---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Meanwhile, I work the route. I don’t…"
description: "\"“Meanwhile, I work the route. I don’t quit, I don’t complain. Each day I learn more than I earn. Things are going to get better.”\" — Bob Thurber"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d67/bob-thurber-36977_earn_meanwhile-i-work-the-route-i-don-t-quit_2507713.jpg"
---

#  Meanwhile, I work the route. I don’t quit, I don’t…

![“Meanwhile, I work the route. I don’t quit, I don’t complain. Each day I learn more than I earn. Things are going to get better.” quote by Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d67/bob-thurber-36977_earn_meanwhile-i-work-the-route-i-don-t-quit_2507713.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d67/bob-thurber-36977_earn_meanwhile-i-work-the-route-i-don-t-quit_2507713.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d67/bob-thurber-36977_earn_meanwhile-i-work-the-route-i-don-t-quit_2507713.jpg)

> ““Meanwhile, I work the route. I don’t quit, I don’t complain. Each day I learn more than I earn. Things are going to get better.””

[Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Persistence and learning outweigh immediate earnings, leading to eventual improvement.

**In simple terms:** Hard work and learning beat short‑term profit.

Key Takeaway

Keep learning, stay resilient.

Themes

perseverance growth optimism

Mood

determined hopeful

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- jobs
- education
- personal finance
- career development

Key Concepts

self‑improvement learning mindset

Questions to Reflect On

- What can you learn today that exceeds your paycheck?
- How does perseverance shape future outcomes?

A Different Perspective

Success may be delayed; patience required.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [“I've already got the storm figured out. Some idiot blew up the sun. Some dumb Russian general pushed the wrong button and launched one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/i-ve-already-got-the-storm-figured-out-some-idiot-blew-up-the-sun/)

[Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

> [“Over the years our mother has beaten us with belts, shoes, rulers, extension cords, hair brushes, a wooden spoon, a fly swatter, a toilet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/over-the-years-our-mother-has-beaten-us-with-belts-shoes-rulers/)

[Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

> [“People like to make up stories about things they don’t understand, so there are over a thousand myths about the moon. One legend claims…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/people-like-to-make-up-stories-about-things-they-don-t-understand-so/)

[Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

> [“Things I Used to Get Hit For: Talking back. Being smart. Acting stupid. Not listening. Not answering the first time. Not doing what I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/things-i-used-to-get-hit-for-talking-back-being-smart-acting-stupid/)

[Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

> [When you are young, work to learn, not to earn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/when-you-are-young-work-to-learn-not-to-earn/)

[Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/)

> [“Listen to learn. Learn to earn!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-liano/listen-to-learn-learn-to-earn/)

[Rob Liano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-liano/)

> [Learn, Earn &amp; Return…these are the three things, with which we have to be gud to lead a good life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghav-singh/learn-earn-return-these-are-the-three-things-with-which-we-have-to-be/)

[Raghav Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghav-singh/)

> [I've been a paperboy, a short-order cook, a warehouse clerk, and, eventually, a partner at IBM.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/i-ve-been-a-paperboy-a-short-order-cook-a-warehouse-clerk-and/)

[Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/)

> [“Apt as it may have been for another time, the “learn, earn, and then return” model is inadequate for today. It no longer fits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-hurst/apt-as-it-may-have-been-for-another-time-the-learn-earn-and-then/)

Aaron Hurst

> [It's not burn baby burn, but learn, baby, learn, so that you can earn, baby, earn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/it-s-not-burn-baby-burn-but-learn-baby-learn-so-that-you-can-earn/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [“If you yearn to learn, you’ll learn to earn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/if-you-yearn-to-learn-you-ll-learn-to-earn/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“I recommend to young people to seek work for what they will learn, more than what they will earn. Look down the road at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/i-recommend-to-young-people-to-seek-work-for-what-they-will-learn/)

[Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/)

> [“The pathway to a truly successful life is to yearn, learn and earn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/the-pathway-to-a-truly-successful-life-is-to-yearn-learn-and-earn/)

[Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/)

> [Learn, earn, return - these are the 3 phases of life. Jack Balousek There is no more noble occupation in the world than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-loy-mcginnis/learn-earn-return-these-are-the-3-phases-of-life-jack-balousek-there/)

[Alan Loy McGinnis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-loy-mcginnis/)

> [“You learn more by reading more. I'm living proof that the more you learn, the more you earn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cottrell/you-learn-more-by-reading-more-i-m-living-proof-that-the-more-you/)

[David Cottrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cottrell/)

## More by Bob Thurber

> [“Time heals nothing. Wounds fester and ooze. Life drags you by a rope over rocks and stones and one day you look up, look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/time-heals-nothing-wounds-fester-and-ooze-life-drags-you-by-a-rope/)

[Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

> [“Memory in the mind of man can adapt to the worst conditions. I'll give you an example, an analogy of sorts: Each night I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/memory-in-the-mind-of-man-can-adapt-to-the-worst-conditions-i-ll-give/)

[Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

> [“I've already got the storm figured out. Some idiot blew up the sun. Some dumb Russian general pushed the wrong button and launched one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/i-ve-already-got-the-storm-figured-out-some-idiot-blew-up-the-sun/)

[Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

> [“Things I Used to Get Hit For: Talking back. Being smart. Acting stupid. Not listening. Not answering the first time. Not doing what I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/things-i-used-to-get-hit-for-talking-back-being-smart-acting-stupid/)

[Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

> [“Despite an icy northeast wind huffing across the bay I sneak out after dark, after my mother falls asleep clutching her leather Bible, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/despite-an-icy-northeast-wind-huffing-across-the-bay-i-sneak-out/)

[Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

> [“Why the long face? Something happen?" "Nothing except my grandmother is still dead and my aunt moved to Sacramento and my sister just got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/why-the-long-face-something-happen-nothing-except-my-grandmother-is/)

[Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

> [“Throughout my entire miserable childhood I woke at least once a night weeping from overwhelming delight. I did it hungry, I did it after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/throughout-my-entire-miserable-childhood-i-woke-at-least-once-a-night/)

[Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

> [“A new day always forgives you, unless it's raining and you wake up in jail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/a-new-day-always-forgives-you-unless-it-s-raining-and-you-wake-up-in/)

[Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

> [“The first thing I check once I’m inside a story is the emotional weather. Is there a storm coming? What’s the temperature, and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/the-first-thing-i-check-once-i-m-inside-a-story-is-the-emotional/)

[Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

> [“Over the years our mother has beaten us with belts, shoes, rulers, extension cords, hair brushes, a wooden spoon, a fly swatter, a toilet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/over-the-years-our-mother-has-beaten-us-with-belts-shoes-rulers/)

[Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

> [“People like to make up stories about things they don’t understand, so there are over a thousand myths about the moon. One legend claims…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/people-like-to-make-up-stories-about-things-they-don-t-understand-so/)

[Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

[Explore all 12 Bob Thurber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

## More Earn quotes

> [“He should earn a puffy-tail for helping and lose it for being mean,” Parker puts in. “At least then he breaks even.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-korman/he-should-earn-a-puffy-tail-for-helping-and-lose-it-for-being-mean/)

[Gordon Korman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-korman/)

> [I will have to earn trust and respect from my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/i-will-have-to-earn-trust-and-respect-from-my-kids/)

[Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/)

> [I had decided that if I was going to be a singer, I had to earn it. I had to learn how to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-had-decided-that-if-i-was-going-to-be-a-singer-i-had-to-earn-it-i/)

[Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/)

> [I look upon life as a gift from God. I did nothing to earn it. Now that the time is coming to give it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/i-look-upon-life-as-a-gift-from-god-i-did-nothing-to-earn-it-now-that/)

[Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/)

> [We must ensure that our students graduate high school and then earn a postsecondary certificate or degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-ivey/we-must-ensure-that-our-students-graduate-high-school-and-then-earn-a/)

[Kay Ivey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-ivey/)

> [If we would have anything of benefit, we must earn it, and earning it become shrewd, inventive, ingenious, active, enterprising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/if-we-would-have-anything-of-benefit-we-must-earn-it-and-earning-it/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [You don't have to give up your dreams in order to earn a living - they can go hand in hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-visage/you-don-t-have-to-give-up-your-dreams-in-order-to-earn-a-living-they/)

[Michelle Visage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-visage/)

> [Network marketing is the only industry that allows common people to earn millions with a minimal investment and zero overhead, coupled with total time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-yarnell/network-marketing-is-the-only-industry-that-allows-common-people-to/)

Mark Yarnell

> [Well, I needed the work - that's the honest answer. I haven't worked for a while, a couple of years. So I thought it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-oldman/well-i-needed-the-work-that-s-the-honest-answer-i-haven-t-worked-for/)

[Gary Oldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-oldman/)

> [When Americans are faced with the prospect that they can never earn their way to wealth, they have two choices: to rebel against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/when-americans-are-faced-with-the-prospect-that-they-can-never-earn/)

[Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/)

> [You've got to earn it; you're not just handed anything in life. That's why no one starts out as a perfect master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/you-ve-got-to-earn-it-you-re-not-just-handed-anything-in-life-that-s/)

[Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/)

> [To survive in Mumbai, I worked in a drilling firm where I was paid Rs 200, and to earn some extra money I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/to-survive-in-mumbai-i-worked-in-a-drilling-firm-where-i-was-paid-rs/)

[Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/)

> [There is not an amount of money that a writer can earn that I can't blow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-milch/there-is-not-an-amount-of-money-that-a-writer-can-earn-that-i-can-t/)

[David Milch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-milch/)

> [I turned down more offers to be Jack Paar or Johnny Carson or Steve Allen before the people on the 'Donna Reed Show' gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/i-turned-down-more-offers-to-be-jack-paar-or-johnny-carson-or-steve/)

[Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/)

> [Even in the Minor Leagues, I thought you have to go out and earn a spot. Nothing is ever given to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-judge/even-in-the-minor-leagues-i-thought-you-have-to-go-out-and-earn-a/)

[Aaron Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-judge/)

Browse all 730 Earn quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Meanwhile, I work the route. I don’t quit, I don’t complain. Each day I learn more than I earn. Things are going to get better.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bob Thurber"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/meanwhile-i-work-the-route-i-don-t-quit-i-don-t-complain-each-day-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Earn"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/meanwhile-i-work-the-route-i-don-t-quit-i-don-t-complain-each-day-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d67/bob-thurber-36977_earn_meanwhile-i-work-the-route-i-don-t-quit_2507713.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d67/bob-thurber-36977_earn_meanwhile-i-work-the-route-i-don-t-quit_2507713.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d67/bob-thurber-36977_earn_meanwhile-i-work-the-route-i-don-t-quit_2507713.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Meanwhile, I work the route. I don’t quit, I don’t complain. Each day I learn more than I earn. Things are…” — Bob Thurber",
                "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": "Bob Thurber",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Meanwhile, I work the route. I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/meanwhile-i-work-the-route-i-don-t-quit-i-don-t-complain-each-day-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/meanwhile-i-work-the-route-i-don-t-quit-i-don-t-complain-each-day-i/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
