--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The hardest work you and I will ever do…" description: "\"The hardest work you and I will ever do is to put off our selfishness. It is heavy lifting!\" — Neal A. Maxwell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca5/neal-a-maxwell-925_hardest_the-hardest-work-you-and-i-will-ever-do_2133504.png" --- # The hardest work you and I will ever do is to put off our… ![“The hardest work you and I will ever do is to put off our selfishness. It is heavy lifting!” quote by Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca5/neal-a-maxwell-925_hardest_the-hardest-work-you-and-i-will-ever-do_2133504.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca5/neal-a-maxwell-925_hardest_the-hardest-work-you-and-i-will-ever-do_2133504.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca5/neal-a-maxwell-925_hardest_the-hardest-work-you-and-i-will-ever-do_2133504.png) > “The hardest work you and I will ever do is to put off our selfishness. It is heavy lifting!” [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Selfishness hinders collective progress; overcoming it requires deliberate effort and humility. **In simple terms:** Selfishness is a heavy burden that must be lifted. Key Takeaway Choose to act selflessly. Themes selflessness personal growth community Mood reflective motivational Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - team projects - family decisions - volunteer work - leadership roles Key Concepts psychology ethics behavioral change Questions to Reflect On - How can you recognize selfish habits in daily life? - What small act of selflessness can you practice today? A Different Perspective Selfish impulses are natural and may resurface under stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hardest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardest/) [Hardest Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardest-work-507955/) [Heavy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heavy/) [Heavy lifting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heavy-lifting/) [Lifting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifting/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Selfishness Heavy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness-heavy-4408472/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-selfishness-4408473/) ## Related quotes > [Writing is the hardest work in the world not involving heavy lifting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hamill/writing-is-the-hardest-work-in-the-world-not-involving-heavy-lifting/) [Pete Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hamill/) > [The learning is the heavy lifting. You need to get the words into your brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/the-learning-is-the-heavy-lifting-you-need-to-get-the-words-into-your/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [I always see where I didn't do things the right way. I only see the heavy lifting. That's a bit of my wisdom, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-wang/i-always-see-where-i-didn-t-do-things-the-right-way-i-only-see-the/) [Vera Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-wang/) > [ It's a simplification to say that the men \[during Stone Age\] went to war to maintain their dominance over the women. The men would… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/it-s-a-simplification-to-say-that-the-men-during-stone-age-went-to/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [Being an MP is a good job, the sort of job all working-class parents want for their children -- clean, indoors and no heavy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/being-an-mp-is-a-good-job-the-sort-of-job-all-working-class-parents/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [Let probability and sample size do the heavy lifting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/let-probability-and-sample-size-do-the-heavy-lifting/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [I'm really tired of Americans being the only ones asked to do all the heavy lifting when it comes to charity, and, quite frankly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/i-m-really-tired-of-americans-being-the-only-ones-asked-to-do-all-the/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [There is something about a well-fitted modern jacket that feels like armor. If it's cut well, it adds a dose of cool to anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/there-is-something-about-a-well-fitted-modern-jacket-that-feels-like/) [Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/) > [Heavy lifting doesn't need to be heavy spending if we do the job right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/heavy-lifting-doesn-t-need-to-be-heavy-spending-if-we-do-the-job-right/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [A live action movie is work, and an animated movie is you showing up in your pajamas once every three months, or in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-reynolds/a-live-action-movie-is-work-and-an-animated-movie-is-you-showing-up/) [Ryan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-reynolds/) > [I put on fifteen pounds of muscle, so that was a lot of eating chicken and a high protein, low-carb diet. Also a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hutcherson/i-put-on-fifteen-pounds-of-muscle-so-that-was-a-lot-of-eating-chicken/) [Josh Hutcherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hutcherson/) > [Many feel they are called to the priesthood, but what they really hear is an inner voice saying, 'It's indoor work with no heavy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/many-feel-they-are-called-to-the-priesthood-but-what-they-really-hear/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Writing for television is a great job. And it's a job. Most people watch TV and have a comment about one or two moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-c-harper/writing-for-television-is-a-great-job-and-it-s-a-job-most-people/) [Steven C. Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-c-harper/) > [If the Holy Spirit is capable of the heavy lifting required to get Pat Robertson to change his mind, then that strikes me as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/if-the-holy-spirit-is-capable-of-the-heavy-lifting-required-to-get/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [I know a lot of people did a lot of heavy lifting to make me successful and I do everything in my power not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/i-know-a-lot-of-people-did-a-lot-of-heavy-lifting-to-make-me/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) ## More by Neal A. Maxwell > [Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/clearly-when-we-baptize-our-eyes-should-gaze-beyond-the-baptismal/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [We should not assume; however, that just because something is unexplainable by us, it is unexplainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-should-not-assume-however-that-just-because-something-is/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism are both to be avoided, therefore. It's not an easy balance to maintain, to be asked to work away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-are-both-to-be-avoided/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Occasionally some individuals let the seeming ordinariness of life dampen their spirits. Though actually coping and growning, others lack the quiet, inner-soul satisfaction that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/occasionally-some-individuals-let-the-seeming-ordinariness-of-life/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The acceptance of the reality that we are in the Lord's loving hands is only a recognition that we have never really been anywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-acceptance-of-the-reality-that-we-are-in-the-lord-s-loving-hands/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [We can't dwell upon another's ingratitude without using up our time and talents unprofitably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-can-t-dwell-upon-another-s-ingratitude-without-using-up-our-time/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The winds of tribulation, which blow out some men's candles of commitment, only fan the fires of faith of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-winds-of-tribulation-which-blow-out-some-men-s-candles-of/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Power is most safe with those who are not in love with it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/power-is-most-safe-with-those-who-are-not-in-love-with-it/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Ultimate hope constitutes the anchor of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/ultimate-hope-constitutes-the-anchor-of-the-soul/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Frequently, we busily search for group service projects, which are surely needed and commendable, when quiet, personal service is also urgently needed. Sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/frequently-we-busily-search-for-group-service-projects-which-are/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The cumulative weight of all mortal sins--past, present, and future--pressed upon that perfect, sinless, and sensitive Soul! All our infirmities and sicknesses were somehow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-cumulative-weight-of-all-mortal-sins-past-present-and-future/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [“When we feel so alone, we cannot presume to teach him who, at the apogee of his agony, trod “the winepress alone” anything about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/when-we-feel-so-alone-we-cannot-presume-to-teach-him-who-at-the/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [How myopic it is to view His ministry as all crucifixion and no resurrection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/how-myopic-it-is-to-view-his-ministry-as-all-crucifixion-and-no/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Patience stoutly resists pulling up the daisies to see how the roots are doing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/patience-stoutly-resists-pulling-up-the-daisies-to-see-how-the-roots/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Our little pebble of poor performance helps to start, or to sustain, an avalanche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/our-little-pebble-of-poor-performance-helps-to-start-or-to-sustain-an/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) [Explore all 328 Neal A. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) ## More Hardest quotes > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. 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No easy road brings you great victory!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-hardest-roads-are-often-empty-the-darkest-paths-are-mostly-silent/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Somebody's real voice is probably the hardest one that somebody could attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/somebody-s-real-voice-is-probably-the-hardest-one-that-somebody-could/) [Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/) > [We ought to observe that practice which is the hardest of all-especially for young physicians-we ought to throw in no medicine at all-to abstain-to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-randolph-of-roanoke/we-ought-to-observe-that-practice-which-is-the-hardest-of-all/) [John Randolph of Roanoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-randolph-of-roanoke/) > [I was in good shape from Divergent. Damien Chazelle, the director of Whiplash told me, ‘Stop Working Out! Don’t go outside!’ He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-teller/i-was-in-good-shape-from-divergent-damien-chazelle-the-director-of/) [Miles Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-teller/) > [For a lot of women, one of the hardest things about leadership is the desire to be liked by everyone. That's often inconsistent with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weddington/for-a-lot-of-women-one-of-the-hardest-things-about-leadership-is-the/) [Sarah Weddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weddington/) > [Hardest emotion? They're all pretty damn hard; I don't know really if there's one specifically, but I do think, I don't know what's happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-gyllenhaal/hardest-emotion-they-re-all-pretty-damn-hard-i-don-t-know-really-if/) [Jake Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-gyllenhaal/) > [In a compass, we got north, south, east and west, right? 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