--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The harder you work, the harder it is to…" description: "\"The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.\" — Vince Lombardi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/vince-lombardi-1357_harder_the-harder-you-work-the-harder-it-is-to_2008252.png" --- # The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender. ![“The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.” quote by Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/vince-lombardi-1357_harder_the-harder-you-work-the-harder-it-is-to_2008252.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/vince-lombardi-1357_harder_the-harder-you-work-the-harder-it-is-to_2008252.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/vince-lombardi-1357_harder_the-harder-you-work-the-harder-it-is-to_2008252.png) > “The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.” [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work intensifies the difficulty of letting go, creating a paradox of effort and surrender **In simple terms:** More effort makes surrender harder Key Takeaway Balance effort with acceptance Themes discipline effort letting go Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - sports coaching - personal growth - leadership - stress management Key Concepts psychology paradox resilience Questions to Reflect On - When does effort become counterproductive? - How can you cultivate healthy surrender? A Different Perspective Surrender may be necessary for recovery ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder/) [Harder Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder-surrender-3571591/) [Harder Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder-work/) [Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-harder/) ## Related quotes > [All work is the avoidance of harder work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-richardson/all-work-is-the-avoidance-of-harder-work/) [James Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-richardson/) > [People mistakenly believe that if you do nothing but train you can only get better. You've got to work hard, but the harder you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-gatlin/people-mistakenly-believe-that-if-you-do-nothing-but-train-you-can/) [Justin Gatlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-gatlin/) > [“Good leaders don’t just give people more work, they give them harder work—a bigger challenge that prompts deep learning and growth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/good-leaders-don-t-just-give-people-more-work-they-give-them-harder/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [Nothing replaces hard work. The harder you work, the luckier you get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-schultz/nothing-replaces-hard-work-the-harder-you-work-the-luckier-you-get/) [Ed Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-schultz/) > [The better your attitude and the harder you work, the luckier you get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-allen/the-better-your-attitude-and-the-harder-you-work-the-luckier-you-get/) [Robert G. Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-allen/) > [But I work harder now because I have so much more exposure. And actually the harder you work as a writer, the better you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/but-i-work-harder-now-because-i-have-so-much-more-exposure-and/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [Work harder, work longer, and earn less because the mafia needs your money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-celente/work-harder-work-longer-and-earn-less-because-the-mafia-needs-your/) [Gerald Celente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-celente/) > [Men play harder than they work; women work harder than they play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roberts-rinehart/men-play-harder-than-they-work-women-work-harder-than-they-play/) [Mary Roberts Rinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roberts-rinehart/) > [A lot of people think theatre must be much harder work than film, but anything histrionic or superfluous gets seen on camera so you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/a-lot-of-people-think-theatre-must-be-much-harder-work-than-film-but/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > ["The harder you work, the luckier you get" is true in all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/the-harder-you-work-the-luckier-you-get-is-true-in-all-things/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) > [The idea that the harder you work, the better you're going to be is just garbage. The greatest improvement is made by the man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bowerman/the-idea-that-the-harder-you-work-the-better-you-re-going-to-be-is/) [Bill Bowerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bowerman/) > [The harder you had to work to open a package, the less you ended up caring about what was inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-harder-you-had-to-work-to-open-a-package-the-less-you-ended-up/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Ironically, now that my children are older and gone quite a bit, I find it harder to work when they're not around. Too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/ironically-now-that-my-children-are-older-and-gone-quite-a-bit-i-find/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [The harder you work for something, the greater you'll feel when you finally make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mild-z-de-asis/the-harder-you-work-for-something-the-greater-you-ll-feel-when-you/) [Mild'z De Asis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mild-z-de-asis/) > [If you want something you have to work for it. If you don't get it, work harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-something-you-have-to-work-for-it-if-you-don-t-get-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Vince Lombardi > [Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-a-habit-unfortunately-so-is-losing/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Brains without competitive hearts are rudderless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/brains-without-competitive-hearts-are-rudderless/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow. Every job is a self portrait of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/unless-you-try-to-do-something-beyond-what-you-have-already-mastered/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [They do not truly love who do not show their love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/they-do-not-truly-love-who-do-not-show-their-love/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [When you're tired, you rationalize. You make excuses in your mind. You say, "I'm too tired; I'm bushed; I can't do this; I'll loaf."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/when-you-re-tired-you-rationalize-you-make-excuses-in-your-mind-you/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Mental toughness is many things. It is humility because it behooves all of us to remember that simplicity is the sign of greatness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/mental-toughness-is-many-things-it-is-humility-because-it-behooves/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Winning is not the most important thing; it's everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-not-the-most-important-thing-it-s-everything/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [The only true satisfaction a player receives is the satisfaction that comes from being part of a successful team, regardless of his personal accomplishments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/the-only-true-satisfaction-a-player-receives-is-the-satisfaction-that/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [ \[Football is\] a game that requires the constant conjuring of animosity. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/football-is-a-game-that-requires-the-constant-conjuring-of-animosity/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay, and I don't ever want to finish second again. There is a second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/i-have-finished-second-twice-in-my-time-at-green-bay-and-i-don-t-ever/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [They call it coaching but it is teaching. You do not just tell them...you show them the reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/they-call-it-coaching-but-it-is-teaching-you-do-not-just-tell-them/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Winning is not everything, but wanting to win is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-not-everything-but-wanting-to-win-is/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [You never win a game unless you beat the guy in front of you. The score on the board doesn't mean a thing. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/you-never-win-a-game-unless-you-beat-the-guy-in-front-of-you-the/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Mental toughness is spartanism with qualities of sacrifice, self-denial, dedication. It is fearlessness, and it is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/mental-toughness-is-spartanism-with-qualities-of-sacrifice-self/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/i-think-you-can-accomplish-anything-if-you-re-willing-to-pay-the-price/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) [Explore all 251 Vince Lombardi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) ## More Harder quotes > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [Politics only makes the difficult challenge of marriage even harder, with the demands of the job and the public spotlight it casts on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/politics-only-makes-the-difficult-challenge-of-marriage-even-harder/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [We've all seen talented young players who get to a certain level but there comes a point where that talent will only take you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/we-ve-all-seen-talented-young-players-who-get-to-a-certain-level-but/) [Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/) > [Forgive me for noting that conservatives seem to believe that the rich will work harder if we give them more, and the poor will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/forgive-me-for-noting-that-conservatives-seem-to-believe-that-the/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/fossil-fuels-including-oil-are-running-out-and-supplies-are-getting/) [Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [It is easy to take a photograph, but it is harder to make a masterpiece in photography than in any other art medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-adams/it-is-easy-to-take-a-photograph-but-it-is-harder-to-make-a/) [Ansel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-adams/) > [Harder to get in than out, like so little else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/harder-to-get-in-than-out-like-so-little-else/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Indifference is harder to fight than hostility, and there is nothing that kills an agitation like having everybody admit that it is fundamentally right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-eastman/indifference-is-harder-to-fight-than-hostility-and-there-is-nothing/) [Crystal Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-eastman/) > [There's nothing harder than making a mellow, clean record. It's really scary. I can see why people would never want to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-segall/there-s-nothing-harder-than-making-a-mellow-clean-record-it-s-really/) [Ty Segall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-segall/) > [I met Tyler Perry and we did 'House of Payne' and a movie. We've done a couple other films since then, but it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-gross/i-met-tyler-perry-and-we-did-house-of-payne-and-a-movie-we-ve-done-a/) [Lance Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-gross/) > [God puts you where God needs you. You are where you are supposed to be. The job you are doing may not be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kushner/god-puts-you-where-god-needs-you-you-are-where-you-are-supposed-to-be/) [Lawrence Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kushner/) > [What is needed, however, isn't just that people working together be nice to each other. It is discipline. Discipline is hard--harder than trustworthiness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/what-is-needed-however-isn-t-just-that-people-working-together-be/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) [Browse all 3,695 Harder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vince Lombardi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/the-harder-you-work-the-harder-it-is-to-surrender/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Harder" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/the-harder-you-work-the-harder-it-is-to-surrender/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/vince-lombardi-1357_harder_the-harder-you-work-the-harder-it-is-to_2008252.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/vince-lombardi-1357_harder_the-harder-you-work-the-harder-it-is-to_2008252.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/vince-lombardi-1357_harder_the-harder-you-work-the-harder-it-is-to_2008252.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.” — Vince Lombardi", "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": "Vince Lombardi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The harder you work, the harder...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/the-harder-you-work-the-harder-it-is-to-surrender/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/the-harder-you-work-the-harder-it-is-to-surrender/#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 } } ] } ```