--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hard things don't always make life…" description: "\"“Hard things don't always make life harder. It takes something hard to sharpen steel.”\" — Richard Paul Evans" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/richard-paul-evans-1002_hard-things_hard-things-don-t-always-make-life-harde_2003588.png" --- # Hard things don't always make life harder. It takes… ![“Hard things don't always make life harder. It takes something hard to sharpen steel.” quote by Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/richard-paul-evans-1002_hard-things_hard-things-don-t-always-make-life-harde_2003588.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/richard-paul-evans-1002_hard-things_hard-things-don-t-always-make-life-harde_2003588.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/richard-paul-evans-1002_hard-things_hard-things-don-t-always-make-life-harde_2003588.png) > ““Hard things don't always make life harder. It takes something hard to sharpen steel.”” [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard challenges can be beneficial; they shape resilience and strength like a forge sharpens steel. **In simple terms:** Hard things can strengthen you. Key Takeaway Embrace difficulty to grow. Themes resilience growth challenge strength Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career setbacks - relationship conflicts - skill learning - physical training Key Concepts psychology metaphor personal development Questions to Reflect On - How do you turn obstacles into growth? - What hard thing has sharpened you? A Different Perspective Hardship alone doesn't guarantee improvement; effort matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hard Sharpen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-sharpen-3538962/) [Hard things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-things/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-harder/) [Sharpen Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sharpen-steel-3538961/) [Takes Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/takes-hard-1792620/) ## Related quotes > [“Anyone can dream, but it takes hard work to make those dreams come true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jannette-spann/anyone-can-dream-but-it-takes-hard-work-to-make-those-dreams-come-true/) [Jannette Spann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jannette-spann/) > [All I have to say is that it takes hard work to find it but when you do all that hard work was worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-i-have-to-say-is-that-it-takes-hard-work-to-find-it-but-when-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wrestling is tough, and it takes hard work - mentally and physically - to do what we do in that ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/wrestling-is-tough-and-it-takes-hard-work-mentally-and-physically-to/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) > [Everybody hurts when you lose. But he takes it hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hines-ward/everybody-hurts-when-you-lose-but-he-takes-it-hard/) [Hines Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hines-ward/) > [I love the idea that in order to be successful, it takes hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-love-the-idea-that-in-order-to-be-successful-it-takes-hard-work/) [Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/) > [It takes hard writing to make easy reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/it-takes-hard-writing-to-make-easy-reading/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [“While success takes hard work, there’s something to be said for taking the path of least resistance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-ortolon/while-success-takes-hard-work-there-s-something-to-be-said-for-taking/) [Julie Ortolon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-ortolon/) > [It takes hard work to be legendary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-brat/it-takes-hard-work-to-be-legendary/) [Da Brat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-brat/) > [I am strong and life will never get me down, because the harder I fall, the higher I bounce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-strong-and-life-will-never-get-me-down-because-the-harder-i-fall/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life becomes an even harder nut to crack right when you start thinking that living it is such a piece of cake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/life-becomes-an-even-harder-nut-to-crack-right-when-you-start/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [I love New York, but it's a rough city. It's not dangerous now the way it was in the 70's or the 80's, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-love-new-york-but-it-s-a-rough-city-it-s-not-dangerous-now-the-way/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [Don't make your journey through life harder by placing rules on yourself like, 'I can't get married till I get promoted to your dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mika-brzezinski/don-t-make-your-journey-through-life-harder-by-placing-rules-on/) [Mika Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mika-brzezinski/) > [I know that war is very cruel and that life is harder when you aren't able to live in the place you called home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-know-that-war-is-very-cruel-and-that-life-is-harder-when-you-aren-t/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [My cover is hard but my life is harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teady/my-cover-is-hard-but-my-life-is-harder/) [$Teady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teady/) > [Life isn't always easy but always know that the things that make life harder is what makes us stronger in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/life-isn-t-always-easy-but-always-know-that-the-things-that-make-life/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) ## More by Richard Paul Evans > [ The smells of Christmas are the smells of childhood \[p. 53\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/the-smells-of-christmas-are-the-smells-of-childhood-p-53/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [We are chained to that which we do not forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/we-are-chained-to-that-which-we-do-not-forgive/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“I've found that when someone is beautiful on the outside, but spiritually dark inside, all that outer beauty is just lipstick on a pig.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-ve-found-that-when-someone-is-beautiful-on-the-outside-but/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [There are none so impoverished as those who do not acknowledge the abundance of their lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/there-are-none-so-impoverished-as-those-who-do-not-acknowledge-the/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [It's our memories that make us who we are. Without them, we're nothing. If that means we have to hurt sometimes, it's worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/it-s-our-memories-that-make-us-who-we-are-without-them-we-re-nothing/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [At one time in my career, Barnes and Noble bookstores categorized my books as religious fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/at-one-time-in-my-career-barnes-and-noble-bookstores-categorized-my/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“I'm no one important or famous, no matter. It is better to be loved by one person who knows your soul than millions who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-m-no-one-important-or-famous-no-matter-it-is-better-to-be-loved-by/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [The first step of a journey is always the longest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/the-first-step-of-a-journey-is-always-the-longest/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“Simply stated, earth is a school-a divine educational process custom-fit to each of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/simply-stated-earth-is-a-school-a-divine-educational-process-custom/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [So much of young adult literature has turned dark, almost pathological. It's almost as if there is a race to see who can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/so-much-of-young-adult-literature-has-turned-dark-almost-pathological/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [If the errors of my life have profited me one great truth it is this: believe. Believe in your destiny and the star from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/if-the-errors-of-my-life-have-profited-me-one-great-truth-it-is-this/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [Some people in this world have stopped looking for beauty, then wonder why their lives are so ugly. Don't be like them. The ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/some-people-in-this-world-have-stopped-looking-for-beauty-then-wonder/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“There's a big difference between us. I write non-fiction, you write fiction. I write truths that tell lies. You write lies that tell truths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/there-s-a-big-difference-between-us-i-write-non-fiction-you-write/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [As a boy I heard this story in church. A man was patching a pitched roof of a tall building when he began sliding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/as-a-boy-i-heard-this-story-in-church-a-man-was-patching-a-pitched/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [I am facing the most difficult thing of my life, my own greatest failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-am-facing-the-most-difficult-thing-of-my-life-my-own-greatest/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) [Explore all 311 Richard Paul Evans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) ## More Hard things quotes > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [I know that I'm going to have to work hard, keep working hard, and not because of this victory think, "I'm back." I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-clijsters/i-know-that-i-m-going-to-have-to-work-hard-keep-working-hard-and-not/) [Kim Clijsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-clijsters/) > [Always end a day with a positive thought. No matter how hard things were, tomorrow is a fresh opportunity to make it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/always-end-a-day-with-a-positive-thought-no-matter-how-hard-things/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I think love is a really hard thing to define. I think it's multifaceted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-miller/i-think-love-is-a-really-hard-thing-to-define-i-think-it-s/) [Sienna Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-miller/) > [“sometimes you don't look very hard for things you don't believe will or can happen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/sometimes-you-don-t-look-very-hard-for-things-you-don-t-believe-will/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [Being on set is a hard thing. A lot of people are like, 'Oh, you get to make a movie, and it's all fun.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-scott/being-on-set-is-a-hard-thing-a-lot-of-people-are-like-oh-you-get-to/) [Jill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-scott/) > [You have to always continue to strive no matter how hard things get, no matter how troubled you feel. No matter how tough things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ll-cool-j/you-have-to-always-continue-to-strive-no-matter-how-hard-things-get/) [LL Cool J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ll-cool-j/) > [One of the HARDEST things in life is LETTING GO of what you were USED TO and MOVING ON with something YOU'RE NOT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/one-of-the-hardest-things-in-life-is-letting-go-of-what-you-were-used/) [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/) > [I myself am frustrated in just where sports are at. It's a hard thing when you're out there working every day, and you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allyson-felix/i-myself-am-frustrated-in-just-where-sports-are-at-it-s-a-hard-thing/) [Allyson Felix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allyson-felix/) > [Always end the day with a positive thought. No matter how hard things were, tomorrows a fresh opportunity to make it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fash/always-end-the-day-with-a-positive-thought-no-matter-how-hard-things/) [Fash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fash/) > [It's not about finding someone who won't fight with you or make you sad. It is about finding the person who will still be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-not-about-finding-someone-who-won-t-fight-with-you-or-make-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/thou-hast-shewed-thy-people-hard-things-thou-hast-made-us-to-drink/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [That was the hard thing about grief, and the grieving. They spoke another language, and the words we knew always fell short of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/that-was-the-hard-thing-about-grief-and-the-grieving-they-spoke/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“Life is hard, but I can do hard things”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolescent-rehabilitation/life-is-hard-but-i-can-do-hard-things/) [Adolescent Rehabilitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolescent-rehabilitation/) > [You can never predict what kind of tough decisions are going to come in front of a President's desk. But if you can trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-romney/you-can-never-predict-what-kind-of-tough-decisions-are-going-to-come/) [Ann Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-romney/) [Browse all 396 Hard things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-things/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Hard things don't always make life harder. It takes something hard to sharpen steel.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Paul Evans" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/hard-things-don-t-always-make-life-harder-it-takes-something-hard-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hard things" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/hard-things-don-t-always-make-life-harder-it-takes-something-hard-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/richard-paul-evans-1002_hard-things_hard-things-don-t-always-make-life-harde_2003588.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/richard-paul-evans-1002_hard-things_hard-things-don-t-always-make-life-harde_2003588.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/richard-paul-evans-1002_hard-things_hard-things-don-t-always-make-life-harde_2003588.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Hard things don't always make life harder. It takes something hard to sharpen steel.” — Richard Paul Evans", "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": "Richard Paul Evans", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Hard things don't always make life...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/hard-things-don-t-always-make-life-harder-it-takes-something-hard-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/hard-things-don-t-always-make-life-harder-it-takes-something-hard-to/#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 } } ] } ```