--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We were trained to live by our wits, in…" description: "\"We were trained to live by our wits, in any circumstance.\" — William Stephenson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/william-stephenson-100307_any_we-were-trained-to-live-by-our-wits-in-a_2131244.jpg" --- # We were trained to live by our wits, in any circumstance. ![“We were trained to live by our wits, in any circumstance.” quote by William Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/william-stephenson-100307_any_we-were-trained-to-live-by-our-wits-in-a_2131244.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/william-stephenson-100307_any_we-were-trained-to-live-by-our-wits-in-a_2131244.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/william-stephenson-100307_any_we-were-trained-to-live-by-our-wits-in-a_2131244.jpg) > “We were trained to live by our wits, in any circumstance.” [William Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stephenson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We must rely on wit in any circumstance, emphasizing adaptability and mental agility. **In simple terms:** Wits help us survive. Key Takeaway Develop quick thinking skills. Themes adaptability intelligence survival Mood pragmatic motivational Type Any:0 Circumstance:0 Live:0 Our:0 To live by:0 Trained:0 Were:0 Wits:0 Live Wits:0 Wits Circumstance:0 Trained Live:0 When to use this quote - crisis management - daily problem solving - leadership Key Concepts psychology philosophy self‑reliance Questions to Reflect On - How can you train your wit? - When is preparation more important than wit? A Different Perspective Wits alone may not solve all problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Any](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/any/) [Circumstance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstance/) [Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live/) [Live Wits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-wits-4372397/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [To live by](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/to-live-by/) [Trained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trained/) [Trained Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trained-live-4393235/) [Were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/were/) [Wits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wits/) [Wits Circumstance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wits-circumstance-4393234/) ## Related quotes > [Many live by their wits but few by their wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/many-live-by-their-wits-but-few-by-their-wit/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Many would live by their Wits, but break for want of Stock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/many-would-live-by-their-wits-but-break-for-want-of-stock/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [A man can live on his wits and his balls for only so long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/a-man-can-live-on-his-wits-and-his-balls-for-only-so-long/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [We need to teach our kids, because there is such a celebrity culture at the moment, that however rich you are, however famous you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/we-need-to-teach-our-kids-because-there-is-such-a-celebrity-culture/) [Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/) > [The United States exists as a sovereign nation. 'America,' in contrast, exists as a myth of democracy and equal opportunity to live by, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bharati-mukherjee/the-united-states-exists-as-a-sovereign-nation-america-in-contrast/) [Bharati Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bharati-mukherjee/) > [And that's the great thing about living the Christian life and trying to live by faith, is you're trying to get better every day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tebow/and-that-s-the-great-thing-about-living-the-christian-life-and-trying/) [Tim Tebow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tebow/) > [I believe honor thy mother and father is not just a good commandment to live by, it is good public policy to govern by.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mikulski/i-believe-honor-thy-mother-and-father-is-not-just-a-good-commandment/) [Barbara Mikulski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mikulski/) > [Organized religion and musicals present tenets to live by that don't entirely make sense but, on the whole, make people who believe them secure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-randall/organized-religion-and-musicals-present-tenets-to-live-by-that-don-t/) [Lisa Randall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-randall/) > [I hope that I've been able to treat people with the respect they've shown me. That's basically the tenet you try to live by.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-watson/i-hope-that-i-ve-been-able-to-treat-people-with-the-respect-they-ve/) [Tom Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-watson/) > [I have always tried to live by the philosophy that when there is a big problem that needs fixing, you should run towards it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/i-have-always-tried-to-live-by-the-philosophy-that-when-there-is-a/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [“Knowledge is power, but how you use that power defines whether you're good, or evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jackson/knowledge-is-power-but-how-you-use-that-power-defines-whether-you-re/) [Daniel Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jackson/) > [My off-the-field heroes, the people who gave me the values to live by and who inspired me with their hard work and unselfish dedication…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-ray/my-off-the-field-heroes-the-people-who-gave-me-the-values-to-live-by/) [Allan Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-ray/) > [The United Nations is the preeminent institution of multilateralism. It provides a forum where sovereign states can come together to share burdens, address common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shashi-tharoor/the-united-nations-is-the-preeminent-institution-of-multilateralism/) [Shashi Tharoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shashi-tharoor/) > [If they are willing to give women economic freedom in that home, if they are willing to live by the standard they wish women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-macphail/if-they-are-willing-to-give-women-economic-freedom-in-that-home-if/) [Agnes Macphail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-macphail/) > [I believe in my Mormon faith, and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers - I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-in-my-mormon-faith-and-i-endeavor-to-live-by-it-my-faith-is/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) ## More by William Stephenson > [This is the wonderful thing about espionage, nothing exists any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stephenson/this-is-the-wonderful-thing-about-espionage-nothing-exists-any-more/) [William Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stephenson/) [Explore all 2 William Stephenson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stephenson/) ## More Any quotes > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [We earned any fans with the way we play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-white/we-earned-any-fans-with-the-way-we-play/) [Jimmy White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-white/) > [Hard work and a good education will take you further than any government program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-schock/hard-work-and-a-good-education-will-take-you-further-than-any/) [Aaron Schock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-schock/) > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [The system in Germany is different, as you sign up with a company for two or three years, and you work exclusively with them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wlaschiha/the-system-in-germany-is-different-as-you-sign-up-with-a-company-for/) [Tom Wlaschiha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wlaschiha/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/) [Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/) > [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [I love the sea, but I avoid any sort of seaside resort that has skyscrapers or seaside entertainments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-love-the-sea-but-i-avoid-any-sort-of-seaside-resort-that-has/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) [Browse all 6,938 Any quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/any/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We were trained to live by our wits, in any circumstance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Stephenson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stephenson/we-were-trained-to-live-by-our-wits-in-any-circumstance/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Any" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stephenson/we-were-trained-to-live-by-our-wits-in-any-circumstance/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/william-stephenson-100307_any_we-were-trained-to-live-by-our-wits-in-a_2131244.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/william-stephenson-100307_any_we-were-trained-to-live-by-our-wits-in-a_2131244.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/william-stephenson-100307_any_we-were-trained-to-live-by-our-wits-in-a_2131244.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We were trained to live by our wits, in any circumstance.” — William Stephenson", "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": "William Stephenson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stephenson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We were trained to live by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stephenson/we-were-trained-to-live-by-our-wits-in-any-circumstance/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stephenson/we-were-trained-to-live-by-our-wits-in-any-circumstance/#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 } } ] } ```