--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had always believed that if somebody…" description: "\"“I had always believed that if somebody who worked with me went home feeling like a jerk for giving their time and their genuine effort, then it was me..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/anthony-bourdain-649_hard-work_i-had-always-believed-that-if-somebody-w_2172865.jpg" --- # I had always believed that if somebody who worked with me… ![“I had always believed that if somebody who worked with me went home feeling like a jerk for giving their time and their genuine effort, then it was me who had failed them—and in a very personal, fundamental way.” quote by Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/anthony-bourdain-649_hard-work_i-had-always-believed-that-if-somebody-w_2172865.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/anthony-bourdain-649_hard-work_i-had-always-believed-that-if-somebody-w_2172865.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/anthony-bourdain-649_hard-work_i-had-always-believed-that-if-somebody-w_2172865.jpg) > ““I had always believed that if somebody who worked with me went home feeling like a jerk for giving their time and their genuine effort, then it was me who had failed them—and in a very personal, fundamental way.”” [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feeling responsible for others’ morale; personal failure when they feel undervalued. **In simple terms:** Your effort impacts others’ feelings. Key Takeaway Lead with empathy. Themes leadership empathy responsibility Mood thoughtful empathetic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - team management - customer service - volunteer work - family dynamics Key Concepts psychology of work emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How can you support others without over‑taking? - What boundaries protect you from burnout? A Different Perspective Not all dissatisfaction is your fault; external factors matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [A failed personal experience is just fear and anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethenny-frankel/a-failed-personal-experience-is-just-fear-and-anxiety/) [Bethenny Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethenny-frankel/) > [I'm the least confident person in so many ways. But I believed that if somebody gave me the chance to tell a story, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-m-the-least-confident-person-in-so-many-ways-but-i-believed-that-if/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [“Will, you look like hell!" I yelled through the glass door. "I can't say how you look," he said. "But if you look like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-flinn/will-you-look-like-hell-i-yelled-through-the-glass-door-i-can-t-say/) [Alex Flinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-flinn/) > [I act like a jerk sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/i-act-like-a-jerk-sometimes/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [“Even thought you've been acting like a jerk all night, you're still here. I could tell you were angry. So you're angry; at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-r-hubbard/even-thought-you-ve-been-acting-like-a-jerk-all-night-you-re-still/) [Jennifer R. Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-r-hubbard/) > [The Worst part of acting like a jerk isn't when you're doing it. 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The third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-levchin/the-very-first-company-i-started-failed-with-a-great-bang-the-second/) [Max Levchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-levchin/) > [I wanted to be a huge star and I have failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-otway/i-wanted-to-be-a-huge-star-and-i-have-failed/) [John Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-otway/) > [When the enemy is driven back, we have failed, and when he is cut off, encircled and dispersed, we have succeeded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-suvorov/when-the-enemy-is-driven-back-we-have-failed-and-when-he-is-cut-off/) [Alexander Suvorov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-suvorov/) > [“Humility is what you strive for when you've failed at everything else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/humility-is-what-you-strive-for-when-you-ve-failed-at-everything-else/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [Paradox: how do we know what we have failed to see because we have no language to express it, thus we cannot know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/paradox-how-do-we-know-what-we-have-failed-to-see-because-we-have-no/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [I almost failed out of high school. I nearly gave in to the deep anger and resentment harbored by everyone around me... Whatever talents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance-2/i-almost-failed-out-of-high-school-i-nearly-gave-in-to-the-deep-anger/) [J. D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance-2/) > [Actually, I failed drama in high school because of nerves. I wasn't able to memorize the words. I had complete stage fright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-marie/actually-i-failed-drama-in-high-school-because-of-nerves-i-wasn-t/) [Constance Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-marie/) > [“WASHINGTON—Citigroup Inc. failed to get Federal Reserve”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/washington-citigroup-inc-failed-to-get-federal-reserve/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I tried to go to college; I just picked a trade, did a plumbing test - and failed. 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