J.P. Morgan, then past 70, was asked by the son of an…
“J.P. Morgan, then past 70, was asked by the son of an eminent father why he [Morgan] didn't retire. When did your father retire? asked Mr. Morgan, without looking up from his desk. In 1902. When did he die? Oh, at the end of 1904. Huh! snapped Mr. Morgan, If he had kept on working he would have been alive still. Work is God's best medicine. It is God's medicine for man.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Work is portrayed as essential to life, equated with divine remedy, suggesting that purpose comes from labor.
In simple terms: Work is like medicine for the soul.
Find purpose through work.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- career
- retirement planning
- life purpose
- elderly productivity
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does work give you beyond income?
- Can purpose be found outside of work?
Overemphasis on work can neglect rest and relationships.