--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you are irritated by every rub, how…" description: "\"If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?\" — Rumi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/rumi-56_life_if-you-are-irritated-by-every-rub-how-wi_2048414.jpg" --- # If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished? ![“If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?” quote by Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/rumi-56_life_if-you-are-irritated-by-every-rub-how-wi_2048414.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/rumi-56_life_if-you-are-irritated-by-every-rub-how-wi_2048414.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/rumi-56_life_if-you-are-irritated-by-every-rub-how-wi_2048414.jpg) > “If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?” [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being constantly annoyed by minor flaws prevents personal growth and refinement. **In simple terms:** Complaints hinder improvement. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges to grow. Themes self‑improvement patience growth Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - relationships - skill development - creative work - learning new hobbies Key Concepts Sufi mysticism self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - What minor irritation could become a catalyst for growth? - How can you view setbacks as polishing tools? A Different Perspective If you avoid discomfort, you may miss opportunities for true refinement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Irritated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irritated/) [Irritated Rub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irritated-rub-3847435/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Polished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polished/) [Rub Polished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rub-polished-3847434/) ## Related quotes > [If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-you-are-irritated-by-every-rub-how-will-your-mirror-be-polished/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“What sort of person says that he or she wants to be polished and pure, then complains about being handled roughly?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/what-sort-of-person-says-that-he-or-she-wants-to-be-polished-and-pure/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [The garden of the world has no limits except in your mind. Its presence is more beautiful than the stars with more clarity than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/the-garden-of-the-world-has-no-limits-except-in-your-mind-its/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Let Go of Your Worries Let go of your worries and be completely clear-hearted, like the face of a mirror that contains no images.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/let-go-of-your-worries-let-go-of-your-worries-and-be-completely-clear/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Everyone sees the unseen in proportion to the clarity of his hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/everyone-sees-the-unseen-in-proportion-to-the-clarity-of-his-hear/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [I wanted to be a doctor when I was a kid, but I started doing theater in high school because it was a requirement.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-wanted-to-be-a-doctor-when-i-was-a-kid-but-i-started-doing-theater/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [Nothing is as irritating as the fellow who chats pleasantly while he's overcharging you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kin-hubbard/nothing-is-as-irritating-as-the-fellow-who-chats-pleasantly-while-he/) [Kin Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kin-hubbard/) > [When you don't like someone you get easily irritated that whatever they do is downright obnoxious, but when you truly love someone, even when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moyo-adekoya/when-you-don-t-like-someone-you-get-easily-irritated-that-whatever/) [Moyo Adekoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moyo-adekoya/) > [And the little prince broke into a lovely peal of laughter, which irritated me very much. I like my misfortunes to be taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/and-the-little-prince-broke-into-a-lovely-peal-of-laughter-which/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Lacking many of the essential implements, it irritated me to be reduced to impotence in the face of artistic projects to which I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/lacking-many-of-the-essential-implements-it-irritated-me-to-be/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [When my skin is irritated, I'll use an aloe mask pack for its soothing effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoyeon-jung/when-my-skin-is-irritated-i-ll-use-an-aloe-mask-pack-for-its-soothing/) [HoYeon Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoyeon-jung/) > [I am a little discouraged and irritated at the welfare recipient families growing in size all the time. Those of us who work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilmar-moore/i-am-a-little-discouraged-and-irritated-at-the-welfare-recipient/) [Hilmar Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilmar-moore/) > [Yes?' Joe Solomon sounded like someone with far better things to do. 'Is there any homework?' she asked, and the class turned instantly from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/yes-joe-solomon-sounded-like-someone-with-far-better-things-to-do-is/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [People who keep dogs are cowards who haven't got the guts to bite people themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/people-who-keep-dogs-are-cowards-who-haven-t-got-the-guts-to-bite/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [When my name started popping up I was quite irritated and a little bit in shock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-snow/when-my-name-started-popping-up-i-was-quite-irritated-and-a-little/) [Michael Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-snow/) ## More by Rumi > [The love religion is all that is written here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/the-love-religion-is-all-that-is-written-here/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [And so it is, that both the Devil and the angelic Spirit present us with objects of desire to awaken our power of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/and-so-it-is-that-both-the-devil-and-the-angelic-spirit-present-us/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [We began as mineral. We emerged into plant life, and into the animal state, and then into being human, and always we have forgotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/we-began-as-mineral-we-emerged-into-plant-life-and-into-the-animal/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [There is a morning inside you waiting to burst open into light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/there-is-a-morning-inside-you-waiting-to-burst-open-into-light/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Sometimes you hear a voice through the door calling you... This turning toward what you deeply love saves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/sometimes-you-hear-a-voice-through-the-door-calling-you-this-turning/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“You’ve so distracted me, your absence fans my love. Don’t ask how. Then you come near. “Do not…” I say, and “Do not…,” you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/you-ve-so-distracted-me-your-absence-fans-my-love-don-t-ask-how-then/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [There is something to be said for anyone who sits alone with dignity and silently begs for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/there-is-something-to-be-said-for-anyone-who-sits-alone-with-dignity/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Tis easy to break an idol, very easy: to regard the self as easy to subdue is folly, folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/tis-easy-to-break-an-idol-very-easy-to-regard-the-self-as-easy-to/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Today, let us swim wildly, joyously in gratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/today-let-us-swim-wildly-joyously-in-gratitude/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [I have no name for what circles so perfectly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/i-have-no-name-for-what-circles-so-perfectly/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [What draws friends together does not conform to the laws of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/what-draws-friends-together-does-not-conform-to-the-laws-of-nature/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [We are born of love. Love is our mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/we-are-born-of-love-love-is-our-mother/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Water, stories, the body, all the things we do, are mediums that hid and show what's hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/water-stories-the-body-all-the-things-we-do-are-mediums-that-hid-and/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [If your heart isn't yet illumined Be awake always, be a seeker of the heart, Be at war continually with your carnal soul. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-your-heart-isn-t-yet-illumined-be-awake-always-be-a-seeker-of-the/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“I came back to You because I could not find the kind and decent things I found in You anywhere else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/i-came-back-to-you-because-i-could-not-find-the-kind-and-decent/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) [Explore all 1,818 Rumi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) ## More Irritated quotes > [When my name started popping up I was quite irritated and a little bit in shock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-snow/when-my-name-started-popping-up-i-was-quite-irritated-and-a-little/) [Michael Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-snow/) > [People who keep dogs are cowards who haven't got the guts to bite people themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/people-who-keep-dogs-are-cowards-who-haven-t-got-the-guts-to-bite/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Yes?' Joe Solomon sounded like someone with far better things to do. 'Is there any homework?' she asked, and the class turned instantly from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/yes-joe-solomon-sounded-like-someone-with-far-better-things-to-do-is/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [I am a little discouraged and irritated at the welfare recipient families growing in size all the time. Those of us who work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilmar-moore/i-am-a-little-discouraged-and-irritated-at-the-welfare-recipient/) [Hilmar Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilmar-moore/) > [When my skin is irritated, I'll use an aloe mask pack for its soothing effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoyeon-jung/when-my-skin-is-irritated-i-ll-use-an-aloe-mask-pack-for-its-soothing/) [HoYeon Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoyeon-jung/) > [Lacking many of the essential implements, it irritated me to be reduced to impotence in the face of artistic projects to which I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/lacking-many-of-the-essential-implements-it-irritated-me-to-be/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [And the little prince broke into a lovely peal of laughter, which irritated me very much. I like my misfortunes to be taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/and-the-little-prince-broke-into-a-lovely-peal-of-laughter-which/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [When you don't like someone you get easily irritated that whatever they do is downright obnoxious, but when you truly love someone, even when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moyo-adekoya/when-you-don-t-like-someone-you-get-easily-irritated-that-whatever/) [Moyo Adekoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moyo-adekoya/) > [Nothing is as irritating as the fellow who chats pleasantly while he's overcharging you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kin-hubbard/nothing-is-as-irritating-as-the-fellow-who-chats-pleasantly-while-he/) [Kin Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kin-hubbard/) > [I wanted to be a doctor when I was a kid, but I started doing theater in high school because it was a requirement.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-wanted-to-be-a-doctor-when-i-was-a-kid-but-i-started-doing-theater/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [I remember the first time I heard a co-worker refer to himself as a foodie. It immediately irritated me. Was he implying that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessi-klein/i-remember-the-first-time-i-heard-a-co-worker-refer-to-himself-as-a/) [Jessi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessi-klein/) > [I get irritated when people ask me if I have met a certain actor or I have bags worth lakhs in my wardrobe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayesha-takia/i-get-irritated-when-people-ask-me-if-i-have-met-a-certain-actor-or-i/) [Ayesha Takia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayesha-takia/) > [There is no greater hindrance to the progress of thought than an attitude of irritated party-spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/there-is-no-greater-hindrance-to-the-progress-of-thought-than-an/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [I don't study polite anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mielya-saladdin/i-don-t-study-polite-anger/) [Mielya Saladdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mielya-saladdin/) > [I liked animals more than people! OK, I liked certain people, but the idea of mankind'-it really irritated me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirstie-alley/i-liked-animals-more-than-people-ok-i-liked-certain-people-but-the/) [Kirstie Alley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirstie-alley/) [Browse all 246 Irritated quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irritated/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rumi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-you-are-irritated-by-every-rub-how-will-you-be-polished/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Irritated" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-you-are-irritated-by-every-rub-how-will-you-be-polished/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/rumi-56_life_if-you-are-irritated-by-every-rub-how-wi_2048414.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/rumi-56_life_if-you-are-irritated-by-every-rub-how-wi_2048414.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/rumi-56_life_if-you-are-irritated-by-every-rub-how-wi_2048414.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?” — Rumi", "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": "Rumi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you are irritated by every...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-you-are-irritated-by-every-rub-how-will-you-be-polished/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-you-are-irritated-by-every-rub-how-will-you-be-polished/#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 } } ] } ```