--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The one who tries to get something for…" description: "\"The one who tries to get something for nothing generally winds up getting nothing for something.\" — Napoleon Hill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/napoleon-hill-201_generally_the-one-who-tries-to-get-something-for-n_704829.jpg" --- # The one who tries to get something for nothing generally… ![“The one who tries to get something for nothing generally winds up getting nothing for something.” quote by Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/napoleon-hill-201_generally_the-one-who-tries-to-get-something-for-n_704829.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/napoleon-hill-201_generally_the-one-who-tries-to-get-something-for-n_704829.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/napoleon-hill-201_generally_the-one-who-tries-to-get-something-for-n_704829.jpg) > “The one who tries to get something for nothing generally winds up getting nothing for something.” [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Trying to obtain something without effort often results in receiving nothing, highlighting the need for work and reciprocity. **In simple terms:** You can’t get something for nothing; effort is required. Key Takeaway Put effort into what you want. Themes effort reciprocity fairness cause and effect success Mood motivational pragmatic Type self‑help philosophical When to use this quote - business ventures - personal goals - financial planning - skill development Key Concepts economics psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What are you willing to work for? - How do you balance effort and expectation? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex situations where external factors limit outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generally/) [Generally Winds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generally-winds-5572970/) [Getting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Tries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tries/) [Tries Generally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tries-generally-5572969/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) ## Related quotes > [If a musician dares to get out of the box he's been put in, people get confused. They want people where they can find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/if-a-musician-dares-to-get-out-of-the-box-he-s-been-put-in-people-get/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [Those who reach decisions promptly and definitely, know what they want, and generally get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/those-who-reach-decisions-promptly-and-definitely-know-what-they-want/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [When you get a typical injury, you're given a time frame; you're gradually working towards getting back. With concussions, there is not generally a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-crosby/when-you-get-a-typical-injury-you-re-given-a-time-frame-you-re/) [Sidney Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-crosby/) > [Rock stars generally don't last in the Senate, starting with John Kennedy. Too much work, too slow, too little juice. Getting something accomplished takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-estrich/rock-stars-generally-don-t-last-in-the-senate-starting-with-john/) [Susan Estrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-estrich/) > [The strongest oak of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It’s the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-strongest-oak-of-the-forest-is-not-the-one-that-is-protected-from/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Speak from your heart, not your head. You speak from your head, you can wind up getting yourself in a lot of crap. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-roberts/speak-from-your-heart-not-your-head-you-speak-from-your-head-you-can/) [Jake Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-roberts/) > [I'm a storyteller... I haves a God-given gift that I can share with you and perhaps entertain you and bring you along for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/i-m-a-storyteller-i-haves-a-god-given-gift-that-i-can-share-with-you/) [Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/) > [“Sometimes he tries to catch her, wading frantically through earth that has turned to water, or sometimes through air. Sometimes she tries to catch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenland/sometimes-he-tries-to-catch-her-wading-frantically-through-earth-that/) [Colin Greenland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenland/) > [The last thing I want to do is force tries to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-folau/the-last-thing-i-want-to-do-is-force-tries-to-happen/) [Israel Folau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-folau/) > [Anyone who tries to diss me in comparison to Queen, it just renders all their criticisms completely futile. That's quite pleasurable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mika/anyone-who-tries-to-diss-me-in-comparison-to-queen-it-just-renders/) [Mika](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mika/) > [I'm scammed almost every day. Or, if not scammed, at the very least someone tries to scam me. Usually more than once a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/i-m-scammed-almost-every-day-or-if-not-scammed-at-the-very-least/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [The Antichrist is often identified with the second beast in the Book of Revelation that arises from the land, the beast that tries to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/the-antichrist-is-often-identified-with-the-second-beast-in-the-book/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [Ryan Murphy, he basically tries to find something that's a pulse, a pressure point in our culture, and he grabs it, and he squeezes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wittrock/ryan-murphy-he-basically-tries-to-find-something-that-s-a-pulse-a/) [Finn Wittrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wittrock/) > [Beware of anyone who tries to please you all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/beware-of-anyone-who-tries-to-please-you-all-the-time/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The stag tells him that he is the eldest of the sons - the father's favorite - and he warns the father that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-solti/the-stag-tells-him-that-he-is-the-eldest-of-the-sons-the-father-s/) [Georg Solti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-solti/) ## More by Napoleon Hill > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The mind requires regular use to remain strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-mind-requires-regular-use-to-remain-strong/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The vast majority of people are born, grow up, struggle and go through life in misery and failure, not realizing that it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-vast-majority-of-people-are-born-grow-up-struggle-and-go-through/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/no-accurate-thinker-will-judge-another-person-by-that-which-the-other/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“To all these I wish to convey the thought that all achievement, no matter what may be its nature, or its purpose, must begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/to-all-these-i-wish-to-convey-the-thought-that-all-achievement-no/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“Tell the world what you intend to do, but first show it.” This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/tell-the-world-what-you-intend-to-do-but-first-show-it-this/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Handicaps can be converted into stepping stones on which one may climb toward some worthy goal, unless they are accepted as obstacles, and used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/handicaps-can-be-converted-into-stepping-stones-on-which-one-may/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [You become what you think about](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/you-become-what-you-think-about/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Every man's own character is written so all who will may read it, in the expression of his eyes, the tone of his voice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/every-man-s-own-character-is-written-so-all-who-will-may-read-it-in/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Life is a mirror of your consistent thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/life-is-a-mirror-of-your-consistent-thoughts/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Success requires no explanations. Failure permits no alibis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/success-requires-no-explanations-failure-permits-no-alibis/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The habit of taking the line of least resistance makes all rivers and some men crooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-habit-of-taking-the-line-of-least-resistance-makes-all-rivers-and/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“There are no limitations to the mind except those that we acknowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/there-are-no-limitations-to-the-mind-except-those-that-we-acknowledge/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) [Explore all 928 Napoleon Hill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## More Generally quotes > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [Generally, I like all islands. There, it is easier to rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/generally-i-like-all-islands-there-it-is-easier-to-rule/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [My wife and kids maybe beg to differ, but I am generally a good guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-macchio/my-wife-and-kids-maybe-beg-to-differ-but-i-am-generally-a-good-guy/) [Ralph Macchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-macchio/) > [I'm generally pretty happy about life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-m-generally-pretty-happy-about-life/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [The first act is the easiest to plot. The second act is always the hardest to plot. Generally a good, you know, sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-cannell/the-first-act-is-the-easiest-to-plot-the-second-act-is-always-the/) [Stephen J. Cannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-cannell/) > [Knowledge is generally considered a good thing; so, presumably, knowing more about how the U.S. thinks and operates around the world is also good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/knowledge-is-generally-considered-a-good-thing-so-presumably-knowing/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [I'm in production year round. I work long hours. I have a dog and a wife. There's not a lot of available time for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-m-in-production-year-round-i-work-long-hours-i-have-a-dog-and-a/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [I'm pretty indiscriminating, and I have awful taste, generally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-mckay/i-m-pretty-indiscriminating-and-i-have-awful-taste-generally/) [Nellie McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-mckay/) > [But it is impossible to divide a cube into two cubes, or a fourth power into fourth powers, or generally any power beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-fermat/but-it-is-impossible-to-divide-a-cube-into-two-cubes-or-a-fourth/) [Pierre de Fermat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-fermat/) > [For those of us in the political business, generally, it's been pretty much an unwritten but understood rule that family and children are out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/for-those-of-us-in-the-political-business-generally-it-s-been-pretty/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [And so, as generally happens, those who have most give least, and those with less somehow make shrift to share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/and-so-as-generally-happens-those-who-have-most-give-least-and-those/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [As a children's author, reviewers are generally very nice to you. I only ever wrote one adult book and received such a kicking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/as-a-children-s-author-reviewers-are-generally-very-nice-to-you-i/) [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) > [I think people just think I am crazy because they see me doing stand-up, but I am generally not. I am very sad. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-people-just-think-i-am-crazy-because-they-see-me-doing-stand/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [Rock stars generally don't last in the Senate, starting with John Kennedy. Too much work, too slow, too little juice. Getting something accomplished takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-estrich/rock-stars-generally-don-t-last-in-the-senate-starting-with-john/) [Susan Estrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-estrich/) > [In refugee camps around the world, I met people who were gone. They were still walking around but had lost so much that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ellis/in-refugee-camps-around-the-world-i-met-people-who-were-gone-they/) [Deborah Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ellis/) [Browse all 627 Generally quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generally/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The one who tries to get something for nothing generally winds up getting nothing for something.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Napoleon Hill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-one-who-tries-to-get-something-for-nothing-generally-winds-up/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Generally" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-one-who-tries-to-get-something-for-nothing-generally-winds-up/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/napoleon-hill-201_generally_the-one-who-tries-to-get-something-for-n_704829.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/napoleon-hill-201_generally_the-one-who-tries-to-get-something-for-n_704829.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/napoleon-hill-201_generally_the-one-who-tries-to-get-something-for-n_704829.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The one who tries to get something for nothing generally winds up getting nothing for something.” — Napoleon Hill", "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": "Napoleon Hill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The one who tries to get...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-one-who-tries-to-get-something-for-nothing-generally-winds-up/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-one-who-tries-to-get-something-for-nothing-generally-winds-up/#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 } } ] } ```