--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was the pursuit of knowledge under…" description: "\"“It was the pursuit of knowledge under difficulties, and I look back to it now, after so many years, with some complacency and a little wonder that I c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9a/frederick-douglass-859_daily-bread_it-was-the-pursuit-of-knowledge-under-di_1115784.jpg" --- # It was the pursuit of knowledge under difficulties, and I… ![“It was the pursuit of knowledge under difficulties, and I look back to it now, after so many years, with some complacency and a little wonder that I could have been so earnest and persevering in any pursuit other than for my daily bread. I certainly saw nothing in the conduct of those around to…” quote by Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9a/frederick-douglass-859_daily-bread_it-was-the-pursuit-of-knowledge-under-di_1115784.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9a/frederick-douglass-859_daily-bread_it-was-the-pursuit-of-knowledge-under-di_1115784.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9a/frederick-douglass-859_daily-bread_it-was-the-pursuit-of-knowledge-under-di_1115784.jpg) > ““It was the pursuit of knowledge under difficulties, and I look back to it now, after so many years, with some complacency and a little wonder that I could have been so earnest and persevering in any pursuit other than for my daily bread. I certainly saw nothing in the conduct of those around to inspire me with such interest: they were all devoted exclusively to what their hands found to do.”” [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on his relentless pursuit of knowledge despite hardship, noting his own earnestness contrasted with others' focus on mere survival. **In simple terms:** He valued learning over daily work, unlike those around him. Key Takeaway Prioritize learning even when life is tough. Themes education perseverance self‑reflection Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - college studies - career change - personal development - overcoming adversity Key Concepts self‑discipline intrinsic motivation social comparison Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to learn despite obstacles? - How do you balance survival needs with intellectual growth? A Different Perspective His view may romanticize struggle, ignoring systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Daily bread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daily-bread/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Pursuit of knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit-of-knowledge/) ## Related quotes > [“We have all met a class of men, very remarkable for their activity, and who yet make but little headway in life; men who,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/we-have-all-met-a-class-of-men-very-remarkable-for-their-activity-and/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [He was one of those earnest, persevering dancers--the kind that have taken twelve correspondence lessons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-was-one-of-those-earnest-persevering-dancers-the-kind-that-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Is science the disinterested pursuit of knowledge which the world may apply if it will? Or is it an activity always dependent upon economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-innes/is-science-the-disinterested-pursuit-of-knowledge-which-the-world-may/) Michael Innes > [Pursuit of knowledge under difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-brougham-1st-baron-brougham-and-vaux/pursuit-of-knowledge-under-difficulties/) [Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-brougham-1st-baron-brougham-and-vaux/) > [If men must die, why not in honorable pursuit of knowledge? Far be it that our ideas of manhood should be dwarfed to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-melville/if-men-must-die-why-not-in-honorable-pursuit-of-knowledge-far-be-it/) George W. Melville > [“..the pursuit of knowledge is never for naught. Each line drawn on a map gets us closer to understanding the world and our place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rollins/the-pursuit-of-knowledge-is-never-for-naught-each-line-drawn-on-a-map/) [James Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rollins/) > [What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/what-we-want-is-to-see-the-child-in-pursuit-of-knowledge-and-not/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“However high we climb in the pursuit of knowledge we shall still see heights above us, and the more we extend our view, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-george-armstrong/however-high-we-climb-in-the-pursuit-of-knowledge-we-shall-still-see/) William George Armstrong > [“The pursuit of knowledge and truth is one way we can demonstrate our love for God. 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The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-immersed-himself-in-anthropology-history-philosophy-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the search for truth is confused with political advocacy, the pursuit of knowledge is reduced to the quest for power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alston-chase/when-the-search-for-truth-is-confused-with-political-advocacy-the/) Alston Chase > [The pursuit of knowledge is but a course between two ignorances, as human life is itself only a wayfaring from grave to grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-william-hamilton-9th-baronet/the-pursuit-of-knowledge-is-but-a-course-between-two-ignorances-as/) [Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-william-hamilton-9th-baronet/) > [“But as Alston Chase put it, “when the search for truth is confused with political advocacy, the pursuit of knowledge is reduced to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/but-as-alston-chase-put-it-when-the-search-for-truth-is-confused-with/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [“When the warrior fails in any one particular pursuit of knowledge he is not defeated, because in walking the path of knowledge we fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-un-mares/when-the-warrior-fails-in-any-one-particular-pursuit-of-knowledge-he/) [Théun Mares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-un-mares/) ## More by Frederick Douglass > [“A treacherous President stood in the way; and it can be easily seen how reluctant good men might be to admit an apostasy which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/a-treacherous-president-stood-in-the-way-and-it-can-be-easily-seen/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“But I should be false in the earliest sentiments of my soul, if I suppressed the opinion. I prefer to be true to myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/but-i-should-be-false-in-the-earliest-sentiments-of-my-soul-if-i/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [A man who will enslave his own blood, may not be safely relied on for magnamity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/a-man-who-will-enslave-his-own-blood-may-not-be-safely-relied-on-for/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I assert most unhesitatingly, that the religion of the south is a mere covering for the most horrid crimes, - a justifier of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-assert-most-unhesitatingly-that-the-religion-of-the-south-is-a-mere/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I assert most unhesitatingly, that the religion of the South is a mere covering for the most horrid crimes—a justifier of the most appalling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-assert-most-unhesitatingly-that-the-religion-of-the-south-is-a-mere-2/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/the-limits-of-tyrants-are-prescribed-by-the-endurance-of-those-whom/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Power concedes nothing without a demand. 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That cheerful eye, under the influence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/the-fatal-poison-of-irresponsible-power-was-already-in-her-hands-and/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [A battle lost or won is easily described, understood, and appreciated, but the moral growth of a great nation requires reflection, as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/a-battle-lost-or-won-is-easily-described-understood-and-appreciated/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/knowledge-makes-a-man-unfit-to-be-a-slave/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I was broken in body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-was-broken-in-body-soul-and-spirit-my-natural-elasticity-was/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, that whenever my condition was improved, instead of increasing my contentment; it only increased my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my-2/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/at-a-time-like-this-scorching-irony-not-convincing-argument-is-needed/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) [Explore all 348 Frederick Douglass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) ## More Daily bread quotes > [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. 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