---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm hardened over many years. You toughen…"
description: "\"I'm hardened over many years. You toughen yourself for whatever job. You either take the good with the bad or don't bother.\" — Sam Allardyce"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/sam-allardyce-4406_bad_i-m-hardened-over-many-years-you-toughen_927425.png"
---

#  I'm hardened over many years. You toughen yourself for…

![“I'm hardened over many years. You toughen yourself for whatever job. You either take the good with the bad or don't bother.” quote by Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/sam-allardyce-4406_bad_i-m-hardened-over-many-years-you-toughen_927425.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/sam-allardyce-4406_bad_i-m-hardened-over-many-years-you-toughen_927425.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/sam-allardyce-4406_bad_i-m-hardened-over-many-years-you-toughen_927425.png)

> “I'm hardened over many years. You toughen yourself for whatever job. You either take the good with the bad or don't bother.”

[Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

## About This Quote

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

Experience hardens you; you must accept both good and bad aspects of any job.

**In simple terms:** Work toughens you; accept all outcomes.

Key Takeaway

Embrace challenges, stay resilient.

Themes

career resilience realism

Mood

pragmatic serious

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- new job
- career change
- daily tasks

Key Concepts

psychology work ethic adaptation

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you balance toughness with self‑compassion?
- How to stay flexible?

A Different Perspective

Over‑hardening can lead to burnout.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/)

## Related quotes

> [If my style is too direct for some, maybe they should toughen up a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/if-my-style-is-too-direct-for-some-maybe-they-should-toughen-up-a-bit/)

[Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/)

> [To toughen up, is to calm down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-melvin/to-toughen-up-is-to-calm-down/)

Doug Melvin

> [I was never no, never no, never enough, But I can try, I can try to toughen up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-was-never-no-never-no-never-enough-but-i-can-try-i-can-try-to/)

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

> [Encourage your kids' artistic side. Toughen up everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-madsen/encourage-your-kids-artistic-side-toughen-up-everything-else/)

[Michael Madsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-madsen/)

> [Growing up in a system that tells you just because of your skin colour you are not good enough - you learn at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/motsi-mabuse/growing-up-in-a-system-that-tells-you-just-because-of-your-skin/)

[Motsi Mabuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/motsi-mabuse/)

> [I think too many Democrats are too wimpy. But I think they're beginning to toughen up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/i-think-too-many-democrats-are-too-wimpy-but-i-think-they-re/)

[Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/)

> [“London, London, London town, You can toughen up or get thrown around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano/london-london-london-town-you-can-toughen-up-or-get-thrown-around/)

[Kano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano/)

> [“Cast off everything/everyone else has known for you./ Move gratefully, from these old skins. /And this time, if you toughen,/ decide / for whom ?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/em-claire/cast-off-everything-everyone-else-has-known-for-you-move-gratefully/)

Em Claire

> [I think there are things you can do to toughen yourself up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-think-there-are-things-you-can-do-to-toughen-yourself-up/)

[Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/)

> [I had to learn to toughen up and fend for myself. You'd think when you have a lot of brothers and sisters, they'd come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aljamain-sterling/i-had-to-learn-to-toughen-up-and-fend-for-myself-you-d-think-when-you/)

[Aljamain Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aljamain-sterling/)

> [When I was growing up as a kid, it was always, 'Oh, you're being bullied. Well, toughen up. Get some tough skin and deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheamus/when-i-was-growing-up-as-a-kid-it-was-always-oh-you-re-being-bullied/)

[Sheamus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheamus/)

> [I could do nothing without my problems; they toughen my mind. In fact, I tell my assistants not to bring me their successes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/i-could-do-nothing-without-my-problems-they-toughen-my-mind-in-fact-i/)

[Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/)

> [Once a week, someone tells me to toughen up, get a sharper edge. I don't do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/once-a-week-someone-tells-me-to-toughen-up-get-a-sharper-edge-i-don-t/)

[Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/)

> [If I'm ever wearing a super-flowy dress, I like to toughen it up with a boot or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-sink/if-i-m-ever-wearing-a-super-flowy-dress-i-like-to-toughen-it-up-with/)

[Sadie Sink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie-sink/)

> [I have that hypocrisy of a parent in that I'm like,'Come on, you've got to toughen up at the same time let me take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-have-that-hypocrisy-of-a-parent-in-that-i-m-like-come-on-you-ve-got/)

[Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/)

## More by Sam Allardyce

> [I think accepting an instruction is part of a player's responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/i-think-accepting-an-instruction-is-part-of-a-player-s-responsibility/)

[Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

> [Jay Jay Okocha. On and off the field he was the captain you looked for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/jay-jay-okocha-on-and-off-the-field-he-was-the-captain-you-looked-for/)

[Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

> [No matter what people say outside of football, we don't work for money, we work for the love of the game and the money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/no-matter-what-people-say-outside-of-football-we-don-t-work-for-money/)

[Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

> [There is a lot of pressure at first when you first take over a club that's struggling but you want to go and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/there-is-a-lot-of-pressure-at-first-when-you-first-take-over-a-club/)

[Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

> [Football today means players stay less now than ever before and you have to accept that. As a manager, a big part of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/football-today-means-players-stay-less-now-than-ever-before-and-you/)

[Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

> [My time at Bolton was fantastic. I didn't want to go. It's a fantastic stadium with fantastic fans, but I want to disappoint them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/my-time-at-bolton-was-fantastic-i-didn-t-want-to-go-it-s-a-fantastic/)

[Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

> [I had four great years at West Ham. People will always refer to the difficulties at certain times, but you get those everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/i-had-four-great-years-at-west-ham-people-will-always-refer-to-the/)

[Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

> [People seem to expect when that happens, for players to be brought in that are so much better than the ones that have left.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/people-seem-to-expect-when-that-happens-for-players-to-be-brought-in/)

[Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

> [What is entertainment? Entertainment is the master of defence in Europe - Simeone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/what-is-entertainment-entertainment-is-the-master-of-defence-in/)

[Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

> [My management skills are more suited to developing teams to be better than what they were before, and not just about avoiding relegation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/my-management-skills-are-more-suited-to-developing-teams-to-be-better/)

[Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

> [It's always a good time to play against a team when they come back from Europe, whether it's the Europa League or Champions League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/it-s-always-a-good-time-to-play-against-a-team-when-they-come-back/)

[Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

> [I have always said that managers stay in a job when they win football matches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/i-have-always-said-that-managers-stay-in-a-job-when-they-win-football/)

[Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

> [You cannot just force 'the only way to play is this way' in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/you-cannot-just-force-the-only-way-to-play-is-this-way-in-this-country/)

[Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

> [Football is a worldwide business consortium and to satisfy that best you need to find the best players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/football-is-a-worldwide-business-consortium-and-to-satisfy-that-best/)

[Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

> [If I got sacked because my results weren't good enough at Everton, I accept it, but getting sacked when they finish eighth, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/if-i-got-sacked-because-my-results-weren-t-good-enough-at-everton-i/)

[Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

[Explore all 111 Sam Allardyce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

## More Bad quotes

> [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/)

[Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/)

> [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/)

[Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/)

> [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/)

[Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/)

> [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/)

[Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/)

> [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/)

[Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/)

> [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/)

[Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/)

> [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/)

[Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/)

> [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/)

[Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/)

> [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/)

[Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/)

> [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/)

[Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/)

> [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/)

[Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/)

> [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/)

[David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/)

> [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/)

[Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/)

> [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/)

[Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/)

Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I'm hardened over many years. You toughen yourself for whatever job. You either take the good with the bad or don't bother.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sam Allardyce"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/i-m-hardened-over-many-years-you-toughen-yourself-for-whatever-job/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bad"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/i-m-hardened-over-many-years-you-toughen-yourself-for-whatever-job/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/sam-allardyce-4406_bad_i-m-hardened-over-many-years-you-toughen_927425.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/sam-allardyce-4406_bad_i-m-hardened-over-many-years-you-toughen_927425.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/sam-allardyce-4406_bad_i-m-hardened-over-many-years-you-toughen_927425.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I'm hardened over many years. You toughen yourself for whatever job. You either take the good with the bad…” — Sam Allardyce",
                "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": "Sam Allardyce",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I'm hardened over many years. You...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/i-m-hardened-over-many-years-you-toughen-yourself-for-whatever-job/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/i-m-hardened-over-many-years-you-toughen-yourself-for-whatever-job/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
