--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Settling is about not embracing what is…" description: "\"Settling is about not embracing what is best for you and accepting what you really don't want. When you settle, you accept less than you deserve. Settl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/maureen-dowd-6927_accepting_settling-is-about-not-embracing-what-is_3071529.jpg" --- # Settling is about not embracing what is best for you and… ![“Settling is about not embracing what is best for you and accepting what you really don't want. When you settle, you accept less than you deserve. Settling becomes a habit and a way of life, but it doesn't have to be. According to Maureen Dowd, "The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you…” quote by Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/maureen-dowd-6927_accepting_settling-is-about-not-embracing-what-is_3071529.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/maureen-dowd-6927_accepting_settling-is-about-not-embracing-what-is_3071529.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/maureen-dowd-6927_accepting_settling-is-about-not-embracing-what-is_3071529.jpg) > “Settling is about not embracing what is best for you and accepting what you really don't want. When you settle, you accept less than you deserve. Settling becomes a habit and a way of life, but it doesn't have to be. According to Maureen Dowd, "The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for” [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Settling means accepting less than you deserve, turning it into a habit that limits fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Accepting less limits fulfillment. Key Takeaway Recognize and pursue what you truly deserve. Themes self‑worth habits fulfillment Mood reflective determined Type advice motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - relationships - personal goals - financial negotiations Key Concepts acceptance self‑esteem choice Questions to Reflect On - What are you settling for? - How can you raise your standards? A Different Perspective Settling can feel safe but may prevent growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Way of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [No longer am I going to settle for less than I deserve. If u want to b with me be ready to face some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carilenae/no-longer-am-i-going-to-settle-for-less-than-i-deserve-if-u-want-to-b/) [CariLenae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carilenae/) > [Love yourself and don't settle for less than what you deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethenny-frankel/love-yourself-and-don-t-settle-for-less-than-what-you-deserve/) [Bethenny Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethenny-frankel/) > [The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/the-minute-you-settle-for-less-than-you-deserve-you-get-even-less/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [Every day, people settle for less than they deserve. They are only partially living or at best living a partial life. Every human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-bennett/every-day-people-settle-for-less-than-they-deserve-they-are-only/) [Bo Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-bennett/) > [Never Settle for less than what you deserve...Never give up a fight that you did not start...Never let anyone demand respect when they never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-settle-for-less-than-what-you-deserve-never-give-up-a-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never settle for less than you deserve because you're afraid that nothing better will come along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-settle-for-less-than-you-deserve-because-you-re-afraid-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never settle for less than you deserve. because that's when you lose not only your happiness but lose yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-settle-for-less-than-you-deserve-because-that-s-when-you-lose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never settle for less than you deserve simply because you do not want to be alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-settle-for-less-than-you-deserve-simply-because-you-do-not-want/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Know your worth, stand your ground and NEVER settle for less than you deserve!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/know-your-worth-stand-your-ground-and-never-settle-for-less-than-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I think it can be easy to settle for less than you deserve just because less is right in front of you and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-shankle/i-think-it-can-be-easy-to-settle-for-less-than-you-deserve-just/) [Melanie Shankle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-shankle/) > [Never settle for less than you deserve because while you are busy settling you will miss out on what you really deserve!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-settle-for-less-than-you-deserve-because-while-you-are-busy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never settle for less than you deserve. Demand the best and accept nothing less!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-settle-for-less-than-you-deserve-demand-the-best-and-accept/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Never settle for less when you deserve more”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/habeeb-akande/never-settle-for-less-when-you-deserve-more/) [Habeeb Akande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/habeeb-akande/) > [Never settle for less than you deserve because it was more convenient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-settle-for-less-than-you-deserve-because-it-was-more-convenient/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why settle for less when you deserve the best?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-l/why-settle-for-less-when-you-deserve-the-best/) [Britt L](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-l/) ## More by Maureen Dowd > [If there's one thing white men have never had a problem with in this clubby, white marble enclave of Washington, it's getting pulled up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/if-there-s-one-thing-white-men-have-never-had-a-problem-with-in-this/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [When you're young, and even at times when you're older, it's hard to fathom this: What needs to be nurtured is the stuff that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/when-you-re-young-and-even-at-times-when-you-re-older-it-s-hard-to/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [“Who knows? If women all end up with the same face and body, men may gravitate toward the quirky. Then the chicks with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/who-knows-if-women-all-end-up-with-the-same-face-and-body-men-may/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [Why can't Google, which likes to see itself as a 'Don't Be Evil' benevolent force in society, just write us a big check for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/why-can-t-google-which-likes-to-see-itself-as-a-don-t-be-evil/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [“Materialism has defeated feminism as well. In a sign of the times, Gloria Steinem was on the picket line when the first American DeBeers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/materialism-has-defeated-feminism-as-well-in-a-sign-of-the-times/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [“Romantic googling can be as dangerous as drunk text messaging. Of course hell hath no fury like a woman who Google-bombs her old flames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/romantic-googling-can-be-as-dangerous-as-drunk-text-messaging-of/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [Paul Ryan, who teamed up with Akin in the House to sponsor harsh anti-abortion bills, may look young and hip and new generation, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/paul-ryan-who-teamed-up-with-akin-in-the-house-to-sponsor-harsh-anti/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [Obama invented himself against all odds and repeated parental abandonment, and he worked hard to regiment his emotions. But now that can come across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/obama-invented-himself-against-all-odds-and-repeated-parental/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [Feminism died in 1998 when Hillary allowed henchlings and Democrats to demonize Monica as an unbalanced stalker, and when Gloria Steinem defended Mr. Clinton…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/feminism-died-in-1998-when-hillary-allowed-henchlings-and-democrats/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [President Obama thinks he can use emotion to bring pressure on Congress. But that's not how adults with power respond to things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/president-obama-thinks-he-can-use-emotion-to-bring-pressure-on/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [ Now that Hillary \[Clinton\] has won Pennsylvania, it will take a village to help Obama escape from the suffocating embrace of his rival. Certainly… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/now-that-hillary-clinton-has-won-pennsylvania-it-will-take-a-village/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [I don't understand men. I don't even understand what I don't understand about men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/i-don-t-understand-men-i-don-t-even-understand-what-i-don-t/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [Good and evil are not like the Redskins and the Cowboys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/good-and-evil-are-not-like-the-redskins-and-the-cowboys/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [And as far as doing God's work, I think the bankers who took government money and then gave out obscene bonuses are the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/and-as-far-as-doing-god-s-work-i-think-the-bankers-who-took/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [It is men's worst fear, personally and professionally, that women will pin the sin on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/it-is-men-s-worst-fear-personally-and-professionally-that-women-will/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) [Explore all 96 Maureen Dowd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Settling is about not embracing what is best for you and accepting what you really don't want. When you settle, you accept less than you deserve. Settling becomes a habit and a way of life, but it doesn't have to be. 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