Agony Quote by Steve Jobs
“The problem with the Internet startup craze isn't that too many people are starting companies; it's that too many people aren't sticking with it. That's somewhat understandable, because there are many moments that are filled with despair and agony, when you have to fire people and cancel things and deal with very difficult situations. That's when you find out who you are and what your values are.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Stanford Commencement Address, 2005
Many startups fail not because of too many founders, but because founders quit when faced with hardship, revealing their character and values.
In simple terms: Startups fail when founders quit during tough times, exposing true values.
Key Takeaway
Persist through hardship to discover purpose.
Themes
perseverance
entrepreneurship
values
resilience
leadership
Mood
determined
reflective
Type
motivational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- founder burnout
- layoffs
- pivot decisions
- crisis management
- team building
Key Concepts
Growth mindset
mission
identity
ethical decision-making
Questions to Reflect On
- What core values guide you in crises?
- How can you support your team during hardship?
A Different Perspective
Success also depends on market fit and execution, not just perseverance.
![“[W]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range of music, and will not vibrate in the least under a touch that fills others with tremulous rapture or quivering agony.” quote by George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9be/george-eliot-84_agony_w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves_12409.jpg)
