--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: wonder adults were always miserable. A…" description: "\"“wonder adults were always miserable. A paycheck was just a bit of compensation for putting up with bullshit.”\" — Kelly Oxford" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/kelly-oxford-27357_miserable_wonder-adults-were-always-miserable-a-pa_2051692.png" --- # wonder adults were always miserable. A paycheck was just a… ![“wonder adults were always miserable. A paycheck was just a bit of compensation for putting up with bullshit.” quote by Kelly Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/kelly-oxford-27357_miserable_wonder-adults-were-always-miserable-a-pa_2051692.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/kelly-oxford-27357_miserable_wonder-adults-were-always-miserable-a-pa_2051692.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/kelly-oxford-27357_miserable_wonder-adults-were-always-miserable-a-pa_2051692.png) > ““wonder adults were always miserable. A paycheck was just a bit of compensation for putting up with bullshit.”” [Kelly Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oxford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adults often feel trapped in jobs that feel meaningless, viewing pay as mere compensation for hardship. **In simple terms:** Work can feel miserable; pay is just a reward. Key Takeaway Seek purpose beyond paycheck. Themes career fulfillment existential angst economics Mood reflective determined Type career motivational When to use this quote - job searching - career change - entrepreneurship - side hustles Key Concepts meaningful work financial security Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your work bring joy? - How can you align income with purpose? A Different Perspective Financial necessity may limit ability to pursue passion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) ## Related quotes > [I still have my first paycheck. It was just, I think, a dollar or two that I got when I started as a songwriter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-still-have-my-first-paycheck-it-was-just-i-think-a-dollar-or-two/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [I kept thinking there were two kinds of adults: There were...miserable creatures who scoured the earth in search of something to hurt. And then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-kept-thinking-there-were-two-kinds-of-adults-there-were-miserable/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I got my first big paycheck for 'My Best Friend's Wedding.' This was in the days when you actually did get paid to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/i-got-my-first-big-paycheck-for-my-best-friend-s-wedding-this-was-in/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [If there's a steady paycheck in it, I'll believe anything you say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/if-there-s-a-steady-paycheck-in-it-i-ll-believe-anything-you-say/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [Just because one of you earns the paycheck doesn't mean that person should lord over how the money is handled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/just-because-one-of-you-earns-the-paycheck-doesn-t-mean-that-person/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [A job for your family, a paycheck in your mailbox - they're the ultimate proof that your state is doing things right!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/a-job-for-your-family-a-paycheck-in-your-mailbox-they-re-the-ultimate/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [“The company that writes your paycheck every two weeks is not your employer; they are your customer. Adopt this mind-set and everything changes. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lapin/the-company-that-writes-your-paycheck-every-two-weeks-is-not-your/) [Daniel Lapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lapin/) > [If you must have motivation, think of your paycheck on Friday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/if-you-must-have-motivation-think-of-your-paycheck-on-friday/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [I got my first paycheck as a cast member in the Broadway production of 'HAIR' when I was 16 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-sue-robinson/i-got-my-first-paycheck-as-a-cast-member-in-the-broadway-production/) Vicki Sue Robinson > [I'm not looking for a paycheck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-stern/i-m-not-looking-for-a-paycheck/) [Howard Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-stern/) > [“Follow the dreams of others and you will receive a paycheck. Follow your own dreams and you will never check your pay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-lowry/follow-the-dreams-of-others-and-you-will-receive-a-paycheck-follow/) [Vincent Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-lowry/) > [“My paycheck is so small it has an inferiority complex.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-kane/my-paycheck-is-so-small-it-has-an-inferiority-complex/) Mallory Kane > [George Jones, Johnny Paycheck all them dudes they're respected and they were twice as crazy as I'll ever be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/george-jones-johnny-paycheck-all-them-dudes-they-re-respected-and/) [Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/) > [We have held forums here at the White House on workplace flexibility, and the first major bill signed into law by President Obama was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/we-have-held-forums-here-at-the-white-house-on-workplace-flexibility/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [As a prosecutor, I got a paycheck for coming to work every day. I didn't get a promotion when I won, and I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-grace/as-a-prosecutor-i-got-a-paycheck-for-coming-to-work-every-day-i-didn/) [Nancy Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-grace/) ## More by Kelly Oxford > [“Sorry, I thought I was just thinking that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oxford/sorry-i-thought-i-was-just-thinking-that/) [Kelly Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oxford/) > [Women have only had the vote for less than 100 years. Before that, we were wives and essentially kind of property. We grew up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oxford/women-have-only-had-the-vote-for-less-than-100-years-before-that-we/) [Kelly Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oxford/) > [“Han Solo if I ever saw him. Now, I’m not guaranteeing you’re going to get the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oxford/han-solo-if-i-ever-saw-him-now-i-m-not-guaranteeing-you-re-going-to/) [Kelly Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oxford/) > [Brad Pitt is older than Archie Bunker was in the first two seasons of All In The Family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oxford/brad-pitt-is-older-than-archie-bunker-was-in-the-first-two-seasons-of/) [Kelly Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oxford/) > [Canadians always make jokes about the arrogant American, but the longer I'm here, the more I realize, "Oh, it isn't that they're arrogant, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oxford/canadians-always-make-jokes-about-the-arrogant-american-but-the/) [Kelly Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oxford/) > [I find a lot of people struggling in their lives because they feel like it was expected they do a certain thing or act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oxford/i-find-a-lot-of-people-struggling-in-their-lives-because-they-feel/) [Kelly Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oxford/) > [I had a dream I was walking down the street and didn't have to hold anyone's hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oxford/i-had-a-dream-i-was-walking-down-the-street-and-didn-t-have-to-hold/) [Kelly Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oxford/) > [I am a very emotional person. I basically think and feel in emotion, so writing is much easier for me than communicating by voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oxford/i-am-a-very-emotional-person-i-basically-think-and-feel-in-emotion-so/) [Kelly Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oxford/) > [There should be a drama series about women trying to figure out their mystery leg bruises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oxford/there-should-be-a-drama-series-about-women-trying-to-figure-out-their/) [Kelly Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oxford/) > [When you listen to people who have accomplished so much, the one thing they always say is, "I didn't let anybody stop me." I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oxford/when-you-listen-to-people-who-have-accomplished-so-much-the-one-thing/) [Kelly Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oxford/) > [I wasn’t old enough to realize that I could be my terrible self and have people love me for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oxford/i-wasn-t-old-enough-to-realize-that-i-could-be-my-terrible-self-and/) [Kelly Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oxford/) > [I like the idea that we can contain our weirdness, but I prefer it when we wear it all over ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oxford/i-like-the-idea-that-we-can-contain-our-weirdness-but-i-prefer-it/) [Kelly Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oxford/) > [“I look like I need a dollar sign in my name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oxford/i-look-like-i-need-a-dollar-sign-in-my-name/) [Kelly Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oxford/) > [It's terrifying to think about all things that were awful for you. But for me, sharing all of them was so satisfying, because people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oxford/it-s-terrifying-to-think-about-all-things-that-were-awful-for-you-but/) [Kelly Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oxford/) > [As a writer, I could write in Canada and still get the American benefits. But I wanted to come down here for the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oxford/as-a-writer-i-could-write-in-canada-and-still-get-the-american/) [Kelly Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oxford/) [Explore all 20 Kelly Oxford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oxford/) ## More Miserable quotes > [If it was making me miserable, I'd get out, but it doesn't! It fuels me! That's why I'm taking on more things, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/if-it-was-making-me-miserable-i-d-get-out-but-it-doesn-t-it-fuels-me/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [The more I read about feeding times, sleep times and waking-up times, the more inadequate and miserable I felt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-porter/the-more-i-read-about-feeding-times-sleep-times-and-waking-up-times/) [Gail Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-porter/) > [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. If you are miserable you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/buddhism-advises-you-not-to-implant-feelings-that-you-don-t-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is such unutterable hell, solely because it is sometimes beautiful. If we could only be miserable all the time, if there could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-such-unutterable-hell-solely-because-it-is-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nobody ever wins by the cavalry coming to rescue you. It isn't a question of you're happy if you get married, or you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maeve-binchy/nobody-ever-wins-by-the-cavalry-coming-to-rescue-you-it-isn-t-a/) [Maeve Binchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maeve-binchy/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [“As has been said, the truth will set you free - but first it will make you miserable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-watts/as-has-been-said-the-truth-will-set-you-free-but-first-it-will-make/) [Malcolm Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-watts/) > [When you're "East Coast" person, you are so insufferable, and you have no idea. And I was. One, because I was miserable, and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/when-you-re-east-coast-person-you-are-so-insufferable-and-you-have-no/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [I didn't fit into the Christian college my parents sent me to. I felt tarnished by tragedy, between my brother's death and Escuela Caribe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/i-didn-t-fit-into-the-christian-college-my-parents-sent-me-to-i-felt/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [Miserable being must find more miserable being, then he is happy...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/miserable-being-must-find-more-miserable-being-then-he-is-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You've got to make a person aware of how miserable they really are and show them how happy they can be. Otherwise, why should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-ve-got-to-make-a-person-aware-of-how-miserable-they-really-are/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [There comes a point when you either embrace who and what you are, or condemn yourself to be miserable all your days. Other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/there-comes-a-point-when-you-either-embrace-who-and-what-you-are-or/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [A lover goes toward his beloved as enthusiastically as a schoolboy leaving his books, but when he leaves his girlfriend, he feels as miserable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-lover-goes-toward-his-beloved-as-enthusiastically-as-a-schoolboy/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Not forgiving prolongs hurt and anger and leads to smoldering resentment, which will make us miserable until it kills us. Resentment destroys the perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-walters/not-forgiving-prolongs-hurt-and-anger-and-leads-to-smoldering/) Richard Walters > [If I were to be stuck in New York, I would be miserable. I love N.Y.C. but it's not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-morgan/if-i-were-to-be-stuck-in-new-york-i-would-be-miserable-i-love-n-y-c/) [Sonja Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-morgan/) [Browse all 1,983 Miserable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“wonder adults were always miserable. 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