---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Keep climbing,' he told himself…"
description: "\"Keep climbing,' he told himself. 'Cheeseburgers,' his stomach replied. 'Shut up,' he thought. 'With fries,' his stomach complained.\" — Rick Riordan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/rick-riordan-27_cheeseburger_keep-climbing-he-told-himself-cheeseburg_887071.jpg"
---

#  Keep climbing,' he told himself. 'Cheeseburgers,' his…

![“Keep climbing,' he told himself. 'Cheeseburgers,' his stomach replied. 'Shut up,' he thought. 'With fries,' his stomach complained.” quote by Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/rick-riordan-27_cheeseburger_keep-climbing-he-told-himself-cheeseburg_887071.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/rick-riordan-27_cheeseburger_keep-climbing-he-told-himself-cheeseburg_887071.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/rick-riordan-27_cheeseburger_keep-climbing-he-told-himself-cheeseburg_887071.jpg)

> “Keep climbing,' he told himself. 'Cheeseburgers,' his stomach replied. 'Shut up,' he thought. 'With fries,' his stomach complained.”

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A humorous inner dialogue where cravings compete with self‑discipline, illustrating the struggle between desire and resolve.

**In simple terms:** Cravings clash with self‑control.

Key Takeaway

Balance desire with discipline.

Themes

humor self‑control food

Mood

playful lighthearted

Type

humorous motivational

When to use this quote

- dieting
- exercise
- stress management
- goal setting

Key Concepts

psychology willpower motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you prioritize long‑term goals over immediate cravings?
- What strategies help silence inner critics?

A Different Perspective

The joke may trivialize serious self‑control challenges.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Climbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbing/)

## Related quotes

> [“Keep climbing, he told himself. Cheeseburgers, his stomach replied.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/keep-climbing-he-told-himself-cheeseburgers-his-stomach-replied/)

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> [“Jason imagined trying to get food at a restaurant. I’ll have a cheeseburger and – Ahhh! My friend’s on fire! Get me a bucket!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/jason-imagined-trying-to-get-food-at-a-restaurant-i-ll-have-a/)

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> [It was almost enough to make me turn vegetarian, except for the pesky fact that I loved cheeseburgers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-was-almost-enough-to-make-me-turn-vegetarian-except-for-the-pesky/)

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> [“I’ll have a cheeseburger and – Ahhh! My friend’s on fire! Get me a bucket!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-ll-have-a-cheeseburger-and-ahhh-my-friend-s-on-fire-get-me-a-bucket/)

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> [He just raised the dead with coke and cheeseburgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-just-raised-the-dead-with-coke-and-cheeseburgers/)

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> [I'd literally rather hang out at the T.G.I. Friday's in New Jersey than tool around at a place that sells $40 cheeseburgers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-carney/i-d-literally-rather-hang-out-at-the-t-g-i-friday-s-in-new-jersey/)

[Patrick Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-carney/)

> [Someone just told me that I have a thick skin. I think he just called me fat. What do you think, double cheeseburger? You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/someone-just-told-me-that-i-have-a-thick-skin-i-think-he-just-called/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Would you rather have sight, or insight? I’d rather have a double cheeseburger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/would-you-rather-have-sight-or-insight-i-d-rather-have-a-double/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [As soon as I came to L.A., I was told that I was exotic. I'd think, But I'm from Miami! I'm as American as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genesis-rodriguez/as-soon-as-i-came-to-l-a-i-was-told-that-i-was-exotic-i-d-think-but-i/)

[Genesis Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genesis-rodriguez/)

> [He's getting dumped. And he doesn't even know it yet. He's probably eating a cheeseburger or flossing or picking up his dry cleaning, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/he-s-getting-dumped-and-he-doesn-t-even-know-it-yet-he-s-probably/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [I like cheeseburgers too much to be a model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-like-cheeseburgers-too-much-to-be-a-model/)

[Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/)

> [I always go for a cheeseburger. I do ketchup, mustard, and mayo all mixed together. Pickles have to be on it, and shredded lettuce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/i-always-go-for-a-cheeseburger-i-do-ketchup-mustard-and-mayo-all/)

[Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/)

> [I'm a Midwesterner! Not being able to have a cheeseburger once in a while would be torture!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-capshaw/i-m-a-midwesterner-not-being-able-to-have-a-cheeseburger-once-in-a/)

[Jessica Capshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-capshaw/)

> [I used to sit in front of McDonald's and ask people for dollars to get me a cheeseburger. It was bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-pain/i-used-to-sit-in-front-of-mcdonald-s-and-ask-people-for-dollars-to/)

[T-Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-pain/)

> [A lot of people think I'm snotty. So what? They never asked me out when I was serving cheeseburgers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-moriarty/a-lot-of-people-think-i-m-snotty-so-what-they-never-asked-me-out-when/)

[Cathy Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-moriarty/)

## More by Rick Riordan

> [“It made sense, and I felt kind of stupid. I’d been hanging around dryads”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-made-sense-and-i-felt-kind-of-stupid-i-d-been-hanging-around-dryads/)

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> [“That awkward moment when you jump out a window because your friend jumped out a window, then you remember that your other friend can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/that-awkward-moment-when-you-jump-out-a-window-because-your-friend/)

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> [Oh, dear Hazel.” Aphrodite folded her fan. “Such optimism, yet you have heartrending days ahead of you. Of course war is coming. Love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/oh-dear-hazel-aphrodite-folded-her-fan-such-optimism-yet-you-have/)

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> [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/)

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> [“He started toward the entrance. Seriously, how could he not? He stopped when he noticed the girl. She was kneeling in her vegetable garden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-started-toward-the-entrance-seriously-how-could-he-not-he-stopped/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Hercules used noise! Brass bells! He scared them away with the most horrible sound he could-" said Percy "Percy... Chiron's collection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hercules-used-noise-brass-bells-he-scared-them-away-with-the-most/)

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> [ \[Hazel\] hissed in frustration. 'I hate eidolons. I thought Piper made them promise to stay away.' 'Oh...' Frank said, like he'd just had his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hazel-hissed-in-frustration-i-hate-eidolons-i-thought-piper-made-them/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

[Explore all 2,993 Rick Riordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

## More Cheeseburger quotes

> [A lot of people think I'm snotty. So what? They never asked me out when I was serving cheeseburgers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-moriarty/a-lot-of-people-think-i-m-snotty-so-what-they-never-asked-me-out-when/)

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[Jessica Capshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-capshaw/)

> [I always go for a cheeseburger. I do ketchup, mustard, and mayo all mixed together. Pickles have to be on it, and shredded lettuce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/i-always-go-for-a-cheeseburger-i-do-ketchup-mustard-and-mayo-all/)

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> [As soon as I came to L.A., I was told that I was exotic. I'd think, But I'm from Miami! I'm as American as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genesis-rodriguez/as-soon-as-i-came-to-l-a-i-was-told-that-i-was-exotic-i-d-think-but-i/)

[Genesis Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genesis-rodriguez/)

> [“Would you rather have sight, or insight? I’d rather have a double cheeseburger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/would-you-rather-have-sight-or-insight-i-d-rather-have-a-double/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [Someone just told me that I have a thick skin. I think he just called me fat. What do you think, double cheeseburger? You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/someone-just-told-me-that-i-have-a-thick-skin-i-think-he-just-called/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'd literally rather hang out at the T.G.I. Friday's in New Jersey than tool around at a place that sells $40 cheeseburgers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-carney/i-d-literally-rather-hang-out-at-the-t-g-i-friday-s-in-new-jersey/)

[Patrick Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-carney/)

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[Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/)

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> [We're hotter than to fat b!tches fighting over a cheeseburger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-re-hotter-than-to-fat-b-tches-fighting-over-a-cheeseburger/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I eat a cheeseburger with French fries almost every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-diaz/i-eat-a-cheeseburger-with-french-fries-almost-every-day/)

[Cameron Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-diaz/)

Browse all 107 Cheeseburger quotes

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