You know, when Angela Duckworth says “If you care enough to try, you’re halfway there,” she’s hitting on a profound truth about success. It’s not about talent or luck, but that initial, crucial decision to engage. That simple act of caring is the engine that drives everything else.
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Meaning
The core message is that the simple act of caring—of mustering the will to try—is the single most important part of any difficult journey. It’s the spark.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen this play out so many times. We get obsessed with the finish line, right? But Duckworth is telling us the real battle is won internally, long before any external victory. That moment you decide, “Okay, I’m going to do this,” you’ve already conquered apathy and inertia. You’ve shifted your identity from a passive observer to an active participant. And that shift? That’s more than half the battle. The rest is just mechanics and persistence, which honestly, flow much more easily once you have that foundational care in place.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Personal Development (697) |
| Topics | attitude (43), effort (77), motivation (113) |
| Literary Style | inspirational (54), minimalist (442) |
| Emotion / Mood | optimistic (116), uplifting (157) |
| Overall Quote Score | 73 (94) |
Origin & Factcheck
This quote comes straight from Angela Duckworth’s 2016 book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, which was published in the United States. You sometimes see it floating around unattributed, but its true home is in her research on what really drives high achievement.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Dr Angela Duckworth (58) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (58) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Angela Duckworth is a University of Pennsylvania psychology professor and MacArthur Fellow whose research focuses on grit, self-control, and achievement. She taught middle school before earning her PhD at Penn and later founded Character Lab to advance the science of character development. Her bestseller Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance has shaped thinking in education and performance science. She co-hosts No Stupid Questions on the Freakonomics network. If you’re browsing the Angela Duckworth book list, you’ll find practical, research-backed guidance for cultivating passion and perseverance.
| Official Website
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | If you care enough to try, you’re halfway there |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2016; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 978-1501111105; Last edition: Scribner 2016; Number of pages: 352 |
| Where is it? | Chapter 9: Hope, page 183 (2016 Edition) |