--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To succeed you must do the work. To do…" description: "\"“To succeed you must do the work. To do the work takes character. To keep doing it takes mental toughness.”\" — William James Moore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ca/william-james-moore-38633_mental-toughness_to-succeed-you-must-do-the-work-to-do-th_9268.jpg" --- # To succeed you must do the work. To do the work takes… ![“To succeed you must do the work. To do the work takes character. To keep doing it takes mental toughness.” quote by William James Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ca/william-james-moore-38633_mental-toughness_to-succeed-you-must-do-the-work-to-do-th_9268.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ca/william-james-moore-38633_mental-toughness_to-succeed-you-must-do-the-work-to-do-th_9268.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ca/william-james-moore-38633_mental-toughness_to-succeed-you-must-do-the-work-to-do-th_9268.jpg) > ““To succeed you must do the work. To do the work takes character. To keep doing it takes mental toughness.”” [William James Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-moore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success requires consistent effort, which depends on personal character and sustained mental resilience. **In simple terms:** Effort, character, resilience Key Takeaway Hard work alone isn’t enough without mental toughness. Themes Perseverance Self-discipline Growth mindset Resilience Work ethic Mood Determined Focused Motivated Type Motivational Inspirational When to use this quote - Starting a new business - Training for a marathon - Studying for a degree Key Concepts Character development Mental toughness Goal achievement Practical Applications - Coaching programs - Personal development workshops Questions to Reflect On - What habits build mental toughness? - How can character be cultivated over time? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mental toughness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-toughness/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Toughness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toughness/) ## Related quotes > [“The measure of your character and mental toughness is the space between what you are doing and what you could be doing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james-moore/the-measure-of-your-character-and-mental-toughness-is-the-space/) [William James Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-moore/) > [“I speak often of character and mental toughness because I know the ignorant will have their day when the average are weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james-moore/i-speak-often-of-character-and-mental-toughness-because-i-know-the/) [William James Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-moore/) > [Begin with the determination to succeed and the work is half done already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/begin-with-the-determination-to-succeed-and-the-work-is-half-done/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [To succeed you have to work, you cant succeed with out work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamesha-prass/to-succeed-you-have-to-work-you-cant-succeed-with-out-work/) [Tamesha Prass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamesha-prass/) > [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/) > [Every quarterback can throw a ball; every running back can run; every receiver is fast; but that mental toughness that you talk about translates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/every-quarterback-can-throw-a-ball-every-running-back-can-run-every/) [Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/) > [The 3 key components for success are as follows: Psychological Preparedness Physical Conditioning Mental Toughness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/the-3-key-components-for-success-are-as-follows-psychological/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) > [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 we've bounced back and really been resilient. Even after a bad period, we take over and we seem like we're on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-fisher/i-think-we-ve-bounced-back-and-really-been-resilient-even-after-a-bad/) [Mike Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-fisher/) > [“Being physically tough is measured by how many fights you win, but mental toughness is measured by how you react when all the chips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-bayani/being-physically-tough-is-measured-by-how-many-fights-you-win-but/) [Benjamin Bayani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-bayani/) > [Mental Toughness: The ability to consistently perform toward the upper range of your talent and skill regardless of the competitive circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-loehr/mental-toughness-the-ability-to-consistently-perform-toward-the-upper/) James E. Loehr > [Mental toughness must be developed before you start fighting because you don't want to be that guy who quits in the ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forrest-griffin/mental-toughness-must-be-developed-before-you-start-fighting-because/) [Forrest Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forrest-griffin/) > [Curiosity, rationalization, and laziness are no match against courage, self-control, and mental toughness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/curiosity-rationalization-and-laziness-are-no-match-against-courage/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [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/) > [“Mental toughness isn’t about how you feel, it’s about what you do despite how you feel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glody-kikonga/mental-toughness-isn-t-about-how-you-feel-it-s-about-what-you-do/) [Glody Kikonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glody-kikonga/) ## More by William James Moore > [“Lust of ease and comfort absolutely destroys mental toughness and begins to slowly erode ones character.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james-moore/lust-of-ease-and-comfort-absolutely-destroys-mental-toughness-and/) [William James Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-moore/) > [“Never underestimate the capacity of people to choose the easy way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james-moore/never-underestimate-the-capacity-of-people-to-choose-the-easy-way/) [William James Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-moore/) > [“When making the problem go away is more important than solving the problem leadership begins to fail. The easy way vs. The character way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james-moore/when-making-the-problem-go-away-is-more-important-than-solving-the/) [William James Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-moore/) > [“I speak often of character and mental toughness because I know the ignorant will have their day when the average are weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james-moore/i-speak-often-of-character-and-mental-toughness-because-i-know-the/) [William James Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-moore/) > [“You are going to get over it sooner or later so get over it now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james-moore/you-are-going-to-get-over-it-sooner-or-later-so-get-over-it-now/) [William James Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-moore/) > [“The measure of your character and mental toughness is the space between what you are doing and what you could be doing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james-moore/the-measure-of-your-character-and-mental-toughness-is-the-space/) [William James Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-moore/) > [“Does everything happen for a reason or do we reason things that happen?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james-moore/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason-or-do-we-reason-things-that-happen/) [William James Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-moore/) > [“Put character and mental toughness before execution and you will get consistent execution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james-moore/put-character-and-mental-toughness-before-execution-and-you-will-get/) [William James Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-moore/) > [“It matters not how one finds character & mental toughness (school, sports, work, family, faith etc.) what matters is that we find it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james-moore/it-matters-not-how-one-finds-character-mental-toughness-school-sports/) [William James Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-moore/) > [“Instincts are things that you know but can not, as of yet, articulate”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james-moore/instincts-are-things-that-you-know-but-can-not-as-of-yet-articulate/) [William James Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-moore/) [Explore all 11 William James Moore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-moore/) ## More Mental toughness quotes > [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/) > [Self motivation is inner power which empowers you to strengthen your confidence, mental toughness, achieve greater height in life, best performance through positive attitude,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-sinha/self-motivation-is-inner-power-which-empowers-you-to-strengthen-your/) [Anil Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-sinha/) > [Mental Toughness: The ability to consistently perform toward the upper range of your talent and skill regardless of the competitive circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-loehr/mental-toughness-the-ability-to-consistently-perform-toward-the-upper/) James E. Loehr > [I think we've bounced back and really been resilient. Even after a bad period, we take over and we seem like we're on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-fisher/i-think-we-ve-bounced-back-and-really-been-resilient-even-after-a-bad/) [Mike Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-fisher/) > [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/) > [Curiosity, rationalization, and laziness are no match against courage, self-control, and mental toughness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/curiosity-rationalization-and-laziness-are-no-match-against-courage/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [Mental toughness must be developed before you start fighting because you don't want to be that guy who quits in the ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forrest-griffin/mental-toughness-must-be-developed-before-you-start-fighting-because/) [Forrest Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forrest-griffin/) > [“Mental toughness isn’t about how you feel, it’s about what you do despite how you feel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glody-kikonga/mental-toughness-isn-t-about-how-you-feel-it-s-about-what-you-do/) [Glody Kikonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glody-kikonga/) > [“Being physically tough is measured by how many fights you win, but mental toughness is measured by how you react when all the chips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-bayani/being-physically-tough-is-measured-by-how-many-fights-you-win-but/) [Benjamin Bayani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-bayani/) > [“But back then we had to amuse ourselves, and fighting seemed to be all we had. Looking back, it was good for us. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/but-back-then-we-had-to-amuse-ourselves-and-fighting-seemed-to-be-all/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [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/) > [“Lust of ease and comfort absolutely destroys mental toughness and begins to slowly erode ones character.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james-moore/lust-of-ease-and-comfort-absolutely-destroys-mental-toughness-and/) [William James Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-moore/) > [The 3 key components for success are as follows: Psychological Preparedness Physical Conditioning Mental Toughness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/the-3-key-components-for-success-are-as-follows-psychological/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) > [Every quarterback can throw a ball; every running back can run; every receiver is fast; but that mental toughness that you talk about translates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/every-quarterback-can-throw-a-ball-every-running-back-can-run-every/) [Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/) > [“What's fascinating about this list is that ten people with a a slew of medals among them decided that the two most important determinants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lang/what-s-fascinating-about-this-list-is-that-ten-people-with-a-a-slew/) [Amanda Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lang/) [Browse all 108 Mental toughness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-toughness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To succeed you must do the work. 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