--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To work with the hands or brain…" description: "\"To work with the hands or brain, according to our requirements and our capacities, to do that which lies before us to do, is more honorable than rank a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/albert-pike-4863_brain_to-work-with-the-hands-or-brain-accordin_2557317.jpg" --- # To work with the hands or brain, according to our… ![“To work with the hands or brain, according to our requirements and our capacities, to do that which lies before us to do, is more honorable than rank and title.” quote by Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/albert-pike-4863_brain_to-work-with-the-hands-or-brain-accordin_2557317.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/albert-pike-4863_brain_to-work-with-the-hands-or-brain-accordin_2557317.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/albert-pike-4863_brain_to-work-with-the-hands-or-brain-accordin_2557317.jpg) > “To work with the hands or brain, according to our requirements and our capacities, to do that which lies before us to do, is more honorable than rank and title.” [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Valuing practical work over status reflects true honor and personal fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Work is more honorable than titles. Key Takeaway Choose work that matches your abilities. Themes honor work humility Mood reflective determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career choices - volunteer work - skill development - personal projects Key Concepts ethics self-actualization Questions to Reflect On - How does your current role align with your strengths? - What would you change if rank mattered less? A Different Perspective Titles may still influence opportunities despite personal merit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Hands Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands-brain-1153963/) [Honorable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honorable/) [Honorable Rank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honorable-rank-1575055/) [Lies Honorable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies-honorable-285054/) [Requirements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/requirements/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hands-254800/) ## Related quotes > [I was one who liked to work with my hands as well as my brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-standish-knowles/i-was-one-who-liked-to-work-with-my-hands-as-well-as-my-brain/) [William Standish Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-standish-knowles/) > [Truly, to tell lies is not honorable; but when the truth entails tremendous ruin, To speak dishonorably is pardonable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/truly-to-tell-lies-is-not-honorable-but-when-the-truth-entails/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“It doesn’t matter how smart you are – you can only accomplish finite with two hands and one brain. To scale heights, you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jag-randhawa/it-doesn-t-matter-how-smart-you-are-you-can-only-accomplish-finite/) [Jag Randhawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jag-randhawa/) > [Asana and complementary services are bringing the evolved team brain to the entire world. In great companies like Twitter, Uber, Airbnb, Foursquare, and LinkedIn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-rosenstein/asana-and-complementary-services-are-bringing-the-evolved-team-brain/) [Justin Rosenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-rosenstein/) > [Now we have hands-free phones, so you can focus on the thing you're really supposed to be doing. Chances are, if you need both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/now-we-have-hands-free-phones-so-you-can-focus-on-the-thing-you-re/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [It is natural that a man should consider the work of his hands or his brain to be useful and important. Therefore nobody will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-born/it-is-natural-that-a-man-should-consider-the-work-of-his-hands-or-his/) [Max Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-born/) > [She rose to his requirement, dropped The playthings of her life To take the honorable work Of woman and of wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/she-rose-to-his-requirement-dropped-the-playthings-of-her-life-to/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“You must judge a man by the work of his hands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigal-muchecheti/you-must-judge-a-man-by-the-work-of-his-hands/) [Abigal Muchecheti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigal-muchecheti/) > [“I feel like there are more possibilities when I work with my hands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oded-ezer/i-feel-like-there-are-more-possibilities-when-i-work-with-my-hands/) [Oded Ezer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oded-ezer/) > [Only your work is your hands, and I focus on that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shruti-haasan/only-your-work-is-your-hands-and-i-focus-on-that/) [Shruti Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shruti-haasan/) > [“Smart people don't work with their hands. If you have a brain, being outside and performing physical labor are the things you do on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-preston/smart-people-don-t-work-with-their-hands-if-you-have-a-brain-being/) [Brent Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-preston/) > [Whenever I show support, I do it with the work of my hands and not just with posts on Facebook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mast/whenever-i-show-support-i-do-it-with-the-work-of-my-hands-and-not/) [Brian Mast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mast/) > [The land belongs to those who work it with their hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-zapata/the-land-belongs-to-those-who-work-it-with-their-hands/) [Emiliano Zapata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-zapata/) > [I have always regarded manual labour as creative and looked with respect-and, yes, wonder-at people who work with their hands. It seems to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-casals/i-have-always-regarded-manual-labour-as-creative-and-looked-with/) [Pablo Casals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-casals/) > [“for they are all the work of his hands?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zondervan/for-they-are-all-the-work-of-his-hands/) [Zondervan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zondervan/) ## More by Albert Pike > [A war for a great principle ennobles a nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/a-war-for-a-great-principle-ennobles-a-nation/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [The doctrines of the Bible are often not clothed in the language of strict truth, but in that which was fittest to convey to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/the-doctrines-of-the-bible-are-often-not-clothed-in-the-language-of/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [If the Soul sees, after death , what passes on this earth , and watches over the welfare of those it loves, then must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/if-the-soul-sees-after-death-what-passes-on-this-earth-and-watches/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [The double law of attraction and radiation or of sympathy and antipathy, of fixedness and movement, which is the principle of Creation, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/the-double-law-of-attraction-and-radiation-or-of-sympathy-and/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [Death is the inseparable antecedent of life; the seed dies in order to produce the plant, and earth itself is rent asunder and dies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/death-is-the-inseparable-antecedent-of-life-the-seed-dies-in-order-to/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [We are all naturally seekers of wonders. We travel far to see the majesty of old ruins, the venerable forms of the hoary mountains,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/we-are-all-naturally-seekers-of-wonders-we-travel-far-to-see-the/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [The Blue Degrees are but the outer court...of the temple. Part of the symbols are displayed there to the initiate, but he is intentionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/the-blue-degrees-are-but-the-outer-court-of-the-temple-part-of-the/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [Virtue is but heroic bravery, to do the thing thought to be true, in spite of all enemies of flesh or spirit, in despite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/virtue-is-but-heroic-bravery-to-do-the-thing-thought-to-be-true-in/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [“The freest people, like the freest man, is always in danger of re-lapsing into servitude. Wars are almost always fatal to Republics. They create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/the-freest-people-like-the-freest-man-is-always-in-danger-of-re/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [Know thou the self (spirit) as riding in a chariot, The body as the chariot. Know thou the intellect as the chariot-driver, And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/know-thou-the-self-spirit-as-riding-in-a-chariot-the-body-as-the/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [There are great truths at the foundation of Freemasonry, truths which it is its mission to teach and which is constituting the very essence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/there-are-great-truths-at-the-foundation-of-freemasonry-truths-which/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [That which causes us trials shall yield us triumph: and that which make our hearts ache shall fill us with gladness. The only true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/that-which-causes-us-trials-shall-yield-us-triumph-and-that-which/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [That which we say and do, if its effects last not beyond our lives, is unimportant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/that-which-we-say-and-do-if-its-effects-last-not-beyond-our-lives-is/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [War is a series of catastrophes which result in victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/war-is-a-series-of-catastrophes-which-result-in-victory/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [“Religion would, in many points, not be comprehended by the ignorant, nor consolatory to them, nor guiding and supporting for them. The doctrines of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/religion-would-in-many-points-not-be-comprehended-by-the-ignorant-nor/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) [Explore all 105 Albert Pike quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [I am the way I am. If you like me because I'm glamorous, so be it. If you like me, because I speak well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-am-the-way-i-am-if-you-like-me-because-i-m-glamorous-so-be-it-if/) [Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/) [Browse all 8,465 Brain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To work with the hands or brain, according to our requirements and our capacities, to do that which lies before us to do, is more honorable than rank and title.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Albert Pike" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/to-work-with-the-hands-or-brain-according-to-our-requirements-and-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/to-work-with-the-hands-or-brain-according-to-our-requirements-and-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/albert-pike-4863_brain_to-work-with-the-hands-or-brain-accordin_2557317.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/albert-pike-4863_brain_to-work-with-the-hands-or-brain-accordin_2557317.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/albert-pike-4863_brain_to-work-with-the-hands-or-brain-accordin_2557317.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To work with the hands or brain, according to our requirements and our capacities, to do that which lies…” — Albert Pike", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Albert Pike", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To work with the hands or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/to-work-with-the-hands-or-brain-according-to-our-requirements-and-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/to-work-with-the-hands-or-brain-according-to-our-requirements-and-our/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```