--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Trying to get without first giving is as…" description: "\"Trying to get without first giving is as fruitless as trying to reap without having sown.\" — Napoleon Hill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/napoleon-hill-201_firsts_trying-to-get-without-first-giving-is-as_349806.jpg" --- # Trying to get without first giving is as fruitless as… ![“Trying to get without first giving is as fruitless as trying to reap without having sown.” quote by Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/napoleon-hill-201_firsts_trying-to-get-without-first-giving-is-as_349806.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/napoleon-hill-201_firsts_trying-to-get-without-first-giving-is-as_349806.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/napoleon-hill-201_firsts_trying-to-get-without-first-giving-is-as_349806.jpg) > “Trying to get without first giving is as fruitless as trying to reap without having sown.” [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. Achieving results requires first contributing effort; you cannot reap without sowing. **In simple terms:** You must give before you receive. Key Takeaway Invest effort before expecting reward. Themes effort reward cause and effect Mood motivational pragmatic Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - business - personal development - teamwork - project planning Key Concepts reciprocity productivity motivation Questions to Reflect On - What can you give today to enable future success? - How do you balance giving and receiving? A Different Perspective May ignore situations where giving is not reciprocated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fruitless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruitless/) [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) ## Related quotes > [When people are trying to put me down, that's giving me conformation that I'm on top!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livefree2dream44/when-people-are-trying-to-put-me-down-that-s-giving-me-conformation/) Livefree2dream44 > [We keep trying because giving up is too easy to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-hardin/we-keep-trying-because-giving-up-is-too-easy-to-do/) [Ephrem Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-hardin/) > [After a while u get to a point where u get tired of trying, its not giving up, its just realizing that u don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/after-a-while-u-get-to-a-point-where-u-get-tired-of-trying-its-not/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Giving it some of your all is called Trying. Giving it most of your all is called Making It. Giving it your all is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-adams/giving-it-some-of-your-all-is-called-trying-giving-it-most-of-your/) [DJ Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-adams/) > [“You just cannot reason with a turnip. It's fruitless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hays/you-just-cannot-reason-with-a-turnip-it-s-fruitless/) Gary Hays > [“How weak and fruitless must be any word of mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/how-weak-and-fruitless-must-be-any-word-of-mine/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Think of the 40 years of confrontation. What is it we gained?...The old style has exposed itself: it is fruitless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergey-akhromeyev/think-of-the-40-years-of-confrontation-what-is-it-we-gained-the-old/) [Sergey Akhromeyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergey-akhromeyev/) > [The prayer that is faithless is fruitless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/the-prayer-that-is-faithless-is-fruitless/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [“But to this Orc-work such a life as we lead has brought us. Lawless and fruitless all our deeds have been, serving only ourselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/but-to-this-orc-work-such-a-life-as-we-lead-has-brought-us-lawless/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [Knowledge is vain and fruitless which is not reduced to practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/knowledge-is-vain-and-fruitless-which-is-not-reduced-to-practice/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“He was a vegetable, so trying to change his mind was fruitless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/he-was-a-vegetable-so-trying-to-change-his-mind-was-fruitless/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Fruitless striving breeds less despair than inaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/fruitless-striving-breeds-less-despair-than-inaction/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [If there is no effort towards the relationship, it's like irrigating a fruitless trees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nino-jobo-lucy/if-there-is-no-effort-towards-the-relationship-it-s-like-irrigating-a/) Nino Jobo Lucy > [I speak of the war as fruitless; for it is clear that, prosecuted upon the basis of the proclamations of September 22d and September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-pierce/i-speak-of-the-war-as-fruitless-for-it-is-clear-that-prosecuted-upon/) [Franklin Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-pierce/) > [“If you waste time watering a fruitless tree, fruitful ones may die of thirst.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-you-waste-time-watering-a-fruitless-tree-fruitful-ones-may-die-of/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) ## 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 Firsts quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [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/) > [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/) [A. R. 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Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [Meanwhile someone is shining my head to get it dry to attach my top-hat to my head with toupee tape. I get into microphone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/meanwhile-someone-is-shining-my-head-to-get-it-dry-to-attach-my-top/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) Browse all 32,432 Firsts quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Trying to get without first giving is as fruitless as trying to reap without having sown.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Napoleon Hill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/trying-to-get-without-first-giving-is-as-fruitless-as-trying-to-reap/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Firsts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/trying-to-get-without-first-giving-is-as-fruitless-as-trying-to-reap/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/napoleon-hill-201_firsts_trying-to-get-without-first-giving-is-as_349806.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/napoleon-hill-201_firsts_trying-to-get-without-first-giving-is-as_349806.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/napoleon-hill-201_firsts_trying-to-get-without-first-giving-is-as_349806.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Trying to get without first giving is as fruitless as trying to reap without having sown.” — 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": "Trying to get without first giving...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/trying-to-get-without-first-giving-is-as-fruitless-as-trying-to-reap/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/trying-to-get-without-first-giving-is-as-fruitless-as-trying-to-reap/#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 } } ] } ```