Quote of the day by Michael Caine , “Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath,” uses the image of a duck to explain how people can handle pressure. The saying focuses on the difference between what others see and what happens behind the scenes. A person may appear calm while working hard, thinking about problems and preparing for what comes next. The message connects with work, performance, leadership and daily life. It also suggests that composure does not mean a person has no problems. It can mean managing those problems while continuing to move forward.