--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I haven't been familiar with hard work…" description: "\"I haven't been familiar with hard work. It was no problem for me. But first I hitchhiked to Pontiac, Mich. and got a job working in Fisher Body making ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/johnny-cash-1517_body_i-haven-t-been-familiar-with-hard-work-i_2971659.jpg" --- # I haven't been familiar with hard work. It was no problem… ![“I haven't been familiar with hard work. It was no problem for me. But first I hitchhiked to Pontiac, Mich. and got a job working in Fisher Body making those 1951 Pontiacs.” quote by Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/johnny-cash-1517_body_i-haven-t-been-familiar-with-hard-work-i_2971659.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/johnny-cash-1517_body_i-haven-t-been-familiar-with-hard-work-i_2971659.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/johnny-cash-1517_body_i-haven-t-been-familiar-with-hard-work-i_2971659.jpg) > “I haven't been familiar with hard work. It was no problem for me. But first I hitchhiked to Pontiac, Mich. and got a job working in Fisher Body making those 1951 Pontiacs.” [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) ## 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 can feel natural when you’re driven by purpose, not obligation. **In simple terms:** Hard work feels easy with purpose. Key Takeaway Find purpose, work willingly. Themes work purpose self‑reliance Mood determined nostalgic Type memoir motivational When to use this quote - starting a new job - learning a trade - building a career - overcoming doubt Key Concepts intrinsic motivation craftsmanship resilience Questions to Reflect On - What purpose fuels your effort? - How do you sustain energy in demanding tasks? A Different Perspective Hard work can become exhausting without balance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Familiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/familiar/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/havens/) [Hitchhiked Pontiac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hitchhiked-pontiac-4578017/) [Job Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job-working-585388/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [No problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-problem/) [Pontiac Mich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pontiac-mich-4578019/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Working Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-fisher-4578018/) [Working it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-it/) ## Related quotes > [The first job I ever had was working for my dad, helping him out with some of his work as a translator - he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omid-djalili/the-first-job-i-ever-had-was-working-for-my-dad-helping-him-out-with/) [Omid Djalili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omid-djalili/) > [“My first ever part-time job was working in a newsagent’s sorting out the pick’n’mix.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-moffatt/my-first-ever-part-time-job-was-working-in-a-newsagent-s-sorting-out/) [Scarlett Moffatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-moffatt/) > [It is not enough to be a hardworking person. Equally important is the job you are working at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-not-enough-to-be-a-hardworking-person-equally-important-is-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The worst job I ever had was working nights in the Chrysler Building. I was part of a team of about five guys, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-hackman/the-worst-job-i-ever-had-was-working-nights-in-the-chrysler-building/) [Gene Hackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-hackman/) > [My full-time job is working in television, which is a very full-time job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/my-full-time-job-is-working-in-television-which-is-a-very-full-time/) [Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/) > [Go get a job. Whether it’s working as a designer or working in a restaurant and then doing your own thing in your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/go-get-a-job-whether-it-s-working-as-a-designer-or-working-in-a/) [Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/) > [My first job was working at Benihana as kitchen help. In college, I was a telemarketer for a company at the same time I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-aoki/my-first-job-was-working-at-benihana-as-kitchen-help-in-college-i-was/) [Steve Aoki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-aoki/) > [Our job is to keep what is working intact and not destroy what we have got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/our-job-is-to-keep-what-is-working-intact-and-not-destroy-what-we/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [The greatest job I ever had was working on my family farm. Each morning my father would come into my bedroom around 4:30 am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armstrong-williams/the-greatest-job-i-ever-had-was-working-on-my-family-farm-each/) [Armstrong Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armstrong-williams/) > [What I try to do is to appreciate every job I have while I'm working on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-baldwin/what-i-try-to-do-is-to-appreciate-every-job-i-have-while-i-m-working/) [Adam Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-baldwin/) > [As an artist, you have the job of working out whatever is given you to work out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/as-an-artist-you-have-the-job-of-working-out-whatever-is-given-you-to/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [Starting a job and working hard is how to be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/starting-a-job-and-working-hard-is-how-to-be-successful/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [“south of Golden Gate Park, and he took a job working for a finance company as a “repo man,” picking the locks of cars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/south-of-golden-gate-park-and-he-took-a-job-working-for-a-finance/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [By doing, you become employable. It doesn't matter what the job is; by working, you learn new things, meet new people and are exposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-reardon/by-doing-you-become-employable-it-doesn-t-matter-what-the-job-is-by/) [Kate Reardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-reardon/) > [I always had to have a day job, working on other people's ranches or construction or whatever. I was making a little bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bingham/i-always-had-to-have-a-day-job-working-on-other-people-s-ranches-or/) [Ryan Bingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bingham/) ## More by Johnny Cash > [I read novels but I also read the Bible. And study it, you know? And the more I learn, the more excited I get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-read-novels-but-i-also-read-the-bible-and-study-it-you-know-and-the/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [You're so heavenly minded, you're no earthly good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/you-re-so-heavenly-minded-you-re-no-earthly-good/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [Of emotions, of love, of breakup, of love and hate and death and dying, mama, apple pie, and the whole thing. It covers a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/of-emotions-of-love-of-breakup-of-love-and-hate-and-death-and-dying/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [Until things are brighter.. I'm the man in black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/until-things-are-brighter-i-m-the-man-in-black/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [I'm thankful for a pair of shoes that feel really good on my feet; I like my shoes. I'm thankful for the birds; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-m-thankful-for-a-pair-of-shoes-that-feel-really-good-on-my-feet-i/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [I knew I wanted to sing when I was a very small boy. When I was probably 4 years old. My mother played a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-knew-i-wanted-to-sing-when-i-was-a-very-small-boy-when-i-was/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [No matter how much you've sinned, no matter how much you've stumbled, no matter how much you fall, no matter how far you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/no-matter-how-much-you-ve-sinned-no-matter-how-much-you-ve-stumbled/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [ I met Sam Phillips when he came in \[studio\] and I said, I'm John Cash. I'm the one who's been calling. And if you'd… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-met-sam-phillips-when-he-came-in-studio-and-i-said-i-m-john-cash-i/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [My mother told me to keep on singing, and that kept me working through the cotton fields. She said God has his hand on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/my-mother-told-me-to-keep-on-singing-and-that-kept-me-working-through/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [I started to write the song. And I was in Gladewater, Texas, one night with Carl Perkins and I said, I've got a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-started-to-write-the-song-and-i-was-in-gladewater-texas-one-night/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [Don't take voice lessons. Do it your way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/don-t-take-voice-lessons-do-it-your-way/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [I expect my life to end pretty soon. You know, I'm 71 years old. I have great faith, though. I have unshakable faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-expect-my-life-to-end-pretty-soon-you-know-i-m-71-years-old-i-have/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [I say I'm not a singer, so that means I can't sing. But - doesn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-say-i-m-not-a-singer-so-that-means-i-can-t-sing-but-doesn-t-it/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [However, neither he nor anyone else could have become the star Elvis was. Ain't nobody like Elvis. Never was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/however-neither-he-nor-anyone-else-could-have-become-the-star-elvis/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [Everybody was wearing rhinestones, all those sparkly clothes, and cowboy boots. I decided to wear a black shirt and pants and see if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/everybody-was-wearing-rhinestones-all-those-sparkly-clothes-and/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) [Explore all 232 Johnny Cash quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) [Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-japa-is-maintained-no-useless-talk-during-work-will-be-possible/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) [Browse all 20,814 Body quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I haven't been familiar with hard work. It was no problem for me. But first I hitchhiked to Pontiac, Mich. and got a job working in Fisher Body making those 1951 Pontiacs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johnny Cash" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-haven-t-been-familiar-with-hard-work-it-was-no-problem-for-me-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Body" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-haven-t-been-familiar-with-hard-work-it-was-no-problem-for-me-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/johnny-cash-1517_body_i-haven-t-been-familiar-with-hard-work-i_2971659.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/johnny-cash-1517_body_i-haven-t-been-familiar-with-hard-work-i_2971659.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/johnny-cash-1517_body_i-haven-t-been-familiar-with-hard-work-i_2971659.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I haven't been familiar with hard work. It was no problem for me. But first I hitchhiked to Pontiac, Mich…” — Johnny Cash", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Johnny Cash", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I haven't been familiar with hard...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-haven-t-been-familiar-with-hard-work-it-was-no-problem-for-me-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-haven-t-been-familiar-with-hard-work-it-was-no-problem-for-me-but/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```