--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Spartan Up! Life Lesson No. 3: Always…" description: "\"“Spartan Up! Life Lesson No. 3: Always Remember Those Who Serve In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a ten-year-old boy entered a hot..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/joe-de-sena-33290_coffee-shop_spartan-up-life-lesson-no-3-always-remem_1491532.jpg" --- # Spartan Up! Life Lesson No. 3: Always Remember Those Who… ![“Spartan Up! Life Lesson No. 3: Always Remember Those Who Serve In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a ten-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. “How much is an ice cream sundae?” the boy asked. “Fifty cents,”…” quote by Joe De Sena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/joe-de-sena-33290_coffee-shop_spartan-up-life-lesson-no-3-always-remem_1491532.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/joe-de-sena-33290_coffee-shop_spartan-up-life-lesson-no-3-always-remem_1491532.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/joe-de-sena-33290_coffee-shop_spartan-up-life-lesson-no-3-always-remem_1491532.jpg) > ““Spartan Up! Life Lesson No. 3: Always Remember Those Who Serve   In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a ten-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. “How much is an ice cream sundae?” the boy asked. “Fifty cents,” replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in his palm. “Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?” he inquired. By now, more people were waiting for a table, and the waitress was growing impatient. “Thirty-five cents,” she replied brusquely. The little boy again counted his coins. ”I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table, and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier, and left. When the waitress came back to wipe down the table, there, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn’t have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip. —Author Unknown”” [Joe De Sena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-de-sena/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A boy ensures he leaves a tip by choosing a cheaper option, showing respect for service workers even when resources are limited. **In simple terms:** He picks a cheaper treat to afford a tip, respecting the waitress. Key Takeaway Consider others' needs before your own desires. Themes respect gratitude service mindfulness Mood thoughtful considerate Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - dining out - budgeting - customer service - personal finance - teaching children Key Concepts economics social etiquette empathy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal budget with generosity? - What small acts of respect can you practice daily? A Different Perspective Only works when you can afford the tip; may not apply in cash‑less contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coffee shop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee-shop/) [Couldn Sundae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couldn-sundae-5451859/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Ice cream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ice-cream/) [Ice cream sundae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ice-cream-sundae/) [Lesson Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesson-remember-377269/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Little Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-boy/) [Remember Serve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-serve-1519764/) [Sundae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sundae/) [Sundae Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sundae-cost-5451858/) ## Related quotes > [Every two months, I allow myself a splurge day where I eat thick, doughy pizza from Pizzeria Uno or an ice cream sundae from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-lauren/every-two-months-i-allow-myself-a-splurge-day-where-i-eat-thick/) [Dylan Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-lauren/) > [You have an Ice Cream Sundae, put the whipped cream on - that's what managers do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-albano/you-have-an-ice-cream-sundae-put-the-whipped-cream-on-that-s-what/) [Lou Albano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-albano/) > [“He's created a freaking ice cream sundae with extra-hot fudge just by uttering my name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shanora-williams/he-s-created-a-freaking-ice-cream-sundae-with-extra-hot-fudge-just-by/) [Shanora Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shanora-williams/) > [I guess ... 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A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. “How much is an ice cream sundae?” the boy asked. “Fifty cents,” replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in his palm. “Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?” he inquired. By now, more people were waiting for a table, and the waitress was growing impatient. “Thirty-five cents,” she replied brusquely. The little boy again counted his coins. ”I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table, and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier, and left. When the waitress came back to wipe down the table, there, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. 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