If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

The saying is most closely associated with President Harry S. Truman’s blunt style and his defense of tough decision-making under pressure. It circulated widely during his presidency (1945–1953), often invoked to justify the strains of public office and the need for resilience amid criticism. However, the phrase predates Truman in American print culture and appears to have been in colloquial use before he popularized it. Truman’s connection is best understood as one of prominent repetition and public attribution rather than clear origination in a single, well-documented speech or document.

The quote frames demanding work—especially leadership and public responsibility—as a “hot kitchen”: stressful, exposed, and uncomfortable. Its message is pragmatic rather than sympathetic: if you choose to participate in high-stakes environments, you must accept the accompanying pressure and criticism; otherwise, step aside for someone who can. The line is often used to defend decisive action and to discourage complaints from those who want authority without its burdens. At the same time, it can function as a gatekeeping retort, implying that discomfort is a personal failing rather than a sign of unreasonable conditions.

1) "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen."
2) "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."