--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes, if you ask people to \"go…" description: "\"Sometimes, if you ask people to \"go downstairs and get me this or that,\" they'll say, \"It's rainin\" or \"It might rain,\" or \"There's some bumpy roads on..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adf/miles-davis-1842_asks_sometimes-if-you-ask-people-to-go-downst_1508210.jpg" --- # Sometimes, if you ask people to "go downstairs and get me… ![“Sometimes, if you ask people to "go downstairs and get me this or that," they'll say, "It's rainin" or "It might rain," or "There's some bumpy roads on the road," or bla-bla-bla. They give you all those excuses, so when they do something which is easy, you're supposed to say, "Damn, you did that?"” quote by Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adf/miles-davis-1842_asks_sometimes-if-you-ask-people-to-go-downst_1508210.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adf/miles-davis-1842_asks_sometimes-if-you-ask-people-to-go-downst_1508210.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adf/miles-davis-1842_asks_sometimes-if-you-ask-people-to-go-downst_1508210.jpg) > “Sometimes, if you ask people to "go downstairs and get me this or that," they'll say, "It's rainin" or "It might rain," or "There's some bumpy roads on the road," or bla-bla-bla. They give you all those excuses, so when they do something which is easy, you're supposed to say, "Damn, you did that?"” [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often offer excuses for simple tasks, reflecting avoidance or fear of effort. **In simple terms:** Excuses hide reluctance to act. Key Takeaway Address excuses directly. Themes avoidance communication responsibility Mood frustrated irritated Type observational critical When to use this quote - workplace - team projects - personal tasks Key Concepts psychology social behavior Questions to Reflect On - Why do you accept excuses? - How can you encourage accountability? A Different Perspective Excuses may stem from genuine concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Damn you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damn-you/) [Excuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuses/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rain/) ## Related quotes > [And I have this little litany of things they can do. 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If you indulge your natural curiosity and retain a sense of fun in new experience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/a-playful-mind-is-inquisitive-and-learning-is-fun-if-you-indulge-your/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [Look at pictures of me growing up. It wasn't always the way it is now. It was a bumpy road for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evans/look-at-pictures-of-me-growing-up-it-wasn-t-always-the-way-it-is-now/) [Chris Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evans/) > [It was a long hard bumpy road, but this great country kept me inspired with its beauty, character, and spirit, driving me to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stompin-tom-connors/it-was-a-long-hard-bumpy-road-but-this-great-country-kept-me-inspired/) [Stompin' Tom Connors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stompin-tom-connors/) > [Often, bumpy roads lead to beautiful places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/often-bumpy-roads-lead-to-beautiful-places/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [See, because I played behind the scenes so much I already knew what to expect. So I started getting myself ready. I was creating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yung-joc/see-because-i-played-behind-the-scenes-so-much-i-already-knew-what-to/) [Yung Joc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yung-joc/) > [If your religion does not make you holy, it will damn you. It is simply painted pageantry to go to hell in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-your-religion-does-not-make-you-holy-it-will-damn-you-it-is-simply/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Saying you love something out loud with the wrong intonation in your face can damn you and destroy what you're working on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-white/saying-you-love-something-out-loud-with-the-wrong-intonation-in-your/) [Jack White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-white/) > [You have delivered up our holy German Fatherland to one of the greatest demagogues of all time. I solemnly prophesy that this accursed man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-delivered-up-our-holy-german-fatherland-to-one-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The point of women's liberation is not to stand at the door of the male world, beating our fists, and crying, 'Let me in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-gornick/the-point-of-women-s-liberation-is-not-to-stand-at-the-door-of-the/) [Vivian Gornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-gornick/) > [If the producer doesn't like you, consequently he reads the script with a very negative view. But I wouldn't preoccupy myself with that, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/if-the-producer-doesn-t-like-you-consequently-he-reads-the-script/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [The indications are that swearing preceded the development of cursing. That is, expletives, maledictions, exclamations, and imprecations of the immediately explosive or vituperative kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-indications-are-that-swearing-preceded-the-development-of-cursing/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [No tears to damn you when jealousy burns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/no-tears-to-damn-you-when-jealousy-burns/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) ## More by Miles Davis > [I usually write from the rhythm section...If a drummer got a funky beat on some things - like a half-shuffle or a shuffle or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-usually-write-from-the-rhythm-section-if-a-drummer-got-a-funky-beat/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Look, man, all I am is a trumpet player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/look-man-all-i-am-is-a-trumpet-player/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [You have to practice for a long time before you can learn to sound like yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/you-have-to-practice-for-a-long-time-before-you-can-learn-to-sound/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [There are no wrong notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/there-are-no-wrong-notes/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Knowledge is freedom and ignorance is slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/knowledge-is-freedom-and-ignorance-is-slavery/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I began to realize that some of the things Ornette Coleman had said about things being played three or fours ways, independently of each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-began-to-realize-that-some-of-the-things-ornette-coleman-had-said/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [...people will go for anything they don't understand if it's got enough hype. They want to be hip, want always to be in on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/people-will-go-for-anything-they-don-t-understand-if-it-s-got-enough/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [If you're trying to be hip, be hip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/if-you-re-trying-to-be-hip-be-hip/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [My father's rich, my momma's good looking. Right? And I can play the Blues. I've never suffered and don't intend to suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/my-father-s-rich-my-momma-s-good-looking-right-and-i-can-play-the/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I'm out there doing the best that I can, My lip is cut and I'm still playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-m-out-there-doing-the-best-that-i-can-my-lip-is-cut-and-i-m-still/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [When I'm playing, I'm never through. It's unfinished. I like to find a place to leave for someone else to finish it. That's where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/when-i-m-playing-i-m-never-through-it-s-unfinished-i-like-to-find-a/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [ \[Prince\] could very well be the Duke Ellington of Rock 'n' Roll. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/prince-could-very-well-be-the-duke-ellington-of-rock-n-roll/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I can tell whether a person can play just by the way he stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-can-tell-whether-a-person-can-play-just-by-the-way-he-stands/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Do not fear mistakes. There are none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/do-not-fear-mistakes-there-are-none/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [You can't compete with Sweets' sound and time feel. It's impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/you-can-t-compete-with-sweets-sound-and-time-feel-it-s-impossible/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) [Explore all 204 Miles Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) ## More Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. 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If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes, if you ask people to \"go downstairs and get me this or that,\" they'll say, \"It's rainin\" or \"It might rain,\" or \"There's some bumpy roads on the road,\" or bla-bla-bla. 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