When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going!
Wednesday July 6, 2005
You have often heard this inspiring saying. But what truly helps us get through the tough part is our determination. You don't believe me? Well, then read these inspirational problem solving quotes by famous authors.
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So where does the quote come from?
When the going gets tough, the tough get going?
Billy Ocean
Actually it was Joseph P. Kennedy (1888-1969), the father of (U.S.) President John F. Kennedy who said it originally. It was however popularized by Billy Ocean’s song ‘When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going’ (1986).
So that is what it really means! Man, i hallucinated something totally different.
Well it seems kinda odd in some ways. I understand the “going gets tough” part but the “tough get going”. Couldnt it also mean that the “tough” run away ??
I guess “get going” could mean, “go away.” But in the context of this proverb, its meaning is “get motivated” or “start producing results” or “work towards making things right” or “demonstrate their mettle…”
its actually a quote by Knute Rockne, the great Notre Dame football coach of the 20’s
I heard it for the first time in the movie “Animal House” (1978).
I thin, what it means, is that when your life gets rough, if you know how to endure and solve the problem, you become motivated to do whatever you can to solve the problems you have, or something along those lines… At least, that’s how I interpret it.
This is one of my favorite motivational quotes. I intend to always get tough when the going gets tough.
I guess that it all comes down to how you face adversity. Will you buckle under it or will you say, “I am capable of struggling through this and of coming through shining.”
When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going!
That is probably my favorite all time quote. Thanks for the problem solving quotes.
When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going! I have heard that a gazzilion times, but I cannot get enough. In fact, however strange it seems, I have bookmarked this page and keep coming back to read it again. Ronnie
It is one thing to analyze a problem to death. It is entirely another to solve it.
The same old Don’t Quit message.
“When the going gets tough” that obviously means when times are hard. “The tough get going.” Means that the people who endure don’t stay in the bad times. They get up and get going, moving on to a better place. Probably my favorite quote of all time.
I reckon what should happen to avoid confusion is change the quote. You could make it “when the going gets tough, the tough gets tougher” coz that can’t cause confusion. It makes sense
when the going gets tough – means “at hard times”
the tough get going – “the tough” is refered to a person and means a tough person will not give up
“at hard times, a tough person will not give up and keep trying”
The correct meaning for this saying is this:
when the going gets tough (whenever people who work for you or in collaboration with you, are not producing results for one reason or another), the tough gets going (use alternate-tough ways to get them going)
I agree with Roy. It is very reasonable !
Roy, you are our Master !
@Roy: That is an interesting interpretation of the saying. And as we can see, some readers agree with your interpretation.
That is what I like about quotations. It is your interpretation of the quote that makes it special for you.
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Well I agreed with Roy, maybe 50% of it, the way he described as a businessman talking, what about us? individual?. I speak from my personal experience, ‘When the going gets tough’, – when the situations that we face are getting tougher and we realised that the situation is no way to be solved out, the door has close it seemed, we still have faith in our belief to make us emerged stronger, each and everyday, so this is the time ‘when the tough gets going’, the tough is moving away, or if the tough still want to stay, it becomes normal, it is like nothing, you are already a bullet proof jacket. *Smile* I supposed to die according to doctor 3 years ago, but now I am living my happy life.
i think , this is an obvious political adage .the saying explains a great fact whish is : only tough people keep going on when things are challenging and getting hard .also,it means only people with faith that no one can shake ,and forbearance , things never die for them .
I have always responded to this with “perhaps if the tough had got going sooner, the going would have never got tough in the first place!”
That is a really interesting perspective Steve. You certainly have a parody quotation maker in you. Consider adding your wisdom to these parody quotes.
If you guys are confused about that quote..Maybe my quote is a lot better..
“WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH,THE TOUGH GOES SHOPPING”
kyutonoijin, I invite you to my parody quotes page too
You clearly are a parody quote-maker.
Meaning: When a situation is difficult or dangerous, strong people work harder to resolve the problem. This saying relies on a difficult play on words; it could be rephrased word-for-word as: “When the situation becomes hard, strong people start working.”
Note: the going (noun): the situation; the ground; the environment | tough (adj.): difficult, hard | the tough (noun): tough people; hard, strong people | to get going (verb): start; go
Origin: This saying is attributed both to Joseph P. Kennedy (1888-1969), father of the USA President John F. Kennedy, and to Norwegian-born American football player and coach Knute Rockne (1888-1931).
Variety: This is typically used in American English but may be used in other varieties of English too.
nice……..thought!!!!!!!!!!
When the going gets tough..kill tough and be gone!
First time I saw this saying was on TV like 20 years ago. It was stamped on a T-shirt that the then president of my country Brazil was wearing (btw he was impeached from his office right after. deja-vu anyone?)
I always thought it’s like “When things got bad, just leave it to the tough guys.” Now I see that the meaning is much more inspiring. Holy internet!
This is my take.
When the goings (tasks) are getting tougher and more difficult; only then we would know how good a person really is. Because only the tough ones (those really good) can keep going (or deal with the difficult tasks).
Another spin on this quote: “When the load gets tough, the tough get loaded.”