--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am a horse for a single harness, not…" description: "\"“I am a horse for a single harness, not cut out for tandem or teamwork … for well I know that in order to attain any definite goal, it is imperative th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/susan-cain-647_goals_i-am-a-horse-for-a-single-harness-not-cu_318707.jpg" --- # I am a horse for a single harness, not cut out for tandem… ![“I am a horse for a single harness, not cut out for tandem or teamwork … for well I know that in order to attain any definite goal, it is imperative that one person do the thinking and the commanding. —ALBERT EINSTEIN” quote by Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/susan-cain-647_goals_i-am-a-horse-for-a-single-harness-not-cu_318707.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/susan-cain-647_goals_i-am-a-horse-for-a-single-harness-not-cu_318707.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/susan-cain-647_goals_i-am-a-horse-for-a-single-harness-not-cu_318707.jpg) > ““I am a horse for a single harness, not cut out for tandem or teamwork … for well I know that in order to attain any definite goal, it is imperative that one person do the thinking and the commanding. —ALBERT EINSTEIN”” [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Preferring solo work suggests belief that individual thinking drives decisive action, but may overlook collaborative benefits. **In simple terms:** Solo work can feel decisive. Key Takeaway Recognize when teamwork adds value. Themes individualism leadership focus Mood thoughtful determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - research projects - entrepreneurial ventures - creative writing - strategic planning Key Concepts introversion decision making team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When could collaboration improve your outcome? - What strengths do you bring to a team? A Different Perspective Teamwork can produce ideas that a single mind may miss. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Definite Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definite-goal-361379/) [Goal Imperative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal-imperative-3008372/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Imperative Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperative-person-3008373/) [Single Harness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-harness-3008370/) [Teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teamwork/) [Thinking Commanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-commanding-3008371/) ## Related quotes > [It is still not enough for language to have clarity and content... it must also have a goal and an imperative. Otherwise from language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-daumal/it-is-still-not-enough-for-language-to-have-clarity-and-content-it/) [Rene Daumal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-daumal/) > [There is no hope of success for the person who does not have a central purpose, or definite goal at which to aim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/there-is-no-hope-of-success-for-the-person-who-does-not-have-a/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Life is futile unless it be directed towards a definite goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/life-is-futile-unless-it-be-directed-towards-a-definite-goal/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [Set your mind on a definite goal and observe how quickly the world stands aside to let you pass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/set-your-mind-on-a-definite-goal-and-observe-how-quickly-the-world/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“Barnes succeeded because he chose a definite goal, placed all his energy, all his will power, all his effort, everything back of that goal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/barnes-succeeded-because-he-chose-a-definite-goal-placed-all-his/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Every individual should have a purpose in life which is worthy of intense effort-and constantly work toward the definite goal ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roderick-e-stevens/every-individual-should-have-a-purpose-in-life-which-is-worthy-of/) [Roderick E. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roderick-e-stevens/) > [The man with the average mentality, but with control, with a definite goal, and a clear conception of how it can be gained, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-man-with-the-average-mentality-but-with-control-with-a-definite/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [The peculiar fascination which the speeding train has for us comes from the evident progress it is making toward its definite goal ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roderick-e-stevens/the-peculiar-fascination-which-the-speeding-train-has-for-us-comes/) [Roderick E. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roderick-e-stevens/) > [Keep a definite goal of achievement constantly in view. Realize that work well and worthily done makes life truly worth living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grenville-kleiser/keep-a-definite-goal-of-achievement-constantly-in-view-realize-that/) [Grenville Kleiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grenville-kleiser/) > [“There are two kinds of people: goal-oriented and ego-oriented. Goal-oriented people work together and get things gone. Ego-oriented people don’t work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charbel-tadros/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-goal-oriented-and-ego-oriented-goal/) [Charbel Tadros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charbel-tadros/) > [Trust is the foundation of real teamwork (there is nothing touchy-feely about this).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/trust-is-the-foundation-of-real-teamwork-there-is-nothing-touchy/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [“What matters are five key norms,” he told the audience. Teams need to believe that their work is important. Teams need to feel their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/what-matters-are-five-key-norms-he-told-the-audience-teams-need-to/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/) [Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/) > [Lavish praise on people and people will flourish; criticize people and they'll shrivel up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/lavish-praise-on-people-and-people-will-flourish-criticize-people-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [My team and I have reunited two elements that coexist with diffiulty: respect and affection, because when they love you they don't respect you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/my-team-and-i-have-reunited-two-elements-that-coexist-with-diffiulty/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) ## More by Susan Cain > [“Proverbs from the East: The wind howls, but the mountain remains still. Even though I make no special attempt to observe the discipline of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/proverbs-from-the-east-the-wind-howls-but-the-mountain-remains-still/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“where we fall on the introvert-extrovert spectrum. Our place on this continuum influences our choice of friends and mates, and how we make conversation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/where-we-fall-on-the-introvert-extrovert-spectrum-our-place-on-this/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“I worry that there are people who are put in positions of authority because they’re good talkers, but they don’t have good ideas,” he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/i-worry-that-there-are-people-who-are-put-in-positions-of-authority/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“He believes, as most of us do, that venting anger lets off steam. The “catharsis hypothesis”—that aggression builds up inside us until it’s healthily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/he-believes-as-most-of-us-do-that-venting-anger-lets-off-steam-the/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“Soft power is not limited to moral exemplars like Mahatma Gandhi. Consider, for example, the much-ballyhooed excellence of Asians in fields like math and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/soft-power-is-not-limited-to-moral-exemplars-like-mahatma-gandhi/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“Events like this don't give me the sense of oneness others seem to enjoy; it's always been private occasions that make me feel connected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/events-like-this-don-t-give-me-the-sense-of-oneness-others-seem-to/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“Social anxiety disorder”—which essentially means pathological shyness—is now thought to afflict nearly one in five of us. The most recent version of the Diagnostic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/social-anxiety-disorder-which-essentially-means-pathological-shyness/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“Potential clients would walk out of Charlie’s office scared”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/potential-clients-would-walk-out-of-charlie-s-office-scared/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“So when introverts assume the observer role, as when they write novels, or contemplate unified field theory- or fall quiet at dinner parties- they’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/so-when-introverts-assume-the-observer-role-as-when-they-write-novels/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“Osborn’s theory had great impact, and company leaders took up brainstorming with enthusiasm. To this day, it’s common for anyone who spends time in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/osborn-s-theory-had-great-impact-and-company-leaders-took-up/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [Extroversion is an enormously appealing personality style, but we've turned it into an oppressive standard to which most of us feel we must conform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/extroversion-is-an-enormously-appealing-personality-style-but-we-ve/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“But as the word satyagraha implies, Gandhi’s passivity was not weakness at all. It meant focusing on an ultimate goal and refusing to divert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/but-as-the-word-satyagraha-implies-gandhi-s-passivity-was-not/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“The Extrovert Ideal has been documented in many studies, though this research has never been grouped under a single name. Talkative people, for example,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/the-extrovert-ideal-has-been-documented-in-many-studies-though-this/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“introverts prefer to work independently, and solitude can be a catalyst to innovation. As the influential psychologist Hans Eysenck once observed, introversion “concentrates the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/introverts-prefer-to-work-independently-and-solitude-can-be-a/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [ “People who tend to \[suppress their negative emotions\] regularly,” concludes Grob, “might start to see the world in a more negative light.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/people-who-tend-to-suppress-their-negative-emotions-regularly/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) [Explore all 428 Susan Cain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) ## More Goals quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/) [C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) [Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I am a horse for a single harness, not cut out for tandem or teamwork … for well I know that in order to attain any definite goal, it is imperative that one person do the thinking and the commanding. —ALBERT EINSTEIN”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Susan Cain" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/i-am-a-horse-for-a-single-harness-not-cut-out-for-tandem-or-teamwork/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Goals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/i-am-a-horse-for-a-single-harness-not-cut-out-for-tandem-or-teamwork/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/susan-cain-647_goals_i-am-a-horse-for-a-single-harness-not-cu_318707.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/susan-cain-647_goals_i-am-a-horse-for-a-single-harness-not-cu_318707.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/susan-cain-647_goals_i-am-a-horse-for-a-single-harness-not-cu_318707.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am a horse for a single harness, not cut out for tandem or teamwork … for well I know that in order to…” — Susan Cain", "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": "Susan Cain", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I am a horse for a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/i-am-a-horse-for-a-single-harness-not-cut-out-for-tandem-or-teamwork/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/i-am-a-horse-for-a-single-harness-not-cut-out-for-tandem-or-teamwork/#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 } } ] } ```