🛠️ Taking the Pains: The Art of Assiduous Efforts 🌟
Definition:
To make a laborious effort; to take assiduous care. The use of “pains” for “troubles” dates from Shakespeare’s time and survives mainly in this cliché and in the adjective “painstaking.”
Historical Reference:
“Yet much he praised the pains he took, And well those pains did pay,” wrote Sir Walter Scott in Marmion (1808).
Synonyms:
- Painstaking
- Diligent effort
- Assiduous care
- Industriousness
- Conscientiousness
Antonyms:
- Half-hearted
- Lackadaisical
- Careless
- Indifferent
- Haphazard
Related Expressions:
- Burning the midnight oil
- Leaving no stone unturned
- Pulling out all the stops
- Hard slog
- Going the extra mile
Quotable Quotes:
“Success is dependent upon the glands—sweat glands.” —Zig Ziglar
“I’ve worked too hard to quit now.” —Jack Nicklaus
Literary References:
- Marmion by Sir Walter Scott
- Hamlet by William Shakespeare: “There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.”
- Polonius’ Advice to Laertes: “Give thy thoughts no tongue…Take each man’s censure but reserve thy judgment.”
Song References:
- “Work Hard, Play Hard” by Wiz Khalifa
- “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor
Movie References:
- Rocky (1976) — The story of a small-time boxer making a laborious effort to take on a heavyweight champion.
- The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) — A heartfelt tale highlighting the assiduous care a father takes to improve his and his son’s life.
Poems:
- “If—” by Rudyard Kipling: A poem about perseverance and effort.
- “How Did You Die?” by Edmund Vance Cooke: Emphasizes the hard work and effort put into one’s life.
Proverbs:
- “No pain, no gain.”
- “The early bird catches the worm.”
- “He who hesitates is lost.”
An inspirational thought-provoking farewell:
Remember, it’s through the sweat of our brow, the meticulous care, and the indefatigable spirit of enduring the necessary pains, that we sculpt the statue of success. 🚀🔥
Below are quizzes to test your knowledge on clichés and idioms related to effort and perseverance. Ready to prove your mettle? Let’s go!
