--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He slid back again into his earlier…" description: "\"“He slid back again into his earlier position. \"This getting up early,\" he thought, \"makes a man quite idiotic. A man must have his sleep. Other travel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d2/franz-kafka-214_big-break_he-slid-back-again-into-his-earlier-posi_2577828.jpg" --- # He slid back again into his earlier position. "This… ![“He slid back again into his earlier position. "This getting up early," he thought, "makes a man quite idiotic. A man must have his sleep. Other travelling salesmen live like harem women. For instance, when I come back to the inn during the course of the morning to write up the necessary orders…” quote by Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d2/franz-kafka-214_big-break_he-slid-back-again-into-his-earlier-posi_2577828.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d2/franz-kafka-214_big-break_he-slid-back-again-into-his-earlier-posi_2577828.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d2/franz-kafka-214_big-break_he-slid-back-again-into-his-earlier-posi_2577828.jpg) > ““He slid back again into his earlier position. "This getting up early," he thought, "makes a man quite idiotic. A man must have his sleep. Other travelling salesmen live like harem women. For instance, when I come back to the inn during the course of the morning to write up the necessary orders, these gentlemen are just sitting down to breakfast. If I were to try that with my boss, I'd be thrown out on the spot. Still, who knows whether that mightn't be really good for me? If I didn't hold back for my parents' sake, I'd have quit ages ago. I would've gone to the boss and told him just what I think from the bottom of my heart. He would've fallen right off his desk! How weird it is to sit up at that desk and talk down to the employee from way up there. The boss has trouble hearing, so the employee has to step up quite close to him. Anyway, I haven't completely given up that hope yet. Once I've got together the money to pay off my parents' debt to him—that should take another five or six years—I'll do it for sure. Then I'll make the big break. In any case, right now I have to get up. My train leaves at five o'clock”” [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator struggles with early mornings, feeling foolish, yet hopes to repay debts and achieve a breakthrough, despite societal pressures. **In simple terms:** Early mornings feel hard but may lead to success. Key Takeaway Embrace discipline despite discomfort. Themes work society ambition sleep Mood melancholic determined Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - corporate jobs - student life - family obligations Key Concepts Existential dread social hierarchy personal sacrifice Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to wake early? - Can you find healthier routines? A Different Perspective Early rising may harm health if unsustainable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big break](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-break/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [If I didn't have my parents to think about I'd have given in my notice a long time ago, I'd have gone up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/if-i-didn-t-have-my-parents-to-think-about-i-d-have-given-in-my/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [My first job was being a page at 'The Tonight Show.' I saw Jack Paar come out one night and sit on the edge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regis-philbin/my-first-job-was-being-a-page-at-the-tonight-show-i-saw-jack-paar/) [Regis Philbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regis-philbin/) > [Travelling childhoods are a common theme among actors. Army kids, embassy kids, travelling salesmen, clergy. Thing is, you learn about behaviour, that different places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/travelling-childhoods-are-a-common-theme-among-actors-army-kids/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [“I got tapped for the job position. As soon as I felt it on my shoulder, I turned around and my boss told me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-got-tapped-for-the-job-position-as-soon-as-i-felt-it-on-my-shoulder/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Last week my boss told me to rewrite a twenty-page proposal on engagement benchmarking. I turned it in and he wrote a note on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-lawson/last-week-my-boss-told-me-to-rewrite-a-twenty-page-proposal-on/) [Jenny Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-lawson/) > [My boss told me to get my butt in gear. I told him I was shiftless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-london/my-boss-told-me-to-get-my-butt-in-gear-i-told-him-i-was-shiftless/) [Jay London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-london/) > [My boss told me that I need to attend anger management classes, I told him I'm already angry at management, I don't need a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/my-boss-told-me-that-i-need-to-attend-anger-management-classes-i-told/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“You’re not the boss of me,” she told him breathlessly. His chuckle sounded strangled. “Pretend I am for a while.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherry-adair/you-re-not-the-boss-of-me-she-told-him-breathlessly-his-chuckle/) [Cherry Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherry-adair/) > [I'm so programmed to getting up early that I like to make the most of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-stevens/i-m-so-programmed-to-getting-up-early-that-i-like-to-make-the-most-of/) [Rachel Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-stevens/) > [I like to think I'm a night person, because that's my job, but now I'm a father of three. I'm trying to become more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/i-like-to-think-i-m-a-night-person-because-that-s-my-job-but-now-i-m/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [“Getting up too early is a vice habitual in horned owls, stars, geese, and freight trains. Some hunters acquire it from geese, and some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/getting-up-too-early-is-a-vice-habitual-in-horned-owls-stars-geese/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [I have tried getting up early, and I have tried getting up late-and the latter agrees with me best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-tried-getting-up-early-and-i-have-tried-getting-up-late-and/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“By just getting up early and planning our day, we can manage every area of our lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prashanth-savanur/by-just-getting-up-early-and-planning-our-day-we-can-manage-every/) Prashanth Savanur > [I come from an army background, and everyone at my home has a habit of getting up early. I continue this habit even today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esha-gupta/i-come-from-an-army-background-and-everyone-at-my-home-has-a-habit-of/) [Esha Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esha-gupta/) > [The tour life definitely puts strains on your body, not just because of the dancing but because of the fact that you are traveling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shum-jr/the-tour-life-definitely-puts-strains-on-your-body-not-just-because/) [Harry Shum, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shum-jr/) ## More by Franz Kafka > [ “The tremendous world I have inside my head. But how \[to\] free myself and free it without being torn to pieces. And a thousand… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/the-tremendous-world-i-have-inside-my-head-but-how-to-free-myself-and/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [What I write is different from what I say, what I say is different from what I think, what I think is different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/what-i-write-is-different-from-what-i-say-what-i-say-is-different/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [“A fine setting for a fit of despair,” it occurred to him, “if I were only standing here by accident instead of design.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-fine-setting-for-a-fit-of-despair-it-occurred-to-him-if-i-were-only/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [“Ali svi se slažu u tome da se ne podižu lakomislene optužbe i da se sud, kad jedanput nekog optuži i kad je uvjeren…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/ali-svi-se-sla-u-u-tome-da-se-ne-podi-u-lakomislene-optu-be-i-da-se/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [My job is unbearable to me because it conflicts with my only desire and my only calling, which is literature. Since I am nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/my-job-is-unbearable-to-me-because-it-conflicts-with-my-only-desire/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Faith, like a guillotine. As heavy, as light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/faith-like-a-guillotine-as-heavy-as-light/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [You need not even listen, just wait...the world will offer itself freely to you, unmasking itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/you-need-not-even-listen-just-wait-the-world-will-offer-itself-freely/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [“I will cross hundreds of seas and oceans without sinking to reach you, see your eyes and sink completely into their depths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/i-will-cross-hundreds-of-seas-and-oceans-without-sinking-to-reach-you/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [I have no memory for things I have learned, nor things I have read, nor things experienced or heard, neither for people nor events;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/i-have-no-memory-for-things-i-have-learned-nor-things-i-have-read-nor/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [“This sounds crazy, but it is so. Nor is it perhaps really love when I say that for me you are the most beloved;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/this-sounds-crazy-but-it-is-so-nor-is-it-perhaps-really-love-when-i/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [The more horses you yoke the quicker everything will go - not the rending of the block from its foundation, which is impossible, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/the-more-horses-you-yoke-the-quicker-everything-will-go-not-the/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Martyrs do not underrate the body, they allow it to be elevated on the cross. In this they are at one with their antagonists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/martyrs-do-not-underrate-the-body-they-allow-it-to-be-elevated-on-the/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [The true way goes over a line that, rather than spanning heights, is hardly above the ground. It appears more decidedly to make one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/the-true-way-goes-over-a-line-that-rather-than-spanning-heights-is/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Every new discovery is assumed at once into the sum total of knowledge, and with that ceases in a sense to be a discovery;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/every-new-discovery-is-assumed-at-once-into-the-sum-total-of/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [“Sou de pedra. Sou a minha própria pedra tumular, sem nenhum interstício para a dúvida ou para a fé, para o amor ou para…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/sou-de-pedra-sou-a-minha-pr-pria-pedra-tumular-sem-nenhum-interst-cio/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) [Explore all 741 Franz Kafka quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) ## More Big break quotes > [“You think I’m sixteen, so I don’t know what love is, right?” She shakes her head, sad smile on again. “Sometimes I wonder if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swati-avasthi/you-think-i-m-sixteen-so-i-don-t-know-what-love-is-right-she-shakes/) [Swati Avasthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swati-avasthi/) > [I got my big break in the semi-final as a young kid against Real Madrid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-hargreaves/i-got-my-big-break-in-the-semi-final-as-a-young-kid-against-real/) [Owen Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-hargreaves/) > [My big break down here was working with Steven Spielberg in '1941.' It was a very small role, as Corporal Foley, who was part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-candy/my-big-break-down-here-was-working-with-steven-spielberg-in-1941-it/) [John Candy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-candy/) > [ Innovation is not a big breakthrough invention every time. Innovation is a constant thing. But if you don't have an innovative company \[team\], coming… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/innovation-is-not-a-big-breakthrough-invention-every-time-innovation/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [I never had a single big break - because few do online.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-higa/i-never-had-a-single-big-break-because-few-do-online/) [Ryan Higa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-higa/) > [It might sound cliched, but choosing the right script is crucial. I think 'Badmaash Company' was a very big break for me because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vir-das/it-might-sound-cliched-but-choosing-the-right-script-is-crucial-i/) [Vir Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vir-das/) > [Big breaks come from small fractures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kapelos/big-breaks-come-from-small-fractures/) [John Kapelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kapelos/) > [My big break was back in the third grade playing the third monkey in 'Horton Hears a Who.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-arcelus/my-big-break-was-back-in-the-third-grade-playing-the-third-monkey-in/) [Sebastian Arcelus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-arcelus/) > [Everyone in America (according to my generalizations) is a potential millionaire waiting for his or her big break. I was astonished lately to realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/everyone-in-america-according-to-my-generalizations-is-a-potential/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [“The big break from the past may come when speech recognition software is perfected. At that point we'll be able to write simply by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-maguire/the-big-break-from-the-past-may-come-when-speech-recognition-software/) James Maguire > [“I want a big breakfast," said Fuchsia at last. "I want a lot to eat, I'm going to think today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mervyn-peake/i-want-a-big-breakfast-said-fuchsia-at-last-i-want-a-lot-to-eat-i-m/) [Mervyn Peake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mervyn-peake/) > [I modeled for 4 years before I felt like I had my big break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-heatherton/i-modeled-for-4-years-before-i-felt-like-i-had-my-big-break/) [Erin Heatherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-heatherton/) > [My first big break was with the Ted Fio Rito band. Fio Rito had a bunch of record hits in the 1930s and did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-bellson/my-first-big-break-was-with-the-ted-fio-rito-band-fio-rito-had-a/) Louie Bellson > [I’ve always said to my agents and stuff, like, it’s going to be 10 years before people forget about Twilight, And that’s totally understandable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/i-ve-always-said-to-my-agents-and-stuff-like-it-s-going-to-be-10/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [Big breakthroughs happen when what is suddenly possible meets what is desperately needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/big-breakthroughs-happen-when-what-is-suddenly-possible-meets-what-is/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) [Browse all 154 Big break quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-break/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He slid back again into his earlier position. \"This getting up early,\" he thought, \"makes a man quite idiotic. A man must have his sleep. Other travelling salesmen live like harem women. For instance, when I come back to the inn during the course of the morning to write up the necessary orders, these gentlemen are just sitting down to breakfast. If I were to try that with my boss, I'd be thrown out on the spot. Still, who knows whether that mightn't be really good for me? If I didn't hold back for my parents' sake, I'd have quit ages ago. I would've gone to the boss and told him just what I think from the bottom of my heart. He would've fallen right off his desk! How weird it is to sit up at that desk and talk down to the employee from way up there. The boss has trouble hearing, so the employee has to step up quite close to him. Anyway, I haven't completely given up that hope yet. Once I've got together the money to pay off my parents' debt to him—that should take another five or six years—I'll do it for sure. Then I'll make the big break. In any case, right now I have to get up. 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