--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is the direct man who strikes…" description: "\"It is the direct man who strikes sledgehammer blows, who penetrates the very marrow of a subject at every stroke and gets the meat out of a proposition..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/128/orison-s-marden-43033_action_it-is-the-direct-man-who-strikes-sledgeh_1105528.jpg" --- # It is the direct man who strikes sledgehammer blows, who… ![“It is the direct man who strikes sledgehammer blows, who penetrates the very marrow of a subject at every stroke and gets the meat out of a proposition, who does things.” quote by Orison S. Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/128/orison-s-marden-43033_action_it-is-the-direct-man-who-strikes-sledgeh_1105528.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/128/orison-s-marden-43033_action_it-is-the-direct-man-who-strikes-sledgeh_1105528.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/128/orison-s-marden-43033_action_it-is-the-direct-man-who-strikes-sledgeh_1105528.jpg) > “It is the direct man who strikes sledgehammer blows, who penetrates the very marrow of a subject at every stroke and gets the meat out of a proposition, who does things.” [Orison S. Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-s-marden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Direct, forceful effort cuts to the core of a problem, extracting its essential truth. **In simple terms:** Forceful focus reveals core truth. Key Takeaway Apply intense focus to tough problems. Themes focus effort clarity Mood determined analytical Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - research - creative work - problem solving - debate Key Concepts analysis determination depth Questions to Reflect On - When does forceful analysis hinder understanding? - How can you balance intensity with patience? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on force can ignore nuance and collaboration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) ## Related quotes > [I've never been given an opportunity to direct, but man, I would love to try my hand at that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiya-sircar/i-ve-never-been-given-an-opportunity-to-direct-but-man-i-would-love/) [Tiya Sircar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiya-sircar/) > [As the mind must govern the hands, so in every society the man of intelligence must direct the man of labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/as-the-mind-must-govern-the-hands-so-in-every-society-the-man-of/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Why slap them on the wrist with feather when you can belt them over the head with a sledgehammer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/why-slap-them-on-the-wrist-with-feather-when-you-can-belt-them-over/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [You are about as covert as a sledgehammer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/you-are-about-as-covert-as-a-sledgehammer/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“Sometimes someone just takes a sledgehammer to your heart and even if you still have feelings for them, you can't ever quite feel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-senate/sometimes-someone-just-takes-a-sledgehammer-to-your-heart-and-even-if/) [Melissa Senate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-senate/) > [Haaland's left foot can be used as a sledgehammer, or he can use it to dink a delicate chip into the back of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sutton/haaland-s-left-foot-can-be-used-as-a-sledgehammer-or-he-can-use-it-to/) [Chris Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sutton/) > [“You don't live in the past; you take a sledgehammer to it to see what stands so that you can build on it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-drew/you-don-t-live-in-the-past-you-take-a-sledgehammer-to-it-to-see-what/) Samuel L. Drew > [One might as well try to perform brain surgery with a sledgehammer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/one-might-as-well-try-to-perform-brain-surgery-with-a-sledgehammer/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [To encounter 'Beowulf' is like taking a sledgehammer to a quarry face. You must bang in there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/to-encounter-beowulf-is-like-taking-a-sledgehammer-to-a-quarry-face/) [Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/) > [Hollywood's not knocking on our door. They're banging down the door with a sledgehammer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watkin-tudor-jones/hollywood-s-not-knocking-on-our-door-they-re-banging-down-the-door/) [Watkin Tudor Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watkin-tudor-jones/) > [Anything is possible with the right attitude and a sledgehammer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anything-is-possible-with-the-right-attitude-and-a-sledgehammer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“an untutored lout with a sledgehammer could kill you just as dead as an assassin with a stiletto.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/an-untutored-lout-with-a-sledgehammer-could-kill-you-just-as-dead-as/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [“A kiss is the sledgehammer that breaks the ice in you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/a-kiss-is-the-sledgehammer-that-breaks-the-ice-in-you/) Sir Kristian Goldmund Aumann > [Unless you hit your television with a sledgehammer, you're not going to be able to be an individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-theroux/unless-you-hit-your-television-with-a-sledgehammer-you-re-not-going/) [Justin Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-theroux/) > [I'm uncomfortable with the word satire. In the U.K., there's quite a bit of sledgehammer weight to that word, which is the antithesis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/i-m-uncomfortable-with-the-word-satire-in-the-u-k-there-s-quite-a-bit/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) ## More by Orison S. Marden > [Real happiness is so simple that most people do not recognize it. They think it comes from doing something on a big scale, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-s-marden/real-happiness-is-so-simple-that-most-people-do-not-recognize-it-they/) [Orison S. Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-s-marden/) > [The moment a man ceases to progress, to grow higher, wider and deeper, then his life becomes stagnant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-s-marden/the-moment-a-man-ceases-to-progress-to-grow-higher-wider-and-deeper/) [Orison S. Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-s-marden/) > [A good laugh makes us better friends with ourselves and everybody around us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-s-marden/a-good-laugh-makes-us-better-friends-with-ourselves-and-everybody/) [Orison S. Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-s-marden/) > [Work kills no one, but worry has killed multitudes… Worry not only saps vitality and wastes energy, but it also seriously affects the quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-s-marden/work-kills-no-one-but-worry-has-killed-multitudes-worry-not-only-saps/) [Orison S. Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-s-marden/) > [The ability to talk well is to a man what cutting and polishing are to the rough diamond. The grinding does not add anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-s-marden/the-ability-to-talk-well-is-to-a-man-what-cutting-and-polishing-are/) [Orison S. Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-s-marden/) > [The strong man, the positive, decisive man who has a program and is determined to carry it out, cuts his way to his goal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-s-marden/the-strong-man-the-positive-decisive-man-who-has-a-program-and-is/) [Orison S. Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-s-marden/) > [The size and quality of your achievement will depend largely upon what sort of image you have of yourself at your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-s-marden/the-size-and-quality-of-your-achievement-will-depend-largely-upon/) [Orison S. Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-s-marden/) > [It is a psychological law that whatever we desire to accomplish we must impress upon the subjective or subconscious mind; that is, we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-s-marden/it-is-a-psychological-law-that-whatever-we-desire-to-accomplish-we/) [Orison S. Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-s-marden/) [Explore all 9 Orison S. Marden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-s-marden/) ## More Action 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/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is the direct man who strikes sledgehammer blows, who penetrates the very marrow of a subject at every stroke and gets the meat out of a proposition, who does things.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Orison S. 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