--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How much do they be paying you?\" he asked…" description: "\"How much do they be paying you?\" he asked mellowly. \"The usual salary. A little more than they think I'm worth and a little less than I think I'm worth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/betty-smith-1012_littles_how-much-do-they-be-paying-you-he-asked_687490.png" --- # How much do they be paying you?" he asked mellowly. "The… ![“How much do they be paying you?" he asked mellowly. "The usual salary. A little more than they think I'm worth and a little less than I think I'm worth.” quote by Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/betty-smith-1012_littles_how-much-do-they-be-paying-you-he-asked_687490.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/betty-smith-1012_littles_how-much-do-they-be-paying-you-he-asked_687490.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/betty-smith-1012_littles_how-much-do-they-be-paying-you-he-asked_687490.png) > “How much do they be paying you?" he asked mellowly. "The usual salary. A little more than they think I'm worth and a little less than I think I'm worth.” [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The character negotiates salary, noting a slight mismatch between employer’s valuation and self‑assessment. **In simple terms:** Salary is a bit higher than what they think, lower than what the speaker thinks. Key Takeaway Align expectations with self‑value. Themes work salary self‑esteem negotiation Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type career financial When to use this quote - job interview - performance review - salary negotiation - career planning Key Concepts valuation confidence market rates Questions to Reflect On - How do you determine your worth at work? - What strategies help bridge perception gaps? A Different Perspective May ignore broader market factors influencing pay. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [My salary is of little importance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-aurier/my-salary-is-of-little-importance/) [Serge Aurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-aurier/) > [Nineteen centuries would have been worth very little if we had not made some advance in welcoming the stranger, in feeding the hungry, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-everett-hale/nineteen-centuries-would-have-been-worth-very-little-if-we-had-not/) [Edward Everett Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-everett-hale/) > [I do not think much of the good luck theory of self-made men. It is worth but little attention and has no practical value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-do-not-think-much-of-the-good-luck-theory-of-self-made-men-it-is/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Education is worth little if it teaches only how to make a living rather than how to make a life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hatwood-futrell/education-is-worth-little-if-it-teaches-only-how-to-make-a-living/) Mary Hatwood Futrell > [If it is true in anything, it is especially true of divine things, what costs little is worth little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/if-it-is-true-in-anything-it-is-especially-true-of-divine-things-what/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [“If you base your worth on other people's opinion of you, you will be worth little or nothing by the time you encounter your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-you-base-your-worth-on-other-people-s-opinion-of-you-you-will-be/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [Culture is worth a little risk,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/culture-is-worth-a-little-risk/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [The wisdom of men is worth little or nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-wisdom-of-men-is-worth-little-or-nothing/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Is letting them use you and disrespect you worth the little bit of happiness that they give you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/is-letting-them-use-you-and-disrespect-you-worth-the-little-bit-of-2/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Don't try to change yourself so much…, for a person worth so very little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-nathaniel-butler/don-t-try-to-change-yourself-so-much-for-a-person-worth-so-very-little/) [Eugene Nathaniel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-nathaniel-butler/) > [The rewards of golf, and of life too I expect, are worth very little if you don't play the game by the etiquette as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jones/the-rewards-of-golf-and-of-life-too-i-expect-are-worth-very-little-if/) [Bobby Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jones/) > [Words are worth little when the heart refuses to hear. Therefore, judge us by our works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/words-are-worth-little-when-the-heart-refuses-to-hear-therefore-judge/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [“If you invest nothing, the reward is worth little.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/if-you-invest-nothing-the-reward-is-worth-little/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Even good opinions are worth very little unless we hold them in the broad, intelligent, and spacious way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-morley/even-good-opinions-are-worth-very-little-unless-we-hold-them-in-the/) [John Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-morley/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) ## More by Betty Smith > [“Yes, when I get big and have my own home, no plush chairs and lace curtains for me. And no rubber plants. I'll have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/yes-when-i-get-big-and-have-my-own-home-no-plush-chairs-and-lace/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Several times that day, the name or thought of Papa had come up. And each time, Francie had felt a flash of tenderness instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/several-times-that-day-the-name-or-thought-of-papa-had-come-up-and/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [As long as one can suffer, one is living…live and suffer until life is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/as-long-as-one-can-suffer-one-is-living-live-and-suffer-until-life-is/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Sissy told them they were way behind the times; that midwives were things of the past. Besides, she informed them proudly, she had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/sissy-told-them-they-were-way-behind-the-times-that-midwives-were/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Why, Mrs McGarrity's all right. Mr McGarrity's all right, too. Only I guess they aren't all right to each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/why-mrs-mcgarrity-s-all-right-mr-mcgarrity-s-all-right-too-only-i/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“I drink because I don't stand a chance and I know it. I couldn't drive a truck and I couldn't get on the cops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/i-drink-because-i-don-t-stand-a-chance-and-i-know-it-i-couldn-t-drive/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Pipe dreams, he thought to himself, even while he was telling her about his dream winnings. But oh, how wonderful, he thought, if everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/pipe-dreams-he-thought-to-himself-even-while-he-was-telling-her-about/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Who wants to die? Everything struggles to live. Look at that tree growing up there out of that grating. It gets no sun, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/who-wants-to-die-everything-struggles-to-live-look-at-that-tree/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [It takes a lot of doing to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/it-takes-a-lot-of-doing-to-die/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“She sat in the sunshine watching the life on the street and guarding within herself, her own mystery of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/she-sat-in-the-sunshine-watching-the-life-on-the-street-and-guarding/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [...the reading, the observing, the living from day to day. It was something that had been born into her and her only - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/the-reading-the-observing-the-living-from-day-to-day-it-was-something/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [People always think that happiness is a faraway thing … something complicated and hard to get. Yet, what little things can make it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/people-always-think-that-happiness-is-a-faraway-thing-something/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Hildy O’Dair is old for her age,” she thought. “It’s like powder was sprinkled on her yellow hair. But she’s not much older than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/hildy-o-dair-is-old-for-her-age-she-thought-it-s-like-powder-was/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“One day they’re babies in buggies and the next day they’re in here taking picks. Kids grow up quick in this neighborhood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/one-day-they-re-babies-in-buggies-and-the-next-day-they-re-in-here/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“If she never had any lovers, she kicks herself around when the change comes, thinking of all the fun she could have had, didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/if-she-never-had-any-lovers-she-kicks-herself-around-when-the-change/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) [Explore all 306 Betty Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) ## More Littles quotes > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't understand why we're all connected wirelessly via a little machine that goes in our pocket, to everybody in the world, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-don-t-understand-why-we-re-all-connected-wirelessly-via-a-little/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/) [David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/) > [You smile upon your friend to-day, To-day his ills are over; You hearken to the lover's say, And happy is the lover. 'Tis late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-smile-upon-your-friend-to-day-to-day-his-ills-are-over-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [I always step on the plane with my right foot and touch the outside of the plane with my left hand. Sometimes you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-davis/i-always-step-on-the-plane-with-my-right-foot-and-touch-the-outside/) [Hope Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-davis/) > [I was very lucky to get well known much later in life. You need to have flopped quite a few times to get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/i-was-very-lucky-to-get-well-known-much-later-in-life-you-need-to/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [It's only a little difficult to say no. You've got to believe that the work you're doing is ultimately more useful to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/it-s-only-a-little-difficult-to-say-no-you-ve-got-to-believe-that-the/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [All lyrical work must, as a whole, be perfectly intelligible, but in some particulars a little unintelligible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/all-lyrical-work-must-as-a-whole-be-perfectly-intelligible-but-in/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) Browse all 27,615 Littles quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How much do they be paying you?\" he asked mellowly. \"The usual salary. A little more than they think I'm worth and a little less than I think I'm worth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Betty Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/how-much-do-they-be-paying-you-he-asked-mellowly-the-usual-salary-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Littles" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/how-much-do-they-be-paying-you-he-asked-mellowly-the-usual-salary-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/betty-smith-1012_littles_how-much-do-they-be-paying-you-he-asked_687490.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/betty-smith-1012_littles_how-much-do-they-be-paying-you-he-asked_687490.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/betty-smith-1012_littles_how-much-do-they-be-paying-you-he-asked_687490.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How much do they be paying you?\" he asked mellowly. \"The usual salary. A little more than they think I'm…” — Betty Smith", "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": "Betty Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "How much do they be paying...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/how-much-do-they-be-paying-you-he-asked-mellowly-the-usual-salary-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/how-much-do-they-be-paying-you-he-asked-mellowly-the-usual-salary-a/#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 } } ] } ```