“Success is a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don’t quit when you’re tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired” is a saying that has been printed on many images. Texas-born Democratic National Committee Chair Robert S. Strauss (1918-2014)—not New York City-born actor Robert Strauss (1913-1975)—said in December 1974 in the Washington (DC) Star-News:
 
“‘It’s been tougher than I ever dreamed,’ (Robert—ed.) Strauss admits. ‘I didn’t realize that people were so suspicious of each other and of me. I never dreamed anyone could work this hard. Being chairman of the Democratic party is a little like makin’ love to a gorilla. You don’t quit when you’re tired, you quit when the gorilla’s tired. But I think it’s paid off.’”
 
The expression describes an activity that one just can’t quit when one wants to. “Wrestling” was added to the saying by Washington, D.C. trial attorney (and owner of the NFL football Washington Redskins) Edward Bennett Williams (1920-1988) in The Courier-Journal & Times (Louisville, KY) on September 5, 1976:
 
“Being president of the Redskins is like wrestling a gorilla. You don’t stop when you get tired—you stop when the gorilla gets tired.”
 
“‘Training is like wrestling a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired.’ - Greg Henderson” was posted on Twitter on May 14, 2010. Gregory Henderson (born 1976) was then a New Zealand former professional track and road racing cyclist.
 
         
Wikipedia: Robert S. Strauss
Robert Schwarz Strauss (October 19, 1918 – March 19, 2014) was a figure in American politics and diplomacy whose service dates back to future president Lyndon Johnson’s first congressional campaign in 1937. By the 1950s, he was associated in Texas politics with the conservative faction of the Democratic Party led by Johnson and John Connally. He served as the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee between 1972 and 1977 and served under President Jimmy Carter as the U.S. Trade Representative and special envoy to the Middle East. Strauss was selected by President George H. W. Bush to be the U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union in 1991 and after the USSR’s collapse, he served as the U.S. ambassador to Russia from 1991 until 1992.
 
Wikipedia: Edward Bennett Williams
Edward Bennett Williams (May 31, 1920 – August 13, 1988) was a Washington, D.C. trial attorney who founded the law firm of Williams & Connolly and owned several professional sports teams. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut and studied law at Georgetown University.
 
Wikipedia: Greg Henderson
Gregory Henderson (born 10 September 1976) is a New Zealand former professional track and road racing cyclist who last rode for UnitedHealthcare. His career includes winning the 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) scratch race at the 2004 world championships and, in road cycling, winning the points competition at the 2005 Tour de Georgia. He repeated this feat in 2008. He rode in five Olympics Games and completed 11 Grand Tours.
     
7 December 1974, Washington (DC) Star-News, “Bob Strauss, Man of Many Facets, Many Faces” by James R. Dickenson, Pg. A-6, col. 1:
“It’s been tougher than I ever dreamed,” (Robert—ed.) Strauss admits. “I didn’t realize that people were so suspicious of each other and of me. I never dreamed anyone could work this hard. Being chairman of the Democratic party is a little like makin’ love to a gorilla. You don’t quit when you’re tired, you quit when the gorilla’s tired. But I think it’s paid off.”
 
5 January 1975, Washington (DC) Post, “Mr. Chairman: The Texas Touch of Bob Strauss” by Myra MacPherson, Potomac sec., pg. 6, col. 1:
“Of his role as DNC chairman: “It’s a little like makin’ love to a gorilla. You don’t quit when yu’re tired. You quit when the gorilla’s tired.”
 
19 July 1976, Honolulu (HI) Star Bulletin, “On the Air” by Phil Mayer, pg. B-4, col. 1:
And on to Robert Strauss, chairman of the Democratic National Committee who told CBS’s Walter Cronkite that he’d remain chairman as long as he’s needed because:
 
“When you’re dancing with a gorilla, you don’t quit when you’re tired, you quit when the gorilla is tired.”
 
5 September 1976, The Courier-Journal & Times (Louisville, KY), “‘Blimey!’ Gorillas are nasty” by Mike Barry, pg. C2, col. 1:
This is the way (Edward Bennett—ed.) Williams described his job: “Being president of the Redskins is like wrestling a gorilla. You don’t stop when you get tired—you stop when the gorilla gets tired.”
 
The minute I read that I said, “Williams is a lawyer, ain’t he? What’s this bum know from gorillas?”
     
Google Books
Governing America:
An Introduction
By Robert Sherrill
New York, NY: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
1978
Pg. 209:
... and Robert S. Strauss, the rich Texas lawyer who once described his job of Democratic National Committee Chairman as “a little like makin’ love to a gorilla. You don’t quit when you’re tired — you quit when the gorilla’s tired”; ...
 
5 February 1978, Chicago (IL) Tribune, “Robert Strauss keeps ‘em laughing by Eleanor Randolph, sec. 2, pg. 2, col. 5:
When he (Robert Strauss—ed.) was asked whether he planned to quit his job as chairman of the Democratic National Committee he answered: “It’s a little like makin’ love to a gorilla. You don’t quit when you’re tired—you quit when the gorilla’s tired.”
 
Google Books
Personal Disciplemaking:
A step-by-step guide for leading a Christian from new birth to maturity
By Christopher B. Adsit
San Bernardino, CA: Here’s Life Publishers
1988  
Pg. 304:
But for most of us, making it through each day is a lot like wrestling a gorilla. You can’t stop when you get tired; you stop when the gorilla gets tired. 
 
20 December 1996,  Indiana (PA) Gazette, “Inside Indiana” by Bill Hastings, pg. 15, col. 5:
Willie, our ex-shoe shine boy, said he chuckled at Pirates’ General Manager Cam Bonifay’s recent reaction to his unpleasant task of trading away the team’s high-salaried players: “It was sort of like wrestling a gorilla. You don’t quit when you get tired. You quit when the gorilla gets tired.”
   
Google Books
1001 More Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking:
Fresh, Timely, and Compelling Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Speakers
By Michael Hodgin
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
1998
Pg. 680:
Persistence is like wrestling a gorilla. You don’t quit when you get tired. You quit when the gorilla gets tired!
 
Google Groups: alt.quotations
Persistence
Nate
2/14/98
(...)   
It’s a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don’t quit when you’re tired, you quit when the gorilla is tired.

~ Robert Strauss ~
 
Twitter
Janno Teelem
@janno
Success is like wrestling a gorilla. You don’t quit when you’re tired - you quit when the gorilla is tired.
5:50 AM - 17 May 2008
 
Twitter
B.L. Berry
@RunningJayhawk
At the track in the rain. Ironman training’s like wrestling a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired; you stop when the gorilla is tired.
7:27 AM - 20 Aug 2009
   
Twitter
MARKHUGHES
@SPARKSIE10
Training is like wrestling a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired.” - Greg Henderson
3:24 PM - 14 May 2010
 
marqueA2’s Tech-Savvy Fitness
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Training Is Like Wrestling A Gorilla…
I saw this quote on Fitocracy and just had to make a motivational pic of it. 😊
(“Training is like wrestling a gorilla—you don’t quit when you’re tired…you quit when the gorilla is tired.”—ed.)
 
Google Books
You Are Anointed for This!:
Walk in Confidence, Boldness, and Authority
By Judy Jacobs
Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House
2013
Pg. 92:
There is a saying that goes like this: “Persistence is like wrestling with a gorilla. You don’t quit when you get tired; you quit when the gorilla gets tired.”
 
Funny Status
Success is a little like wrestling a gorilla. You…
March 16, 2014 Work Status Updates
Success is a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don’t quit when you’re tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
     
Velominati—Keepers of the Cog
THE RULES
by The Keepers
September 20, 2017
(...)
Rule #10 // It never gets easier, you just go faster.
As this famous quote by Greg LeMan tells us, training, climbing, and racing is hard. It stays hard. To put it another way, per Greg Henderson: “Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired.” Sur La Plaque, fucktards.
 
Twitter
Dustin Myers
@OldSchoolGymOH
“Training is a little like wrestling a gorilla. 
You don’t quit when you are tired.
You quit when the gorilla is tired.”
7:07 AM - 15 Feb 2018
 
Twitter
Inspire3
@Inspire3
💬 “#Success is a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don’t quit when you’re tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.” - Robert Strauss #strength #motivation
11:01 AM - 16 May 2018