--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One day Samuel strained his back lifting…" description: "\"“One day Samuel strained his back lifting a bale of hay, and it hurt his feelings more than his back, for he could not imagine a life in which Sam Hami..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcb/john-steinbeck-71_life_one-day-samuel-strained-his-back-lifting_1610811.jpg" --- # One day Samuel strained his back lifting a bale of hay… ![“One day Samuel strained his back lifting a bale of hay, and it hurt his feelings more than his back, for he could not imagine a life in which Sam Hamilton was not privileged to lift a bale of hay. He felt insulted by his back, almost as he would have been if one of his children had been dishonest” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcb/john-steinbeck-71_life_one-day-samuel-strained-his-back-lifting_1610811.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcb/john-steinbeck-71_life_one-day-samuel-strained-his-back-lifting_1610811.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcb/john-steinbeck-71_life_one-day-samuel-strained-his-back-lifting_1610811.jpg) > ““One day Samuel strained his back lifting a bale of hay, and it hurt his feelings more than his back, for he could not imagine a life in which Sam Hamilton was not privileged to lift a bale of hay. He felt insulted by his back, almost as he would have been if one of his children had been dishonest”” [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A man's identity and pride are tied to his work; losing the ability to perform it feels like a personal betrayal. **In simple terms:** Work defines self‑worth; loss feels like insult. Key Takeaway Find purpose beyond a single role. Themes identity pride work loss resilience Mood reflective somber determined Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - farm labor - injury recovery - career transition - mental health - family dynamics Key Concepts existentialism masculine identity psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does your job shape your self‑esteem? - What can you do when you can’t work as before? A Different Perspective Physical injury may not be the only source of emotional pain; deeper insecurities can surface. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Felt Insulted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-insulted-426596/) [Hay Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hay-felt-6142380/) [Hay Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hay-hurt-6142379/) [Hurt feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-feelings/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Samuel Strained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/samuel-strained-6142378/) ## Related quotes > [If you felt insulted by someone, it might have been actually you've did something that's worth of implying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeres/if-you-felt-insulted-by-someone-it-might-have-been-actually-you-ve/) [Aeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeres/) > [“The object of love should feel honoured or flattered, responsible in some way. Instead he felt insulted, degraded and revolted. More than that, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/the-object-of-love-should-feel-honoured-or-flattered-responsible-in/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [There's not a thing that any of you guys can say bad about me that would hurt my feelings... I'm not coming at you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-carter/there-s-not-a-thing-that-any-of-you-guys-can-say-bad-about-me-that/) [Vince Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-carter/) > [Im gonna smile like nothings wrong Talk like everythings perfect Act like its just a dream And pretend like hes not hurting me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-gonna-smile-like-nothings-wrong-talk-like-everythings-perfect-act/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know I lost him. I know I lost our love. It hurts inside, but I am truly glad I had something that provokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-i-lost-him-i-know-i-lost-our-love-it-hurts-inside-but-i-am/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You hurt me once..SHAME ON YOU¦you hurt me twice¦SHAME ON ME!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-hurt-me-once-shame-on-you-you-hurt-me-twice-shame-on-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Too many lessons and not enough blessings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-pyatetsky/too-many-lessons-and-not-enough-blessings/) [Gregory Pyatetsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-pyatetsky/) > [I dont feel right when youre gone away. 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But to take you away from the wrong man who you thought was the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/break-up-was-not-made-for-you-to-cry-but-to-take-you-away-from-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You took my happiness with you and left this horrible sadness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-took-my-happiness-with-you-and-left-this-horrible-sadness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you are not there in my life its like: Shoes without shoe laces A letter without a stamp A flower with no roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-are-not-there-in-my-life-its-like-shoes-without-shoe-laces-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I guess I was so blinded by who I wanted you to be, that I didn't see who you really were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-copeland/i-guess-i-was-so-blinded-by-who-i-wanted-you-to-be-that-i-didn-t-see/) [Rachel Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-copeland/) ## More by John Steinbeck > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Prayer never brought in no side-meat. Takes a shoat to bring in pork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/prayer-never-brought-in-no-side-meat-takes-a-shoat-to-bring-in-pork/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“And now submarines are armed with mass murder, our silly, only way of deterring mass murder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/and-now-submarines-are-armed-with-mass-murder-our-silly-only-way-of/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“I’d think there are degrees of greatness,” Adam said. “I don’t think so,” said Samuel. “That would be like saying there is a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-d-think-there-are-degrees-of-greatness-adam-said-i-don-t-think-so/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“He was forever inventing a new way of doing an old thing and doing it better and quicker, but he never in his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/he-was-forever-inventing-a-new-way-of-doing-an-old-thing-and-doing-it/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“You come back a changed man. 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Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“Who in his mind has not probe the dark water?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/who-in-his-mind-has-not-probe-the-dark-water/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Sometimes, a lie is told in kindness. I don't believe it ever works kindly. The quick pain of truth can pass away, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/sometimes-a-lie-is-told-in-kindness-i-don-t-believe-it-ever-works/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [People like you to be something, preferably what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/people-like-you-to-be-something-preferably-what-they-are/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“Suddenly he knew joy and sorrow felted into one fabric. Courage and fear were one thing too. He found that he had started to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/suddenly-he-knew-joy-and-sorrow-felted-into-one-fabric-courage-and/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I am writing this from what we Americans call Yurrp. In Yurrp writers are taken as seriously as Lana Turner's legs are in America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-am-writing-this-from-what-we-americans-call-yurrp-in-yurrp-writers/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I write because I like to write. I find joy in the texture and tone and rhythm of words. It is a satisfaction like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-write-because-i-like-to-write-i-find-joy-in-the-texture-and-tone/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) [Explore all 1,589 John Steinbeck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) ## More Hurt feelings quotes > [I guess I was so blinded by who I wanted you to be, that I didn't see who you really were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-copeland/i-guess-i-was-so-blinded-by-who-i-wanted-you-to-be-that-i-didn-t-see/) [Rachel Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-copeland/) > [When you are not there in my life its like: Shoes without shoe laces A letter without a stamp A flower with no roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-are-not-there-in-my-life-its-like-shoes-without-shoe-laces-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You took my happiness with you and left this horrible sadness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-took-my-happiness-with-you-and-left-this-horrible-sadness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Break up was not made for you to cry.. But to take you away from the wrong man who you thought was the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/break-up-was-not-made-for-you-to-cry-but-to-take-you-away-from-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im afraid of being forgotten. Because, it seems everyone I get close to, ends up forgetting me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arcine-arciniegas/im-afraid-of-being-forgotten-because-it-seems-everyone-i-get-close-to/) [Arcine Arciniegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arcine-arciniegas/) > [Love is what breaks someone. Love is what makes someone. Love gives heartbreaks. Love heals heartbreaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b00yah/love-is-what-breaks-someone-love-is-what-makes-someone-love-gives/) [B00yah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b00yah/) > [There are things in life you cannot choose: how you feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paritoshik-sharma/there-are-things-in-life-you-cannot-choose-how-you-feel/) [Paritoshik Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paritoshik-sharma/) > [I dont feel right when youre gone away. We must have had something real strong, Im tossing and turning all night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-dont-feel-right-when-youre-gone-away-we-must-have-had-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Too many lessons and not enough blessings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-pyatetsky/too-many-lessons-and-not-enough-blessings/) [Gregory Pyatetsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-pyatetsky/) > [You hurt me once..SHAME ON YOU¦you hurt me twice¦SHAME ON ME!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-hurt-me-once-shame-on-you-you-hurt-me-twice-shame-on-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know I lost him. I know I lost our love. It hurts inside, but I am truly glad I had something that provokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-i-lost-him-i-know-i-lost-our-love-it-hurts-inside-but-i-am/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im gonna smile like nothings wrong Talk like everythings perfect Act like its just a dream And pretend like hes not hurting me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-gonna-smile-like-nothings-wrong-talk-like-everythings-perfect-act/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's not a thing that any of you guys can say bad about me that would hurt my feelings... 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Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) [Browse all 1,418 Hurt feelings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-feelings/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“One day Samuel strained his back lifting a bale of hay, and it hurt his feelings more than his back, for he could not imagine a life in which Sam Hamilton was not privileged to lift a bale of hay. 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