--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that half the trouble in the…" description: "\"I believe that half the trouble in the world comes from people asking 'What have I achieved?' rather than 'What have I enjoyed?' I've been writing abou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5da/walter-farley-31786_asking_i-believe-that-half-the-trouble-in-the-w_330496.jpg" --- # I believe that half the trouble in the world comes from… ![“I believe that half the trouble in the world comes from people asking 'What have I achieved?' rather than 'What have I enjoyed?' I've been writing about a subject I love as long as I can remember--horses and the people associated with them, anyplace, anywhere, anytime. I couldn't be happier…” quote by Walter Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5da/walter-farley-31786_asking_i-believe-that-half-the-trouble-in-the-w_330496.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5da/walter-farley-31786_asking_i-believe-that-half-the-trouble-in-the-w_330496.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5da/walter-farley-31786_asking_i-believe-that-half-the-trouble-in-the-w_330496.jpg) > “I believe that half the trouble in the world comes from people asking 'What have I achieved?' rather than 'What have I enjoyed?' I've been writing about a subject I love as long as I can remember--horses and the people associated with them, anyplace, anywhere, anytime. I couldn't be happier knowing that young people are reading my books. But even more important to me is that I've enjoyed so much the writing of them.” [Walter Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-farley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote stresses valuing enjoyment and passion over measuring achievement, suggesting fulfillment comes from loving what you do. **In simple terms:** Enjoy your work, not just its results. Key Takeaway Prioritize joy in your pursuits. Themes purpose joy creativity fulfillment achievement Mood content reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational personal. When to use this quote - writing - teaching - mentoring - creative projects - personal development Key Concepts Intrinsic motivation passion meaning self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - What activities bring you genuine joy? - How can you shift focus from results to experience? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on outcomes can lead to burnout and neglect of personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [I enjoyed writing speeches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ridloff/i-enjoyed-writing-speeches/) [Lauren Ridloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ridloff/) > [I love graphic novels - I love reading them, I enjoyed writing them, I would love to go back and do them again. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-love-graphic-novels-i-love-reading-them-i-enjoyed-writing-them-i/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [I always enjoyed writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/i-always-enjoyed-writing/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [I always enjoyed writing. I did playlets in high school, I did radio shows in college. That's one of the reasons I went down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-castellaneta/i-always-enjoyed-writing-i-did-playlets-in-high-school-i-did-radio/) [Dan Castellaneta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-castellaneta/) > [Acting's just always been one of those things I've enjoyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-minchin/acting-s-just-always-been-one-of-those-things-i-ve-enjoyed/) [Tim Minchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-minchin/) > [I've dabbled in period films in my career, and I've enjoyed each one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/i-ve-dabbled-in-period-films-in-my-career-and-i-ve-enjoyed-each-one/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [Comedy is my choice, as it's what I've always enjoyed doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-stewart-wilson/comedy-is-my-choice-as-it-s-what-i-ve-always-enjoyed-doing/) Belinda Stewart-Wilson > [It was a fun ride. I've enjoyed my time on the ice and I've enjoyed more and more people getting interested in the game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-francis/it-was-a-fun-ride-i-ve-enjoyed-my-time-on-the-ice-and-i-ve-enjoyed/) [Ron Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-francis/) > [I've not enjoyed playing anywhere as much as I have in India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahid-afridi/i-ve-not-enjoyed-playing-anywhere-as-much-as-i-have-in-india/) [Shahid Afridi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahid-afridi/) > [I've enjoyed the captaincy when I've done it at Middlesex and with England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-morgan/i-ve-enjoyed-the-captaincy-when-i-ve-done-it-at-middlesex-and-with/) [Eoin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-morgan/) > [Honestly I've enjoyed every part that I've done. Literally. Every one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-griffith/honestly-i-ve-enjoyed-every-part-that-i-ve-done-literally-every-one/) [Melanie Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-griffith/) > [Growing up, I've enjoyed hunting with my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-earnhardt/growing-up-i-ve-enjoyed-hunting-with-my-father/) [Dale Earnhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-earnhardt/) > [I've always enjoyed Cheap Trick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/i-ve-always-enjoyed-cheap-trick/) [Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/) > [The fact of the matter is that I've enjoyed the competition in life and the business of life; I've enjoyed all that goes with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-schreyer/the-fact-of-the-matter-is-that-i-ve-enjoyed-the-competition-in-life/) [William Schreyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-schreyer/) > [All those authors there, most of whom of course I've never met. That's the poetry side, that's the prose side, that's the fishing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/all-those-authors-there-most-of-whom-of-course-i-ve-never-met-that-s/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) ## More by Walter Farley > [His mane was like a crest, mounting, then falling low. His neck was long and slender, and arched to the small, savagely beautiful head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-farley/his-mane-was-like-a-crest-mounting-then-falling-low-his-neck-was-long/) [Walter Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-farley/) > [“frog. It was this spongelike rubber cushion that absorbed the first terrific shock of a thousand-pound horse galloping over a hard surface at high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-farley/frog-it-was-this-spongelike-rubber-cushion-that-absorbed-the-first/) [Walter Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-farley/) > [“The Black was looking out on the open sea; his ears pricked forward, his thin-skinned nostrils quivering, his black mane flowing like windswept flame.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-farley/the-black-was-looking-out-on-the-open-sea-his-ears-pricked-forward/) [Walter Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-farley/) > [“You need luck to keep going. It takes more than skill to stay alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-farley/you-need-luck-to-keep-going-it-takes-more-than-skill-to-stay-alive/) [Walter Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-farley/) > [“On January 1, 1919, all the yearlings in the big stable celebrated their second birthday. It didn’t matter that all of them had some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-farley/on-january-1-1919-all-the-yearlings-in-the-big-stable-celebrated/) [Walter Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-farley/) > [I believe that half the trouble in the world comes from people asking 'What have I achieved?' rather than 'What have I enjoyed?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-farley/i-believe-that-half-the-trouble-in-the-world-comes-from-people-asking-2/) [Walter Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-farley/) > [Imagination can help you reach into the heavens to grasp an idea, bring it down to earth, and make it work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-farley/imagination-can-help-you-reach-into-the-heavens-to-grasp-an-idea/) [Walter Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-farley/) > [“On his office wall he had a note to himself: 'Money is necessary--but it isn't too important.' Money meant for him to keep on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-farley/on-his-office-wall-he-had-a-note-to-himself-money-is-necessary-but-it/) [Walter Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-farley/) > [“Dedicated to all boys and girls who love horses but never have had one of their own”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-farley/dedicated-to-all-boys-and-girls-who-love-horses-but-never-have-had/) [Walter Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-farley/) > [“beautiful head. The head was that of the wildest of all wild creatures—a stallion born wild—and it was beautiful, savage, splendid. A stallion with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-farley/beautiful-head-the-head-was-that-of-the-wildest-of-all-wild-creatures/) [Walter Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-farley/) > [You've never in your life seen a horse run like this! He's all power - all beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-farley/you-ve-never-in-your-life-seen-a-horse-run-like-this-he-s-all-power/) [Walter Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-farley/) > [“There was a lot more to it than he had ever thought. First, he used a rub-rag, cleaning Red’s head gently but not too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-farley/there-was-a-lot-more-to-it-than-he-had-ever-thought-first-he-used-a/) [Walter Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-farley/) > [You've never in your life seen a horse run so fast! He's all power-all beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-farley/you-ve-never-in-your-life-seen-a-horse-run-so-fast-he-s-all-power-all/) [Walter Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-farley/) > [“were the cribbers, Danny decided, those who took hold of some part of their stall while inhaling and swallowing deep drafts of air with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-farley/were-the-cribbers-danny-decided-those-who-took-hold-of-some-part-of/) [Walter Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-farley/) > [Yet when the books have been read, it boils down to the horse, his human companion, and what goes on between them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-farley/yet-when-the-books-have-been-read-it-boils-down-to-the-horse-his/) [Walter Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-farley/) [Explore all 16 Walter Farley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-farley/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe that half the trouble in the world comes from people asking 'What have I achieved?' rather than 'What have I enjoyed?' 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