After high school Quote by Arthur Miller
“Well, I spent six or seven years after high school trying to work myself up. Shipping clerk, salesman, business of one kind or another. And it's a measly manner of existence. To get on that subway on the hot mornings in summer. To devote your whole life to keeping stock, or making phone calls, or selling or buying. To suffer fifty weeks of the year for the sake of a two-week vacation, when all you really desire is to be outdoors, with your shirt off. And always to have to get ahead of the next fella. And still — that's how you build a future.”
About This Quote
The speaker describes a monotonous, labor‑intensive life driven by survival and modest aspirations, questioning whether such a routine truly builds a meaningful future.
In simple terms: A repetitive job grind may feel unfulfilling yet is seen as a path to stability.
Key Takeaway
Seek balance between work and personal passions.
Themes
work
routine
aspiration
future
discontent
Mood
contemplative
hopeful
Type
motivational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career planning
- life coaching
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
sociology
existentialism
career development
Questions to Reflect On
- What small changes could bring more fulfillment?
- How do you define a worthwhile future?
A Different Perspective
Routine can stifle joy and creativity.
![“(Looking at the letter in his hand) Then what is this if it isn’t telling me? Sure, [Larry] was my son. But I think to him [the pilots killed] were all my sons. And I guess they were, I guess they were” quote by Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3e8/arthur-miller-947_killed_looking-at-the-letter-in-his-hand-then-w_55336.jpg)
