--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't waste the breath to save your face…" description: "\"Don't waste the breath to save your face, When you have done your best, And even more is asked of you, Let fate decide the rest.\" — Robert Hunter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/robert-hunter-11737_breaths_don-t-waste-the-breath-to-save-your-face_1273726.png" --- # Don't waste the breath to save your face, When you have… ![“Don't waste the breath to save your face, When you have done your best, And even more is asked of you, Let fate decide the rest.” quote by Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/robert-hunter-11737_breaths_don-t-waste-the-breath-to-save-your-face_1273726.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/robert-hunter-11737_breaths_don-t-waste-the-breath-to-save-your-face_1273726.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/robert-hunter-11737_breaths_don-t-waste-the-breath-to-save-your-face_1273726.png) > “Don't waste the breath to save your face, When you have done your best, And even more is asked of you, Let fate decide the rest.” [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. After giving your best, accept that outcomes may be beyond your control and let fate decide. **In simple terms:** Do your best, then let fate take over. Key Takeaway Focus on effort, not results. Themes acceptance effort uncertainty Mood thoughtful calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career performance - personal relationships - creative projects Key Concepts philosophy mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What does “fate” mean to you? - How do you balance effort and acceptance? A Different Perspective Sometimes letting go feels like surrender. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaths/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) ## Related quotes > [“So let's let fate, decide, For you and me tonight, If there's half a chance we'll make it, Then it's not too late to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hotspur/so-let-s-let-fate-decide-for-you-and-me-tonight-if-there-s-half-a/) Hotspur > [“Don't lose out on something that could be forever because you think the timing isn't right. Don't let fate decide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-reed/don-t-lose-out-on-something-that-could-be-forever-because-you-think/) [Nicole Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-reed/) > [“Act now! Let fate decide the outcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/act-now-let-fate-decide-the-outcome/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Just let your hand drop; and let fate decide for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/just-let-your-hand-drop-and-let-fate-decide-for-you/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Trust your heart and let fate decide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarzan/trust-your-heart-and-let-fate-decide/) Tarzan > [To simplify things down to their real essence, whenever things go wrong in our lives, whenever our plans go awry and the things we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-clark/to-simplify-things-down-to-their-real-essence-whenever-things-go/) [Tony Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-clark/) > [“You always have a choice. You can't stop what's coming, but you can decide how you meet it. The fate of the world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-willow-wilson/you-always-have-a-choice-you-can-t-stop-what-s-coming-but-you-can/) [G. Willow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-willow-wilson/) > [Let the other person save face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/let-the-other-person-save-face/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [It is not permissible to lie merely to save one's face. But it is sometimes permissible to lie to save another person's face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-fullerton-gerould/it-is-not-permissible-to-lie-merely-to-save-one-s-face-but-it-is/) [Katharine Fullerton Gerould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-fullerton-gerould/) > [“tied to honor and shame, how a person was seen, how things appeared, whether a person was respectable or not. All efforts to save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-reid/tied-to-honor-and-shame-how-a-person-was-seen-how-things-appeared/) Cheryl Reid > [Isn't the best way to save face to keep the lower part shut?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/isn-t-the-best-way-to-save-face-to-keep-the-lower-part-shut/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [The best way to save face is not to use the lower half.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/the-best-way-to-save-face-is-not-to-use-the-lower-half/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [“Whether we forget something we are not proud of, or embellish it, or blame somebody else, we want to save face by not owning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-horney/whether-we-forget-something-we-are-not-proud-of-or-embellish-it-or/) [Karen Horney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-horney/) > [“Save someone's face once and your influence with him rises. Save his face every time you can, and there is practically nothing he won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie-associates/save-someone-s-face-once-and-your-influence-with-him-rises-save-his/) Dale Carnegie & Associates > [“Sometimes you do it to save face, thought Jerry, other times you just do it because you haven't done your job unless you've scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/sometimes-you-do-it-to-save-face-thought-jerry-other-times-you-just/) [John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) ## More by Robert Hunter > [The sky was yellow and the sun was blue...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/the-sky-was-yellow-and-the-sun-was-blue/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [When you get ready to vote, make sure you know what you are doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/when-you-get-ready-to-vote-make-sure-you-know-what-you-are-doing/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [At the top of the cycle you write policies for everybody, no matter how bad, and at the bottom you cancel everybody, no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/at-the-top-of-the-cycle-you-write-policies-for-everybody-no-matter/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [Poised for flight, Wings spread bright, Spring from night into the Sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/poised-for-flight-wings-spread-bright-spring-from-night-into-the-sun/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [When it seems like the night will last forever, And there's nothing left to do but count the years, When the strings of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/when-it-seems-like-the-night-will-last-forever-and-there-s-nothing/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [Ain't nobody messin' with you but you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/ain-t-nobody-messin-with-you-but-you/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [There are times when you get hit upon, Try hard but you cannot give. Other times you'd gladly part, With what you need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/there-are-times-when-you-get-hit-upon-try-hard-but-you-cannot-give/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [In wickedness of pride is lost the light to understand how little grace is earned and how much given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/in-wickedness-of-pride-is-lost-the-light-to-understand-how-little/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [Being in a floodplain is like sitting down in a bathtub.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/being-in-a-floodplain-is-like-sitting-down-in-a-bathtub/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [Stop thinking...The more you think, the faster you cut your own throat. What is there to think about? It always ends up the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/stop-thinking-the-more-you-think-the-faster-you-cut-your-own-throat/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [“There's a better way. There has to be education, and the education has to come from the poets and musicians, because it has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/there-s-a-better-way-there-has-to-be-education-and-the-education-has/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [Counting stars by candlelight all are dim but one is bright; the spiral light of Venus rising first and shining best, from the northwest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/counting-stars-by-candlelight-all-are-dim-but-one-is-bright-the/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [Driving that train, high on cocaine Casey Jones you'd better watch your speed Trouble ahead, trouble behind And you know that notion just crossed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/driving-that-train-high-on-cocaine-casey-jones-you-d-better-watch/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [Perhaps people don't come into their true maturity until a parent dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/perhaps-people-don-t-come-into-their-true-maturity-until-a-parent-dies/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [I feel I've got 10 books in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/i-feel-i-ve-got-10-books-in-me/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) [Explore all 58 Robert Hunter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) ## More Breaths quotes > [Don't let a breath escape from your body without Krishna's name. That should be our determination throughout our life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/don-t-let-a-breath-escape-from-your-body-without-krishna-s-name-that/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [Jazz is the music of the body. The breath comes through brass. It is the body's breath, and the strings' wails and moans are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/jazz-is-the-music-of-the-body-the-breath-comes-through-brass-it-is/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Many years ago I was fishing, and as I was reeling in the poor fish, I realised, 'I am killing him - all for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/many-years-ago-i-was-fishing-and-as-i-was-reeling-in-the-poor-fish-i/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [God is greater than anything that man can do or has done. He is not undone by just a train of powder. "Our God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/god-is-greater-than-anything-that-man-can-do-or-has-done-he-is-not/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [One day I was running around playing with my son Connor when afterwards I was sweating, tired and out of breath. I was embarrassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/one-day-i-was-running-around-playing-with-my-son-connor-when/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [Dave Wann's recipes from his own experience in Simple Prosperity are a breath of fresh air, and just what we need for a saner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-henderson/dave-wann-s-recipes-from-his-own-experience-in-simple-prosperity-are/) [Hazel Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-henderson/) > [Poetry should be vital--either stirring our blood by its divine movements or snatching our breath by its divine perfection. To do both is supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-birrell/poetry-should-be-vital-either-stirring-our-blood-by-its-divine/) [Augustine Birrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-birrell/) > [Tic Tacs are the maracas of breath mints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/tic-tacs-are-the-maracas-of-breath-mints/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [The river is motion, turmoil, rage. As the river flows, it wonders what it would be like to be so still, to take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kekla-magoon/the-river-is-motion-turmoil-rage-as-the-river-flows-it-wonders-what/) [Kekla Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kekla-magoon/) > [Remember that no matter how selfish, how cruel, how unfeeling you have been today, every time you take a breath, you make a flower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/remember-that-no-matter-how-selfish-how-cruel-how-unfeeling-you-have/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [The trees are white with dust, that o'er their sleep Wave their broad curtains in the south-wind's breath, While underneath such leafy tents they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-trees-are-white-with-dust-that-o-er-their-sleep-wave-their-broad/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [“Listen to this, Nimit. Follow Coleman Hawkins' improvised lines very carefully. He is using them to tell us something. Pay very close attention. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/listen-to-this-nimit-follow-coleman-hawkins-improvised-lines-very/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Every body resisted (the slaughterer) in its own fashion, tried to escape and seemed to argue with the Creator to its last breath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/every-body-resisted-the-slaughterer-in-its-own-fashion-tried-to/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [We had a dog, Apples. He was 13 years old, toothless, blind and had the worst breath this side of Jabba the Hut. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/we-had-a-dog-apples-he-was-13-years-old-toothless-blind-and-had-the/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) [Browse all 1,609 Breaths quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaths/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't waste the breath to save your face, When you have done your best, And even more is asked of you, Let fate decide the rest.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Hunter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/don-t-waste-the-breath-to-save-your-face-when-you-have-done-your-best/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Breaths" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/don-t-waste-the-breath-to-save-your-face-when-you-have-done-your-best/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/robert-hunter-11737_breaths_don-t-waste-the-breath-to-save-your-face_1273726.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/robert-hunter-11737_breaths_don-t-waste-the-breath-to-save-your-face_1273726.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/robert-hunter-11737_breaths_don-t-waste-the-breath-to-save-your-face_1273726.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't waste the breath to save your face, When you have done your best, And even more is asked of you, Let…” — Robert Hunter", "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": "Robert Hunter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't waste the breath to save...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/don-t-waste-the-breath-to-save-your-face-when-you-have-done-your-best/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/don-t-waste-the-breath-to-save-your-face-when-you-have-done-your-best/#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 } } ] } ```