--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never hit if you can help it, but when…" description: "\"Never hit if you can help it, but when you have to, hit hard. Never hit soft. You'll never get any thanks for hitting soft.\" — Theodore Roosevelt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/theodore-roosevelt-218_hard_never-hit-if-you-can-help-it-but-when-yo_1779133.jpg" --- # Never hit if you can help it, but when you have to, hit… ![“Never hit if you can help it, but when you have to, hit hard. Never hit soft. You'll never get any thanks for hitting soft.” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/theodore-roosevelt-218_hard_never-hit-if-you-can-help-it-but-when-yo_1779133.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/theodore-roosevelt-218_hard_never-hit-if-you-can-help-it-but-when-yo_1779133.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/theodore-roosevelt-218_hard_never-hit-if-you-can-help-it-but-when-yo_1779133.jpg) > “Never hit if you can help it, but when you have to, hit hard. Never hit soft. You'll never get any thanks for hitting soft.” [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoid weak actions; if force is needed, be decisive and strong. **In simple terms:** Never hit soft; be firm when necessary. Key Takeaway Act decisively when required. Themes strength decisiveness conflict ethics Mood assertive thoughtful Type motivational ethical When to use this quote - leadership - self‑defense - sports competition - business negotiations Key Concepts power dynamics moral choice Questions to Reflect On - When is firmness appropriate? - How to balance strength and compassion? A Different Perspective Hardness can cause unnecessary harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/don-t-hit-at-all-if-it-is-honorably-possible-to-avoid-hitting-but/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“The jabs Sheila launched in my direction never failed to score a direct hit to my soft belly. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-campbell-slan/the-jabs-sheila-launched-in-my-direction-never-failed-to-score-a/) [Joanna Campbell Slan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-campbell-slan/) > [Mercifully, he hit him with the soft end of the pistol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-stanshall/mercifully-he-hit-him-with-the-soft-end-of-the-pistol/) [Vivian Stanshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-stanshall/) > [I like hitting people. The best feeling is when you hit so hard, pow! You get a jarring headache.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohan-marley/i-like-hitting-people-the-best-feeling-is-when-you-hit-so-hard-pow/) [Rohan Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohan-marley/) > [If your going to get in trouble for hitting someone, you mine as well hit them hard:)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-girl/if-your-going-to-get-in-trouble-for-hitting-someone-you-mine-as-well/) Michael's\_girl > [“I hit him so hard spittle and blood flew from his mouth onto a woman’s blouse four feet away. I drove my fist into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lee-burke/i-hit-him-so-hard-spittle-and-blood-flew-from-his-mouth-onto-a-woman/) [James Lee Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lee-burke/) > [As you go down, guys don't hit as hard, but you need to have that cardio to keep the pace up, so it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/as-you-go-down-guys-don-t-hit-as-hard-but-you-need-to-have-that/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [I know I hit hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-know-i-hit-hard/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-world-ain-t-all-sunshine-and-rainbows-it-s-a-very-mean-and-nasty/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Drew McFedries was the hardest hitter I've ever been around. A big, strong, athletic guy with power. He didn't have to hit you with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-lawler/drew-mcfedries-was-the-hardest-hitter-i-ve-ever-been-around-a-big/) [Robbie Lawler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-lawler/) > [I like to hit hard, I like to be hit hard, and I like really competitive matches. That's my take on pro wrestling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-riddle/i-like-to-hit-hard-i-like-to-be-hit-hard-and-i-like-really/) [Matt Riddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-riddle/) > [If you don't hit hard and you weigh 260 pounds, that is something to worry about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mir/if-you-don-t-hit-hard-and-you-weigh-260-pounds-that-is-something-to/) [Frank Mir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mir/) > [“Don’t hit till you have to; but, when you do hit, hit hard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/don-t-hit-till-you-have-to-but-when-you-do-hit-hit-hard/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [Ali had a break that was an inch and a half long, and you keep getting hit as hard and as much as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-norton/ali-had-a-break-that-was-an-inch-and-a-half-long-and-you-keep-getting/) [Ken Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-norton/) > [Its not how hard you can hit, its how hard you can get hit & move on. That's how winning is done. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/km-ii/its-not-how-hard-you-can-hit-its-how-hard-you-can-get-hit-move-on/) [KM II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/km-ii/) ## More by Theodore Roosevelt > [No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/no-people-is-wholly-civilized-where-a-distinction-is-drawn-between/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/get-action-seize-the-moment-man-was-never-intended-to-become-an-oyster/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Argument weak; speak loudly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/argument-weak-speak-loudly/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Let the watchwords of all our people be the old familiar watchwords of honesty, decency, fair-dealing, and commonsense."... "We must treat each man on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-the-watchwords-of-all-our-people-be-the-old-familiar-watchwords/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The forces that tend for evil are great and terrible, but the forces of truth and love and courage and honesty and generosity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-forces-that-tend-for-evil-are-great-and-terrible-but-the-forces/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Every reform movement has a lunatic fringe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/every-reform-movement-has-a-lunatic-fringe/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Conservation and rural-life policies are really two sides of the same policy; and down at the bottom this policy rests upon the fundamental law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/conservation-and-rural-life-policies-are-really-two-sides-of-the-same/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [It is a great mistake to think that the extremist is a better man than the moderate. Usually the difference is not that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-think-that-the-extremist-is-a-better-man/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I am a strong individualist by personal habit, inheritance, and conviction; but it is a mere matter of common sense to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-am-a-strong-individualist-by-personal-habit-inheritance-and/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Alone of human beings the good and wise mother stands on a plane of equal honor with the bravest soldier; for she has gladly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/alone-of-human-beings-the-good-and-wise-mother-stands-on-a-plane-of/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The greatest privilege and greatest duty for any man is to be happily married, and no other form of success or service, for either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-greatest-privilege-and-greatest-duty-for-any-man-is-to-be-happily/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [For unflagging interest and enjoyment, a household of children, if things go reasonably well, certainly all other forms of success and achievement lose their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/for-unflagging-interest-and-enjoyment-a-household-of-children-if/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains. To put an end to it will be neither a short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their-2/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [If elected, I shall see to it that every man has a square deal, no less and no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-elected-i-shall-see-to-it-that-every-man-has-a-square-deal-no-less/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) [Explore all 876 Theodore Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## More Hard quotes > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is hard to admit to someone that you love him..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misherie/it-is-hard-to-admit-to-someone-that-you-love-him/) [Misherie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misherie/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [There Was Many Time I Had Wanted To Give Up In Life On So Many Things…But Naw F\*\*\* That...I'm Not Going To Never Give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/out-spoken/there-was-many-time-i-had-wanted-to-give-up-in-life-on-so-many-things/) Out Spoken > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [One of the worst things to come out of the Consumer Protection Board's misleading claims is the impression that government resources are to hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lesko/one-of-the-worst-things-to-come-out-of-the-consumer-protection-board/) [Matthew Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lesko/) > [In our society we have hard nerds and soft nerds. The hard nerds are the ones who used to have the slide rules at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/in-our-society-we-have-hard-nerds-and-soft-nerds-the-hard-nerds-are/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/) [Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/) > [High school, going into my junior year, I kind of had the idea I was going to be the starting running back. 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