--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By the mile it's a trial, but by the inch…" description: "\"By the mile it's a trial, but by the inch it's a cinch.\" — Zig Ziglar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d2/zig-ziglar-263_adversity_by-the-mile-it-s-a-trial-but-by-the-inch_1958500.png" --- # By the mile it's a trial, but by the inch it's a cinch. ![“By the mile it's a trial, but by the inch it's a cinch.” quote by Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d2/zig-ziglar-263_adversity_by-the-mile-it-s-a-trial-but-by-the-inch_1958500.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d2/zig-ziglar-263_adversity_by-the-mile-it-s-a-trial-but-by-the-inch_1958500.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d2/zig-ziglar-263_adversity_by-the-mile-it-s-a-trial-but-by-the-inch_1958500.png) > “By the mile it's a trial, but by the inch it's a cinch.” [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Small, consistent effort yields easy results, while large tasks feel daunting. **In simple terms:** Small steps are easier than big goals. Key Takeaway Focus on incremental progress. Themes motivation effort goal setting Mood encouraging practical Type inspirational advice When to use this quote - daily habits - fitness routines - learning new skills - project milestones Key Concepts incrementalism psychology of achievement Questions to Reflect On - What small action can you take today? - How does breaking tasks help motivation? A Different Perspective Large projects still need planning and resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Trial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trial/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) ## Related quotes > [Mile by mile, it's a trial; yard by yard, it's hard; but inch by inch, it's a cinch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mile-by-mile-it-s-a-trial-yard-by-yard-it-s-hard-but-inch-by-inch-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Inch by inch, it's a cinch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-schuller/inch-by-inch-it-s-a-cinch/) [Robert H. Schuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-schuller/) > [“Inch by inch it's all a cinch, by the yard it's hard. Go for it -- no matter how slow or long the process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardi-ballou/inch-by-inch-it-s-all-a-cinch-by-the-yard-it-s-hard-go-for-it-no/) Mardi Ballou > [Life is hard by the yard, but inch by inch, it's a cinch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/life-is-hard-by-the-yard-but-inch-by-inch-it-s-a-cinch/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [“There are no traffic jams on the extra mile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/there-are-no-traffic-jams-on-the-extra-mile/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [There are no traffic jams when you go the extra mile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/there-are-no-traffic-jams-when-you-go-the-extra-mile/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [There's no traffic jam on the extra mile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/there-s-no-traffic-jam-on-the-extra-mile/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [My fastest time in high school was a 4:29 mile. I think cross-country has something to do with my longevity in my business. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-cooper/my-fastest-time-in-high-school-was-a-4-29-mile-i-think-cross-country/) [Alice Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-cooper/) > [We all know the dangers of sequels. Lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place too often, and I think you've got to move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/we-all-know-the-dangers-of-sequels-lightning-doesn-t-strike-twice-in/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [A mile of worries wont take you as far as an inch of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-raphy/a-mile-of-worries-wont-take-you-as-far-as-an-inch-of-action/) King Raphy > [Every mile marker can be met with some measure of trepidation, in a race or in life. Am I on target? Do I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-armstrong/every-mile-marker-can-be-met-with-some-measure-of-trepidation-in-a/) [Kristin Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-armstrong/) > [Blink and you miss a sprint. The 10,000 meters is lap after lap of waiting. Theatrically, the mile is just the right length: beginning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-coe/blink-and-you-miss-a-sprint-the-10-000-meters-is-lap-after-lap-of/) [Sebastian Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-coe/) > [“Go the extra mile, And make somebody smile”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-j-forde-2/go-the-extra-mile-and-make-somebody-smile/) [Charmaine J. Forde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-j-forde-2/) > [Walking a mile in my shoes will make you realize that not everything is as good as it seems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/walking-a-mile-in-my-shoes-will-make-you-realize-that-not-everything/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > ['8 Mile' is so revered, it's like, everywhere I go, somebody's talking about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-benson-miller/8-mile-is-so-revered-it-s-like-everywhere-i-go-somebody-s-talking/) [Omar Benson Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-benson-miller/) ## More by Zig Ziglar > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Many companies have long contended that stress in the home causes productivity loss in the market place.. and it does. But research now reveals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-companies-have-long-contended-that-stress-in-the-home-causes/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A plan is always successful if the plan is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/a-plan-is-always-successful-if-the-plan-is-good/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Many times our weaknesses are extensions of our strengths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-times-our-weaknesses-are-extensions-of-our-strengths/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [It's not what you've got, it's what you use that makes a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/it-s-not-what-you-ve-got-it-s-what-you-use-that-makes-a-difference/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [The child who has not been disciplined with love by his little world will be disciplined, generally without love, by the big world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/the-child-who-has-not-been-disciplined-with-love-by-his-little-world/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [When there is hope in the future, there is power in the present, and since hope is the foundational quality of all change, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/when-there-is-hope-in-the-future-there-is-power-in-the-present-and/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [The way you look on the outside has a definite bearing on how you feel and see yourself on the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/the-way-you-look-on-the-outside-has-a-definite-bearing-on-how-you/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [You become great by going small thing in a great way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/you-become-great-by-going-small-thing-in-a-great-way/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [God showed me that He could and would replace everything that was missing in my life, but that nothing could replace Him in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/god-showed-me-that-he-could-and-would-replace-everything-that-was/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [As you move to the top, remember the story of the pump. If you start pumping casually or half -heartedly, you will pump forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/as-you-move-to-the-top-remember-the-story-of-the-pump-if-you-start/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Success comes from repeated efforts day in and day out. You learn from your mistakes, make adjustments and continue pressing forward until you achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/success-comes-from-repeated-efforts-day-in-and-day-out-you-learn-from/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Positive thinking will let you use the ability which you have, and that is awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/positive-thinking-will-let-you-use-the-ability-which-you-have-and/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [It will be disastrous when a leader or manager shows up with one attitude one day and treats people with a different attitude the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/it-will-be-disastrous-when-a-leader-or-manager-shows-up-with-one/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [If you go looking for a friend, you're going to find they're very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you'll find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-go-looking-for-a-friend-you-re-going-to-find-they-re-very/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) [Explore all 788 Zig Ziglar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) James Buckham Kennedy > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) S.E. SEVER > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "By the mile it's a trial, but by the inch it's a cinch.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zig Ziglar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/by-the-mile-it-s-a-trial-but-by-the-inch-it-s-a-cinch/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/by-the-mile-it-s-a-trial-but-by-the-inch-it-s-a-cinch/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d2/zig-ziglar-263_adversity_by-the-mile-it-s-a-trial-but-by-the-inch_1958500.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d2/zig-ziglar-263_adversity_by-the-mile-it-s-a-trial-but-by-the-inch_1958500.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d2/zig-ziglar-263_adversity_by-the-mile-it-s-a-trial-but-by-the-inch_1958500.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“By the mile it's a trial, but by the inch it's a cinch.” — Zig Ziglar", "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": "Zig Ziglar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "By the mile it's a trial,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/by-the-mile-it-s-a-trial-but-by-the-inch-it-s-a-cinch/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/by-the-mile-it-s-a-trial-but-by-the-inch-it-s-a-cinch/#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 } } ] } ```