When the Going Get's Tough

When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

This saying originally said by Joseph P. Kennedy, father of former president John F. Kennedy, and made famous by the Billy Ocean song, is very motivational to people all over the world. Its tricky play on words and its motivational tone make it a very interesting quote to look at in depth and to explain exactly what it means. Throughout this essay you will learn what this saying means, what being tough is, and the true meaning of perseverance When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

It is endlessly quoted by football coaches, salesman, and other motivators. “The going” means “the situation,” “gets tough” means “becomes difficult,” “the tough” means “people who are strong or enduring,” and “get going” means “become fully engaged to meet the challenge. ” Taken together, the meaning of the phrase is “When the situation becomes difficult, the strong will work harder to meet the challenge. ” When the going gets tough, the tough get going. What does it mean to be tough? A tough person is someone who can persevere through hard times.

They overcome adversity and make it through and come out better than they were before. In the context of this quote is does not mean flee the situation which is not what strong people do. They persevere through the situation When the going gets tough, the tough get going. The interesting thing about this quote is that the last two words, “get going” can be interpreted in two ways.

It can be thought of as get going as in get working to overcome the problem or it could means flee the situation. It truly was said in the context of persevering through the hard situations.

What does it mean to persevere though? Persevering means they get through the situation no matter how hard. It means they don’t give up. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. What a motivational quote. It will always be one of my favourites. As an athlete and as a student there are always tough time and this quote makes you realize that you can get through those hard situations. It reminds to persevere and to be that tough person who can overcome adversity. So next you’re stuck in a slump, remember, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going! ”