or-else-i-d-have-be_1086308.jpg) > “I had to use my wits or else I'd have been sunk - and nothings going to sink me. Everyone was always pulling at me, tugging at me, as if they wanted a piece of me. It was always, 'do this, do that,' and not just on the job but off, too. God, I've tried to stay intact, whole.” [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She relied on wit to survive constant pressures, striving to stay whole amid relentless demands. **In simple terms:** Wits kept her intact under pressure. Key Takeaway Cultivate mental resilience. Themes survival resilience identity Mood determined hopeful Type motivational self‑help When to use this quote - high‑stress jobs - personal crises Key Concepts self‑preservation mental strength Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect your sense of self? - What strategies keep you whole? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Wit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wit/) ## Related quotes > [There is a need for aloneness, which I don't think most people realise for an actor. It's almost having certain kinds of secrets for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/there-is-a-need-for-aloneness-which-i-don-t-think-most-people-realise/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [Everybody is always tugging at you. They'd all like a sort of chunk out of you. I don' think they realize it, but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/everybody-is-always-tugging-at-you-they-d-all-like-a-sort-of-chunk/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [I tried being a stay-at-home mom for eight weeks. I like the stay-at-home part. Not too crazy about the mom aspect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-wong/i-tried-being-a-stay-at-home-mom-for-eight-weeks-i-like-the-stay-at/) [Ali Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-wong/) > [I have always taken everything as it comes and tried to stay in good shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane/i-have-always-taken-everything-as-it-comes-and-tried-to-stay-in-good/) [Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane/) > [I think I've tried to stay true to my music since the beginning. It's kind of hard because of the access and technology but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-think-i-ve-tried-to-stay-true-to-my-music-since-the-beginning-it-s/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [I've always tried to stay fit, but I'm a little guy. I'm 5-foot-7.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eigenberg/i-ve-always-tried-to-stay-fit-but-i-m-a-little-guy-i-m-5-foot-7/) [David Eigenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eigenberg/) > [As a professional, I have always tried to stay concentrated on the pitch, but it was not easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-quagliarella/as-a-professional-i-have-always-tried-to-stay-concentrated-on-the/) [Fabio Quagliarella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-quagliarella/) > [Should have given away all my love or maybe I ... I should have played you cause you don't appreciate me, no and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keyshia-cole/should-have-given-away-all-my-love-or-maybe-i-i-should-have-played/) [Keyshia Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keyshia-cole/) > [In other parts of the country people tried to stay together for the sake of the children. In New York they tried to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/in-other-parts-of-the-country-people-tried-to-stay-together-for-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I cant do this anymore. I tried to stay strong. It just not happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine/i-cant-do-this-anymore-i-tried-to-stay-strong-it-just-not-happening/) [Jasmine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine/) > [I've always tried to stay out of the fray and not be an object of controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/i-ve-always-tried-to-stay-out-of-the-fray-and-not-be-an-object-of/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [I tried to stay in the background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colonel-tom-parker/i-tried-to-stay-in-the-background/) [Colonel Tom Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colonel-tom-parker/) > [“I’ve tried to stay away from you, to not touch you, and I’ve tried so fucking hard not to fall in love with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-g-bailey/i-ve-tried-to-stay-away-from-you-to-not-touch-you-and-i-ve-tried-so/) [Alison G. Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-g-bailey/) > [I usually tried to stay in the net for 45 minutes, half an hour longer than most batsmen would stick at the county nets.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-boycott/i-usually-tried-to-stay-in-the-net-for-45-minutes-half-an-hour-longer/) [Geoffrey Boycott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-boycott/) > [I just kind of tried to stay true to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-marie/i-just-kind-of-tried-to-stay-true-to-myself/) [Rene Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-marie/) ## More by Marilyn Monroe > [Everyone's just laughing at me. I hate it. Big breasts, big ass, big deal, Can't I be anything else ? Gee, how long can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/everyone-s-just-laughing-at-me-i-hate-it-big-breasts-big-ass-big-deal/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [Nothing happens without a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/nothing-happens-without-a-reason/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [Sometimes I've been to a party where no one spoke to me for a whole evening. The men, frightened by their wives or sweeites...the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/sometimes-i-ve-been-to-a-party-where-no-one-spoke-to-me-for-a-whole/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [You believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/you-believe-lies-so-you-eventually-learn-to-trust-no-one-but-yourself/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [The worst thing that happens to people when they dress up and go to a party is that they leave their real selves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/the-worst-thing-that-happens-to-people-when-they-dress-up-and-go-to-a/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [Confidentially, the type of male I find most enjoyable for a friend is one who has enough fire and assurance to speak up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/confidentially-the-type-of-male-i-find-most-enjoyable-for-a-friend-is/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [I usually eat four or five raw carrots with my meat, and that is all. I must be part rabbit; I never get bored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/i-usually-eat-four-or-five-raw-carrots-with-my-meat-and-that-is-all-i/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupied so are regrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/we-should-all-start-to-live-before-we-get-too-old-fear-is-stupied-so/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [You're the beautiful one. It's society that's ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/you-re-the-beautiful-one-it-s-society-that-s-ugly/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [I've never fooled anyone. I've let people fool themselves. They didn't bother to find out who and what I was. Instead they would invent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/i-ve-never-fooled-anyone-i-ve-let-people-fool-themselves-they-didn-t/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [If I'd observed all the rules, I'd never have got anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/if-i-d-observed-all-the-rules-i-d-never-have-got-anywhere/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [A woman can't be alone. She needs a man. A man and a woman support and strengthen each other. She just can't do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/a-woman-can-t-be-alone-she-needs-a-man-a-man-and-a-woman-support-and/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [It's better being completely ridiculous than unbelievably boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/it-s-better-being-completely-ridiculous-than-unbelievably-boring/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [A career is wonderful thing, but you can't snuggle up to it on a cold night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/a-career-is-wonderful-thing-but-you-can-t-snuggle-up-to-it-on-a-cold/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [Suicide, is a persons privilege. I don't believe it's a sin or a crime it's your right if you do. Though it doesn't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/suicide-is-a-persons-privilege-i-don-t-believe-it-s-a-sin-or-a-crime/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) [Explore all 572 Marilyn Monroe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) ## More Jobs quotes > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. 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