--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He had been content with daily labour and…" description: "\"He had been content with daily labour and rough animal enjoyments, 'till Catherine crossed his path. Shame at her scorn, and hope of her approval, were..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bf/emily-bronte-574_animal_he-had-been-content-with-daily-labour-an_445381.jpg" --- # He had been content with daily labour and rough animal… ![“He had been content with daily labour and rough animal enjoyments, 'till Catherine crossed his path. Shame at her scorn, and hope of her approval, were his first prompts to higher pursuits; and, instead of guarding him from one and winning him to the other, his endeavors to raise himself had…” quote by Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bf/emily-bronte-574_animal_he-had-been-content-with-daily-labour-an_445381.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bf/emily-bronte-574_animal_he-had-been-content-with-daily-labour-an_445381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bf/emily-bronte-574_animal_he-had-been-content-with-daily-labour-an_445381.jpg) > “He had been content with daily labour and rough animal enjoyments, 'till Catherine crossed his path. Shame at her scorn, and hope of her approval, were his first prompts to higher pursuits; and, instead of guarding him from one and winning him to the other, his endeavors to raise himself had produced just the contrary result.” [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire for approval can drive ambition, but may also lead to unintended consequences. **In simple terms:** Seeking validation can both motivate and mislead. Key Takeaway Pursue goals authentically. Themes ambition validation consequences Mood introspective thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - Career advancement - artistic creation - relationship building - personal development Key Concepts Psychology of desire self‑esteem dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What drives your aspirations—self‑fulfillment or external praise? - How can you align ambition with personal values? A Different Perspective External approval may undermine intrinsic motivation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [Catherine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catherine/) [Endeavor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endeavor/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Guarding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guarding/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labour/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Path Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path-shame-3896954/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Raises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raises/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Rough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rough/) [Rough Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rough-animal-3896952/) [Scorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scorn/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Shame Scorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame-scorn-3896951/) [Till Catherine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/till-catherine-3896953/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [“Defiance, Catherine, is a gift of God, who is superior to nature. When nature comes to get you, honor God by treating it, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/defiance-catherine-is-a-gift-of-god-who-is-superior-to-nature-when/) [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) > [“I’m not— Lady Macbeth Lucrezia Borgia Catherine the Great. I am —a woman doing what she has to do. I am —the woman you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/i-m-not-lady-macbeth-lucrezia-borgia-catherine-the-great-i-am-a-woman/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [When I had photographed Prince William's mother, I brought along a CD of Dalida, a French singer, that we played on set all day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-testino/when-i-had-photographed-prince-william-s-mother-i-brought-along-a-cd/) [Mario Testino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-testino/) > [“Gaston Leroux claimed that Erik’s character was based on fact. In my novel, let your mind imagine that Catherine’s is too…if you dare!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha/gaston-leroux-claimed-that-erik-s-character-was-based-on-fact-in-my/) [Samantha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha/) > [“To my lady Catherine, I give you gold with a diamond you can barely see, But the gem would be castle-sized if it expressed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-c-andrews/to-my-lady-catherine-i-give-you-gold-with-a-diamond-you-can-barely/) [V.C. Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-c-andrews/) > [“No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/no-one-who-had-ever-seen-catherine-morland-in-her-infancy-would-have-2/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Catherine Zeta-Jones started out like me. Her big break in Hollywood was in 'Zorro.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-griffiths/catherine-zeta-jones-started-out-like-me-her-big-break-in-hollywood/) [Lucy Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-griffiths/) > [Margaret Thatcher had more impact on the world than any woman ruler since Catherine the Great of Russia. Not only did she turn around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/margaret-thatcher-had-more-impact-on-the-world-than-any-woman-ruler/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [“When he finally broke off the kiss and moved his lips to her neck, then her breast again, sucking her nipples back to hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/when-he-finally-broke-off-the-kiss-and-moved-his-lips-to-her-neck/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“I walked towards her. Jean-Claude grabbed my arm. "Do not harm her, Anita. She is under our protection." "I swear to you that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-walked-towards-her-jean-claude-grabbed-my-arm-do-not-harm-her-anita/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“She was just a simple, honest woman standing in the ruin of a late winter garden, waiting for the spring. “Catherine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-goolrick/she-was-just-a-simple-honest-woman-standing-in-the-ruin-of-a-late/) [Robert Goolrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-goolrick/) > [“You didn’t slay a werewolf,” I breathed before repeating the words louder. “You did not slay a werewolf, Thaddeus.” “Oh, but I did. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/you-didn-t-slay-a-werewolf-i-breathed-before-repeating-the-words/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Acting is about giving yourself away, like the U2 song 'With or Without You.' You just don't stay behind a character and make people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/acting-is-about-giving-yourself-away-like-the-u2-song-with-or-without/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [“I look into her excited eyes, and my mind finally acknowledges what my heart has known all along as the truth—I’m hers. I belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-asher/i-look-into-her-excited-eyes-and-my-mind-finally-acknowledges-what-my/) [Mia Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-asher/) > [My off-the-field heroes, the people who gave me the values to live by and who inspired me with their hard work and unselfish dedication…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-ray/my-off-the-field-heroes-the-people-who-gave-me-the-values-to-live-by/) [Allan Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-ray/) ## More by Emily Bronte > [Honest people don't hide their deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/honest-people-don-t-hide-their-deeds/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [He is more myself than I am. Whatever our two souls are made of, his and mine are the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/he-is-more-myself-than-i-am-whatever-our-two-souls-are-made-of-his/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [I shall smile when wreaths of snow Blossom where the rose should grow; I shall sing when night's decay Ushers in a drearier day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/i-shall-smile-when-wreaths-of-snow-blossom-where-the-rose-should-grow/) [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [how cruel, your veins are full of ice-water and mine are boiling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/how-cruel-your-veins-are-full-of-ice-water-and-mine-are-boiling/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods. Time will changeit,I'mwellaware, aswinterchangesthetrees. My Love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneatha…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/my-love-for-linton-is-like-the-foliage-in-the-woods-time-will/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“I wish I were a girl again, half savage and hardy, and free; and laughing at injuries, not maddening under them! Why am I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/i-wish-i-were-a-girl-again-half-savage-and-hardy-and-free-and/) [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [The entire world is a collection of memoranda that she did exist, and that I have lost her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/the-entire-world-is-a-collection-of-memoranda-that-she-did-exist-and/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“Papa talks enough of my defects, and shows enough scorn of me, to make it natural I should doubt myself. I doubt whether I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/papa-talks-enough-of-my-defects-and-shows-enough-scorn-of-me-to-make/) [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“Mama never told me I had a father.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/mama-never-told-me-i-had-a-father/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [The intense horror of nightmare came over me: I tried to draw back my arm, but the hand clung to it, and a most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/the-intense-horror-of-nightmare-came-over-me-i-tried-to-draw-back-my/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“It is not in him to be loved like me: how can she love in him what he has not?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/it-is-not-in-him-to-be-loved-like-me-how-can-she-love-in-him-what-he/) [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [I have lost the faculty of enjoying their destruction, and I am too idle to destroy for nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/i-have-lost-the-faculty-of-enjoying-their-destruction-and-i-am-too/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/my-love-for-heathcliff-resembles-the-eternal-rocks-beneath-a-source/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [Tis moonlight, summer moonlight, All soft and still and fair; The solemn hour of midnight Breathes sweet thoughts everywhere, But most where trees are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/tis-moonlight-summer-moonlight-all-soft-and-still-and-fair-the-solemn/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“It expressed, plainer than words could do, the intense anguish at having made himself the instrument of thwarting his own revenge. Had it been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/it-expressed-plainer-than-words-could-do-the-intense-anguish-at/) [Emily Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) [Explore all 400 Emily Bronte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He had been content with daily labour and rough animal enjoyments, 'till Catherine crossed his path. 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