--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Brains were no good to a working man…" description: "\"“Brains were no good to a working man; they only made him discontented and saucy and lose his jobs. She'd seen it happen again and again.”\" — Flora Tho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/flora-thompson-17380_discontented_brains-were-no-good-to-a-working-man-the_2801443.png" --- # Brains were no good to a working man; they only made him… ![“Brains were no good to a working man; they only made him discontented and saucy and lose his jobs. She'd seen it happen again and again.” quote by Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/flora-thompson-17380_discontented_brains-were-no-good-to-a-working-man-the_2801443.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/flora-thompson-17380_discontented_brains-were-no-good-to-a-working-man-the_2801443.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/flora-thompson-17380_discontented_brains-were-no-good-to-a-working-man-the_2801443.png) > ““Brains were no good to a working man; they only made him discontented and saucy and lose his jobs. She'd seen it happen again and again.”” [Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intellectual pursuits can alienate working-class men, causing discontent and job loss. **In simple terms:** Thinking too much can cause trouble for laborers. Key Takeaway Balance intellect with practical needs. Themes class education employment discontent Mood reflective serious Type social philosophical When to use this quote - job interviews - career counseling - community workshops Key Concepts social mobility psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can education empower without alienating? - What supports help bridge this gap? A Different Perspective Intellect alone doesn't guarantee stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discontented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discontented/) [Discontented Saucy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discontented-saucy-3453109/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Lose Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose-jobs-525234/) [Man Discontented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-discontented-3453110/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Saucy Lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saucy-lose-3453111/) [Working man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-man/) ## Related quotes > [It is not being out at heels that makes a man discontented, it is being out at heart. To be contented is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/it-is-not-being-out-at-heels-that-makes-a-man-discontented-it-is/) [Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/) > [“When a man is discontented with himself, it has one advantage however, that it puts him into an excellent frame of mind for making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-sterne/when-a-man-is-discontented-with-himself-it-has-one-advantage-however/) [Lawrence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-sterne/) > [When a man is discontented with himself, it has one advantage - that it puts him into an excellent frame of mind for making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/when-a-man-is-discontented-with-himself-it-has-one-advantage-that-it/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [We're not going to let our companies be raided by other countries where we lose all our jobs, we don't make our product anymore.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-re-not-going-to-let-our-companies-be-raided-by-other-countries/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I see that very clearly in my own state of Maine, where there are people who have been affected by mill closures, some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/i-see-that-very-clearly-in-my-own-state-of-maine-where-there-are/) [Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/) > [People lose jobs when guys come up to the big leagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-lindor/people-lose-jobs-when-guys-come-up-to-the-big-leagues/) [Francisco Lindor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-lindor/) > [Without in any way minimising the economic and psychological blow that people experience when they lose their jobs, the unemployed in affluent countries still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/without-in-any-way-minimising-the-economic-and-psychological-blow/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“Seventy, that’s right, 70 percent of people lose their jobs because they don’t fit into the work environment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-j-daly-jr/seventy-that-s-right-70-percent-of-people-lose-their-jobs-because/) [John J. Daly Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-j-daly-jr/) > [For every three machines, you lose two jobs out of the surrounding economy because people are dumping their money on gambling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warren-kindt/for-every-three-machines-you-lose-two-jobs-out-of-the-surrounding/) [John Warren Kindt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warren-kindt/) > [Actors can lose their jobs easily, so we need a back-up plan, an alternate business to fall back on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiten-tejwani/actors-can-lose-their-jobs-easily-so-we-need-a-back-up-plan-an/) [Hiten Tejwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiten-tejwani/) > [Every month that we do not have an economic recovery package 500 million Americans lose their jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/every-month-that-we-do-not-have-an-economic-recovery-package-500/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [I watched both of my parents lose their jobs. I was like, 'Why am I paying all this money to be in school, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-povitsky/i-watched-both-of-my-parents-lose-their-jobs-i-was-like-why-am-i/) [Esther Povitsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-povitsky/) > [Of all the thankless jobs that economists set for themselves when it comes to educating people about economics, the notion that society is better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-c-prescott/of-all-the-thankless-jobs-that-economists-set-for-themselves-when-it/) [Edward C. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-c-prescott/) > [Whenever a coach is let go in-season, the players are left with the pressure to perform. Fail and they may lose their jobs, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-bettis/whenever-a-coach-is-let-go-in-season-the-players-are-left-with-the/) [Jerome Bettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-bettis/) > [If we went back to the imprisonment rate we had in the early '70s, something like four out of five people employed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-jarecki/if-we-went-back-to-the-imprisonment-rate-we-had-in-the-early-70s/) [Eugene Jarecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-jarecki/) ## More by Flora Thompson > [“When I am dead and in my head And all my bones are are rotten, Take this book and think of me And mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-thompson/when-i-am-dead-and-in-my-head-and-all-my-bones-are-are-rotten-take/) [Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) > [Special qualities are required of the essayist. A poem or a novel may spring from the inner consciousness of an author. Reasoning poers must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-thompson/special-qualities-are-required-of-the-essayist-a-poem-or-a-novel-may/) [Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) > [Any artwork needs time and patience and needs above a quiet mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-thompson/any-artwork-needs-time-and-patience-and-needs-above-a-quiet-mind/) [Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) > [Other days, other ways; and, although they have now been greatly improved upon, the old country midwives did at least succeed in bringing into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-thompson/other-days-other-ways-and-although-they-have-now-been-greatly/) [Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) > [I do not compare the past with the present without a prejudice for either, but, great as the improvement in country life is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-thompson/i-do-not-compare-the-past-with-the-present-without-a-prejudice-for/) [Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) > [No age can have everthing and in material ways ours is more fortunate than any preceding one. Our ancestors appear to have mastered the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-thompson/no-age-can-have-everthing-and-in-material-ways-ours-is-more-fortunate/) [Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) > [We cannot bring the good old days back but, if we must eat mass-made foods, get laws passed to insist upon its goodness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-thompson/we-cannot-bring-the-good-old-days-back-but-if-we-must-eat-mass-made/) [Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) > [What greater restoratives have we poor mortals than a good meal taken in the company of loving friends?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-thompson/what-greater-restoratives-have-we-poor-mortals-than-a-good-meal-taken/) [Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) > [So quiet and subtle is the beauty of December that escapes the notice of many people their whole lives through. Colour gives way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-thompson/so-quiet-and-subtle-is-the-beauty-of-december-that-escapes-the-notice/) [Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) > [“No, I be-ant expectin' nothin', but I be so yarnin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-thompson/no-i-be-ant-expectin-nothin-but-i-be-so-yarnin/) [Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) > [Now, with the glamour of the past upon them we are inclined to look back on old world festivities with regret and consider present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-thompson/now-with-the-glamour-of-the-past-upon-them-we-are-inclined-to-look/) [Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) > [Strict honesty was the policy of most of them; although there were a few who were said to 'find anything before 'tis lost' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-thompson/strict-honesty-was-the-policy-of-most-of-them-although-there-were-a/) [Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) > [The harvest-home or supper is a thing of the past. To those who feel the fascination of the past this may appear sad, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-thompson/the-harvest-home-or-supper-is-a-thing-of-the-past-to-those-who-feel/) [Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) > [Alas! in nature, as in art, we gain only according to our capacity. You cannot put an ocean in a pint pot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-thompson/alas-in-nature-as-in-art-we-gain-only-according-to-our-capacity-you/) [Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) > [It is the fashion to talk of our changing climate and bewail the hot summers and hard winters of tradition, but how seldom we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-thompson/it-is-the-fashion-to-talk-of-our-changing-climate-and-bewail-the-hot/) [Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) [Explore all 37 Flora Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) ## More Discontented quotes > [Every time I bestow a vacant office I make a hundred discontented persons and one ingrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-xiv/every-time-i-bestow-a-vacant-office-i-make-a-hundred-discontented/) [Louis XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-xiv/) > [“Such was the way of the discontented. No proof, no explanation or reason would ever be enough to disabuse them of tightly held, deeply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-golden/such-was-the-way-of-the-discontented-no-proof-no-explanation-or/) [Christie Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-golden/) > [I am discontented because I have not these things which God never yet promised me, and therefore I sin much against the Gospel, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah-burroughs/i-am-discontented-because-i-have-not-these-things-which-god-never-yet/) [Jeremiah Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremiah-burroughs/) > [We are never more discontented with others than when we are discontented with ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/we-are-never-more-discontented-with-others-than-when-we-are/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [“I believed in the existence of other and more vivid kinds of goodness, and what I believed in I wished to behold. Who blames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-believed-in-the-existence-of-other-and-more-vivid-kinds-of-goodness/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [No disaster is worse than being discontented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/no-disaster-is-worse-than-being-discontented/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The discontented man finds no easy chair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-discontented-man-finds-no-easy-chair/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Of course advertising creates wants. Of course it makes people discontented, dissatisfied. Satisfaction with things as they are would defeat the American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-fitz-gibbon/of-course-advertising-creates-wants-of-course-it-makes-people/) [Bernice Fitz-Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-fitz-gibbon/) > [“When a man is discontented with himself, it has one advantage however, that it puts him into an excellent frame of mind for making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-sterne/when-a-man-is-discontented-with-himself-it-has-one-advantage-however/) [Lawrence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-sterne/) > [“no calamity greater than to be discontented with one's lot;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/no-calamity-greater-than-to-be-discontented-with-one-s-lot/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [I never saw a discontented tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/i-never-saw-a-discontented-tree/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [“You might as well tell me there was nobody but Adam in the garden when Eve picked the apple. You say your wife was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/you-might-as-well-tell-me-there-was-nobody-but-adam-in-the-garden/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“I do not like to sound discontented neither,' said Pullings, 'nor to crab any ship I belong to; but between you and me, Doctor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/i-do-not-like-to-sound-discontented-neither-said-pullings-nor-to-crab/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [By being discontented, the spirit searches for ways to improve its condition and for a better channel for expressing itself. This sense of discontent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chin-ning-chu/by-being-discontented-the-spirit-searches-for-ways-to-improve-its/) [Chin-Ning Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chin-ning-chu/) > [What makes us discontented with ourselves is our absurdly exaggerated idea we have of the happiness of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrthrill/what-makes-us-discontented-with-ourselves-is-our-absurdly-exaggerated/) [Mrthrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrthrill/) [Browse all 47 Discontented quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discontented/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Brains were no good to a working man; they only made him discontented and saucy and lose his jobs. 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