--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's hard, when you're up to your armpits…" description: "\"It's hard, when you're up to your armpits in alligators, to remember you came here to drain the swamp.\" — Ronald Reagan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/ronald-reagan-119_alligators_it-s-hard-when-you-re-up-to-your-armpits_1143846.jpg" --- # It's hard, when you're up to your armpits in alligators… ![“It's hard, when you're up to your armpits in alligators, to remember you came here to drain the swamp.” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/ronald-reagan-119_alligators_it-s-hard-when-you-re-up-to-your-armpits_1143846.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/ronald-reagan-119_alligators_it-s-hard-when-you-re-up-to-your-armpits_1143846.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/ronald-reagan-119_alligators_it-s-hard-when-you-re-up-to-your-armpits_1143846.jpg) > “It's hard, when you're up to your armpits in alligators, to remember you came here to drain the swamp.” [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being overwhelmed by problems can distract from the larger mission of reform. **In simple terms:** Focus on the main goal despite messy details. Key Takeaway Stay mission‑focused amid chaos. Themes politics environment focus Mood determined critical Type political inspirational When to use this quote - campaign strategy - policy reform - crisis management Key Concepts systemic change distraction Questions to Reflect On - What “swamp” are you confronting? - How can you keep purpose clear? A Different Perspective Complex issues may require nuanced solutions beyond simple metaphors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alligators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alligators/) [Alligators Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alligators-remember-3200453/) [Armpits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armpits/) [Armpits Alligators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armpits-alligators-2905439/) [Drain Swamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drain-swamp-289971/) [Drains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drains/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard Armpits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-armpits-3200454/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Remember you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-you/) [Remembers you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remembers-you/) [Swamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swamp/) [Swamps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swamps/) ## Related quotes > [When youre up to your armpits in alligators, its hard to remember to drain the swamp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/when-youre-up-to-your-armpits-in-alligators-its-hard-to-remember-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I want to help Donald Trump drain the swamp back in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gianforte/i-want-to-help-donald-trump-drain-the-swamp-back-in-washington/) [Greg Gianforte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gianforte/) > [We will drain the swamp in Washington, D.C., and replace it with a new government, of, and by, and for the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-drain-the-swamp-in-washington-d-c-and-replace-it-with-a-new/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Hoosiers sent me to Washington to help President Trump drain the swamp, and it starts with cutting out generous taxpayer-funded perks that keep career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-braun/hoosiers-sent-me-to-washington-to-help-president-trump-drain-the/) [Mike Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-braun/) > [We will build a great wall. We are going to drain the swamp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-build-a-great-wall-we-are-going-to-drain-the-swamp/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Trump assumed office promising to 'drain the swamp' in Washington, D.C. Instead, the swamp has grown wider and deeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/trump-assumed-office-promising-to-drain-the-swamp-in-washington-d-c/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [“What Mr. Friedman is suggesting is that if we don't drain the swamp where the rats are breeding, it won't really matter how many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-couch/what-mr-friedman-is-suggesting-is-that-if-we-don-t-drain-the-swamp/) [Dick Couch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-couch/) > [Trump is going to drain the swamp; he's going to get back control of America's borders, and if the establishment try and stand in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/trump-is-going-to-drain-the-swamp-he-s-going-to-get-back-control-of/) [Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/) > [You can't drain the swamp, as President Trump has touted doing, without getting rid of Mitch McConnell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/you-can-t-drain-the-swamp-as-president-trump-has-touted-doing-without/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [She's so hairy - when she lifted up her arm I thought it was Tina Turner in her armpit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/she-s-so-hairy-when-she-lifted-up-her-arm-i-thought-it-was-tina/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I never did a dirty armpit. You can look dirty, but you can't be dirty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-moss/i-never-did-a-dirty-armpit-you-can-look-dirty-but-you-can-t-be-dirty/) [Kate Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-moss/) > [I don't know my armpit from my elbow in Los Angeles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-schilling/i-don-t-know-my-armpit-from-my-elbow-in-los-angeles/) [Taylor Schilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-schilling/) > [Feminists were psyched that I had armpit hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/feminists-were-psyched-that-i-had-armpit-hair/) [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) > [Art thou angry with him whose armpits stink? Art thou angry with him whose mouth smells foul?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/art-thou-angry-with-him-whose-armpits-stink-art-thou-angry-with-him/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Babies like fat. Like to bury they face up in you armpit and go to sleep. They like big fat legs too. That I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-stockett/babies-like-fat-like-to-bury-they-face-up-in-you-armpit-and-go-to/) [Kathryn Stockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-stockett/) ## More by Ronald Reagan > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/yes-across-europe-this-wall-will-fall-for-it-cannot-withstand-faith/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Simple fairness dictates that government must not raise taxes on families struggling to pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/simple-fairness-dictates-that-government-must-not-raise-taxes-on/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America - our country is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-time-has-come-to-turn-to-god-and-reassert-our-trust-in-him-for/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Professional politicians like to talk about the value of experience in government. Nuts! The only experience you gain in politics is how to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/professional-politicians-like-to-talk-about-the-value-of-experience/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Where there's liberty, art succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/where-there-s-liberty-art-succeeds/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Since I came to the White House, I got two hearing aids, a colon operation, skin cancer, a prostate operation, and I was shot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/since-i-came-to-the-white-house-i-got-two-hearing-aids-a-colon/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [A moment I've been dreading. George brought his ne're-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-moment-i-ve-been-dreading-george-brought-his-ne-re-do-well-son/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [On Father's Day, we pay tribute to all in our society who have taken on the responsibilitie s and joys of fatherhood. Whether our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/on-father-s-day-we-pay-tribute-to-all-in-our-society-who-have-taken/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It's not that liberals aren't smart, it's just that so much of what they know isn't so](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-not-that-liberals-aren-t-smart-it-s-just-that-so-much-of-what/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/love-your-country-not-for-her-power-or-wealth-but-for-her/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Explore all 1,244 Ronald Reagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More Alligators quotes > [All the pictures on the walls, they all white as lilies and smiling like alligators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/all-the-pictures-on-the-walls-they-all-white-as-lilies-and-smiling/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [See you later, alligator. After a while, crocodile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-haley/see-you-later-alligator-after-a-while-crocodile/) [Bill Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-haley/) > [The government competes in the private sector the way an alligator competes with a duck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-government-competes-in-the-private-sector-the-way-an-alligator/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [It makes my skin crawl to think about the violent ways snakes, lizards, alligators and other exotic creatures are raised and killed for boots,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-brook/it-makes-my-skin-crawl-to-think-about-the-violent-ways-snakes-lizards/) [Kelly Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-brook/) > [Never insult an alligator until after you have crossed the river.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordell-hull/never-insult-an-alligator-until-after-you-have-crossed-the-river/) [Cordell Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordell-hull/) > [I’ve wrestled with alligators, I’ve tussled with a whale. I done handcuffed lightning And throw thunder in jail. You know I’m bad. just last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-ve-wrestled-with-alligators-i-ve-tussled-with-a-whale-i-done/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Don't taunt the alligator until after you've crossed the creek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/don-t-taunt-the-alligator-until-after-you-ve-crossed-the-creek/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [When we were shooting in Shreveport, me and a couple of friends went down to Lafayette, because they had a big Zydeco music festival…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-skarsgard/when-we-were-shooting-in-shreveport-me-and-a-couple-of-friends-went/) [Alexander Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-skarsgard/) > [ Everything on Saturday morning \[cartoons\] moves alike that's one of the reasons it's not animation. The drawings are different, but everybody acts the same… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-jones/everything-on-saturday-morning-cartoons-moves-alike-that-s-one-of-the/) [Chuck Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-jones/) > [She gazed toward the marsh that grew thicker, deeper, greener with approaching summer. Mosquitoes whined in there, breeding in the dark water. Alligators slid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/she-gazed-toward-the-marsh-that-grew-thicker-deeper-greener-with/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“My love life couldn't be more nonexistent if Julius was all all-girls' boarding school with a moat full of alligators around it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flynn-meaney/my-love-life-couldn-t-be-more-nonexistent-if-julius-was-all-all-girls/) [Flynn Meaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flynn-meaney/) > [I’ve tried that. I’ve tried aspirin, too. Rusty thinks I should smoke marijuana, and I did for a while, but it only makes me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-ve-tried-that-i-ve-tried-aspirin-too-rusty-thinks-i-should-smoke/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [ Just take them rascals \[rapists, killers, child abusers\] out in the swamp / Put 'em on their knees and tie 'em to a stump… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-daniels/just-take-them-rascals-rapists-killers-child-abusers-out-in-the-swamp/) [Charlie Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-daniels/) > [“Boys, the longer you wait to get my requested prehistoric attack dogs, the more chance we have of people we care about getting hurt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gini-koch/boys-the-longer-you-wait-to-get-my-requested-prehistoric-attack-dogs/) [Gini Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gini-koch/) > [That dreadful alligator attack in Orlando would never have happened if Disney had put up real warning signs, like other Florida resorts do. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hiaasen/that-dreadful-alligator-attack-in-orlando-would-never-have-happened/) [Carl Hiaasen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hiaasen/) [Browse all 94 Alligators quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alligators/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's hard, when you're up to your armpits in alligators, to remember you came here to drain the swamp.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ronald Reagan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-hard-when-you-re-up-to-your-armpits-in-alligators-to-remember/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alligators" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-hard-when-you-re-up-to-your-armpits-in-alligators-to-remember/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/ronald-reagan-119_alligators_it-s-hard-when-you-re-up-to-your-armpits_1143846.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/ronald-reagan-119_alligators_it-s-hard-when-you-re-up-to-your-armpits_1143846.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/ronald-reagan-119_alligators_it-s-hard-when-you-re-up-to-your-armpits_1143846.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's hard, when you're up to your armpits in alligators, to remember you came here to drain the swamp.” — Ronald Reagan", "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": "Ronald Reagan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's hard, when you're up to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-hard-when-you-re-up-to-your-armpits-in-alligators-to-remember/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-hard-when-you-re-up-to-your-armpits-in-alligators-to-remember/#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 } } ] } ```