--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A ploughman on his legs is higher than a…" description: "\"A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.\" — Benjamin Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/benjamin-franklin-65_gentleman_a-ploughman-on-his-legs-is-higher-than-a_2093461.png" --- # A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his… ![“A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/benjamin-franklin-65_gentleman_a-ploughman-on-his-legs-is-higher-than-a_2093461.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/benjamin-franklin-65_gentleman_a-ploughman-on-his-legs-is-higher-than-a_2093461.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/benjamin-franklin-65_gentleman_a-ploughman-on-his-legs-is-higher-than-a_2093461.png) > “A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He uses a metaphor to value physical labor over pretentiousness. **In simple terms:** Work hard, stay humble. Key Takeaway Value effort over status. Themes humility labor social values Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career advice - personal development - team leadership Key Concepts philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - What does true “higher” mean? - How to balance pride and humility? A Different Perspective Hard work may not guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Gentleman Knees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman-knees-4148722/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Higher Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-gentleman-1253449/) [Knees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knees/) [Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs/) [Legs Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs-higher-3058005/) [Ploughman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ploughman-793177/) [Ploughman Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ploughman-legs-1253451/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [He that hath a trade hath an estate; and he that hath a calling hath a place of profit and honor. A ploughman on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-hath-a-trade-hath-an-estate-and-he-that-hath-a-calling-hath-a/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Comedy, not screaming at someone, can make someone lift their legs higher. There is a way to do a push-up and a sit-up, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/comedy-not-screaming-at-someone-can-make-someone-lift-their-legs/) [Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/) > [Ye rigid Ploughman! bear in mind Your labor is for future hours. Advance! spare not! nor look behind! Plough deep and straight with all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-horne/ye-rigid-ploughman-bear-in-mind-your-labor-is-for-future-hours/) [Richard Henry Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-horne/) > [I had a ploughman's lunch the other day. He wasn't very happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/i-had-a-ploughman-s-lunch-the-other-day-he-wasn-t-very-happy/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [The ploughman knows how many acres he shall upturn from dawn to sunset: but the thinker knows not what a day may bring forth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/the-ploughman-knows-how-many-acres-he-shall-upturn-from-dawn-to/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [Oh, I'm being eaten By a boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, I'm being eaten by a boa constrictor, And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/oh-i-m-being-eaten-by-a-boa-constrictor-a-boa-constrictor-a-boa/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [What Wall Street and credit card companies are doing is really not much different from what gangsters and loan sharks do who make predatory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/what-wall-street-and-credit-card-companies-are-doing-is-really-not/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Consider developing your whole self with the same raw focus and intensity that you develop a particular skill set. Get focused. Go out, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-holden/consider-developing-your-whole-self-with-the-same-raw-focus-and/) [Anthony Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-holden/) > [Lover please do not fall to your knees it's not like I believe in everlasting love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-marling/lover-please-do-not-fall-to-your-knees-it-s-not-like-i-believe-in/) [Laura Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-marling/) > [A conversation does not have to be scintillating in order to be memorable. I once met a president of the United States, and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cavett/a-conversation-does-not-have-to-be-scintillating-in-order-to-be/) [Dick Cavett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cavett/) > [I'm getting housemaid's knee kneeling here gulping beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-earhart/i-m-getting-housemaid-s-knee-kneeling-here-gulping-beauty/) [Amelia Earhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-earhart/) > [In the middle of a play, I go crazy and don't realize what I'm doing. I'll snap back to reality and I realize, 'Hey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/in-the-middle-of-a-play-i-go-crazy-and-don-t-realize-what-i-m-doing-i/) [Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/) > [A man is powerful on his knees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/a-man-is-powerful-on-his-knees/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [The only people without problems are in cemeteries. If you don't have problems, get on your knees and pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-only-people-without-problems-are-in-cemeteries-if-you-don-t-have/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [It rolls off my back. Ridicule doesn't mean anything - even from people you're supposed to wear knee pads around, like the scientific community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-schultz/it-rolls-off-my-back-ridicule-doesn-t-mean-anything-even-from-people/) [Dwight Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-schultz/) ## More by Benjamin Franklin > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [How do you become better tomorrow? By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More Gentleman quotes > [“Like this, Rook.” Ford’s soft words vibrate into me. “I like you. I’d like to show you how much, actually. I’m being a gentleman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-huss/like-this-rook-ford-s-soft-words-vibrate-into-me-i-like-you-i-d-like/) [J.A. Huss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-huss/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“Call me old-fashioned, but whenever I see those wire-fortified ribbons, I have the secret stab of nostalgia for old-timey ribbon, the kind whose ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhoda-janzen/call-me-old-fashioned-but-whenever-i-see-those-wire-fortified-ribbons/) [Rhoda Janzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhoda-janzen/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Brothers all In honour, as in one community, Scholars and gentlemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/brothers-all-in-honour-as-in-one-community-scholars-and-gentlemen/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [I like to be bought flowers and taken out for dinner. I like a man to be a gentleman. I don't like to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-stone/i-like-to-be-bought-flowers-and-taken-out-for-dinner-i-like-a-man-to/) [Sharon Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-stone/) > [A gentleman is not born but crafted. He had to work on himself in the same way as a sculptor shaped a rough stone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/a-gentleman-is-not-born-but-crafted-he-had-to-work-on-himself-in-the/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [I'm old school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-old-school/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some Iranian doctors from Europe and America go to Iran and operate for free or teach medical students there. The other day, I met…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farah-diba/some-iranian-doctors-from-europe-and-america-go-to-iran-and-operate/) [Farah Diba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farah-diba/) > [I'm an old-fashioned girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chita-rivera/i-m-an-old-fashioned-girl/) [Chita Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chita-rivera/) > [I am a bit old-school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-kay/i-am-a-bit-old-school/) [Jay Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-kay/) > [What's wrong with death sir? What are we so mortally afraid of? Why can't we treat death with a certain amount of humanity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/what-s-wrong-with-death-sir-what-are-we-so-mortally-afraid-of-why-can/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [The president of the United States of North America, George W. Bush, the little gentleman of the North, the political cadaver that is visiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-chavez/the-president-of-the-united-states-of-north-america-george-w-bush-the/) [Hugo Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-chavez/) > [Acknowledge yourself, man up along age and then decide to be a gentleman or an another asshole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniyal-butt/acknowledge-yourself-man-up-along-age-and-then-decide-to-be-a/) [Daniyal Butt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniyal-butt/) > [It is possible that blondes also prefer gentleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mamie-van-doren/it-is-possible-that-blondes-also-prefer-gentleman/) [Mamie Van Doren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mamie-van-doren/) [Browse all 1,653 Gentleman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/a-ploughman-on-his-legs-is-higher-than-a-gentleman-on-his-knees/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gentleman" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/a-ploughman-on-his-legs-is-higher-than-a-gentleman-on-his-knees/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/benjamin-franklin-65_gentleman_a-ploughman-on-his-legs-is-higher-than-a_2093461.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/benjamin-franklin-65_gentleman_a-ploughman-on-his-legs-is-higher-than-a_2093461.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/benjamin-franklin-65_gentleman_a-ploughman-on-his-legs-is-higher-than-a_2093461.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.” — Benjamin Franklin", "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": "Benjamin Franklin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A ploughman on his legs is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/a-ploughman-on-his-legs-is-higher-than-a-gentleman-on-his-knees/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/a-ploughman-on-his-legs-is-higher-than-a-gentleman-on-his-knees/#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 } } ] } ```