--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some people think that because they do…" description: "\"Some people think that because they do the opposite of what they are asked to do, they have initiative\" — Ovid" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/ovid-276_initiative_some-people-think-that-because-they-do-t_1007923.png" --- # Some people think that because they do the opposite of… ![“Some people think that because they do the opposite of what they are asked to do, they have initiative” quote by Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/ovid-276_initiative_some-people-think-that-because-they-do-t_1007923.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/ovid-276_initiative_some-people-think-that-because-they-do-t_1007923.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/ovid-276_initiative_some-people-think-that-because-they-do-t_1007923.png) > “Some people think that because they do the opposite of what they are asked to do, they have initiative” [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Opposing instructions can be mistaken for initiative, but true initiative is proactive, not reactive. **In simple terms:** Opposite isn’t initiative. Key Takeaway Act proactively, not just reactively. Themes initiative misinterpretation motivation Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - team leadership - creative problem solving - personal development Key Concepts agency psychology communication Questions to Reflect On - What actions show genuine initiative? - How can you encourage proactive behavior? A Different Perspective Mistaking resistance for initiative can lead to complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Initiative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/initiative/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [People think that the opposite of success is failure, but it's not. Failure is part of the process of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-gage/people-think-that-the-opposite-of-success-is-failure-but-it-s-not/) [Randy Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-gage/) > [I don't expect to seem cool to everyone; nor do I want to be. I think that's the opposite of the definition of cool.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-stewart/i-don-t-expect-to-seem-cool-to-everyone-nor-do-i-want-to-be-i-think/) [Kristen Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-stewart/) > [Every time you find yourself becoming angry, jealous or frustrated, stop and think the opposite thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/every-time-you-find-yourself-becoming-angry-jealous-or-frustrated/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I don't think anything is the opposite of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-don-t-think-anything-is-the-opposite-of-love/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [DISREGARD AND REPLACE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS WITH POSITIVE ONES. EVEN IF YOU STARTED THINKING SOMETHING PESSIMISTIC , JUST TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND THINK THE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/disregard-and-replace-negative-thoughts-with-positive-ones-even-if/) Senoraroy > [“For instance, I used to think that paired opposites were a given, that love was the opposite of hate, right the opposite of wrong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/for-instance-i-used-to-think-that-paired-opposites-were-a-given-that/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I've heard people say I'm a Curry and that helped me get where I am. Sometimes I think it's the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-curry/i-ve-heard-people-say-i-m-a-curry-and-that-helped-me-get-where-i-am/) [Seth Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-curry/) > [When somebody laughs at me I give pain to myself I think I should do the opposite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-somebody-laughs-at-me-i-give-pain-to-myself-i-think-i-should-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you think about an apple, you also think about the opposite of an apple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden-smith/when-you-think-about-an-apple-you-also-think-about-the-opposite-of-an/) [Jaden Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden-smith/) > [When the situations seem impossible, the best thing you can do is to think the opposite!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-the-situations-seem-impossible-the-best-thing-you-can-do-is-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Reverse psychology is an awesome tool, I don't know if you guys know about it, but basically you can make someone think the opposite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/reverse-psychology-is-an-awesome-tool-i-don-t-know-if-you-guys-know/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You would almost think it would be the opposite, but making a film sort of made me freer in my acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-vack/you-would-almost-think-it-would-be-the-opposite-but-making-a-film/) [Peter Vack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-vack/) > [Your opinion of yourself becomes your reality. If you have all these doubts, then no one will believe in you and everything will go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/your-opinion-of-yourself-becomes-your-reality-if-you-have-all-these/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [You know the old adage that the customer's always right? Well, I kind of think that the opposite is true. The customer is rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-trotter/you-know-the-old-adage-that-the-customer-s-always-right-well-i-kind/) [Charlie Trotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-trotter/) > [Whatever anyone says, I think the opposite will happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/whatever-anyone-says-i-think-the-opposite-will-happen/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) ## More by Ovid > [Every woman thinks herself attractive; even the plainest is satisfied with the charms she deems that she possesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/every-woman-thinks-herself-attractive-even-the-plainest-is-satisfied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Suppressed grief suffocates, it rages within the breast, and is forced to multiply its strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/suppressed-grief-suffocates-it-rages-within-the-breast-and-is-forced/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [It is some alleviation to ills we cannot cure to speak of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-some-alleviation-to-ills-we-cannot-cure-to-speak-of-them/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Time is generally the best doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/time-is-generally-the-best-doctor/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe there are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-convenient-that-there-be-gods-and-as-it-is-convenient-let-us/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [I hate a woman who offers herself because she ought to do so, and cold and dry thinks of her sewing when making love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/i-hate-a-woman-who-offers-herself-because-she-ought-to-do-so-and-cold/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [The sea's vast depths lie open to the fish; Wherever the breezes blow the bird may fly; So to the brave man every land's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/the-sea-s-vast-depths-lie-open-to-the-fish-wherever-the-breezes-blow/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Rare is the virtue that's not ruled by Fortune, That stands unshaken even when Fortune flees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/rare-is-the-virtue-that-s-not-ruled-by-fortune-that-stands-unshaken/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Thus all things altered. Nothing dies. And here and there the unbodied spirit flies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/thus-all-things-altered-nothing-dies-and-here-and-there-the-unbodied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [How little is the promise of the child fulfilled in the man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/how-little-is-the-promise-of-the-child-fulfilled-in-the-man/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Judgement of beauty can err, what with the wine and the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/judgement-of-beauty-can-err-what-with-the-wine-and-the-dark/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Leave war to others; 'tis Protesilaus' part of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/leave-war-to-others-tis-protesilaus-part-of-love/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Remove but the temptations of leisure, and the bow of Cupid will lose its effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/remove-but-the-temptations-of-leisure-and-the-bow-of-cupid-will-lose/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) [Explore all 771 Ovid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) ## More Initiative quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [The vast majority of local people will neither know all of the initiatives nor have any perception that the individual elements are beginning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-burrell/the-vast-majority-of-local-people-will-neither-know-all-of-the/) [Paul Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-burrell/) > [The search for truth is a cooperative, unending endeavor. We can, and should, engage in it to the extent we can and encourage others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-search-for-truth-is-a-cooperative-unending-endeavor-we-can-and/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [We embark unhesitatingly on the path, in a direction that is absolutely right and urgent, supported by everyone, in the knowledge that this path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehudi-menuhin/we-embark-unhesitatingly-on-the-path-in-a-direction-that-is/) [Yehudi Menuhin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehudi-menuhin/) > [I want to take initiative; I know my game and I know what I need to do to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-tiafoe/i-want-to-take-initiative-i-know-my-game-and-i-know-what-i-need-to-do/) [Frances Tiafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-tiafoe/) > [Continue to witness to the Gospel every day and commit yourselves generously in the next missionary initiatives in the Diocese of Rome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/continue-to-witness-to-the-gospel-every-day-and-commit-yourselves/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“Be the Inviter “When I began my speaking career, I designed and delivered motivational programs for children teaching them success skills for life. Before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/be-the-inviter-when-i-began-my-speaking-career-i-designed-and/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [It is rather unusual for Italy to be at the forefront of pro-market initiatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-monti/it-is-rather-unusual-for-italy-to-be-at-the-forefront-of-pro-market/) [Mario Monti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-monti/) > [“Don’t simply exist in this world, but grasp life’s potential by the jacket. Dare it to be all it can. Make life historical—a gripping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-goodrich/don-t-simply-exist-in-this-world-but-grasp-life-s-potential-by-the/) [Richelle Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-goodrich/) > [By declaring yourself a leader, you're taking initiative and moving into a role of influence in a lively and vital network that's changing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/by-declaring-yourself-a-leader-you-re-taking-initiative-and-moving/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [We are entering an era in which national government, instead of directing, enables powerful regional and local initiatives to work, where Britain becomes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-are-entering-an-era-in-which-national-government-instead-of/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [Initiative is at the heart of manhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rainey/initiative-is-at-the-heart-of-manhood/) [Dennis Rainey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rainey/) > [Football is a personal interest which has been turned into a philanthropic initiative directed at encouraging social cohesion during the difficult process of African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-hussein-al-amoudi/football-is-a-personal-interest-which-has-been-turned-into-a/) Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi > [Initiative is doing the right thing without being told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/initiative-is-doing-the-right-thing-without-being-told/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) [Browse all 777 Initiative quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/initiative/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some people think that because they do the opposite of what they are asked to do, they have initiative", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ovid" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/some-people-think-that-because-they-do-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Initiative" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/some-people-think-that-because-they-do-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/ovid-276_initiative_some-people-think-that-because-they-do-t_1007923.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/ovid-276_initiative_some-people-think-that-because-they-do-t_1007923.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/ovid-276_initiative_some-people-think-that-because-they-do-t_1007923.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Some people think that because they do the opposite of what they are asked to do, they have initiative” — Ovid", "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": "Ovid", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Some people think that because they...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/some-people-think-that-because-they-do-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/some-people-think-that-because-they-do-the-opposite-of-what-they-are/#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 } } ] } ```