--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Always behave like a duck.Keep calm and…" description: "\"Always behave like a duck.Keep calm and unruffled on the surface,but paddle like like hell underwater.\" — Nikkie Mae" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/nikkie-mae-12612_motivational_always-behave-like-a-duck-keep-calm-and_653951.jpg" --- # Always behave like a duck.Keep calm and unruffled on the… ![“Always behave like a duck.Keep calm and unruffled on the surface,but paddle like like hell underwater.” quote by Nikkie Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/nikkie-mae-12612_motivational_always-behave-like-a-duck-keep-calm-and_653951.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/nikkie-mae-12612_motivational_always-behave-like-a-duck-keep-calm-and_653951.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/nikkie-mae-12612_motivational_always-behave-like-a-duck-keep-calm-and_653951.jpg) > “Always behave like a duck.Keep calm and unruffled on the surface,but paddle like like hell underwater.” [Nikkie Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie-mae/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It uses a duck as a metaphor: appear calm outwardly while working hard behind the scenes. **In simple terms:** Stay calm outwardly, work hard inside. Key Takeaway Maintain composure while persevering. Themes resilience calmness determination Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational advice When to use this quote - high‑pressure jobs - sports - personal challenges Key Concepts metaphor inner strength Questions to Reflect On - How do you manage hidden effort? - When do you let others see your struggle? A Different Perspective Appearing calm may hide stress and burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behave/) [Behave Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behave-like-379203/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Paddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paddle/) [Paddle Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paddle-like-911387/) [Underwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underwater/) ## Related quotes > [Always behave like a duck: keep calm and unruffled on the surface, but paddle like the devil underneath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-braude/always-behave-like-a-duck-keep-calm-and-unruffled-on-the-surface-but/) [Jacob Braude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-braude/) > [“Be like a duck . . . keep calm and unruffled on the surface but paddle like the devil underneath. —Unknown”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-brackey/be-like-a-duck-keep-calm-and-unruffled-on-the-surface-but-paddle-like/) [Jolene Brackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-brackey/) > [Act like a duck. Be calm on the surface, but paddle like hell underneath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-luck/act-like-a-duck-be-calm-on-the-surface-but-paddle-like-hell-underneath/) [Oliver Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-luck/) > [“Be a duck, remain calm on the surface and paddle like hell underneath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/be-a-duck-remain-calm-on-the-surface-and-paddle-like-hell-underneath/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [“It is nothing to get wet; but the misery of these individual pricks of cold all over my body at the same instant of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/it-is-nothing-to-get-wet-but-the-misery-of-these-individual-pricks-of/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [“The others laughed and Burt said, "All you need are girls who paddle like boys, and you're set!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-keene-mildred-wirt-benson/the-others-laughed-and-burt-said-all-you-need-are-girls-who-paddle/) [Carolyn Keene (Mildred Wirt Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-keene-mildred-wirt-benson/) > [“I am going to tell you what nature behaves like. If you will simply admit that maybe she does behave like this, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-am-going-to-tell-you-what-nature-behaves-like-if-you-will-simply/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Well, I suppose one ought not to employ a magician and then complain that he does not behave like other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/well-i-suppose-one-ought-not-to-employ-a-magician-and-then-complain/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [You never cease to amaze me! The one thing that someone like you should do is keep your head down, and what do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaius/you-never-cease-to-amaze-me-the-one-thing-that-someone-like-you/) [Gaius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaius/) > [“Here was a new lesson for her, then: it was possible to behave like an utter goose in front of a man, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-duran/here-was-a-new-lesson-for-her-then-it-was-possible-to-behave-like-an/) [Meredith Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-duran/) > [One must think like a hero to behave like a merely decent human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/one-must-think-like-a-hero-to-behave-like-a-merely-decent-human-being/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Behave like everything you do matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/behave-like-everything-you-do-matters/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Gods always behave like the people who make them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/gods-always-behave-like-the-people-who-make-them/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [People who make babies surrender their right to behave like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-hax/people-who-make-babies-surrender-their-right-to-behave-like-them/) [Carolyn Hax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-hax/) > [This is a time in my life where I'm gonna behave like an elegant human being. Or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/this-is-a-time-in-my-life-where-i-m-gonna-behave-like-an-elegant/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) ## More by Nikkie Mae > [Love happens automatically…Manual working of it is called Flirting...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/love-happens-automatically-manual-working-of-it-is-called-flirting/) [Nikkie Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie-mae/) > [LOVE is not to say, but to understand. LOVE is not to show, but to feel inside. LOVE is not to find faults, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/love-is-not-to-say-but-to-understand-love-is-not-to-show-but-to-feel/) [Nikkie Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie-mae/) > [No matter what happens...some memories can never be replaced...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/no-matter-what-happens-some-memories-can-never-be-replaced/) [Nikkie Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie-mae/) > [Dont give special place to anyone in your heart,it easy to give that special place but it hurts more when they dont know the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/dont-give-special-place-to-anyone-in-your-heart-it-easy-to-give-that/) [Nikkie Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie-mae/) > [Forget the pass,move on in my life.Its time for me to be happy again..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/forget-the-pass-move-on-in-my-life-its-time-for-me-to-be-happy-again/) [Nikkie Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie-mae/) > [These are strange and angry times.Look for the good it is hiding underneath the spoils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/these-are-strange-and-angry-times-look-for-the-good-it-is-hiding/) [Nikkie Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie-mae/) > [Music takes my pain go away..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/music-takes-my-pain-go-away/) [Nikkie Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie-mae/) > [The best part of life is not just surviving,but thriving with passion and style and compassion and generosity and humour and finally with kindness..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/the-best-part-of-life-is-not-just-surviving-but-thriving-with-passion/) [Nikkie Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie-mae/) > [Beginning is usually scary,and endings are usually sad,but its everyting in between that makes it all worth living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/beginning-is-usually-scary-and-endings-are-usually-sad-but-its/) [Nikkie Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie-mae/) > [Time is free but it's priceless,you cant own it,but you can use it.You can spend it but you can't kep it,once you've lost it.you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/time-is-free-but-it-s-priceless-you-cant-own-it-but-you-can-use-it/) [Nikkie Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie-mae/) > [Life is a great travel trip.. Problem is thatit doesnt come with a map..we've to search our own ways to reach the DESTINATIONS!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/life-is-a-great-travel-trip-problem-is-thatit-doesnt-come-with-a-map/) [Nikkie Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie-mae/) > [There are two kinds of people: givers and takers..the takers may eat better and but the givers sleep better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-givers-and-takers-the-takers-may-eat/) [Nikkie Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie-mae/) > [To be your self in the world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/to-be-your-self-in-the-world-that-is-constantly-trying-to-make-you/) [Nikkie Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie-mae/) > [Sometimes life will test you but remember this:When you walk up a mountain,your legs get stonger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/sometimes-life-will-test-you-but-remember-this-when-you-walk-up-a/) [Nikkie Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie-mae/) > [Forget the times he walked by,forget the times he made u cry,forget the time he spoke your name,remember now your not the sameforget the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/forget-the-times-he-walked-by-forget-the-times-he-made-u-cry-forget/) [Nikkie Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie-mae/) [Explore all 54 Nikkie Mae quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie-mae/) ## More Behave quotes > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) [Burne Hogarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burne-hogarth/) > [You can behave as badly as you like in America. Nobody notices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/you-can-behave-as-badly-as-you-like-in-america-nobody-notices/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [“Then Olympus it is. But do try to behave. I know it’s hard for you, but… (Delphine) I won’t piss on the floor. (Jericho)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/then-olympus-it-is-but-do-try-to-behave-i-know-it-s-hard-for-you-but/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The possibility of saying anything about a thing rests on the assumption that it preserves its identity, or continues to be the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-knight/the-possibility-of-saying-anything-about-a-thing-rests-on-the/) [Frank Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-knight/) > [Why does man behave like perfect idiot? This is the problem I wish to deal with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-szent-gyorgyi/why-does-man-behave-like-perfect-idiot-this-is-the-problem-i-wish-to/) [Albert Szent-Gyorgyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-szent-gyorgyi/) > [This is a time in my life where I'm gonna behave like an elegant human being. Or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/this-is-a-time-in-my-life-where-i-m-gonna-behave-like-an-elegant/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [Most people, even in simple risky situations, don't behave the way the theory of utility would have them behave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-raiffa/most-people-even-in-simple-risky-situations-don-t-behave-the-way-the/) [Howard Raiffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-raiffa/) > [As a club, we have an educational purpose: to give back to those people who love Arsenal so that they learn moral values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/as-a-club-we-have-an-educational-purpose-to-give-back-to-those-people/) [Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/) > [What astonishes many of us is not so much that human nature is fundamentally corrupt; we are astonished rather that it does not behave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morton-irving-seiden/what-astonishes-many-of-us-is-not-so-much-that-human-nature-is/) [Morton Irving Seiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morton-irving-seiden/) > [Do we behave out of fear of punishment, or out of the demands of our heart? For me, it is the latter, as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-we-behave-out-of-fear-of-punishment-or-out-of-the-demands-of-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/) [Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/) > [The superpowers often behave like two heavily armed blind men feeling their way around a room, each believing himself in mortal peril from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-superpowers-often-behave-like-two-heavily-armed-blind-men-feeling/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For political and bureaucratic reasons, governments at all levels are telling far less to the public than to insiders about how to prepare for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/for-political-and-bureaucratic-reasons-governments-at-all-levels-are/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) [Browse all 1,587 Behave quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behave/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Always behave like a duck.Keep calm and unruffled on the surface,but paddle like like hell underwater.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nikkie Mae" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/always-behave-like-a-duck-keep-calm-and-unruffled-on-the-surface-but-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behave" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/always-behave-like-a-duck-keep-calm-and-unruffled-on-the-surface-but-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/nikkie-mae-12612_motivational_always-behave-like-a-duck-keep-calm-and_653951.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/nikkie-mae-12612_motivational_always-behave-like-a-duck-keep-calm-and_653951.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/nikkie-mae-12612_motivational_always-behave-like-a-duck-keep-calm-and_653951.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Always behave like a duck.Keep calm and unruffled on the surface,but paddle like like hell underwater.” — Nikkie Mae", "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": "Nikkie Mae", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie-mae/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Always behave like a duck.Keep calm...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/always-behave-like-a-duck-keep-calm-and-unruffled-on-the-surface-but-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie-mae/always-behave-like-a-duck-keep-calm-and-unruffled-on-the-surface-but-2/#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 } } ] } ```