--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In life you need either inspiration or…" description: "\"In life you need either inspiration or desperation.\" — Tony Robbins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/tony-robbins-232_desperation_in-life-you-need-either-inspiration-or-d_427219.jpg" --- # In life you need either inspiration or desperation. ![“In life you need either inspiration or desperation.” quote by Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/tony-robbins-232_desperation_in-life-you-need-either-inspiration-or-d_427219.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/tony-robbins-232_desperation_in-life-you-need-either-inspiration-or-d_427219.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/tony-robbins-232_desperation_in-life-you-need-either-inspiration-or-d_427219.jpg) > “In life you need either inspiration or desperation.” [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People are driven either by a spark of inspiration or by the pressure of desperation, prompting action. **In simple terms:** People act when inspired or desperate. Key Takeaway Identify what motivates you now. Themes motivation choice drive Mood determited reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - personal projects - overcoming inertia - creative work Key Concepts Psychology self‑determination Questions to Reflect On - What currently fuels your actions? - How can you turn desperation into sustainable drive? A Different Perspective Desperation can lead to burnout if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperation/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [In exams, we look up for inspiration, down for desperation, left and right for information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/in-exams-we-look-up-for-inspiration-down-for-desperation-left-and/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [We look up for inspiration, down for desperation, right and left for information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/we-look-up-for-inspiration-down-for-desperation-right-and-left-for/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [Better to seek change by inspiration, than out of desperation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/better-to-seek-change-by-inspiration-than-out-of-desperation/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [During a test; people look up for inspiration,down in desperation, and left and right for information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/during-a-test-people-look-up-for-inspiration-down-in-desperation-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Inspiration in desperation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/inspiration-in-desperation/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [The people at the record company had asked me if I could write a song about my life, my relationship with God, and where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-ray-cyrus/the-people-at-the-record-company-had-asked-me-if-i-could-write-a-song/) [Billy Ray Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-ray-cyrus/) > [We generally change ourselves for one of two reasons: inspiration or desperation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/we-generally-change-ourselves-for-one-of-two-reasons-inspiration-or/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [During exams, students look up for inspiration, down in desperation, and left and right for information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/during-exams-students-look-up-for-inspiration-down-in-desperation-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is not difficult to rebuild a life. All we need is to be aware that we have the same strength we had before,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-is-not-difficult-to-rebuild-a-life-all-we-need-is-to-be-aware-that/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/desperation-is-sometimes-as-powerful-an-inspirer-as-genius/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > […words have been all my life, all my life--this need is like the Spider's need who carries before her a huge Burden of Silk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/words-have-been-all-my-life-all-my-life-this-need-is-like-the-spider/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In this life, all you need is for someone to believe in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-martinez/in-this-life-all-you-need-is-for-someone-to-believe-in-you/) [J. R. Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-martinez/) > [“To Graduate from the "School of Life" you need to have met the following criteria: Found your life purpose, know how the egoic mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-g-roussou/to-graduate-from-the-school-of-life-you-need-to-have-met-the/) [Marina G. Roussou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-g-roussou/) > [Not everyone is healthy enough to have a front row seat in our lives. There are some people in your life that need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/not-everyone-is-healthy-enough-to-have-a-front-row-seat-in-our-lives/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“James had taken his own life, but the need to do so was not something easily explained. He had the life he wanted: money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-butler/james-had-taken-his-own-life-but-the-need-to-do-so-was-not-something/) [Hazel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-butler/) ## More by Tony Robbins > [The only people without problems are in cemeteries. If you don't have problems, get on your knees and pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-only-people-without-problems-are-in-cemeteries-if-you-don-t-have/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [When you feel you have good although incomplete expertise, start trying things. If it's not working, try something else; maintain an experimental mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/when-you-feel-you-have-good-although-incomplete-expertise-start/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Without a vision there is no possibility of creating something larger than what al-ready exists. An entrepreneur has to be able to bring something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/without-a-vision-there-is-no-possibility-of-creating-something-larger/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Our beliefs are like the unquestioned commands, telling us how things are, what's possible and what's impossible, what we can and can not do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/our-beliefs-are-like-the-unquestioned-commands-telling-us-how-things/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Decisions decide destiny, there is no action without decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/decisions-decide-destiny-there-is-no-action-without-decision/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [With goals you can create the future in advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/with-goals-you-can-create-the-future-in-advance/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/one-reason-so-few-of-us-achieve-what-we-truly-want-is-that-we-never/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [How do you turn the invisible into the visible? The first step is to define your dream precisely; the only limit to what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/how-do-you-turn-the-invisible-into-the-visible-the-first-step-is-to/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Think of your mind, your emotions, and your spirit as the ultimate garden. The way to ensure a bountiful, nourishing harvest is to plant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/think-of-your-mind-your-emotions-and-your-spirit-as-the-ultimate/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [The message of frustration is an exciting signal. it means that your brain beleives you could be doing better than you currently are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-message-of-frustration-is-an-exciting-signal-it-means-that-your/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [I'm a strategist, not a motivator. I'm obsessed with finding strategies that create real results in the shortest period of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/i-m-a-strategist-not-a-motivator-i-m-obsessed-with-finding-strategies/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Leadership is producing a standard in someone that they will live by to produce higher level results consistently.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/leadership-is-producing-a-standard-in-someone-that-they-will-live-by/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Whenever people have trouble public speaking, it's because they are just thinking about themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/whenever-people-have-trouble-public-speaking-it-s-because-they-are/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Progress is the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/progress-is-the-ultimate-motivation/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/if-you-do-what-you-ve-always-done-you-ll-get-what-you-ve-always-gotten/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) [Explore all 854 Tony Robbins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) ## More Desperation quotes > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. You don't necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/the-thing-about-living-alone-is-that-it-gives-you-a-lot-of-time-to/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [Lol, the thirst on SQ is serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maher/lol-the-thirst-on-sq-is-serious/) [Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maher/) > [“Who among us does not move through life with the hidden sense, maybe even quiet desperation, that we are destined for more?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bregman/who-among-us-does-not-move-through-life-with-the-hidden-sense-maybe/) [Peter Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bregman/) > [In exams, we look up for inspiration, down for desperation, left and right for information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/in-exams-we-look-up-for-inspiration-down-for-desperation-left-and/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“In the moments of your deepest need, despair and desperation, what you need more than any other thing, is calm and faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/in-the-moments-of-your-deepest-need-despair-and-desperation-what-you/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [The desperation was coming off you in waves. You were all but begging to dance with me. I am doing you a favor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/the-desperation-was-coming-off-you-in-waves-you-were-all-but-begging/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/desperation-is-sometimes-as-powerful-an-inspirer-as-genius/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [“Soon, I found myself locked in my own cage of fear and desperation, where my experience of life was getting smaller and smaller.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-moorjani/soon-i-found-myself-locked-in-my-own-cage-of-fear-and-desperation/) [Anita Moorjani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-moorjani/) > [“Desperation breeds people who are willing to do anything to get what they need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/desperation-breeds-people-who-are-willing-to-do-anything-to-get-what/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“If you were mine, I'd never leave you, Prudence. I couldn't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-gracie/if-you-were-mine-i-d-never-leave-you-prudence-i-couldn-t/) [Anne Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-gracie/) > [I took Second City out of desperation, and that's what ended up working out. It shows that you should be doing a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/i-took-second-city-out-of-desperation-and-that-s-what-ended-up/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [“silent desperation of everything they never said - gaps and absences in every conversation, the past circumscribing the present, the future hemming in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/silent-desperation-of-everything-they-never-said-gaps-and-absences-in/) [Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/) > [“The car was on the FDR drive now and, turning her head, she glanced out at the bleak brown buildings of the projects that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/the-car-was-on-the-fdr-drive-now-and-turning-her-head-she-glanced-out/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) [Browse all 697 Desperation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In life you need either inspiration or desperation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tony Robbins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/in-life-you-need-either-inspiration-or-desperation/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desperation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/in-life-you-need-either-inspiration-or-desperation/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/tony-robbins-232_desperation_in-life-you-need-either-inspiration-or-d_427219.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/tony-robbins-232_desperation_in-life-you-need-either-inspiration-or-d_427219.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/tony-robbins-232_desperation_in-life-you-need-either-inspiration-or-d_427219.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In life you need either inspiration or desperation.” — Tony Robbins", "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": "Tony Robbins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In life you need either inspiration...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/in-life-you-need-either-inspiration-or-desperation/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/in-life-you-need-either-inspiration-or-desperation/#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 } } ] } ```