--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do you shovel to survive, or survive to…" description: "\"“Do you shovel to survive, or survive to shovel?”\" — Kōbō Abe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/kobo-abe-9863_shovel_do-you-shovel-to-survive-or-survive-to-s_3092557.jpg" --- # Do you shovel to survive, or survive to shovel? ![“Do you shovel to survive, or survive to shovel?” quote by Kōbō Abe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/kobo-abe-9863_shovel_do-you-shovel-to-survive-or-survive-to-s_3092557.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/kobo-abe-9863_shovel_do-you-shovel-to-survive-or-survive-to-s_3092557.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/kobo-abe-9863_shovel_do-you-shovel-to-survive-or-survive-to-s_3092557.jpg) > ““Do you shovel to survive, or survive to shovel?”” [Kōbō Abe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobo-abe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It contrasts labor for survival versus labor for its own sake, urging purpose over mere existence. **In simple terms:** Work should have meaning beyond just staying alive. Key Takeaway Find purpose in what you do. Themes work existence purpose survival Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career choice - daily routine - life planning Key Concepts meaning existentialism motivation Questions to Reflect On - Are you working to live or living to work? - What gives your work meaning? A Different Perspective Survival needs can dominate, ignoring deeper fulfillment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [For 3 Million you could give everyone in Scotland a shovel, and we could dig a hole so deep we could hand her over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-boyle/for-3-million-you-could-give-everyone-in-scotland-a-shovel-and-we/) [Frankie Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-boyle/) > [For 3 million you could give everyone in Scotland a shovel, and we could dig a hole so deep we could hand her over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-boyle/for-3-million-you-could-give-everyone-in-scotland-a-shovel-and-we-2/) [Frankie Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-boyle/) > [God is not remote from us. 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He Knew he could give me a shovel if there was a mess to clean up, and he kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-chretien/trudeau-valued-performance-above-image-he-knew-he-could-give-me-a/) [Jean Chretien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-chretien/) > [Sure the shovel and tongs To each other belongs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-lover/sure-the-shovel-and-tongs-to-each-other-belongs/) [Samuel Lover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-lover/) > [“I'm in a hole because at some point I found a shovel and started digging. Maybe I should trade my shovels for ladders and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-m-in-a-hole-because-at-some-point-i-found-a-shovel-and-started/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Should I get you a shovel so you can dig that hole a little deeper?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/should-i-get-you-a-shovel-so-you-can-dig-that-hole-a-little-deeper/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Leaders don't pray to God to fill their potholes. They ask God for shovels so they can do it by His grace. Pray practically.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/leaders-don-t-pray-to-god-to-fill-their-potholes-they-ask-god-for/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Now, go shovel some shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/now-go-shovel-some-shit/) [Sara gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [“My advice to you, Joe, is to pick up a damn shovel, clean up whatever shit you can and learn how to shut your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhea-rhodan/my-advice-to-you-joe-is-to-pick-up-a-damn-shovel-clean-up-whatever/) Rhea Rhodan > [There Is A Mountain Inside All Of Us That Buries Something Amazing. That Covers A Dream, Idea Or Gift, That Has Been There All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/there-is-a-mountain-inside-all-of-us-that-buries-something-amazing/) Pacifiersucker > [When President Teddy Roosevelt posed for the cameras astride a massive steam shovel during construction of the Panama Canal in 1906, it was more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-huffman/when-president-teddy-roosevelt-posed-for-the-cameras-astride-a/) [Alan Huffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-huffman/) > [Stick a shovel into the ground almost anywhere and some horrible thing or other will come to light. Good for trade, we thrive on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/stick-a-shovel-into-the-ground-almost-anywhere-and-some-horrible/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“Just when you think you've hit rock bottom. someone will hand you a shovel.--- Phoebe Traeger”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/just-when-you-think-you-ve-hit-rock-bottom-someone-will-hand-you-a/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“A shovel is the greatest motivational teacher I know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/a-shovel-is-the-greatest-motivational-teacher-i-know/) [Jason E. Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/) Browse all 72 Shovel quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Do you shovel to survive, or survive to shovel?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kōbō Abe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobo-abe/do-you-shovel-to-survive-or-survive-to-shovel/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Shovel" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobo-abe/do-you-shovel-to-survive-or-survive-to-shovel/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/kobo-abe-9863_shovel_do-you-shovel-to-survive-or-survive-to-s_3092557.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/kobo-abe-9863_shovel_do-you-shovel-to-survive-or-survive-to-s_3092557.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86e/kobo-abe-9863_shovel_do-you-shovel-to-survive-or-survive-to-s_3092557.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Do you shovel to survive, or survive to shovel?” — Kōbō Abe", "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": "Kōbō Abe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobo-abe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Do you shovel to survive, or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobo-abe/do-you-shovel-to-survive-or-survive-to-shovel/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobo-abe/do-you-shovel-to-survive-or-survive-to-shovel/#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 } } ] } ```