--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Overcoming obstacles is normally an…" description: "\"“Overcoming obstacles is normally an unavoidable part of the process. But you also need to know when to quit. Persistence is useful, but there’s no poi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/scott-adams-666_adversity_overcoming-obstacles-is-normally-an-unav_1194926.jpg" --- # Overcoming obstacles is normally an unavoidable part of… ![“Overcoming obstacles is normally an unavoidable part of the process. But you also need to know when to quit. Persistence is useful, but there’s no point in being an idiot about it.” quote by Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/scott-adams-666_adversity_overcoming-obstacles-is-normally-an-unav_1194926.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/scott-adams-666_adversity_overcoming-obstacles-is-normally-an-unav_1194926.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/scott-adams-666_adversity_overcoming-obstacles-is-normally-an-unav_1194926.jpg) > ““Overcoming obstacles is normally an unavoidable part of the process. But you also need to know when to quit. Persistence is useful, but there’s no point in being an idiot about it.”” [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Persistence is valuable, but knowing when to quit prevents wasted effort and foolishness. **In simple terms:** Know when to stop being stubborn. Key Takeaway Balance persistence with smart quitting. Themes persistence decision‑making efficiency Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career projects - creative endeavors - habit formation Key Concepts cost‑benefit analysis self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - When is quitting a sign of wisdom? - How do you evaluate the point of diminishing returns? A Different Perspective Quitting can be seen as giving up, harming reputation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Overcoming obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming-obstacles/) [Persistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persistence/) ## Related quotes > [“Persistence is useful if you are trying to learn a new skill or acquire particular knowledge...but persistence directed primarily toward your non-talents is self-destructive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gallup-press/persistence-is-useful-if-you-are-trying-to-learn-a-new-skill-or/) Gallup Press > [People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don't know when to quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/people-of-mediocre-ability-sometimes-achieve-outstanding-success/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [Sports is a metaphor for overcoming obstacles and achieving against great odds. Athletes, in times of difficulty, can be important role models.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bradley/sports-is-a-metaphor-for-overcoming-obstacles-and-achieving-against/) [Bill Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bradley/) > [“Forgive your past because it the vehicle through your process and from this point forward your life is made of 100% future; Caterpillars always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/forgive-your-past-because-it-the-vehicle-through-your-process-and/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [“How could we have achieved the set-goal, without endurance to the end?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/how-could-we-have-achieved-the-set-goal-without-endurance-to-the-end/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/be-of-good-cheer-do-not-think-of-today-s-failures-but-of-the-success/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [The secrets to happiness include enterprise, exploration of one's interests and the overcoming of obstacles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-secrets-to-happiness-include-enterprise-exploration-of-one-s/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Many times we are our worst enemy. If we could learn to conquer ourselves, then we will have a much easier time overcoming the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-labossiere/many-times-we-are-our-worst-enemy-if-we-could-learn-to-conquer/) [Stephan Labossiere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-labossiere/) > [“Men don't know when to stop, she's told me over and over. You have to cut them off or they'll eat 'til their bellies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-nicole/men-don-t-know-when-to-stop-she-s-told-me-over-and-over-you-have-to/) [Elizabeth Nicole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-nicole/) > [That's something to be proud of - to have people say that you're the kind of guy who doesn't know how to quit. Try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-schlereth/that-s-something-to-be-proud-of-to-have-people-say-that-you-re-the/) [Mark Schlereth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-schlereth/) > [Bitches may tlk shitt, they dnt know how to quit. they hatin on yo swaagg-o-meter because its ALWAYYS high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serenitiee-robertson/bitches-may-tlk-shitt-they-dnt-know-how-to-quit-they-hatin-on-yo/) Serenitiee Robertson > [“From this point forward, you don’t even know how to quit in life.” ~ Aaron Lauritsen, ‘100 Days Drive”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-lauritsen/from-this-point-forward-you-don-t-even-know-how-to-quit-in-life-aaron/) [Aaron Lauritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-lauritsen/) > [Great people are just ordinary people with an extraordinary amount of determination. They simply don't know how to quit. They just keep on 'keepin'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/great-people-are-just-ordinary-people-with-an-extraordinary-amount-of/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [All those words I said, I don't know if they are quit has true has I thought. You need to help me, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-those-words-i-said-i-don-t-know-if-they-are-quit-has-true-has-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'd like to play as long as I'm healthy but I won't be a part-time player. I'll know when to quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-havlicek/i-d-like-to-play-as-long-as-i-m-healthy-but-i-won-t-be-a-part-time/) [John Havlicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-havlicek/) ## More by Scott Adams > [The creator of the universe works in mysterious ways. But he uses a base ten counting system and likes round numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/the-creator-of-the-universe-works-in-mysterious-ways-but-he-uses-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“If you think your odds of solving your problem are bad, don’t rule out the possibility that what is really happening is that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/if-you-think-your-odds-of-solving-your-problem-are-bad-don-t-rule-out/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Frankly, I’m suspicious of anyone who has a strong opinion on a complicated issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/frankly-i-m-suspicious-of-anyone-who-has-a-strong-opinion-on-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“If you want success, figure out the price, then pay it. It sounds trivial and obvious, but if you unpack the idea it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/if-you-want-success-figure-out-the-price-then-pay-it-it-sounds/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Ideas are worthless, execution is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/ideas-are-worthless-execution-is-everything/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [For five hundred dollars, I'll name a subatomic particle after you. Some of my satisfied customers include Arthur C. Quark and George Meson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/for-five-hundred-dollars-i-ll-name-a-subatomic-particle-after-you/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Failure always brings something valuable with it. I don’t let it leave until I extract that value.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/failure-always-brings-something-valuable-with-it-i-don-t-let-it-leave/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [The longer you verk here, diverse it gets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/the-longer-you-verk-here-diverse-it-gets/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“On all the important stuff, we are emotional creatures who make decisions first and rationalize them after the fact.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/on-all-the-important-stuff-we-are-emotional-creatures-who-make/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“What you rarely see is a stillborn failure that transmogrifies into a stellar success. Small successes can grow into big ones, but failures rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/what-you-rarely-see-is-a-stillborn-failure-that-transmogrifies-into-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Because everything you perceive is a metaphor for something your brain is not equipped to fully understand. God is as real as the clothes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/because-everything-you-perceive-is-a-metaphor-for-something-your/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Capitalism is rotten at every level, and yet it adds up to something extraordinarily useful for society over time. The paradox of capitalism is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/capitalism-is-rotten-at-every-level-and-yet-it-adds-up-to-something/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [The best part about being my age is in knowing how my life worked out. Sure, there's a lot more living to go, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/the-best-part-about-being-my-age-is-in-knowing-how-my-life-worked-out/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [If you see voters as rational, you'll be a terrible politician. People are not wired to be rational. Our brains simply evolved to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/if-you-see-voters-as-rational-you-ll-be-a-terrible-politician-people/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [E-books are impervious to analogy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/e-books-are-impervious-to-analogy/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) [Explore all 418 Scott Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) James Buckham Kennedy > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) S.E. SEVER > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Overcoming obstacles is normally an unavoidable part of the process. But you also need to know when to quit. 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