--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you dig a hole and it's in the wrong…" description: "\"If you dig a hole and it's in the wrong place, digging it deeper isn't going to help.\" — Seymour Chwast" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/seymour-chwast-62247_deeper_if-you-dig-a-hole-and-it-s-in-the-wrong_148828.png" --- # If you dig a hole and it's in the wrong place, digging it… ![“If you dig a hole and it's in the wrong place, digging it deeper isn't going to help.” quote by Seymour Chwast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/seymour-chwast-62247_deeper_if-you-dig-a-hole-and-it-s-in-the-wrong_148828.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/seymour-chwast-62247_deeper_if-you-dig-a-hole-and-it-s-in-the-wrong_148828.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/seymour-chwast-62247_deeper_if-you-dig-a-hole-and-it-s-in-the-wrong_148828.png) > “If you dig a hole and it's in the wrong place, digging it deeper isn't going to help.” [Seymour Chwast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-chwast/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Continuing a flawed approach worsens problems; reassessment is needed. **In simple terms:** Stop digging deeper in the wrong spot. Key Takeaway Change strategy when needed. Themes problem‑solving adaptability critical thinking Mood cautious reflective Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - project management - personal dilemmas Key Concepts systems thinking decision making Questions to Reflect On - When have you persisted in a wrong path? - How can you recognize early signs? A Different Perspective Changing direction can be costly or risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Digging a hole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/digging-a-hole/) [Digging Deeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/digging-deeper/) [Wrong place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-place/) ## Related quotes > [If you're digging a hole in the wrong place, making it deeper doesn't help anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-chwast/if-you-re-digging-a-hole-in-the-wrong-place-making-it-deeper-doesn-t/) [Seymour Chwast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-chwast/) > [You can't dig a different hole by digging the same one deeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/you-can-t-dig-a-different-hole-by-digging-the-same-one-deeper/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [How deep can you dig the hole before you see the light at the end of the tunnel?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-deep-can-you-dig-the-hole-before-you-see-the-light-at-the-end-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I used to like to dig myself a hole just to see how long it took to get out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-hackett/i-used-to-like-to-dig-myself-a-hole-just-to-see-how-long-it-took-to/) [Buddy Hackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-hackett/) > [In too deep to see the diamond, down too dark to see the gold. Now he won't let go of the shovel, and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-travis/in-too-deep-to-see-the-diamond-down-too-dark-to-see-the-gold-now-he/) [Randy Travis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-travis/) > [Funny how you dig yourself into a hole by the teaspoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/funny-how-you-dig-yourself-into-a-hole-by-the-teaspoon/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [Who the fuck cares? I'll dig the fuckin' hole. I don't give a fuck. What is it, the first hole I dug? Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/who-the-fuck-cares-i-ll-dig-the-fuckin-hole-i-don-t-give-a-fuck-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don’t dig a hole unless it’s to plant a seed, or to bury your ego.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuwan-thapaliya/don-t-dig-a-hole-unless-it-s-to-plant-a-seed-or-to-bury-your-ego/) [Bhuwan Thapaliya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuwan-thapaliya/) > [You cannot dig a hole in a different place by digging the same hole deeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/you-cannot-dig-a-hole-in-a-different-place-by-digging-the-same-hole/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [I will dig a hole, write the word 'LOVE' inside, and make you fall in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-dig-a-hole-write-the-word-love-inside-and-make-you-fall-in-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The best way to dig yourself out of a hole, is with a dead guy’s fingernails. Then, once you’re out of the hole, finish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/the-best-way-to-dig-yourself-out-of-a-hole-is-with-a-dead-guy-s/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Once you've started to dig a hole, you can't get out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/once-you-ve-started-to-dig-a-hole-you-can-t-get-out-of-it/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [A guy digging ditches or a plumber wiping joints - it solves problems, you know? You have to dig this hole so wide, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-marvin/a-guy-digging-ditches-or-a-plumber-wiping-joints-it-solves-problems/) [Lee Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-marvin/) > [“Should I get you a shovel so you can dig that hole a little deeper?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/should-i-get-you-a-shovel-so-you-can-dig-that-hole-a-little-deeper/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [To survive, you've got to keep wheedling your way. You can't just sit there and fight against odds when it's not going to work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/to-survive-you-ve-got-to-keep-wheedling-your-way-you-can-t-just-sit/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) ## More by Seymour Chwast > [“The books I like...contain things to ponder, ignore, memorize, and laugh and wonder at.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-chwast/the-books-i-like-contain-things-to-ponder-ignore-memorize-and-laugh/) [Seymour Chwast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-chwast/) > [I read once about the concepts of a lateral idea and the vertical idea. If you dig a hole and it’s in the wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-chwast/i-read-once-about-the-concepts-of-a-lateral-idea-and-the-vertical/) [Seymour Chwast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-chwast/) > [If you're digging a hole in the wrong place, making it deeper doesn't help anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-chwast/if-you-re-digging-a-hole-in-the-wrong-place-making-it-deeper-doesn-t/) [Seymour Chwast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-chwast/) > [If you do not start with the idea, you are creating fine art - its personal, but it tends not to communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-chwast/if-you-do-not-start-with-the-idea-you-are-creating-fine-art-its/) [Seymour Chwast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-chwast/) [Explore all 5 Seymour Chwast quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-chwast/) ## More Deeper quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. 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If you draw conclusions too quickly or too slowly, you’ll establish your self where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/your-deeper-sense-isn-t-a-springboard-it-s-a-landing-place-if-you/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [Forgiving the men who killed my parents and brother was a process, a journey into deeper and deeper prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immaculee-ilibagiza/forgiving-the-men-who-killed-my-parents-and-brother-was-a-process-a/) [Immaculee Ilibagiza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immaculee-ilibagiza/) > [I thought I knew a lot about music. Then you start digging and the deeper you go, the more there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/i-thought-i-knew-a-lot-about-music-then-you-start-digging-and-the/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [As to London we must console ourselves with the thought that if life outside is less poetic than it was in the days of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldwin-smith/as-to-london-we-must-console-ourselves-with-the-thought-that-if-life/) [Goldwin Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldwin-smith/) > [On a deeper level you are already complete. When you realize that, there is a joyous energy behind what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/on-a-deeper-level-you-are-already-complete-when-you-realize-that/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Each day my love grows deeper, deeper than I never thought before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/each-day-my-love-grows-deeper-deeper-than-i-never-thought-before/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know what I was thinking about on my way home? How different my life would be if you’d made that gash a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffanie-debartolo/you-know-what-i-was-thinking-about-on-my-way-home-how-different-my/) [Tiffanie DeBartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffanie-debartolo/) > [When we have the same thought again, the line of the original thought is deepened, causing what's called a memory trace. 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