---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The more we hear ourselves grumble and…"
description: "\"“The more we hear ourselves grumble and complain, the more we take it to heart and believe our own words.”\" — Nancy Wilson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/nancy-wilson-3971_quote_the-more-we-hear-ourselves-grumble-and-c_1634316.jpg"
---

#  The more we hear ourselves grumble and complain, the more…

![“The more we hear ourselves grumble and complain, the more we take it to heart and believe our own words.” quote by Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/nancy-wilson-3971_quote_the-more-we-hear-ourselves-grumble-and-c_1634316.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/nancy-wilson-3971_quote_the-more-we-hear-ourselves-grumble-and-c_1634316.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/nancy-wilson-3971_quote_the-more-we-hear-ourselves-grumble-and-c_1634316.jpg)

> ““The more we hear ourselves grumble and complain, the more we take it to heart and believe our own words.””

[Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Complaining reinforces negative self‑beliefs, making grievances feel personal and true.

**In simple terms:** Complaining makes you believe your own words.

Key Takeaway

Limit self‑criticism and focus on solutions.

Themes

self‑talk psychology mindset communication

Mood

thoughtful encouraging

Type

motivational insightful

When to use this quote

- personal journaling
- coaching sessions
- team meetings
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

cognitive bias negative reinforcement self‑fulfilling prophecy

Questions to Reflect On

- How does self‑talk shape reality?
- What habits replace unproductive complaining?

A Different Perspective

May overlook legitimate concerns.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Grumble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grumble/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/)

## Related quotes

> [“Even though I complain sometimes it's because I'm the heart of a person. People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/even-though-i-complain-sometimes-it-s-because-i-m-the-heart-of-a/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [A man must have something to grumble about; and if he can't complain that his wife harries him to death with her perversity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/a-man-must-have-something-to-grumble-about-and-if-he-can-t-complain/)

[Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/)

> [As for murmurs, mother, we grumble a little now and then, to be sure; but there's no love lost between us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/as-for-murmurs-mother-we-grumble-a-little-now-and-then-to-be-sure-but/)

[Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/)

> [To do nothing but grumble and not to act - that is throwing away one's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-morris/to-do-nothing-but-grumble-and-not-to-act-that-is-throwing-away-one-s/)

[William Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-morris/)

> [“Grumble is the god of henchmen and minions. Once a former lackey himself, after his deification he chose to look over his own people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/grumble-is-the-god-of-henchmen-and-minions-once-a-former-lackey/)

[Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/)

> [Grumbling and gratitude are, for the child of God, in conflict. Be grateful and you won't grumble. Grumble and you won't be grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/grumbling-and-gratitude-are-for-the-child-of-god-in-conflict-be/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [“Grumble weakens the spirit. Despair is counterproductive. Both are true toxicants in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/grumble-weakens-the-spirit-despair-is-counterproductive-both-are-true/)

[Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/)

> [... most people are dead, and none of them seem to mind it. One hears a great many complaints about life, doesn't one? And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/most-people-are-dead-and-none-of-them-seem-to-mind-it-one-hears-a/)

[Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/)

> [“We take the subway.Grumble's next message came through after breakfast, and it said: theres a grumblegear3k waiting for you at 11 jay street in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/we-take-the-subway-grumble-s-next-message-came-through-after/)

[Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/)

> [No fortune is so good but that you may find something to grumble about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/no-fortune-is-so-good-but-that-you-may-find-something-to-grumble-about/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [Home is the place we love best and grumble the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-sunday/home-is-the-place-we-love-best-and-grumble-the-most/)

[Billy Sunday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-sunday/)

> [I can't grumble. I've been very content with the way things have gone. I may have minor quibbles as we all have, but I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/i-can-t-grumble-i-ve-been-very-content-with-the-way-things-have-gone/)

[Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/)

> [If you want to know all about the sea ... and ask the sea itself, what does it say? Grumble grumble swish swish. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/if-you-want-to-know-all-about-the-sea-and-ask-the-sea-itself-what/)

[Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/)

> [“Why is it people will complain, when they have an open door, where they can walk out to and gaze the stars; rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/why-is-it-people-will-complain-when-they-have-an-open-door-where-they/)

[Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/)

> [If you are foolish enough to be contented, don't show it, but grumble with the rest; and if you can do with a little,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/if-you-are-foolish-enough-to-be-contented-don-t-show-it-but-grumble/)

[Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/)

## More by Nancy Wilson

> [A lot of times, women are pigeonholed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/a-lot-of-times-women-are-pigeonholed/)

[Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

> [I think there were a couple really good songs on 'Whirlygig.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/i-think-there-were-a-couple-really-good-songs-on-whirlygig/)

[Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

> [I think what constitutes rock nowadays is people that actually play and sing. They can do the job live with no ProTools or embellishments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/i-think-what-constitutes-rock-nowadays-is-people-that-actually-play/)

[Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

> [When you're 12, you have no gauge for what's hip or not hip - or even who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/when-you-re-12-you-have-no-gauge-for-what-s-hip-or-not-hip-or-even/)

[Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

> [We didn't want to be the girlfriends of the Beatles. We wanted to be the Beatles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/we-didn-t-want-to-be-the-girlfriends-of-the-beatles-we-wanted-to-be/)

[Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

> [Being taken seriously was always the biggest challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/being-taken-seriously-was-always-the-biggest-challenge/)

[Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

> [Our mom was a super strident, capable, and strong individual. I think because she was a military wife in the Marine Corps, she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/our-mom-was-a-super-strident-capable-and-strong-individual-i-think/)

[Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

> [There were not very many girls in rock n' roll together with men that had a heavy rock sound as well as a more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/there-were-not-very-many-girls-in-rock-n-roll-together-with-men-that/)

[Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

> [Grace Slick was a total trip to work with. Lots of jokes and opinions. A strident individual and super talented!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/grace-slick-was-a-total-trip-to-work-with-lots-of-jokes-and-opinions/)

[Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

> [In the case of Roadcase Royale, everyone in the band has a lot to offer as a writer and producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/in-the-case-of-roadcase-royale-everyone-in-the-band-has-a-lot-to/)

[Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

> [As a songwriter, simplicity - what not to do, what not to play - can be the hardest thing to achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/as-a-songwriter-simplicity-what-not-to-do-what-not-to-play-can-be-the/)

[Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

> [One of the signature things about Heart was the acoustic guitar in a rock format, which you didn't hear that often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/one-of-the-signature-things-about-heart-was-the-acoustic-guitar-in-a/)

[Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

> [Heart is fun for the whole family!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/heart-is-fun-for-the-whole-family/)

[Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

> [I'm a chameleon when it comes to guitar playing and like to stretch out into different territories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/i-m-a-chameleon-when-it-comes-to-guitar-playing-and-like-to-stretch/)

[Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

> [Ann and I were the main writers in Heart. We had the leadership role, and the guys in the band sometimes had a hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/ann-and-i-were-the-main-writers-in-heart-we-had-the-leadership-role/)

[Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

[Explore all 118 Nancy Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/)

## More Grumble quotes

> [If you are foolish enough to be contented, don't show it, but grumble with the rest; and if you can do with a little,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/if-you-are-foolish-enough-to-be-contented-don-t-show-it-but-grumble/)

[Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/)

> [“Why is it people will complain, when they have an open door, where they can walk out to and gaze the stars; rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/why-is-it-people-will-complain-when-they-have-an-open-door-where-they/)

[Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/)

> [If you want to know all about the sea ... and ask the sea itself, what does it say? Grumble grumble swish swish. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/if-you-want-to-know-all-about-the-sea-and-ask-the-sea-itself-what/)

[Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/)

> [I can't grumble. I've been very content with the way things have gone. I may have minor quibbles as we all have, but I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/i-can-t-grumble-i-ve-been-very-content-with-the-way-things-have-gone/)

[Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/)

> [Home is the place we love best and grumble the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-sunday/home-is-the-place-we-love-best-and-grumble-the-most/)

[Billy Sunday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-sunday/)

> [No fortune is so good but that you may find something to grumble about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/no-fortune-is-so-good-but-that-you-may-find-something-to-grumble-about/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [“We take the subway.Grumble's next message came through after breakfast, and it said: theres a grumblegear3k waiting for you at 11 jay street in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/we-take-the-subway-grumble-s-next-message-came-through-after/)

[Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/)

> [... most people are dead, and none of them seem to mind it. One hears a great many complaints about life, doesn't one? And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/most-people-are-dead-and-none-of-them-seem-to-mind-it-one-hears-a/)

[Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/)

> [“Grumble weakens the spirit. Despair is counterproductive. Both are true toxicants in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/grumble-weakens-the-spirit-despair-is-counterproductive-both-are-true/)

[Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/)

> [Grumbling and gratitude are, for the child of God, in conflict. Be grateful and you won't grumble. Grumble and you won't be grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/grumbling-and-gratitude-are-for-the-child-of-god-in-conflict-be/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [“Grumble is the god of henchmen and minions. Once a former lackey himself, after his deification he chose to look over his own people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-hayes/grumble-is-the-god-of-henchmen-and-minions-once-a-former-lackey/)

[Drew Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-hayes/)

> [To do nothing but grumble and not to act - that is throwing away one's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-morris/to-do-nothing-but-grumble-and-not-to-act-that-is-throwing-away-one-s/)

[William Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-morris/)

> [As for murmurs, mother, we grumble a little now and then, to be sure; but there's no love lost between us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/as-for-murmurs-mother-we-grumble-a-little-now-and-then-to-be-sure-but/)

[Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/)

> [“The louder you bellyache, the longer your stomach will hurt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/the-louder-you-bellyache-the-longer-your-stomach-will-hurt/)

[Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/)

> [Home: The place in which you are treated the best and grumble the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-the-place-in-which-you-are-treated-the-best-and-grumble-the-most/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 26 Grumble quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grumble/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The more we hear ourselves grumble and complain, the more we take it to heart and believe our own words.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Nancy Wilson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/the-more-we-hear-ourselves-grumble-and-complain-the-more-we-take-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Grumble"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/the-more-we-hear-ourselves-grumble-and-complain-the-more-we-take-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/nancy-wilson-3971_quote_the-more-we-hear-ourselves-grumble-and-c_1634316.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/nancy-wilson-3971_quote_the-more-we-hear-ourselves-grumble-and-c_1634316.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/nancy-wilson-3971_quote_the-more-we-hear-ourselves-grumble-and-c_1634316.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The more we hear ourselves grumble and complain, the more we take it to heart and believe our own words.” — Nancy Wilson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Nancy Wilson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The more we hear ourselves grumble...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/the-more-we-hear-ourselves-grumble-and-complain-the-more-we-take-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/the-more-we-hear-ourselves-grumble-and-complain-the-more-we-take-it/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
