--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You were always told that if you worked…" description: "\"You were always told that if you worked hard, you would get somewhere. But so many people feel they have worked hard and they have nothing to show for ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/james-purefoy-8188_always_you-were-always-told-that-if-you-worked_550347.jpg" --- # You were always told that if you worked hard, you would… ![“You were always told that if you worked hard, you would get somewhere. But so many people feel they have worked hard and they have nothing to show for it.” quote by James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/james-purefoy-8188_always_you-were-always-told-that-if-you-worked_550347.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/james-purefoy-8188_always_you-were-always-told-that-if-you-worked_550347.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/james-purefoy-8188_always_you-were-always-told-that-if-you-worked_550347.jpg) > “You were always told that if you worked hard, you would get somewhere. But so many people feel they have worked hard and they have nothing to show for it.” [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work doesn't always guarantee success; systemic barriers and luck also matter. **In simple terms:** Hard work alone may not lead to success. Key Takeaway Recognize external factors and adapt strategies. Themes inequality effort systemic barriers expectations Mood frustrated reflective Type motivational critical When to use this quote - career advancement - education - entrepreneurship - social mobility Key Concepts meritocracy luck structural inequality Questions to Reflect On - What external factors affect your progress? - How can you mitigate systemic obstacles? A Different Perspective Hard work can be insufficient without opportunity or support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Well, I can understand how you feel. You worked hard, studying for the spelling bee, and I suppose you feel you let everyone down,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/well-i-can-understand-how-you-feel-you-worked-hard-studying-for-the/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [I feel that I have worked my whole life to get to the point where I should have a good understanding of women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/i-feel-that-i-have-worked-my-whole-life-to-get-to-the-point-where-i/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [I like a semi-stressful massage - one where I can really feel something being worked out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-weiss/i-like-a-semi-stressful-massage-one-where-i-can-really-feel-something/) [Emily Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-weiss/) > [If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/if-i-can-put-one-touch-of-rosy-sunset-into-the-life-of-any-man-or/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [What I've worked so hard for, people will want to take from me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-taylor/what-i-ve-worked-so-hard-for-people-will-want-to-take-from-me/) [Josh Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-taylor/) > [For me, I've worked hard for people to think I'm funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-cox/for-me-i-ve-worked-hard-for-people-to-think-i-m-funny/) [Nikki Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-cox/) > [I often think that drama helps people feel less lonely about things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/i-often-think-that-drama-helps-people-feel-less-lonely-about-things/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [“Zero is the number people often feel, more so than one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/zero-is-the-number-people-often-feel-more-so-than-one/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [It's hard to get along with people. As much as you try to like them and accept them as individuals, it becomes difficult because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/it-s-hard-to-get-along-with-people-as-much-as-you-try-to-like-them/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [People ask me why I work so hard and why I have this compassion to reach the top and be great. I respond by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/people-ask-me-why-i-work-so-hard-and-why-i-have-this-compassion-to/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [“I don’t think you did anything wrong. It’s just that relationships are hard, and both people have to want them to work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-don-t-think-you-did-anything-wrong-it-s-just-that-relationships-are/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Relationships are bloody hard enough without people prodding them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-flack/relationships-are-bloody-hard-enough-without-people-prodding-them/) [Caroline Flack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-flack/) > [It's hard for some people to let go because the person who makes them sad is also the person that makes them happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/it-s-hard-for-some-people-to-let-go-because-the-person-who-makes-them/) [SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [It's hard to find people, who will love you no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evaan/it-s-hard-to-find-people-who-will-love-you-no-matter-what/) Evaan > [Being positive its hard because there are people in life that are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-positive-its-hard-because-there-are-people-in-life-that-are-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by James Purefoy > [I like television that grabs you by your throat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/i-like-television-that-grabs-you-by-your-throat/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [You need to be disciplined and you need to try to occupy a zone of acting that is always quite scary because you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/you-need-to-be-disciplined-and-you-need-to-try-to-occupy-a-zone-of/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [I often think that drama helps people feel less lonely about things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/i-often-think-that-drama-helps-people-feel-less-lonely-about-things/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [I'd never read a piece of television where it's an hour script and it's perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/i-d-never-read-a-piece-of-television-where-it-s-an-hour-script-and-it/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [I think the business affairs people at the studios get some kind of perverse satisfaction in finding the worst hotels for actors to stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/i-think-the-business-affairs-people-at-the-studios-get-some-kind-of/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [I am not a big fan of what I call 'ambient television,' which just washes through you in a very polite way. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/i-am-not-a-big-fan-of-what-i-call-ambient-television-which-just/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [When you sign up for a show in the United States, it's six or seven years, generally speaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/when-you-sign-up-for-a-show-in-the-united-states-it-s-six-or-seven/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [When you don't take what you have for granted, you constantly try to re-prove yourself to yourself rather than to other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/when-you-don-t-take-what-you-have-for-granted-you-constantly-try-to/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [All cult leaders are very good at supplying people with what they want and are missing in their lives, so they feel loved and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/all-cult-leaders-are-very-good-at-supplying-people-with-what-they/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [When I was growing up, 'Butch and Sundance' was my absolute favorite film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/when-i-was-growing-up-butch-and-sundance-was-my-absolute-favorite-film/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [British actors are pretty good, by and large, at turning on at 'action' and off at 'cut.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/british-actors-are-pretty-good-by-and-large-at-turning-on-at-action/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [You really need to learn how to turn it on for 'action' and off for 'cut.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/you-really-need-to-learn-how-to-turn-it-on-for-action-and-off-for-cut/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [Hospitals are very extreme places - you can be in a maternity room one minute, and by someone's bedside as they're dying the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/hospitals-are-very-extreme-places-you-can-be-in-a-maternity-room-one/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [Joe Carroll had a certain black comedy to him. But I think it's lovely playing a man who, in his heart and soul, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/joe-carroll-had-a-certain-black-comedy-to-him-but-i-think-it-s-lovely/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [I have no problem with television as a genre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/i-have-no-problem-with-television-as-a-genre/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) [Explore all 83 James Purefoy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You were always told that if you worked hard, you would get somewhere. 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