“I am at the moment deaf in the ears, hoarse in the throat, red in the nose, green in the gills, damp in the eyes, twitchy in the joints and fractious in temper from a most intolerable and oppressive cold.”
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About this quote
The line names physical failings plainly and forces you to stop romanticizing hardship. Name what is really wrong in your work, relationships, or health, then make a specific fix rather than a vague promise. Ask which single step eases one of those pains today and take it.
When to use it
- Tell your team: 'I'm burnt out, voice hoarse and focus shot—I'll hand off tonight's task so we keep quality.'
- When feeling stuck, list your real symptoms—lack of sleep, missed deadlines, low energy—and pick one to fix this week.
- Use the line as a wake-up: stop excusing poor results and start naming the causes so you can act.
- If a friend keeps blaming luck, ask them to state their 'red nose' problem and make a one-step plan to address it.