---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All work undertaken should be useful…"
description: "\"All work undertaken should be useful - not just for a day, or a year, but useful in the sense that it affords permanent improvement in living condition..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_conditions_all-work-undertaken-should-be-useful-not_3001917.jpg"
---

#  All work undertaken should be useful - not just for a day…

![“All work undertaken should be useful - not just for a day, or a year, but useful in the sense that it affords permanent improvement in living conditions or that it creates future new wealth for the Nation.” quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_conditions_all-work-undertaken-should-be-useful-not_3001917.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_conditions_all-work-undertaken-should-be-useful-not_3001917.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_conditions_all-work-undertaken-should-be-useful-not_3001917.jpg)

> “All work undertaken should be useful - not just for a day, or a year, but useful in the sense that it affords permanent improvement in living conditions or that it creates future new wealth for the Nation.”

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

## About This Quote

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

Work should create lasting improvements, not just short‑term gains, and generate enduring wealth for society

**In simple terms:** Work must be useful and lasting

Key Takeaway

Seek lasting impact in work

Themes

productivity public policy economics legacy nation building

Mood

determined pragmatic inspirational

Type

policy philosophical

When to use this quote

- government planning
- community projects
- long‑term research

Key Concepts

sustainable development social welfare economic growth

Questions to Reflect On

- What defines “permanent improvement”?
- How can we measure lasting wealth?

A Different Perspective

Short‑term results may be overlooked

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[Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/) [Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvement/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-conditions/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Permanent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/permanent/) [Permanent Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/permanent-improvement-4093164/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Undertaken Useful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undertaken-useful-4769946/) [Useful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useful/) [Useful Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useful-sense-4769945/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Year Useful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/year-useful-4769944/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/)

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